THE ESTIMATES.

Lake County Press, Issue 982, 3 October 1901, Page 7

THE ESTIMATES.

SLOW PROGRESS, f From inn Evexixo Star's Coiossspondest.] WELLINGTON. September 25. Consideration of the Estimates was resumed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, the Colonial Secretary's depaument being taken. Messengers and office-keepers (£4,957). — This item was passed. Electoral Department. (£1.600). —Mr Bollard made an attack on the Registrar of Electors at Auckland, charging him with “ rigging" the tolls and improperly rejecting claims for enrolment.—The Colonial Secretary said that after the charges made, against this officer (Mr John King) on the floor of tire House last session an inquiry had been held in Wellington before a reliable official, and it was shown that- there were no grounds for the allegations made, and now repeated. There was no partisanship proved on Mr King's part. —Mr Fowlds blamed the Government for not redeeming their promise to hold a public inquiry. He asserted that hundreds of people had gone to the office a few days before the issue of the rolls, and that on going to vote they found that they were not enrolled.—The Premier warmly defended the officer, who. he declared, had discharged his duties fearlessly.—Messrs Massey, Pirani, and others urged that the conduct of the Registrar of Electors for Auckland and suburbs in improperly refusing to place certain names on the roils and striking off others ought to be inquired into.—Messrs Carucross, Fisher, and G. J. Smith pointed out that in other parts of the colony it was no uncommon occurrence for people who had voted to be struck off the roll on the assumption that they had not voted. After upwards of an hours discussion the item passed. Audit Office (£6l.294).—Agreed to.

The I'egistrar ■ General's Department (£232,704). Mr Fisher brought up the case of a temporary clerk in this department, who five years ago obtained his certificate of discharge in bankruptcy on the promise that he would pay 10s 'in the £ to his creditors, and who had not discharged any part of h:s obligation.—The Colonial Secretary said the Government would not press temporary clerks to pay debts due by them as undischarged bankrupts. He objected to be put in the position of a debt-col-lector.—Mr J. Hutcheson said the man had a very large family, and it took him all his time to make ends meet without paying old debts.—Mr Fisher complained that the individual had been writing to the Press commenting cn public men, thus showing where the shoe pinched, and what had prompted his keen hostility to the man.— Mr Pirani pointed out that many backblocks settlers had been unable, through want of time, to comply with the regulations in regard to obtainin'g exemption from vaccination of their children under the Act passed last session, and he asjeed the Minister whether he could, in special cases, extend the time within which application could be made for exemption from vaccination.—The Colonial Secretary said the people referred to by Mr Pirani were entitled to consideration, and he would see if he could possibly do anything in the direction indicated.—The total vote passed unaltered.

Agent-General’s Department (£4,600). Mr Massev asked to be enlightened as tb rumored changes in the Agent-Generalship. —The Premier replied there was no intention to make any change. The Government had not heard from Mr Reeves that he was dissatisfied, and, as far as the Government were concerned, they were perfectly satisfied. He considered New Zealand was worthily and well represented at Honte at the present time.—Mr Monk complained of misleading cables having been sent to New Zealand bv the Agent-General when the Boer War 'was at its height. Exception was also taken to his Fabian views.—-The Premier sard that Mr Reeves’s statements had since been borne out bv ' official records.—Messrs G. J Smith Buddo. Kn-ij, and Ri| t ni )U te to the Agent-Gmevafis work.—Messrs T. Mackenzie and WHheford. speaking from nersonal contact with At,- Reeves in don. declared that £1.500 was insufficient "to ma-nfain the Agent-General’s position.— The item passed unaltered. Printn'g and Stationery Department (£25,175).—Mr Pirani contended that £B.OOO a vear could be made through the use of monolines, the most modern form of type-setting machine.—The Hon. Hall- , Tones claimed that he had acted wisely in not adopting the suggestion made a year ago in favor of the introduction of the linotype into the Government Printing Office. The monoline (£250) could be obtained at one-third of the cost of the linotype (£700). It was his intention to see how the monoline worked before deciding as to its adoption.—Messrs Pirani and Massey protested against the printing of the ‘ Premier’s Trip to the South Sea Islands ’ as a useless and unnecessary waste of public money, and an improper use of the Government Printing Office.—Mr Fisher urged that there was no necessity to hurry into the purchase of either the linotype or the monoline, and thus hurry printers' to their dooom.—The Premier said they must recollect that the linotype’s had already replaced a large number of men. No injury had yet been done, as some of these had found other employment ; but he urged that they should avoid taking any step which would displace a large number of men at one time. As to his South Sea Island trip, the time would come when they would not ridicule his visit to that new portion of the colony.—-The total voto passed unaltered. Public Health Department (£12,784). — The Colonial Secretary - , in reply to Mr Massey, said that the establishment of this department had already saved the colony many hundreds of thousands of pounds, and that if was a useful and valuable department. —Mr Buddo could not help thinking that we were running riot in our fear of disease. He had no idea that the. legislation passed last session would have meant such a heavy expenditure.—Mr Collins urged that the Public Health Department should disseminate- for the benefit of the public the largest and most reliable information as to the maintenance of health and the spread of disease.—The Minister agreed with that suggestion, and pointed out that the department had already issued circulars on the subject of consumption and the treatment of infants. —Mr G. W. Russell complained that the Public Health Act Was not being administered in the spirit in which it was intended by the Legislature. He was a believer in economy, but he did not think this was a department in which it should be exercised. If the work of the department was carried out efficiently, he was prepared to vote as much as the Government wanted.-—Mr Hogg said that, despite the existence of the Health Department. various maladies wore prevalent in the community—typhoid, measles, scarlet fever, and the epidemic called influenza, which he. believed to be malaria brought here from South Africa. —The Hon. Mr Ward said that since dune last (he department had been ceaseless in its activity in regard to the public health. The Chief Health Officer had visited every part of the colony, and the local bodies had co-operated very effectually. Malaria was only known among the returned troopers. It eras unknown in New Zealand, but influenza was known years before any men went to or returned from South Africa.—Mr Thomas

