EVENING SITTING.

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

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. .THE GENERAL ESTIMATES.

The Committeee of Supply was resumed, and the discussion continued on Mr Pirani's motion that the salary of the Secretary to the Treasury be reduced by £1 as an indication that* the system of giving bonuses should be stopped. Mr PIRANI said he was willing to withdraw the motion if the Premier promised that no bonue or emolument would be given to any member of the Civil Service, unless snch "bonus were placed on the Estimated opposite the salary of the official receiving it.

Mr SEDDON pointed' out that a similar official in Queensland was paid £1500. .The remarks made that afternoon respecting the Secretary to the Treasury had been unmerited.

After a short discussion, the motion was negatived on the voices, and the vote passed.

Friendly Societies Registry Office, £1350. Mr SLIGO moved that the salary of the Revising Barrister. £50, be reduced by £1 as an indication that that officer was out oi touch with the friendly societies. He referred to the recent decision of the Supreme Court with respect to the Revising Barrister's interpretation of the law, which had been given in favour of the societies, but which the Revising Barrister had held to be incorrect.

Mr SEDDON said it had been arranger] between the parties that no matter how th» deouion went, both would loyally abide by

it. He had not heard that the Revising j Uarrister had refused to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court-. j In the course of a short discussion, itwas stated that under the new conditions ! the Revising Barrister was more approachable by the officers of the societies, and had ■, been giving general satisfaction. I Mr SLIGO pointed out that the Revising Barrister had contended that he was to make rules for the societies, but the decision of the Supreme Court had been that the societies should make their own rules. After several members had spoken, Mr TANNER said the "law under which the .Department acted was not understood, as ithad required the decision of the Supreme Court to show the office that they were wrong. The motion was negatived on the voices, and the vote passed. Land and Income Tax Department, £21,585. Mr SEDDON, in reply to a question, stated that the number of extra clerks employed in this department ranged from between twelve and fifty. Mr FRASER considered this was an evasion of the Civil Service Act, as many of these clerks were employed permanently to the detriment of cadets, who were entitled to positions held by these clerks. „ Mr. SEDDON said the Commissioner of Taxes had almost a free hand in the appointment of these clerks, many of whom were capable of doing the highest- class of work. In the course of further discussion, Mr PIRANI pointed out that some temporary clerks were paid a higher rate of wages than permanent officers. Mr SEDDON said it would take: two cadets to do the work of one temporary clerk, and after three months there would be no work for them to do, but the Government could not dispense with their services. The consequence would be that for nine months these cadets would be spinning tops and playing marbles. Some of these temporary clerks had been permanent Officers, and the Civil Service Act, 1866, declared that these should have the preference. There was therefore no violation of the Act, and the men employed were only necessary for a time, and were casual hands. - After further discussion the vote was agreed to. Treasury, miscellaneous services, £6654. Mr MONTGOMERY asked if it were the intention of the Government to abolish the Consols Account, which he considered had never been popular as a means of investment. Mr SEDDON said so far from doing away with the Consols system, he believed in its \extdasionj, and considered people of the colony should be able to buy £5 or £10 worth of Consols. As to the difference between the interest paid on Consols and on Post Office Savings Bank deposits, he pointed out that the deposits were at call. He intended next session to bring down proposals for the popularisation of Consols. Mr BANNER pointed out that the difficulty of negotiating the consol certificates was the cause of the unpopularity of the system. Mr MONTGOMERY said the consols were only used by capitalists, who got 3£ per cent, for their investments, whilst the worker, who saved and deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank, got only 2£ per cent. Mr PHIANI said 3 per cent, was being paid on the business in consols for management, and moved that the salary of the Registrar of Consols should be reduced from £50 to £25. This was negatived by 27 votes to 26. Mr PIRANI then moved to strike out the item "other expense in connection with consols, £100." Mr SEDDON said that £50 would be sufficient to meet the expenses, and he moved that the vote should be reduced by one-half. Mr Pirani's motion jvas n.egatived by 31 votes to 21, and Mr Seddon's motion agreed to. Mr DUTHIE moved to reduce lihe item "preparation of new Government code, £200," by £100. There was no justification for this expense, and he objected to the surreptitious manner in which the salary of the Secretary to the Treasury was sought to beMr SEDDON said it would be the heightof ingratitude to the official to reduce the amount, as the new code was necessary. After a discussion, the amendment was negatived by 26 votes to 25. Sir KELLY moved that the item be reduced by £75, and said a strong endeavour should be made to put a stop to the practice complained of. This was negatived by 28 votes to 20, and the vote was agreed to. This completed the class. Class IV., Justice Department. A discussion ensued on the item "clerk, £175," also "editor "Cumin's Index, £50," it being contended that this clerk was paid for two years' work, as the Index only came out every third year. Mr PLRANI asked the Minister in charge if, in view of the news of the death of Sir George Grey, the House would adjourn. Mr T. THOMPSON said he had not beenofficially notified of Sir George Grey's death.. ' After further discussion, the vote was agreed to. Mr DUTHIE moved to report progress. This was negatived by 27 votes to 20. ' Supreme Court, £6154. In the discussion on this vote it was contended that the Registrars of the Supreme Court should be paid a uniform salary throughout the colony. The discussion on the vote was proceeding when the Telegraph Office closed.