PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10122, 1 November 1917, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, (Pbb Fhkbh Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 31. The House lestimecl al 2. p.m. Mr Walker expressed- approval of tin proposal suggested by Mr Olcey that. ; ootius of £2 per ion be given for the pro iMictioii ol pig iron, with a view to assist ing the iron industry, He also complained tlmt so little had been done to reduce tin cost of living. .

Mr Webb contended that the Otira tunnel should be brought under the Milling Act, as the working conditions weio extremeh unhealthy. ,\ more rigid inspection mi: urgently needed by a qualified mining in siwetor,' to say nothing of v. more ivinpa luetic Minister.

Mr Hunter complained of an unequal ship incut of frozen lamb, pointing ouf thai from Wellington 40G.000 carcases had br-t.-n liber atcd for export, us against 100.000 carcase* from the rest ol the \orfh I land. There was a feeling that the port of Wellington vol ■ rei i iving undue preference,. A motion to go into Committee of Supply to consider the Supplementary Estimate? was i hen put. and carried, and the llous. then went into Committee

Speaking to the proposed increase of £25 to the second clerk assistant to the lloust of Representatives, Mr Anderson contended that there should be no bonus or increases in (he salaries when the Government had told the House that they could not nfiord to give-, better pensions to tie widow- and children of soldiers

Sir Joseph Ward said that it was absurd to suppose that, even though we were in war time, there svere no instances in which incieases should be made to salaries. Thi officer had been in the Department for 25 years and he could not. live on the salan considering his responsibilities. His predecessor received £-135, and there were very few instances where salaries over £350 had be..n increased, and these were cases. The following votes Were passed : -l.egis Intivc Department £6860, Department ol Finance £3750. Pod. and Telegraph Depart mcnl £74.790. On this vote, .Mr Sykos nsked if some more equitable method could not !>• devised of distributing the war bonus.

Sir Joseph Ward said that this matter had been gone into by the Public Service Commissioner, and he. found that tier" was a gteat difiicultv in the way of doing a-. f.h< lion, member suggested. A circular, sent, out by the Post and Telegraph Asociation to its members regarding the pay ot tin lower-paid officers, would not stand investigation lor a moment, the whole position being put in a most unfair manner. On the next vote, working railways £274,038, in reply to Mr Young, the Minister foi RuUwav.s said that an extra allowance lo married railway men would commence on December 8. Other votes were:—Public Buildings and Domains, etc., £1270, Native Department £1396, Justice Department £28,024. Replying to Mr Webb, the Hon. Mr Hanaii said that the nuniber of prison warders were being increased with the object of reducing the hour:, worked by these ofli-<-,:is, but lie- could not agree with a state ment thai! the warders, work 70 hours a

