PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. THE PUBLIC TRUST ACCOUNTS.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1894, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. THE PUBLIC TRUST ACCOUNTS.

Further correspondence relating to the Public Trust Office acoounta was laid on the> table of the House yesterday. This consists of a memorandum from the Auditor-GeneraK trod ft reply by the Public Trustee. Mr. FitzQerald explains the exact isßue between the Public Trustee and him&elf by say-~ ing that for nearly 80 years it has been the policy of the colony that no publio money should be expended except under certificate* of the Controller-General ; that snob, supervision has been authorised by Parliamont,even the Governor being subject to it. With regard to such/ departments »s thß Insurance and Publio Trust, where money is placed in trust with tho Government, the samo safeguards against misappropriation have been adopted as in the case of " publio money." Of all tho publio accountants since 1667, only ono officer insists on being relieved from the control to whioh all other Publio Servants, from tho Govornolf down, are subject. This, the ControllerGeneral thorefore assumes, must be due to some personal peculiarity on tho part of the solitary complainant, because the Controller fails to display the same admiration for ihe present system of the Trust Office account* as that entertained by its author. Mr. Warbarton replies at great length, and inoidentally refere to the " general indolence, negloot, and inefficiency " of th» audit, and describes as " scandalous beyond expression" the neglect of the Audit Office: to ohook certain native accounts. He also accuses the Audit Department of passingr ledgers whioh " oontained hundreds ofv errora." ON CERTAIN " AItTICtIS"." Mr. E. M. Smith last night, in illustration ' of a speech, produoed three great ohunka - lof ooal from a newspaper wrapping, and ■ waved thorn before him. Mr. JSarnshaw raised ft point of order as to "whether' members were at liberty to introduoe articles into the Chamber." Mr. liuevos interjected that as they w£r* allowed to ntroduoe adjectives th« artiole should not be barred. The Sweater ruled that_ members were at liberty to introduce ''artiolfia," whereupon the member for Taranaki turned upon Mr. Earnshaw and snapped out that he had "as much right to introduoe ' articles* in that Houee as had the electors of Dunedin." . THE BAILWAT BILIx The Premier yesterday desired to take the* sooond reading of the Railway Bill pro forma for the purpose of referring it to tho Railway Committee, but the Hon. Mr. JUitohetaon objected, as the Bill was one of such importance that it should be debated on tbo Beoond reading. The Premier accordingly decided to postpone the second readintr. A PEBVBSBB OKOTEBATION. The following was the division list on Mr. M'Guiro's motion to report progress last; night, whioh the Premier bo strongly opposed :—: — For the motion, 33. — Allen, 8011, Buddo, Buiok, Button, Crowtber, Earnshaw, Froser, Graham, Green, Hall-Jones, G. Hutchison,. - W. Kelly, Lang, T. Mackenzie, Maalin, Massey, M'Gnire, M'Nab, Meredith, Mitohelson, Montgomery, Newman, O'Kegan, Pirani, G. W. Kussell, W. E. Knssoll, S-aun-ders, G. J. Smith, Steward, Tanner, Thompson, Wilson. Against, 27.— Cadman, Carnoross, Oarnell, ■ Carroll, Collins, Duncan, Flatman, Hall, , Harris, Hogg, Houston, Joyoi», Lawry, Mackintosh, M'Gowan, J. M'Kenzie, B. M'Kcnzie, M'Lachlan, Mills, Morrison, Pinkerton, Beeves, Seddon, E. M. Smith, . Stevens, Ward, Willis. JOTTINGS. The debate on the Dairy Industries Bill ' is to be taken on the motion for the third ■ reading. Mr. Saunders can imagine nothing moro ■ at variance with the professions of Ministers - than their proposals to tax coal and bread. Mr. E. M. Smith is the lateat convert to - Intercolonial Freetrado. He says plenty of members think like him. Captain Russell says the Colonial Treasurer ■ is " a most skilful circumnavigator of questions." The Premier is moving to sit next Monday evening. " A policy of bluff" is Mr. Montgomery's view of Ministers' speeches last night.— 'l he Ministers were understood to be " talking through the cables,"- and at New South Wales. . There was a general impression last night that Mr. B. M'Kenzie was the Government catspaw in the ooal motion. Mr. M'Kenzie denied this.. It was, nevertheless, felt that he was permitted the opportunity, and the debate was kept up as a feeler. The Premier yesterday professed to be " pouring oil on troubled . waters'." Mr. Earnshaw Baid it waß " throwing fat on the fire." Heavily • signed petitions from PovertyBay and Hawkes Bay against the resumption of the pre-emptive right to native lands, are being presented. The motion re ooal duty yesterday is< looked upon as a Btalking-horße of Government to feel the way to both coal and wheat, duties. " I will always steer by the pole-star of: Freetrade."— Mr. O'Kegan. The Hon. Mr. Mitoheleon says the Minister for Lands is the only Minister who will! reply directly and seriously to his questions. The Premier has given notice of the Hikutaia No. 1 Blook Boundary Bill, and the Treasurer of the Unclaimed Land Bill. The petition of 29 settlers for revaluation of their sections in the Mangamingi Blook (presented by JMr. George Hutchison) has been referred to Government by the Waste Lands Committee 1 " &» r favourable oonsideraIM*.1 M*. Flatman wish*: to see all educational bodies having the con.trol of publio lunds elected by popular rote", 'Yesterday if ternoon w«* "pent "> » series of sparriug matches, in wfaldO,™ 5 chief performers wire Mr. G««. JBnto."™ and tha Colonial Treasurer and the P/*." 1 " 81 - Mr. Hutchison was trying to gt* *t fm ormation on financial matters. Mr. Sannders says that in a long- ft*,* l6^ enoe of politioal life he has never had »W tt an example of how little wisdom it takes to govern the country as was shown in th« speeches of the three Minieteta last night. Mr. O1O 1 Began says that for professed Liberals to propose to increase the price of ooal and bread to poor people is a most Boasdalons and disgraceful proceeding. Ministers were strongly condemned yesterday for discontinuance of the long-standing praotioe ot making the monthly Custom* revenue returns available for publication. The Minister for Labour last night talked of "carrying the war" of tariffs to New South Wales. Captain Buasell twitted him with advooating the cessation of all reprisals in the labour world, and advooating reprisals in the commercial world. "This ridioulons proposal" was Mr. E. M. Smith's deßoription of the effort to put an import duty on ooal. Mr. O'Began cried, " Hear, hear. The House is not so easy to manage now as it was at the beginning of the session, and will not so readily aooept Ministers bidding. Last night an all-night sitting was proposed on the Estimates, but members "jibbed," and, in spite of the Premier's protests, insisted on reporting progresswithout having made any progTMS at aIU