THE ESTIMATES.

Evening Star, Issue 11657, 18 September 1901, Page 3

THE ESTIMATES.

TULL INFORMATION DEMANDED. JTrom Otjb Pabliambntabt Ripobtib.] WELLINGTON, September 18. When the House met at half-past seven last evening it went into Supply for the consideration of the Estimates, Major Steward taking the chair. The Legislative Department at once came under review, and it soon became evident that a section of the members were thirsting for information where increases were proposed in the salaries of tliG higher-paid officials. It was equally plain that Ministers meant to make a vigorous defence for the retention of the suggested increases. The battle began on the first item "second clerk assistant," who was being raised by £25 to £i2s.—Mr Millar intimated that unless good and sufficient reasons were advanced he should oppose all the increases proposed over £3oo.—The Premier, who wa« in charge, said that the salary of Mr Lowe (who- was an excellent officer) had beeu raised at the instance of Mr Speaker. —Mr Fisher moved that »hc salary of Mr E. W. Kane, reader and clerk of Bills, remain *s at present, £l5O. He was set down this year at £175, and last session Mr Seddon had complained of Mr Kane's conduct in interviewing and lobbying members and asking for an increase in his salary.—Mr Laurenson was of opinion that the sergeant-at-arms was an excrescence. He moved that the item (£200) bo reduced by £l, as an indication that the office should be abolished. —Mr M'Nab remarked that the hou. member who had just spoken must be planning out a course of rebellion in the House, otherwise he would not suggest the abolition of this particular office.—Mr Millar held that, in view of the financial position of the colony, no person drawing £3OO or over should get an increase. He therefore moved that the item second clerk assistant (£325) be reduced by £2s.—Mr E. M'Kenzio objected to a few " skinflints" ruling the House.—The Premier pointed out that Mr Lowe's predecessor was appointed to the office at £3so.—Mr Millar's amendment was rejected by 40 to 12, and Mr Laurenson's proposal to dispense with the sergeant-at-arms shared a like fate by 42 to 10.—The amendment of Mr Fisher to reduce the salary of the reader was lost by 45 votes to B.—The item £4,065 for salaries was passed, as printed. The item "expenses, £8,675," led to a lengthy discussion on the complote inadequacy and nnsuitability of the provision made for the receptiou of friends and constituents of members.—Mr Meredith complained that "many of the rooms are contaminated with reeking tobacco smoke," whilst Ministers luxuriate in splendidly-fur-nished rooms.—Mr G. W. Russell made a determined attack on the action of the Government in disregarding modern typesetting machines in the printing of 'Hansard,' by which the cost of hand-set matter was Is 4d per 1,000 ens, whilst the linotype and monotype machines turned out equally good work at from 0-4 to 6d. He urged that provision should be made to employ as Government clerks and in other capacities the men who would be displaced by the introduction of machinery.—The . Premier said that the introduction of laborsaving machnery could be best discussed in connection with the Government Print- ' ing Office, which come under the Colonial Secretary's Department.—lt was freely asserted (and the Premier agreed with the complaints) that there were more conveniences ■ in the old library than in the present expensive building. Several members put in a plea for the second assistant librarian Mr Costall (£ls), and the Premier promised that he should have a "rise" of £ls on the Supplementary Estimates.—The vote was then agreed to, and class 1 passed without amendment. At 11.45 p.m. the Colonial Secretary's Department was called on.—Mr Pirani, Mr Massey, and others wanted to know how *»r it was intended to proceed before adiourning, saying that it would facilitate business if an assurance were given to adjourn about 1 J. G. Ward objected to state at that time when the House would adjourn. If reasonable progress were made Ministers would not be unreasonable.—Mr Millar moved to reduce the salary oMbe ruder-Secretary (£500) by £25, this being the amount of increase proposed.— The Colonial Secretary defended the vote, saying that Mr Pollen had been- twentynine years in the service, and had responsible duties—Mi Millar sought information i as to how many of the juniors in the department received increases.—Sir Joseph replied that he could not give the information. He would like to see all the departments classified.—Mr Pirani complained that heads of departments, being in touch with the Ministers, easily got increases, while the pay of, tubordinates wa«- not advanced.—Mr Meredith entered his protest against the way that the business of the country was being transacted. There were only thirty members in their places, though he admitted that there were plenty of them in the lobbies prepared to come in when the division bell rang, and ready to vote as the Government whips told them, when hundreds of thousands of pounds had to be voted. He Bupportcd those who were advsrsc to raising the salaries of the higher-paid officials. He predicted that a time of retrenchment like that of 1877 would come to pass in a few years.—Several members objected to these late sittings, and urged that progress be l< reported.—Sir J. G. Ward asked that more progress be made. He pointed out that "at the rate the Committee had progressed that evening it would take fifty-ono nights to get through the whole of the Estimates. —Mr Seddon urged that the Committee should show a better record of wor,k for one evening, and promised the fullest information to members on every vote.— Finally a motion to report progress, proposed by Mr Collins when the vote for Ministers' private secretaries was disposed of, was carried by 25 to 25, and the House rose at 2.15 a.m.