GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13871, 24 October 1910, Page 7

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(abridged parss association iiepobt.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

£\*TCKnAY, October 22, 1910. THE E6TIMATJfcs. After 2 a.m. discussion on the Lands and Survey vote was continued, and ultimately postponed tmtil tho State Forests vote, had been dean with. Mr G. M. THOMSON' moved the reduction of this vote of £1 to indicate j that there should be one scientilic head I for the Department. This was lost on the voices, and the whole vote passed. Mr HERKIE6 moved to report progress. Mr PICARCK said it was a disgrace to have to discuss the expenditure oi I the country at three o'clock in the morning, and he protested against it. Mr HARDY pointed out tiio impossibility of the House going into these matters at such an hour, with thu spirit and sound judgment that was essential. Tho motion on division was lust by 32 vote.-.; to 17. LAND AND SURVEY. ' The Committee then returned to con- ! siciemtion of the Land and Survey Department. .Mr lUCHANAX moved to mince th>J item JUIWU.j i'or ~(j district valuers t>y I£l as an indication that they were un- [ derpaid. j Mr HA.ItDY .-.aid the Department ! sometimes charged unreasoimuiu ices, land should not sweat its valuers. I Mr IJUDIX) said tho revenuo from I foes covered little inoro than the cxi iicnses. Tho motion was lost by 131 votes to l'tj and tho departmental vote agreed to. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. Agricultural, Commerce, and Tourist Department, £181,G<8. During discission on this vote a largo number of questions were asked an to I the working of various divisions of tho I Department. i Mr BUCHANAN criticised the want jof continuous policy in the Departi ment's conduct, of experimental farms. j Mr El ELD suggested the Department j should do more educational work, and ' start an institution on the lines of tho j Hawkesbury Collego in Now South ' Wales. Replying to questions, the Minister said the Department was closing the i poultry packing depots. Regarding tho appointment of an agricultural scientist the Government intended to jtot a man with practical as well as scientific know- ! ledge. The bonus for the eradication of noxious weeds had been withdrawn because tho claimants caused tho Uoj partmont trouble, but if a good proposij tion came along it would be given rei cognition. The classes of cattle the I Department intended to import to improve the dairy herds were jerseys and Holsteins. Mr GREENSLADE moved to reduce tho salary of tho secretary of tho Department (£550) us an indication that tho Department placed under the control of a man with practical experience. Tho MINISTER, said the present arrangement worked well, and was part of the scheme of reorganisation. Sir JOSEPH WARD said he had been responsible for the appointment, which worked admirably. Ho would not revert to the old system if an opportunity offered. Mr HARDY and others justified tho appointment. The amendment was lost on tho voices. Mr MALCOLM moved tho reduction of the vote for the salaries of noxious weed inspectors, as an indication that farmers be allowed to lead evidence in prosecutions under tho Act. The amendment was lost by 31 to 15. In reply to a further question, Mr MACKENZIE said the Government was considering the giving of bonuses on shinmente of fruit to the Old Country. The Agricultural Department voto was passed. At 6.10 a.m. Mr HERRIES moved to report progress. This was lost by 31 votes to 15. On the tourist vote, £42,396, Mr MILLAR, ie reply to a question, said Rotorua hardly paid directly, but indirectly it paid enormously. The vote was passed. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Education Department, £925,642. Mr MALCO'LfU moved to reduce the vote of the two assistant inspectors, as a protest against tho Department's inspectors duplicating the work of Education Boards' inspectors. This was lost by 30 votes to 14. j Mr ANDERSON moved to reduce tho vote, £4600 for free (school books, by £1 as an indication that tho vote cease nest year. Mr WRIGHT and Mr G. M. THOMeon said free school books were a mistake. Mr ARNOLD said the workers had pressed for uniform school books being j supplied by the State at cost price, but the Government would not agree to do this. Tne constant changes! in text books was due to the fact that certain people connected with the education system were interested in publications. The amendment was lost on tho vc:or.s. At eight o'clock Mr MASSEY roso for the first timo and asked Sir Joseph "Ward to agree to report progress. He had only arrived at seven, o'clock, and bad been struck by the dishevelled appearance of members. He sympathised with those forced to remain all night, but had no sympathy for members who ycted for business conducted by irregular methods during improper hours. Sir JOSEPH WARD declined to report progress, and said the Estimates must go through. He had never soen such waste of time over Estimates as bad occurred this session. He vvottld propose or. Tuesday to take Saturdays and Mondays for the remainder of the session. This was the silliest Opposition ho had ever known in his life. At 8.5 tho Houee adjourned for an hour. On resuming tho vote for Secondary and Higher Education, £73,760, was considered. Mr MASSEY ren.'ied to Sir Joseph Ward.'s strictures on the Opposition, and said the nresent Government was the stuyidest New Zealand had ever been cursed with. Sir JOSEPH WARD congratulated Mr Mr.s?x\v on his return to tho House, and said there had been a danger during his absence of the Opposition being led by the member for Christehurch North. Mr ALLEN n&ked why the vote for research scholarships had been reduced from £600 to £400, and also what had been done in connection with thoso Rc.holarsb.ins. Mr BUDDO replied that fewer scholarships wcro being provided this year., hence the reduction in the vote. A rerx>rt on tho work done by the research scholars had recently come to band, and would be placed before tho House. In one case the scholar was investigating a patent in connection with tho oil industry, and the report on this vi'as confidf'iitial. The PRIME MINISTER referred to tho question of a university site 'in Auckland, which had come u;i during the debate*. The consent of the Home authorities and of 1.-ord Plunkest had been obtained to utilise Government : House grounds us a sito for tht> university. The Government intended to ask { Parliament, by special legislation, to i set r. r -ide part of tlie Government House grounds for this purpose. The vote wns thon pasr-od. On the item of £3000, for the School for the Deaf,

Mr LANG moved a reduction of £1, a«* an indication that similar schools, bo erected in other parts or tho Dominion. . , ~ This was lost on tho voices, and tbo vote-, £925,042, was passed. OTHER VOTES. Tho items State Coalmines £297,675, Sconorv Preservation £10,300, Lands for Settlement £9936, were passed. Public Trustee, £1000— Mr ALLEN moved n reduction oi LI β-s a r.rou*fc against the salary beii:« raised" by £1-50, while salaries of lower officials "wero reduced. _ This was lost on the voices, and tho vote, £18.712, passed. Tho Government Insurance £ bo, -J t>, Accident Insurance £7110, btato Guaranteed Advances £412,749 wero also jMisscd. Tho Houso rose at 12.35 i>.m.