HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10147, 21 September 1898, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READING. The Inspection of Schools Bill (Mr Gilfedder) was introduced, and read a first time. RETURNS ORDERED. Returns dealing with the following subjects were ordered:—The present output and value of bullion from the Waihi mines, the probable cost of firewood two years nence, provided none is imported; the expenses in connection with the cropping by Government of the Pomahaka estate ;-*he amount of ploughing done by the State on tho Otahu estate, and the cost of the same; and details of the cdst of the Police Commission. I t ORDER OF BUSINESS. ! On the motion of Mr SEDDON, it was resolved that on and after Wednesday, 21st September, Government business for the remainder of the session should take precedence of other business on Wednesday. Mr SEDDON moved that on Monday, September 26th, and for the remainder of the session, the House shall sit on Mondays at 7.30 p.m., for the transaction of Government business only, with the exception of the first Monday, on which certain private members' Bills and local Bills shall be taken. After a short debate, the motion was agreed to. SECOND READINGS. The second readings of the Native Lands "Settlement and Administration Bill and the Landless Natives Bill were agreed to pro forma, and the measures referred to the Native Affairs Committee. THE GENERAL ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee of Supply on the General EstimatesClass HI., Colonial Treasurer's Department, £36,789. In answer to Mr G. Hutchison, Mr SEDDON .said the Secretary , to the Treasury had devoted much of his spare time to the compilation of a Government telegraphic code, and it was intended to give him a bonus for this work. Mr MEREDITH asked" if cadets appointed in this department had been appointed in. the order in which they passed the examination.

Mr SEDDON said 'the law had been strictly complied with. been taken from the head of the list, and according to order of merit. The only objections raised had been in connection* with several girls, who were near the top of the list, and had been passed over, but he considered they had just as good a right to appointment. .

Referring to the salary of Registrar of Consuls, £50, which Mr Seddon said was paid the Secretary to the Treasury, who acted in the capacity mentioned, Mr PIRANI said the time had arrived when the House should devote attention to the question of the perquisites to highly-paid officials, and as an indication that the system of bonuses and of giving officials underhand increases should be done away with, he moved that the salary of the Secretary to the Treasury, £700, be reduced by £1.

■ Mr SEDDON said the Government had in its service men who, in his opinion, and gauged by wibat was paid outside, were considerably underpaid. An efficient officer in the Treasury saved the colony's money. In the discussion * which ensued, the opinion was expressed that when it was intended to increase the salary of an official, it should "be clearly shown. After others had spoken, Mr GEORGE HUTCHISON referred to the correspondence between the Treasury and the Audit Office respecting the refusal of the latter office to issue certain requisitions under the Public Revenues Act.

Tho CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES ruled that this correspondence could not be referred to, as there was an order on the Order Paper dealing with the matter.

Mr HUTCHISON then moved that progress be reported, in order that he might have wider scope. The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES said no reference could be made to the correspondence. *

After discussion, progress was reported, in order that the Speaker's ruling should be taken on tho point raised. After the Chairman of, Committees had submitted the point to the Speaker, Mr SEDDON said he, as head of the Depaitment. was responsible for the correspondence alluded -to, and not the {Secretary to the Treasury, -\diose salary was under discussion when it was attempted to discuss the correspondence betv een the Treasury and Audit. Mr G. HUTCHISON pointed out that Government had made no attempt to bring on the interrupted debate on the matter of the correspondence, and he considered the present the only opportunity given the House to discuss the matter.

The SPEAKER, in upholding the ruling of the Chairman of Committees,. expressed the opinion that the subject of the correspondence was of such importance that it should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee at an early date. Committee of Supply was resumed, and the discussion on Mr Pirani's motion continued, and was proceeding at the 5.30 o'clock adjournment.