ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13597, 4 December 1909, Page 9

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

THE LONDON FINANCIAL

ADVISER

HIS SALARY STRUCK OFF TKE

ESTIMATES

(special to "the press.')

WELLINGTON. December 3

An unexpected reverse bofcl tho Government this evening during the discussion, on tho Estimates. The item in question was tho sum of £100, which -was sot down for payment to the Hon. W*. P. Reeves (late High Commissioner) as financial adviser to tho Government in London. Incidentally several unfavourable references we.ro made to the increasing cost, of the London office of the Dominion, and special exception -was taken to tho particular item under discussion as beins an apparently unnecessary expenso This feeling was so strong that a motion by tho Leader of the Opposition to strike, out the vote was carried by a majority of 10 votes. Such a reyereo has not befallen a Government in .New Zealand for many years. When tho item came up, Mr Massev asked ior information concerning the position, and wished to know whether it was a now office. fi Minist f r "id that the office had been rendered necessary by ••j" i- lt i { lad Prenouslv been held he Ba, j- ]»' «>e lato Sir Penrose Julian and also by the late Sir Julius YogS ' no*t b e en a nl?^T ld that *ho officoTad not been filled for some years. Ho was strongly of opinion that this offico had been created for Mr Reeves? and he would test the feeling of the House, by moving: to strike out tho item. Hβ did not think they needed a financial adviser m addition to their bankinc advisers.

The Prime Minister said that the services rendered by Mr Reeves were very important, and the payment of JL4IHJ was a mere bagatelle Mr James Allen suggested that the services in question would bo done by the Crown agents. The Prime Minister said that this would not be wise.

Mr Poole said that there was a widespread feeling that they were spending a great deal too much money on the Home office.

Mr Russell said that when Mr Reeves retired from the service of New Zealand, he did so to take up a highly-paid position. He had been well paid for his services to the Dominion, and unless the Prime Minister could satisfy the House that the expenditure of this £400 was necessary, "he must vote for the amendment.

The Prime Minister said that the expenditure was quite necessary. The Government would not pay £400 to Mr Reeves for nothing, to oblige the late High Commissioner, and he did not think Mr Reeves should take money be had not earned.

Mr Massey's amendment was carried by 35 votes to 25.

The) following was the division list:—

For the amendment (35) —Messrs Allen, Anderson, Arnold, Buchanan, Buick, Clark, Davey. Dive. J. Duncan, Fisher. Glover, Hanan, liardy, Herdman, Hcrries. Hine, Hogg, Jennings, Lang, Luke, McLaren, Maunder, Massey, Newman, Nosworthy, Okey, Pearce. Phillipps, Poole. Russell, Scott, G. M. Thomson, J. C. Thomson, Witty, and Wright.

Against the amendment C2o) —Messrs Brown, Biiddo, Carroll, Colvin. Ell, Field, Forbes, Fowlds, Hall. Hopan, Laurenson, Lawry, Macdnnnld, R. McKenzie. T. Mackenzie, Millar, Poland, Reed, Ross, Seddan, Sidev, Smith. Stallworthy. Te Rangihiroa, and Sir Joseph Ward-