STATE EXPENDITURE

Evening Star, Issue 15909, 15 September 1915, Page 9

STATE EXPENDITURE

.. ANNUAL-ESTIMATES CONSIDERED. A LISTLESS DISCUSSION. JFkom Otja Paeliamentabx Eepoetee.] WELLINGTON, September 15. .The House of Representatives went tnto Committee of Supply last night h> give further consideration to the Estimates of Expenditure for the current year. JUSTICE. Tlie first Class taken was the Justice Department (£469,656), the Hon. A. L. Herdman, Attorney-General, taking cnarge in the absence of the Minister of Justice (Hon. Dr M'Nab). The points of the discussoin were as follow: In connection with the Crown Law Office expenditure. Mr Hornsby inquired if it was a fact that the SolicitorGeneral had been paid a large sum of Ixnoue-J 1 x noue - J, m , for <M tm S the Cook Islands Act.—The Minister said the SolicitorGeneral had been paid 200 guineas for drafting the Bill. He agreed. that as a general rule it was not advisable to employ men in outside offices to draft Wills, but there were special circumstances in this case, and after consultation with the Cabinet he had decided to employ the Solicitor-General. The work was all done in his own time, and anyone who knew the Act would recoK?J? e i *? i l * J? ne ) v Constitution for the Look Islands It was a work of great ability, and the Dominion had got good value for its monev. On the item «« Coroners," Mr Hornsby declared that he had been compelled to resign his_office-of coroner in the AVairarapa prior to the last General Election—an exercise of authority that amounted to nothing more nor less than a political scandal.—The Hon. Mr Herdman said ihat what had been done' was done to save the hon. gentleman from himself. He had been informed by the Crown Law Office that if Mr Hornsby retained his office as coroner ne would be a Civil servant, and as such was not qualified to .sit-in Parliament. He (the Minister) had therefore instructed the Justice Department to draw Mr Hornsby's attention Ho this disqualification, and that was what was called "a political scandal." When the Prisons vote was reached, Mr Poole complimented the Government upon the excellence of the system in JNew Zealand and its reformative influence. He, however, stressed the necessity of putting long-sentence prisoners to do profitable work in the . country.—The Minister said the policv of the department was as far as pos"- . sible to assemble the prisoners in the country and keep them away from .the cities. That was why several prison farms had been established in preference to expending money on several archaic gaols. Further, in the present state of public finances it was not adexpend large sums, of money on gaols and prisons. In his opinion u ,| lo 1 to " Iloa and p akatoa Islands should be taken over and managed bv the State. b J '- r ■ » tP 1 ® a P *°J ic 11 Political Influence A H?f. ed ,-TMr Hornsby complained that political influence was still being used in connection with the Police Force, in proof of which he instanced the case of a *eatherston constable, a supporter of his, who was transferred to another station to his detriment. In another : case a constable who was repeatedly seen, under the influence of liquor was • promoted he being an ardent supporter of the Reform party. He read several letters to show that the constable in question was actively associated with the _ above party.—The Minister contended that, thei hon. member had entirely failed to show that political influence had anything to do with the transfers. They were simply made in the ordinary course of departmental • duty and on the recommendation of the .Commissioner.••_ In one case he had ''■ never heard of the man, and in- the other case he believed the constable was transferred.because he had a relative keeping a hotel in. the district. With regard to the charges of drunkenness, he would ask the member for ■ Wairarapa to substantiate his charges and if they were substantiated the man would not be in the Force for a day. , The question ■of appointing women police constables, added Mr Herdman was _ under consideration. They were making inquiries in San Francisco and elsewhere, and if the results were satisfactory it was possible that some appointments would be made.—ln reply to Mr Webb, the Hon. Mr Herdman said he could not agree to the police being allowed io form an association amongst themselves. The matter had been threshed out in the House on many occasions, but he could not see his way to alter his opinion. The total vote was passed at 10.40 p.m. •' , , , MINES. ■ On the vote of £36,485 for the Mines Department being called on,- Mr Poland asked the Minister to defer the passing of these Estimates until the Mines Statement was brought down. The document was a very important one and members had a right to see it before being asked to vote the sums asked for by the department—The Minister (Hon. W. S. D. Mac-Donald) said the Statement would be laid on the ,table on the following clay, but if members wished to see it before considering the Estimates he had no objection to holding them over.—This course was agreed to. INTERNAL AFFAIRS. : _ The Census.—A protest against taking the quinquennial census nest year was raised, several members affirming that it had no value except to determine the representation of the North and South Islands. The census would cost' £40,000, and the . expense was not warranted in a year when we ought to be exercising economy. On the . vote for the High/Commissioner's Office a discussion arose on the question of immigration. Complaint was made by Mr Payne that . young men were being brought out'who ought to be in the fighting line. This brought a denial From the Prime Minister. Such immigration, he said, had been absolutely stopped for that yery reason. Only women were being brought out. i _ W o „ tlie item "Printing Office, ; £18.327, was under discussion Mr Anderson protested against- the printing of 'Hansard' and departmental reports, contending that a great waste of money was involved in printing long reports which scarcely anyone could read. ■ n vSi°, nnoteJ ote for cental hospitals, £132,180, was passed after a brief discussion. In regard_to public health, Mr Witty said he wished to protest against the report from the Publio Health Department not" being available. total departmental vote (£408,866) was passed at 2.15 a.m., and :-■ the House rose.