PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9306, 15 September 1893, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TKLKGRAIPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Stamp Acb Amendment Bill, the Submarine Telegraph Cable Protection Bill, and the County Vehicles Licensing Bill, were read a third time and passed. THE LIQUOR BILL. The Alcoholic Liquors. Bill was farther considered in committee. In Clause 24 an amendment was embodied to the effect that the lessee of a closed house may give notice in writing to the lessor of his intention to have the rent of the premises fixed by arbitration, and that on receipt of such notice the rent shall be fixed under the Arbitration Act, 1890. The Bill was reported with amendments, and it was re-committed for consideration chiefly of an amendment to clause 12, preventing publicans selling to minors under 16 years. The amendment was agreed to by 25 to 6. SECOND READINGS. The District of Palraerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and the Wanganui Harbour Board Bills were read a second time. The Council rose at 4.50 p.m. \ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, the estimates. After the Telegraph Office closed this morning the House proceeded with the consideration of the Estimates. Defence Department, £950: Several members urged that the Defence Estimates should be deferred till after the discussion had been taken on Colonel Fox's report, bub Mr. Skddon could not agree to this course. 1 In reply to a question, " Mr.' Seddon stated that he would announce the intention of the Government with regard to the Defence Engineer when Colonel Fox's report was under discussion. Captain Russell remarked that the defences of the colony were absolutely worthless, and the country was vulnerable at every point. Mr. Hamlin said the present Defence Minister had established a dry-rob in the whole volunteer service of the colony. Sir R. Stout said Colonel Fox's report was practically a dead letter, and the Government never intended to carry it out. The Premier was again urged to report progress, bub he asked members to be reasonable, and get on with business. Mr. Rolleston contended that if the House passed these Estimates ib could practically set aside Colonel Fox's report. After a lengthy discussion Mr. Skddon undertook to bring on Colonel Fox's reporb ( for consideration at half-past seven p.m. on Tuesday. Captain Russell said the whole question was now prejudiced, and if the House . passed the present Estimates, ib was equivalent to declaring that Colonel Fox's esti- , mates would be rejected. At four a.m. a motion to report progress , was lost by 20 to 8. , Mr. Rolleston asked why no provision ( was made on the Estimates for a staff- , officer. , i Mr. Seddon replied that it had been arranged with Colonel Fox that no staff officers should be appointed until he came , out, and if he made a favourable recommen- , dation the Government would be prepared , bo consider the advisableness of making an ( appointment. At a quarter to five the vote was agreed ~ to without alteration. Permanent militia and volunteers, ■ £52,767 : In reply to Captain Russell, Mr. Seddon said more ammunition had been ( ordered, the vote for which would appear in the Supplementary Estimates. The vote was agreed to without alteration. Stores and magazines, £3371 : Agreed to. Miscellaneous services, £8616: H Agreed to. • Police Department, £95,619 : Mr. Fergus said there was a seething mass of discontent in the police force at present, and he feared the efficiency of the force was being very considerably impaired by the overbearing conduct of some of the officers. A feeling was gaining ground that old and tried men in the service were sacrificed to favouritism. Mr. Seddon said he certainly had not heard of the state of things depicted by Mr. Fergus, and he would make the fullest inquiry into the truth of the matter. The total vote was passed unaltered. At 5.20 the Justice Department Estimates were brought on, in spite of protests from Mr. Rolleston and Mr. Bruce. The native members again brought up the question of £7000, appropriation for Native Affairs. Mr. Rolleston asserted that the patent office was paid out of money set apart for ; natives in the civil list. j The discussion on this point was carried on at considerable length. Mr. Mitcuelson considered thab now there was no Native Department, it was not right to pay the clerks of the Justice Department out of the native civil list. The Premier promised to inquire fully into the matter, and see that no injustice was done bo the natives. At twenty minutes to seven a division was called on the first item of the Department of Justice and Patent Office salaries, £876, by Mr. Rolleston, as a protest against the payment of these officers out of the civil list. The item passed by 21 to 12. The following items were also passed :— Crown Law Office, £218 ; Supreme Court, £6600; Bankruptcy, £6336 ; District Magistrates and Wardon's Court, £43,436; Native Lands Court, £15,921; criminal prosecutions, £9250 ; coroners', £2500. On the vote for prisons, £29,291 : Mr. Hamlin moved that the salary of the Inspector, £700, be reduced by £1, as an indication that Lieut.-Colonel Hume should not be retained in the offices of UnderSecretary for Defence and Commissio ner of Police. Mr. Seddon defended the vote, and spoke in appreciation of the work done by Lieut.Colonel Hume. As Mr. Hamlin was the only supporter of the amendment no division could be taken. Mr. Rolleston referred to the release of Kerr of cornet fame. Mr. Seddon said when the whole correspondence relating to the case was laid on the table hot), members would approve of the action of the Government. Mr. Fish strongly protested againsb the action of the Government interfering with the course of justice. The total vote for the department was agreed to without alteration. On the Legislative Estimates being called on at fifty minutes past seven, Mr. Rolleston entered a strong protest against taking up work at this hour. He thought the proceedings of the night, though conducted with the utmost decorum throughout, were highly discreditable to them as legislators. At eighb a.m. the House adjourned for breakfast. On resuming at nine a.m., Mr. Rolleston moved that progress be reported, as he objected to dealing with the Legislative Estimates when so many members were absent. The proceedings of the night had been humiliating. Sir R. Stout condemned bhe all-nighb sibtings which the Government had forced on the House. The Premier urged that the Legislative Estimates be gone on with. They did nob involve questions raised in the privileges report. Sir R. Stout said if the Premier had had discussions on Colonel Fox's reporb and the Privileges Committee's report before taking the Estimates they.would have gone through ' without the least trouble. Sir John Hall could not help saying ib seemed as though there was something behind the Premier's action. It looked as though the forcing through the Estimates was part of a scheme for the frustration of women suffrage. I The Premier said until he gob these Estimates away he could not bring down the Public Works Statement, nor close the , session, as he hoped, by bhe end of the . month. The Government's action over the i Estimates had no connection with the j Electoral Bill. Mr. Geo. Hutchison suggested that the I House should insist on hearing that the 3 1 Electoral Bill had received thoas3ent of the i I Governor before they passed the remainder - jof the Estimates. They had a right to - 1 withhold supplies until the will of Parlia--1 meat was acceded to.

