PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 260, 20 October 1911, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Oct. 19. The Council met at 2.30. RESOLUTIONS AGREED TO. The Pacific Cable resolution pass ed by the House of Representatives was agreed to. as was also the report of the Joint Library Committee affirming the desirableness of establishing a manuscript and historical section in connection with the library. NEW PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS. A discussion, initiated by Mr. Wigram, on the question of the new Parliamentary Buildings, especially regarding the site, brought an expression of thanks from the Attor-ney-General and a promise that the matter would be referred to the Cabinet for careful consideration. WIDOWS PENSIONS BILL. The second reading of the Widows’ Pensions Bill was agreed to, Sn John Findlay indicating that an amendment would be submitted to prevent widows who earned large incomes by means of a profession or arts getting advantages which were not intended for widows of means. FINAL STAGES.

The following bills were put through their final stages: —Me a >- dist Church of New Zealand dill. Elingamite Rehearing Bill, Dun“-,.m Technical School Site Bill, Old Ag_Pcnsions Amendment Bill, Xcw Z.ealand State Guaranteed Adv a e .‘T.nendnient Bill, and AuckLm.l Grammar School Site Bill. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In the House this afternoon :i leng discussion took place upon tLt amendments made by Li- Louiic-1 in the Guardian Trust im; Extcii tors Company Bill.

Mr. Herdman contended that the amendments did not safeguard the people w*hose estates might be administered in the future by the company. So far as he could see there was nothing to prevent the directors iroiu dissipating capital. Sir Joseph Ward failed to see any objections to the bill. A new conipanv had taken over the* rights of the old company anil proposed to carry on the business under new conditions. The bill had received the orsent of the Public Trustee. Mr. Massey and Mr Fraser ap > ved of the bill, and the ,’..,incil s miendments were agreed to i.y 38 to ELECTORAL ROLLS. Mr Massey asked what had been done with regard to the electoral matter he brought up yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward stated that de finite instructions had been given to strike off the names of those dead, or who had left the aistrict. The whole matter was receiving the closest attention. END OF SESSION. Sir Joseph Ward informed the House that he did not propose to ask them to sit on Saturday. On Monday the House would sit at 10 a.in. to consider local bills, and the business of the House should be concluded by Tuesday night. PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill was read the first time.

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee on the Public Works Estimates.

On the departmental vote of £48,t)()() Mr. Herdman moved a reduction of the Undcr-Seeretary’s salary of £B5O by £l<) as an indication that legislation should be introduced to almlish the pernicious system of construction of roads in the J)omin:on at the will of a Minister of the Crownj Only about a third of the amount voted last year had been expended. Sir Joseph Ward said it was all very well to criticise in the way Mr. Herdman had done the expenditure of the Public Works Department. The expenditure went on to the end of September, and the Estimates were made up to March 31st. ■ The Committee resumed consideration of the Public Works Estimat-s it 7.30 on the proposal to reduce the sahirv of the Under-Secretary Ln Public Works. Sir Joseph Ward said the Opposition evidenlty overlooked the fact r-hat a large perceritage of this ■.ear’s appropriations were really unexpended amounts voted last

Mr. Massey argued that the svsem should lie remedied. Mr. McKenzie said this was impossible, as if he rushed the expen liture, through in the sunmiei months hundreds of men would he out of work in the winter, which .vas most undesirable. Mr. Herdman said what he wanted to make clear was that districts requiring votes and grants were at the mercy of the Minister, and that members who were not persona grata with the Minister got nothing. Bir Joseph Ward said Mr. Herdnan would hand everything over to boards, to aristocrats.

Mr. Jennings said the abolition of the Roads Department was one of he biggest mistakes ever made. He knew of settlers who had been on the land for fifteen years, who had only a six-foot road for carting their produce and stores Mr. Allen was of opinion that the •oads should be administered by the local bodies, who were in the best position to know what was wanted. The present system was unsatisfactory, as too much money was voted to some districts and not enough to others. The Minister stated that the administration of the Roads Department in Mr. -Jennings district had •ost more than in the whole of the South Island. Mr. Massey said Parliament and the cotttilry were sick of the present system of administration of roads and bridges, ami were desirous of a change. He agreed with Mr. Jennings that a huge mistake had been made when the Roads Department was abolished by a stroke of the

ien. The dcp.-i rt merit was doing jood work before its extinction, .and ts officers were thoroughly conversant wit'n their work. He advoi-at-*.d a system of classifying the differ•nt districts for expenditure on pubic works. If the present system vas to continue, he was of opinion chat no money should be placed on be Estimates, except at the request if local bodies or the member of he district concerned. ?vlr. Herdman’s amendment was ost bv 10 to 23. The Public Works Vote, JCtS.oOO. .fas passed unaltered.

When t-ke Railways Class was ;*>ken. Mr. Dive moved that the z.jte of .£15,000 for Mount Egmont >e reduced by £lO as a protest igainst the unbusinesslike methods jf the Government in regard to the onstruction of the line, lie said io had never seen any work worse tdministered. It seemed that the minister was absohiti-h incompetent <> attend to the administration of he Department.

After midnight the amendment ■vas carried, and the vote reduced bv £lO.

M>-. Duncan complained that the rote of £55,000 for the South Island \lairi Trunk line was too small. ?romises made in Hie past were not veing fulfilled, and the w*ork should ie carried out with more expedition. The line should take precedence of ’JI others.

In reply the Minister said he con•idered that the South Island Mam Trunk line was receiving verv good reatment in regai-d to votes. He ook a- keen interest m Marlborough, mil tried to assist members of tlie hstrict as much as possible. The Railway Vote was passed. On tne Irrigation and Mater Supilv Vote, the Minister, in reply to a question, said, the department had aitisfied itself chat there was sufficient water available to supply ample low er to work the Arthur s Pass amnel traitic electrically. The vote was passed.