HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10148, 22 September 1898, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MORNING SITTING.

THE GENERAL ESTIMATES

After the telegraph office closed, coneiduration of the- Justice Department estimates was continued.

The item " Contingencies, £2000,'' elicited considerable debate,'several members claiming that, in accordance with the Premier's promise, the details oi last year's vote under tile Maine head would be supplitd.

Mr T. Thompsun gave the principal items, but was unable to gi\e the amounts. Air G. HUTCHISON claimed that the Minister of Justice had bivken the Premiers promise. Mr DUTHIE pointed out that the honor of the Premier was at stake, as Mr Thompson had sacrificed his pledged word, and refused information.

At 3.15 a.m. a motion to report progress was negatived by 20 to 17. Mr fcSEDDON said there had been no attempt to keep back information, and his promise had not been broken, xnese contingencies were not on the same footing as others in the Estimates.

Mr LANG said that on previous occasions verbal arrangements had been made with ministers, but in the present case they had tho Premier's undertaking in writing. Mr SEDDON said that he had never deliberately broken a promise, either in public or private life. After further discussion the vote was passed. District Magistrates and Wardens' Courts, £44,740. As a protest against the disproportionate salaries of the Districb Judges and the Stipendiary Magistrates, Mr BUCHANAN moved to reduce tho first item of the vote by £60. Mr T. THOMPSON stated that the magistrates had been classified, the maximum salary of the first-class being fixed at £500, second-class £450, and third-class £400. A long debate ensued on Mr Lawry's recent statements in connection with , Mr Northcqpft. Mr SEDDON said it would be unconstitutional for a Minister to contradict a statement made by a member of the House, and it would be an interference with the liberty of speech if such was allowed. Mr THOMPSON said he was quite prepared to place before the House Mr Northcroft's statements as to Mr Lawry's allegations, but he would not undertake to contradict Mr Lawry's statement. ( Mr LAWRY said that he had no hesitation in saying that all he had said about Mr Northcroft was absolutely true. After further debate the motion waa negatived, and the vote agreed to. -Shortly, before seven o'clock, Mr DUTHIE moved to report progress. Mr.SEDDON asked the House to finish the Justice and Post and Telegraph votes. With respect to the Vancouver and San Francisco mail services, he would give the House an opportunity, before the Supplementary Estimates came down, to discuss them. The motion was withdrawn. Much discussion ensued on the Department of Industries and Commerce, which several speakers asserted should be abolished. Mr SEDDON said if the Department did not give more satisfaction by next session, it would be suspended altogether. Mr DUTHIE moved to strike out the item, "Promotion of' New Zealand produce in the United Kingdom, £250." Negatived by 24 to 14, and the remainder of the class was agreed to. Class V., Post and Telegraph Department.

On the motion of Mr LETHBRIDGE, the vote, "Conveyance of mails by sea," was reduced by ±51, as an indication that the consideration of the San Francisco service would be taken later.

With respect to "Contingencies," in this class, Mr SEDDON said that £146 was for the travelling, expenses of his private secretary on the occasion of his trip to England. The class was passed, and progress reported.

The House adjourned at 8 a.m.