POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Lake County Press, Issue 981, 26 September 1901, Page 2

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

WELLINGTON, September 20. MR J. ALLEN S CHARGES RE THE TAGUS MEN. When the House met last evening (he Allen episode was revived on a motion of which notice had been given by the Premier. It will lie remembered that on Friday night, during a. somewhat heated debate, the member for Bruce charged the Premier with having caused the death of certain returned members of the contingents by the Tagus by compelling them, against lbs recommendation of the medical officer, to land at the Bluff instead of at

a warmer part of the colony, out of a desire to please the people of Invarcargill. This statement was subsequently withdrawn. and the discussion terminated on notice of motion being given by the Filmier that the words used by Mr Allen be not repotted in ’Hansard," or tlicit the Deputy-Speaker and the Acting-Chairman of Committees (Major Steward) go through the reports of the speeches of Mr Allen and those of other bon. members as prepared for ■ Hansard,’ and delete from them any repetitions of the statement objected to. and all references to the words used by the hon. member for Bruce.

It being now proposed that tlie authority of the House lie given to the DeputySpeaker and the Chairman of Committees to revise the report of the discussion and delete all references to Mr Allen's words, Mr Massey moved as an amendment—- " That the authority of the House be given to the Deputy-Speaker and the ActingChairman of Committees, together with the particular member concerned, to revise the speeches of members delivered in Committee of Supply on the evening of the 13th September, and to delete from such speeches all repetitions, either in effect or other wise, of the words used by the member for Bruce, which said words were alter wards withdrawn.”

It was resolved ot. a division by 30 voles to 26 that the present debate be not reported in ‘ Hansard Mr Kerries protested against the liberties of members being taken away by the suppression of the reports in ‘ Hansard.’ Mr Allen was referring again to the wotds lie had used, when

The Premier challenged him to repeat outside 'he House what he had stated in the House on Friday night. Mr Alien expressed his willingness to repeat the words if the Premier wished. 'flic Premier warned the hon. member that if In* did so ho would not escape again with a mere withdrawal of the words.

Mr Allen ; L would prefer that the whole debate should appear in ’ Hansard.’ My i (-uscieii.io is perfectly clear on what I said on Friday night.

After further discussion the debate was adjourned. Mr Allen, in the course of a. personal explanation, stated that, he had made his withdrawal on Friday night for two reasons -firstly, because it was the expressed wish of members on both sides of the Mouse that he should withdraw the words; and secondly, lie withdrew the words in a til of generosity, and for no other reason. The Premier said he regretted that Mr Allen had not made that statement at the time, because he (Mr Seddon) would not have accepted the position. PUBLIC. SCHOOL TKACH HRS.

Several petitions were recently received askinj: (hat the positions in the public schools of the colony may he open to the most, suitable candidate, regardless of sex. and that in all instances equal remuneration may be. given for equal work, evidence having )>eeii given on the subject before the Public Petitions Committee, they yesterday reported (1) that the principle of equal pay for equal work is more nearly attained by the proposed colonial scale of salaries than under existing circumstances, but at the same lime the Committee are of opinion that', without increasing the cost of primary education, the proposed scale of teachers' salaries for assistants should be so adjusted as to biing about a. nearer approximation of equal pay tor equal work; (2) (hat the separate, schools for girls at present tsiablishcd be retained, and the principle extended at the discretion of education boards, a, minimum average attendance for separate schools to be fixed by regulation or otherwise; (3) that the system of classification for the issue of teachers’ certificates so long in operation, and which has ■worked so satisfactorily, be retained: (1) that the minimum salary of certificated

teachers in charge of aided schools be fixed at a cost- of not less than £7O. ARREARS OF TROOPERS’ PAY.

Further reference was made in the House yesterday afternoon to the vexed question of the delav.s that have taken place in paying returned troopers from South Africa the money due to them for their services.— Mr Allen, in questioning the Premier on tlie subject, said one man who had returned helpless had £SO to come to him. and could get nothing; and when passing through Oauiaru the other day five men of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents informed him that thev had not yet received the- pay due to them. —The Premier said no one regretted more than he that there should be any delay at all, bin he could not- accomplish impossibilities. They had to have the paysheets of the men made up before they could pay them. 'The trouble seemed to have arisen through the men not having been paid in South Africa, and the result was that the Defence Department here had to make out the accounts for months back. He told the Under-Secretary for Defence that where the men had money owing to them advances were to be made to the full amount, and that they could make out the accounts afterwards, but there was one ease in which a man had actually drawn more than was owing to him. He had given instructions thut: the staff should be kept working overtime until the accounts had all been made out. PROMISSORY OATHS. At midnight the Promissory Oaths Bill teas taken in committee. The object of the measure is to relieve justices of the necessity of taking the oaths when reappointed, and also declares that when the Sovereign dies members of the Assembly need not. take the oath to lus successor till Parliament meets. Messrs Hcrries, Massey, and G..J. Smith urged that if there was a. necessity for the measure a clause ought to be inserted validating the acts of any justices who had not taken the oath, and the Minister of Justice said ho had no objection to such a provision.

Mr Napier said that for sanitary reasons members of the medical profession and other witnesses often refused to take the oath in court. He moved that it be competent for any witness to be sworn by affirmation instead of kissing the Bible where they objected to do so on sanitary grounds.—The Hon. Mr M'Gowan objected that this was not the place to insert such a proposal, and the clause was negatived on the voices.

Air Barclay moved a new douse, as follows :—“All the official acts of any justice of the peace who has not heretofore taken the necessary oath shall be as valid as if Ihe said justice had taken the oath."—-The Premier said that if his colleague had made a promise to insert such a clause he did not like to vote .against him, but lie protested most vigorously against the suggestion that the. Government found it necessary to validate their acts. —The proposed clause was negatived by 25 to 12, the Minister of Justice being the only member of the Government voting in its favor. The Bill was reported without amendment. and after debate read a third time and passed.