PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8353, 5 September 1890, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BT TKLKGBAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCII Thursday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE CRIMINAL LAW. A Bill to amend the Criminal Law relating to violence and threats and molestetion was read a first time, and the second reading set down for this duy fortnight. STRATFORD OOCNTY. The Stratford County Bill was read a third time, and passed. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. In committee oi#the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill a motion that the chairman leave the chair was carried on the voices.

MR. MCLEAN AND THE FIREMEN. Mr. McLean took occasion to deny that in his yesterday's speech he had said the firemen were a,bad lot, as stated in the New Zealand Times He had never let any expression fall from him that would lead to irritation. Durinsr the whole of the crisis he had never lost his temper, and he had no quarrel with anybody, and he declined to be drawn into any quarrel through misreport* of hi.«.«tflU;nients. coroner's inquest bill. The report of the Conference on the Coroner's Inquest Bill was disagreed with by 12 to; 5. The Council rose at 4.5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at half-past tvi. Replying to Mr. Ward, Mr. Mitchelson said he hoped to be able to state the proposals relating to the ocean mail services either on Saturday or Monday next. He might say that negotiations had been proceeding between the Government and the Imperial Government, by which it wae hoped that the San Francisco Service and the Direct Steam Service would be continued without any loss to the colony, except that involved in the reduction of the postage rate to 2.V1. THAMES HARBOUR BOARD. The Thames Harbour Board Bill was a second time. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. OISBORNE HARBOUR BOARD.

The Gisborne Harbour Board Bill was committed, but it was agreed to report progress to enable more time being given for its consideration. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House then went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the estimates. Customs officers and services £33,412. A motion by Mr. Fish to reduce the item by £136-) was lost by 40 to IS, and the item passed unaltered. Miscellaneous service* £IS6B. Agreed to. Marine and harbours, £25,734. Mr. Fish moved that the item " Marine Engineer, £W»7," be struck out. Lo-t by 19 to 41, and the vote passed. Marine miscellaneous, £10,450. Carried. Public Works Estimate? : Public Works Department. £700. In reply to Mr. Richardson (Kaiapoi), Mr. Fergus said it had been found impossible to do away with the Public Works Department, and it could not bo abolished so long as such largo public works as the Midland Railway were being constructed. That railway alone involved so much correspondence that it required the most competent men they could get to see that the conditions of the contract were carried out, and that the country did not suffer. The Government fully intended, however to contract tho staff as much as possible, so as to bring it within the means of the colony. The vote passed. Immigration, £'2963. Considerable discussion ensued over this vote, several members protesting against immigration. No reduction, however, was effected in the vote. Railways : New works construction and land, YVellington-Foxton, £300. Agreed to. Wellington-Woodville extension to Te Aro, £0000. Struck out by 25 to 18. Lincoln-Little River, £300. Agreed to. Land claims and other old liabilities, £2700. Carried. Surveys: New lines of railways, £500. Carried.

Roads: Main roads, £12,(330. The Public Works Estimates were still under consideration at two a.m. Till". ESTIMATES. After the telegraph otlico closed yesterday morning the <;overntnent Insurance Estimates were further dealt with. Sir John Hall remarked that tho system of pulling, and advertising, and pushing this department was carried to excess, and caused large and unnecessary expense to the policy-holders, for it really came out of their pockets. Mr. Walker took exactly the opposite view to Sir John Hall, and expressed the opinion that the Government agents were quite justified in entering into competition with tho3« of the other ollices. Many of the canvassers of rival societies were unscrupulous men, and he thought that the Government Insurance representatives were certainly called on to fight them with their own weapons. Mr. Fi-lton quite agreed that this "cadging for business," was almost indecent.

Local offices, £5275. Mr. Goldik moved to reduce this vote by £5 aa a protest against increases. Lost on the voices. The vote was passed. Other charges, £28,000. Agreed to. Public Trust Office, £8072.

Mr. MiTCtIELSON* said it was liU iuLuii&ion to appoint a Royal Commission to examine the roporfc on the administration of this office. The Commission, he added, would also go into the whole question of the Civil Service generally. No one connected with the service would have a seat on the Commission, which would be composed of thoroughly experienced and competent men. A thorough enquiry would be made into the Public Trust Office, and an examination made of the branches! in all the principal town?.

Mr. Ballance directed attention to a case in which 10 per cent, was charged by the local and general office on an estate of £2502, while the lawyer's charges came to £281. A solicitor in an estate, whose account was £107, was a brother of the Public Trustee.

The Minister promised to look into the matter.

The vote passed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.45 a.m.