LATEST PARLMENTARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6763, 21 July 1883, Page 4

LATEST PARLMENTARY.

(Continued from page 6.) The House met s.t half-past seven, DEBATE EKSTJMED.

The debate was resumed by Mr. Dick. It had been said that the work of the Colonial Secretary's office could be done by one instead of three clerks. That was simply nonsense. There was all the correspondence of New Zealand to be done, besides a great deal of correspondence outside the colony. In all the departments under him the staff was as low as possible to do the work. Mr. Seddon, in his remarks, had shown that he was one of those who were prepared to shed the lost drop of his brother's blood in the cause of retrenchment; last year he was the strong ,'idvocate of the honorarium being increased to £300. Take the Postal and Telegraph Departments. He did not know how it was possible to make any reductions. The officers in them were faithful to their trust, despite the strong temptations they had to the contrary, but they were overworked and wretchedly under-paid. He could not agree in the gloomy picture drawn by Mr. Turnbull of the colony's position and prospects.

Mr. M. W. Green believed that savings could be effacUd, but they would have to go about is very carefully. If the motion was carried, it would mean that some fcr:flin« additions made to salaries last year would be taken off this year, thereby creating a feeling of insecurity. Unless they could point out officers that were unnecessary, or else salaries that were over-paid, then, by imposing au all round reduction, they were in effect imposing a class tax on the Civil Service.

Mr. FitzGesald appealed to members that this was a vote of confidence, and that those who voted against the Government lea ling these benches on the other motions would do well to pause before they recorded their vote with the ayes on this occasion, as undoubtedly its effect would be to a change