week. He was nol going lo wa.te public money by setting up a commission to enquire'into thi n matter, a.-, he was quitecap able of enquiring into it himself; This hi would do and make a statement to tie , lou;.e next, session. Replying to a question, the Hon. Mr Ruf sell said that in had rc nlly k'C-n looking into the. question of illegitimate, births in the Dominion ajid had found to his smpn.thal during the year 1914, there were ion. -•iris under 13 who- gave birth to children; further, during the past four years, 472 girls of 17 years and under had given birth to children and he intended to give instructions to Registrars that, in future, when the [acts disclosed that a girl under 16 has given birth to a child, particulars must, be supplied to the. Commissioner of Police for u searching enquiry. On the vote to the Mines Department ol £6750. Mr Isitt expressed the hope that in spite, of the war, the Minister would not be timid an.l refuse to spend money on development work. . On the vote to the Department ol Interna Affairs of £101,545, Dr. Newman questioned the additional salary of £SCC to (he private secretary to the Governor-General. Sir Joseph Ward explained that, the war had increased the work of the Governor General's staff at least thirty tunes, and much of it should rightly be paid for by tin Dominion. ~ „.,.„ Mr Fletcher challenged the item of £I6OO for the official war correspondent He described the payment as waste ot money, and moved that the item be reduced by £1 as an indication that the correspondent be recalled. - , Mr Massev said that the money was eithei due or paid.' and must be voted. He defended the work of (.'apt. Malcolm Ross, quoting favourable opinions from Generals UKtlev and Russell, who thought New _ Zealand would suffer if Capt, Ross was withdrawn. The work of Capt, Ross was an invaluable advertisement to New Zealand, as shown by the publication of his articles in the British papers His salary was £450 and £2 10s a day travelling expenses. If members chose to strike the item out they must take the responsibility. . Messrs Wilford, Isitt, and Hon. Mr Rhodes defended the retention of Capt. Ross Messrs Witty. Thacker, McCallum, and Pavne supported his withdrawal. On a division, Mr Fletcher's motion was lost by 33 votes to 13. The votes for the Defence Department (£5-563), Customs and Marine (£7034). Labour Department. (£930), Lands and Survey Department (£26.699), ami Agricultural Department (£42,470) were also passed. (Pbb Pmbs Association.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 1. Replying to Dr. Newman, Sir Joseph Ward stated that clause 32 meant that alt the twelve Cabinet, Ministers would be paid full salaries when the additional Minister was appointed. Payment, was antedated one year. The Bill was then reported from committee without, amendment. On the motion for the third reading, Mr I'avne. was about to speak, when the Premier" suggested that the Hansard reporters be relieved, as thev had been on duty since 9.30 that morning. This suggestion was taken by the Labour party as an attempt to gag them, and they entered an emphatic protest against such attempt. Mil Massey denied that lie had any idea of the kind, and if there was no intention on part of the members to debate the Hill at great length, he. would not ask the Speaker to have the reporters relieved. Mr McGoruba said the debate would have be,'li over in five minutes if the Premier had not interfered. Mr Masse.v said: "Very well, let the debate proceed." Me--srs Payne, Webb, McCombs, and Witch then "spoke briefly. The Bill was read ,i third time and passed, and the House rose at 12.30 tili 10.30 y..m. to-day. I'llF. t.'HEF.SK .\.\l) BUTTER OUTPUT. U'uom Una Paruamentabt Repobteb.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 31. Mr Massey slated this evening that re pre-.-'■illative.-, ol the cheese producers had agreed to accent the Imperial Government s .-Iter to buy this season's output of cheese it 9UI i). i pound. A tew minor detail.-, had ,t;l. u>-"b-. adjusted. He was informed that ilic output would be about 50,000 tons. Mr Mas ey addid that lie had still to arrange matters with the butter producers, but had no (toubl an agreement would be reached. i'.v i\ iiid.\ FUR I v'l,./ SM'K.u,]'.. ine Appropriation Ulti introduced to.ii ~ii i ......in.-, .i clause uulliorisilig the ..i.utst i ioi I'liiuiice io raise sunia not c.i-.e-viting xai-U.UUU lor uiv [niiposo ol providing colli storage, l lie .>»iuiM.r ,"'\* iii.uv,- advances to companies u>r uii-> pur po»e on terms to be at, ~iii,e.i. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. Among tin- items on. the Supplemi niary EslllliaUS ail! Hie tollowillg: svar burntuiui increased allowances to railway servants, Advances to otl-bo.mg companies, ■MUuU; .-alary, allowances, ami expiu.-n s in .jtliciaJ war col i esponui 111, i-iouU ; aumin.s iration oi the Military Seivieo Act, ti'AJ.uuu; ,egi nail.,,. ,u ..in ii.-,'. iiZOUU; adiiiini-tra.ioii ,i o icial nygiii.e .Ait, JbiOuO; medical am. uui.-ing si;-. i.-i-.-.- i!i country ui.-irn-is, iiLuu, amtilioiial exp.ii.M6 in c.mn ciioii With kuie.Holograph turns laUi.ii in France and else ■ihem lor pat.iwii'.-anu utnt r purposes, t/ioO ; esu.ili.-hiiunt and uianitenuucc ol N.Z. no.piiul at Fttamoioi.s (in France), iiiOoti Aditioiis i.o iiiu'Juital allowances tor sehoo. ..'omuiitieis, i/JUUO; grant to cover exptns.i .A visit oj Prime .uii...uer and MinistU' I'm Finance to England, grant to cover (expenses of private sicrctarics accompanying Ministers, £IOOO.