PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. progress OF bills. The Win» Act Amendment Bill, and the Local Courts Proceedings Bill were read A firSt time. The Mount Somers Road Board Impowerinp Bill was committed and reported with amendments. , * The Ellesmere Lake Lands Bill was read & second time. the land bill. The Land Act Amendment Bill was com>lr. Bonar moved to strike out clause 17 having reference to the constitution o Land Boards. • , On the division, the clause was retained, and the Council adjourned till half-past "X'resuming the Land Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, and reported with amendments. mining BILL. The Mining Act, 1886, Amendment Bill was further considered. . . nn , Clause 12, referring to provision as to arbitration, was struck out. Mr. Buckley moved that progress be reported with leave to sit again. The committee divided : Ayes, J , noe^, 1 The Bill was then reported with amendments. married women. The Attorney -Gen kralmoved the second reading of the Married Women's Property Extension Bill. . „ The Council divided : Ayes, 9 ; noes, 1OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. Mr Stevens moved the committal of the aval and Military Settlers and Volunteers k>lr. Watkk.house moved that the Bill be read this day three months. Sir George Wiutmore moved the adjournment of the debate. Carried. The Council rose at 10.35 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday. The House met at half-past two p.m. answers to QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the erection of a rabbit-proof fence on Miller'* run, Waitaki district, had been authorised by the Minister of Lands at a co*t of £650 ; that the reason why a promise wks made in May last that grain should be charged by actual weight on railways was in order that farmers might be made acquainted with the proposed charge before next session ; that copies ot "Manual of Grasses and Plants Useiul to New Zealand" would be sent to country libraries and institutes ; that no funds were available for completing the Wellington and Woodville Railway to Newman and Pahiatua. MONDAY SITTINGS. Sir H. Atkinson moved, "That the House, at its rising, adjourn till Monday, at half-past two, for Government business. ' Agreed to. the school age.

On the motion that, the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Ta.vnkk moved as an amendment, " That in the financial condition of the colony it is desirable to amend the Education Act by rapine the school age to seven years. He hoped the House would go into this question and consider it fully, as he contended it had not yet been properly put before the House. If the amendment were carried he did not propose that it should take effect at once, but that due notice should be given to teacher? of the proposed change. He spoke on tne Question at some length, and quoted from figures to prove that if his proposal to withdraw 20,000 children of seven years and under from the public schools were agreed to it would result in a saving to the colony of no less than £30.000. while only £9000 would be saved by the withdrawal of children of six and under that age. Dr. Hoik;kinds' supported the amendment, and said they should consider it entirely apart irom the financial aspect of the question. Mr. Mackenzie (Clutha) opposed the amendment, as it a cited country schools, and said the question had been already disposed of. Sir H. Atkinson said, now that his hon. friend had made his speech, which no doubt would have due weight with the country, he hoped he would withdraw the amendment, seeing that the House was hardly disposed at 'this juncture to again discuss this question. Mr. Tanker entirely disclaimed having made his remarks in order tnat they might appear in Hansard. Sir H. Atkinson" said the hon. gentleman quite misunderstood him, as he had no intention of conveying such an impression. The motion for going into Committee of supply was carried by 64 to 10, and the amendment was lost. Mr. Fclton said he had voted with the ayes " on this occasion, as the matter had already been discussed, and he thought it was desirable to get on with Supply. Sir J. Hall made a similar explanation. Mr. Barron said he had voted against the amendment because he did not- believe in it.

B COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and progress was reported, owing to the dinner adjournment. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m., when the Estimates were further conjidered.

Postal and Telegraph Department : The Premier explained that he considered the superintendent and secretary of the Department were not receiving too high salaries, and for that reason they had. not been reduced. After a snort discussion, the item General Post Office £8046 was passed on the voices. Item, salaries chief offices and sub-offices, £100,133. Replying to Mr. Ward, The "Premier said the telegraph operators would be promoted on their merits, the same as in other branches of the service.

After an hour's discussion the item was passed without amendment. Item, telegraph cable subsidies, £309. Agreed to. Conveyance of mails by sea, £69,544 (ocean mail services). The Premier intimated that the Government intended bringing down resolutions on this question, and members would have a full opportunity of discussing them. Passed; also the remaining items without amendment. Class 6 : Customs and Marine Department, Customs officers and service, £33,000. Agreed to. Miscellaneous services, £1968. Agreed to. Marine and harbours, £20,271. Mr. Lkvestam moved to reduce the salary of the assistant secretary by £11 10s. Lost on the voices. The item then passed, and the committee adjourned for supper. Marine and Harbours: Miscellaneous, £7550. Considerable discussion took place as to whether the Stella or Hinemoa ought to be retained as Government steamer, and some exception was taken to the amount of Captain Fairchild's salary, £500. The Premier said Captain Fairchild had saved his salary over and over again, and there was no man who bad so much experience of the New Zealand coast. He admitted that neither steamer was quite suitable. They wanted a more powerful vessel, drawing less water, but they had no money co get one, and if they sold the Stella and Hinemoa they would get nothing for them. Mr. Mills concurred in the opinion re the steamers, but said* it was absolutely necessary the colony should possess a vessel of its own. Mr. Kerr moved that the item £4800, working expenses of the Stella, sbould be reduced. £150, as an indication to the Government that the salaries of the officers should be reduced. Carried by 28 to '24. The remainder of the vote passed unaltered. Class 3, Colonial Treasurer's Department. Item, Property Tax Department. Mr. Skddon called the Treasurer's attention to the fact that a large amount of money lying on deposit in the bank escaped the tax through notices not being properly served. Sir H. Atkinson promised to give attention to the matter. He mentioned that he hoped to save (some £5000 on the cost of

triennial valuation by accepting borough valuations. Passed unaltered. Class 7, Stamps and Deeds, £-4,911. Passed. The House rose at twenty minutes to two

The following is a continuation of our report of Parliament after two o'clock yesterday morning, at which hour the telegraph office closed : — the estimates. Miscellaneous services, £2700. Mr. Hutchison moved to strike out the item of £150, subsidy towards the publication of New Zealand Law Reports. Lost by 86 to 10. Class 13 : Defence Department, £158,666. The following items were passed unaltered : Defence report, £625 ; Permanent Militia, £27,305 Volunteers, £28,872; stores and magazines, £3573 ; police, £97,941. Mr. Goldik proposed to reduce the vote £400, for the purpose of striking out the commissioner's salary, and by £6000 in order to strike out the £6000 set down as extra pay to policemen for long service. The Defence Minister asked the House to reject the motion, stating that the colon}' was proud of its police force, and that to discontinue the long-service pay would be a gross broach of faith. The amendment was ultimately lost by 21 to 9. Another amendment, by Mr. R. Thompson, to reduce the long-service vote by £3000, was lost by 21 to 6. Miscellaneous services, £350. Agreed to. Class 10: Minister of Lands Department, £46,183. Under this head an effort was made by Mr. Levestam to reduce the item Geological and Meteorological office by £469, but did not receive a single vote in support. The vote having been passed, progress was reported; and the House rose at 3.30 a.m.