of administration. Government had "nntlßr : taken to appoint a commission with the vimT : of reorganising the Civil Service. 'With I,w' -■ promise staring them in the face, he ccnM not see how members could vote for amo-ie like this. The service should be of track nature as to attract to its rinks th» be'* available talent. He considered that a ver» bad thiDg was done in abolishing the txm«nT system. The extent of the Civil Service" was due to the fact that every hamlet anil village demanded all the appliances 0*- ' civilisation, and they could no Sbe refused *" Mr. Geokge said that what the ulterior motion aimed at was not the recasting ofthe estimates, hut simply that thev shnnii" be reduced £50,000. In fact, it in effect, the same motion as haiT been moved in 18S1, by Mr. Saunders when the ten per cent, reduction wag made. The other side had challenge them to say where a single redaction couli be made. They would be asked to vote the expenses of members of the other House • h» would suggest that that; should be disallowed That would effect a saving of, say £5000. A | reduction might bs made in the armed con! i stabalary. Every thing.was quiet in theKicw r Country, and why not reduce the number" say by 100 men, which would be more saving. There were far too many civil s er . ! vauts ; that was evident from the fact thatthey did not begin work until ten o'clock and knocked off at four. They could well be employed for an extra hour or two daily. By that means they could very well reduce the number. Mr. Hobbs spoUe in opposition to mo-ion. He would not.help to place Opposition on the Treasury benches. In hj r part of the colony the Civil Servants were, as a rule, overworked and underpaid. Mr. Swaksox said there was plenty ofother means for eßecting the saving, irjr] 6 r pendent altogether of the Civil Service. He denied th -t his motion was a want of confi. dence. The Government could make the reduction if it chose. It was a notorious fact that the Civil Service of the colony was ' looked upon as a refu»o for the destitute. Government were afraid to dhcbar«e Rome--of these, as their friends had power to makeit vety awkward to the Government. Mr. Smith pointed out the Hospital vote as one which might very well be knocked off That item might very well be ri'dnced£2o,ooo. They had been told by Government that no reductions could be made. That at once disposed of the assertion that itwas for Government to make these: redactions. If reductions were to be ms<!e, ther could only do so by supporting the motioa. The committee divided .-—Ayes, 'H; noe> 43. Division List :—Ayes,' 3* : Barron Bathgate, Bracken, J. Buchanan, BanieL Dargavilie, DeLautonr, Duncan, Feldwick Pish, George, J. Green, Grey, Holmes' Hutcheson, Ives3, Joyce, Levestam, Mac' andrew, A. McDonald, Montgomery, Moss, Pilliett, Sheehan, Shephard, Shrimski' Smith, Steward, Swanson, J. TV. Thomson' Tole, Turnbull. W. White, "Wright. Noes', 43 : Atkinson, Beetham, J. E. Brown, Bryce' W. C. Buchanan, C»nolIy, Dick, Dodson* Fergus, FitzGerald, Fulton, M. W. Green) Hobbs, Hurst, Hursthouse, C. J. Johß3t<m, W. W. Johnston, Kelly, Larnach, Lee, P. W. Mackenzie, Mason, McMillan, Mitchelson, Morris, Munro, O'Callaghan, Pearson, Petrie, Postlethwaite, Kolleston, Shaw, Sutter, Tawhai, Tomoana, Trimble, Watt, Whitaker, J. B. White, I. C. Wilson, Wynn WiL Hams. Pairs :—Ayes.: Tainroa, Seddon, J, C. Brown, Cadman, Harris, J; McELenzie, '1 e Wheoro. ' Noes: Allwright, Driver, Stevens, Levin, H. Thomson, Mcllwraith,. J. Wilson. The vote CtJonial Secretary's office £1595, was then put. Mr. Jorci: said that, after the vote taken,. the best thin;,' they could do was to pas 3 the 'item ingCobo. They had been told that no reductions would be made, and there was an end of it. . Mr. Fish concurred in that opinion, adding that those who desited an economical administration should leave the Chamber, and let the Governmeut do as they, chose. Major Atkinson said that he hoped they would remain, and do their duty—that was, discuss the various votes ; and if they could show that anyone was unnecessary, Government would consent to the reduction. The vote was then put and passed. Mr. Fish moved reporting progress. He pointed to the vote of £30,000 for buildings with a failing revenue and a proposal for in. creased taxation. They might very well dispense with these at present. It. was no nse entering into discussion on the subject. Itataa simply wasting time to remain and. discuss these items. There was another item for Ministerial residences. Now,. Ministers were paid very well considering the state of the country without this act of extravagance. Again they had £SOOO for the Hittemoa. If he proposed to strike that out, Government would at once call on its majority aad get the vote passed. It was no use attempting to check these votes. Looking over the Estimates he contended that at least £5f>,000 might be saved; and yet, when they attempted doing it, they were met by the Government majority, and the f?as they were able to do nothing. Major Atkinson denied that the expenditure of this year was greater thairlast, What he had to complain -of was that members would not read the statements he had placed before them. ~ Mr. Hutchison said that, what they wanted was a plain statement of figures, a debtor and creditor account, showing hoff things stood. Sir G. Grey said there was not a fair statement of debtor and creditor account. In the statement they were told that they would get any returns they might ask for. A lengthened discussion ensued. Mr. Fish said that Sir G. Grey had been most unjustly aspersed by the Government, but his reputation would be remembered when the Government and it 3 followers had received its merited odium.. Mr. Hutchison blamed Mr. Bolleston for having shown so much pettisliness in ihs defence of bis character. At a little past one o'esock Mr. Seeehas . asked the Government if they would be willing to report progress when this debate was over, as if so he would only occupy a few minutes. Atkinson said the Government would not consent to report progress. They still had 24 hours before them, and the Government were determined to go on with the business. Mr. Sheehan then continued speaking for about 20 minutes, when he was succeeded by Mr. Joyce, who spoke briefly. Mr. O'Callaghan characterised the proceedings of the night as almost a disgrace tothe House. Mr. Seddon is now speaking again. [Left sitting.] [BT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL KEPORTEX.] SIR G. GREY'S NATIVE LAND BILL I understand that an agreement has been arrived at between Sir G. Grey and the promoters of the Native Land Company's Bill, by which the former will give their support to the Native Land Act Amendment Bill, brought in by Sir George. It is expected that some of the Government supporters will also vote for the Bill. • MR. PILLIETT. The latest lobby rumour is that MrPilliett, who is known to be in a very precarious state of health, intends resigning for Stanmore in favour of the Hon. E. RicharoV son, a former Minister of Public Works. MR. SWANSON'S MOTION. The Opposition to-night was pretty confident of a small majority on Mr. Swansea's motion for sending back the Estimates, or at least a division so close as to make it rather unpleasant for Ministers. The provincial party were also jubilant over Mr. Swanson's action, as being calculated to strengthen, them in the House. THE HOUSE IN COMMITTEE. _. 1.30 a.m.. The desultory discussion in committee i£ still proceeding. Mr. Fish has made a long speech. Messrs. Fish, Seddon, Joyce, Tarnbull, and Hutchison, and other members of the Opposition, are talking against tuneMajor Atkinson has announced that the--Government will not report progress until some progress is made with the Estimates. It W2ll probably be bright daylight beier* the House adjourn. The Government having a majority, of course they can keep th e House sitting a3 loDg as they like.