Mackenzie thought that power should be given to the department to deal with offensive trades, which constituted a serious drawback to, at any rate, the health of the children. There was no power to deal with offensive industries already in existence. — After further discussion, the total vote passed unaltered. The Colonial Secretary then moved to ic port progress, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 11.40, to resume consideration of the Estimates this afternoon. WELLINGTON, September 26. The discussion on Mr La wry's amendment to going into Supply lasted something less than halt an hour, and was conducted by members of the Opposition, who protested against the Government puttingup one of their supporters with a bogus proposal, the effect of which was to take up the time of the House, when members were prepared to go on with the business of tlie country. A division was called for by Mr Pirani, and twenty-eight members voted in favor of holding the next session " in the more congenial climate of Auckland,” while thirty-four voted in favor ot proceeding with the Estimates.

A start was made with the offices of Industries and Commerce, £8.908. -Mr <!. J. Smith expressed disappointment with the manner in which this department was being run, contrasting Cook and Sons' tourist agency with it. It badly wanted galvanising into life.—The Colonial Secretary explained that the object of the department was not competitive, but to enable the colony to obtain fresh markets and to push those already established. He admitted that there was cause for dissatisfaction. but the department had just been reorganised. He believed that henceforth there would be no ground for adverse criticism. lie strongly advocated that vessels should trade direct to South Africa and back.—Mr G. W. Russell thought that Mr Donne’s appointment was exceptional so far as the Tourist Department was concerned, but his want of knowledge in commercial matters did not adapt him for a secretarial position in regard to industries and commerce.—Mr J. Allen pressed for information us to the amount of grain purchased for South Africa by the Imperial Government; while Mr Laurenson found fault with the colony for relying too largely on London as an outlet for its products. He urged the necessity of widening our markets, and declared that if the department did not justify its existence within the ensuing year it ought to be abolished.— Mr Millar objected to Mr Donne’s appointment at a salary of £SOO. saying that lie had been taken out of the Railway Department, where he had been drawing £4OO. with no immediate prospect of an increase.—Mr Pirani suggested that the Tourist and Industries Department should take charge of the Government advertising, and run it on business-like principles. —Sir J. G. Ward promised to make a note of the suggestion.—ln answer to Mr T. Mackenzie, the Colonial Secretary stated that Mr Gow (the trade expert) was instructed to ascertain the possibility of establishing payable cool stores in London.— The vote eventually passed unaltered.

