PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 31, 30 August 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

House of Representatives. Telegraph. Pross Association Copyright Wellington, August 29. The House met at 2.30. Mr Seddon announced to the House that the Public Works Statement was in its final stages of preparation, and be could have kept hia promise made some time ago to bring it down to day, but he thought it advisable to first dispose of the question whether the House should resolve itself into Committee of the Whole to consider the land proposals of which he had given notice. Mr Massey said he could not understand why the Public Works Statement was to be delayed unless it was because the Premier intended to take one of the amendments given notice of on the land question as a want of confidence motion. Mr Seddon, referring to the Imprest Supply Bill, which was to be brought down that afternoon said the bickering and baiting of Ministers and the wilful waste of time that had accompanied the Supply Bills this session were driving the Government to consider the advisability of obtaining power to make an Imprest Supply Bill cover three months instead of one month. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, to consider an Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Herdruan moved as an amendment, " That with a view to securing the colony's efficiency and security in the administration of the various State Departments, this House is of opinion that the public service of the colony should be managed and controlled by a Public Service Board." Sir Joseph Ward said Mr Herdman had evidently endeavoured to convey to the country an impression that Ministers had been doing improper things in connection with appointments to the Civil Service, but he ventured to say that no old member of Parliament would say that any good had ever been done by indulging in such philippics against Ministers. Mr Massey said if the Opposition got into power one of the first enactments would be to establish a Civil Service Board. Despite what Sir Joseph Ward had said, he urged it could not be denied that a feeling of insecurity was abroad in the Colony. Mr Seddon charged the Opposi tion with obstructing business, aaying that the appointment of a Public Service Board would take off the shoulders of the Government the responsibility of carrying on the Civil Service. The New Zealand Service was much superior to that of Australia. After the Telegraph office closed further discussion took place on the Imprest Supply Bill. Mr Seddon, referring to the railway superannuation scheme, said the Bill had only been in operation since 1903, and it would not be fair to the fund or to the Minister of Railways to investigate the fund at the present time. After further discussion the Bill passed its final stages on the voices. The House rose at 4 a.m.