Tourist and Health Resorts Department, £16.147.—The Colonial Secretary, in answer to Mr Herries, stated that provision for baths at Rotorua and Tc Aroha would be found on the Public Works Estimates.— Mr J. Allen urged that a first-class expert should be employed in England to take charge of the whole of the thermal districts of the North Island, and wished lo know whether flic curative powers of the waters at Waiotapu had been properly tested. He believed that they were more efficacious than Rotorua.—The Colonial Secretary promised that efforts should he made, through the Agent-General, to gel a first-class balneologist at a reasonable salary to take charge of the whole of the baths in the colony. It was intended to establish tour- ’ ists’ offices in each of the four centres, where information would be obtainable as to what advantage the colony possessed for tourists. He believed that Haunter Springs would be more largely availed of in the future than they had been in the past, and the House might take his assurance that none of the sanatoriums, which were a large asset, to the colony, would be ne-glected.-—Messrs Guinness. Wilford. and others advocated the necessity of additional free beds for the treatment of those suffering from rheumatism and other diseases who were unable to pay for their own treatment. The vote passed as printed. Miscellaneous services, £18.598.—Mr .1. Hutcheson moved that the item “Copies of ‘Review of Reviews’ for Australasia for January. 1901. £260," he struck out.—-The Colonial Secretary explained that 10.000 copies were ordered, of which 5.000 were sent to the Agent-General, and the balance issued in the colony.—A protracted debate (which is reported elsewhere) a- to whether the magazine had developed pro Boer proclivities followed.—The amendment was eventually negatived by 57 to 19. Mr Pirani thereupon moved that the item be reduced by £l, as an indication that the expenditure ought not to have been incurred.—This was negatived by 55 to 22. and with the vote still under consideration progress was reported. WELLINGTON. September 27. Under the heading “ Miscellaneous Services,” in the Colonial Secretary’s Department, the vote of £5,800 for the Federal Commission was reached at midnight.—Mr Thos. Mackenzie held that the agriculturists of this colony were not at oil adequately represented on this Commission.—The Premier said that there would be a special day set apart for a debate on this subject.—Mr Mackenzie moved that the vote should be reduced by £5 as an indication that the House considered that the representation of small farmers on the Commission was not adequate.—-Mr Fisher held that some members of the Commission did not understand the ABC of Australian Federation. The Premier had declared himself an anti-Federalist, and the personnel of the Commission left little doubts that they had been selected to voice his views.—Mr Massey declared himself a staunch Fedorationist; at the same time, he recognised that to set apart a day at the present time for the consideration of the subject would be time wasted. He found fault with the Government for not placing on the Commission any representative of the most important class of the colony—the small farmer.— Mr Fisher said that he had had the pleasure of chatting on Australian Federation with Messrs Reid. Barton, and Deakin. and he contrasted such political giants as them with the personnel of the New Zealand Commission. -Mr Pirani characterised ilic expenditure on the Federation Commission as a useless waste of public money. The only pity was that the whole amount could not he struck off the Estimates.---Mr Fisher said that Captain Russell, as nominal Leader of the Opposition, ought not to have accepted a position on this Commission, li was an indefensible waste of public money, and did no credit to the colony, or the Legislature, or the Government.--The Premier protested against the action of the last speaker in attacking the members of the Federation Commission. They were quid' capable of holding their own with any Australian statesmen they might meet. The report made to Parliament was the only outcome of the evidence. To have overlooked Captain Russell as a. member of the Commission would have, been an act of discourtesy, seeing that, the him. member had previously been a member of the Federal Conference which met in Hobart some years

ago.--At 12.50 Mr Graham moved to report progress. The House had been listening to academical speeches which had no bearing on the Estimates. The Premier said thai the Committee were anxious to come in a division on the question of reducing the vole for the expenses uf tile Federation Commission, and the member for Xeison had intercepted thai. That was not the way tu expedite the business. —The 1110tion to report progress was negatived on the voices, and the proposal to reduce the expenses of the Federation Commission by £5 was rejected. Mr denies inquired whether it was true that, the auxiliary oil-engine schooner for tlie Conk and other islands had proved un-suitable.—-The Premier replied in the negative. There wen- no particulars at present about a. strike among the crew.—-Mr Hutchcson suggested that the- Premier should agree to report progress, but Mr Seddon said he was determined to put the Class through. The Committee had spent four nights over it. -At 1.35 Mr Graham moved to report progress, which was lost by 29 to 20.

The item " Payment to Reuter's Telegram Company for special telegrams. £300,” gave rise to much discussion.—Mr Herries complained that the telegrams sent by the Government through this agency were tinged with political color, and he moved to reduce, the item by £1. —Sir J. G. Ward said that till the telegrams received by the Government were not sent to the newspapers. Many of them were for public purposes, but not for publication.—The motion was negatived by 30 to 12. On the item “General contingencies, £4,500." Mr Hutcheson moved the reduction of £l6l, being the cost of photos in connection with the Premier’s South Sea Islands trip.—Mr Seddon said that this expenditure was authorised and liquidated last year. It was not included in this year’s contingencies.—The motion was negatived on the voices. The remaining items of “ miscellaneous services” were passed unaltered, and the total vote (£183.188) for the Colonial Secretary’s department agreed to. Progress was then reported, Mr Seddon intimating that the Estimates would be made the first Order of the Day for this afternoon. The House rose at 2.45 a.m.