The discussion went on afc considerable length, the whole question of the control of Legislative officers being gone into. At fifteen minutes, past twelve, Sir R. Stout suggested that a compromise should be effected, aud advised the Government to set apart to-morrow night for the consideration of the reporb of the Privileges Committee. The Hon. J. MoEenzib poinbed oub thab the Premier had already said an opporbunity would be given bo discuss bhe reporb. Several members urged the Premier to adjourn the House for a couple of hours, to enable some compromise to be arrived at, but Mr. Seddon could nob see his way clear to do this. Mr.. Rolleston thought as the Government were believers in the principle of conciliation and arbitration, they should agree to a short adjournment. Eventually Mr, Seddon agreed to fix nexb Monday week as the date for the discussion on the reporb of the Privileges Committee, and the House got to work in earnest. A motion bo report progress was pub and lost. In reply to Mr. Hutchison, • Mr. Skddon said the fears expressed by several hon. members, as to the fate of the Bill, were entirely groundless. The vote for the Legislative Department, £15,324, was under discussion at 1 o'clock, when the House adjourned till 2 p.m. * The House resumed at 2 p.m. Legislative vote, £15,324, passed witboub amendment. Working Railways, £729,000 : Replying to Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Seddon" said the Railway Commissioners were responsible for the Estimates. Mr. Hutchison pointed out that there were were several increases, and ho thought the House should have some control. * Mr. Richardson said when the Atkinson Government were in office the Railway Commissioners submitted Estimates to them the same as other departments. Mr. Seddon replied that there were certain regulations in the Railway Department over which the Government had no control, and the Railway Estimates were framed in accordance with such regulations. Ho would not go fully into the question of railway management as another opportunity would be given for that when the Railway Bill was under discussion. Mr. Rolleston said ho had had a good deal of departmental experience, and if Estimates were furnished to him that he did not approve of he would not present them to the House. The Minister was bound to make himself acquainted with the details of the Estimates. If he thought the Commissioners had behaved improperly it was the Premier's duty to suspend them. Ho protested against the Minister constantly traducing absent men placed in their position by Act of Parliament. Mr. Fergus spoke at length in defonce of the Commissioners, and contended that full information had been given. The Premier, he said, had- used every effort to discredit the Commissioners, bub had failed. Every farmers' club throughout the colony, and the people who used the railways, were thoroughly satisfied with the management. The fear was that control might get into the hands of such men as the present Premier and the Minister of Public Works. Mr. Seddon said he had no wish to attack the Commissioners, but he had to defend himself from the imputations so frequently made. He re-asserted he would accept no responsibility in connection with the Estimates. Mr. Hutchison moved an amendment, " That the Departmental vote, £32,815 be reduced by £5, as an indication that the committee disapproved of the increase of wages and travelling expenses, and extended leave of absence." The amendment was carried on the voices, and the item as reduced passed. Clause 12, public buildings, school buildings, domain, and iuspection of machinery, £54,775 : The Premier stated that during the recess it was intended to improve the ventilation of the House. He had the complete scheme in his possession, and the work would be completed by next session. After a brief discussion the item passed. The Premier moved to report progress, which was agreed to. *!7E CHEVIOT ESTATE. A Bill authorising the Treasury to issue debentures in payment of the Cheviob Estate, was read a first bime. The House adjourned at 5 30 p.m. Tho House resumed ab 7.30. |tairua land bill. The Tairua Land Bill, to provide for surrender of leases of Crown lands available for settlement at Tairua, Bay of Plenty, was read a second time, and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. BILLS PASSED. . The Native Land" Validation of Titles Bill, the Native Land Courts Certificates Confirmation Bill, the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill, the Halswell Drainage District Bill, and the District Courts Jurisdiction Extension Bill were committed, read a third time, and passed. THE MINING BILL. On Mr. Seddon's motion, the Mining Act Amendment Bill (No. 2) wae read a second time, and referred to the Goldfields Com--1 mittee. CIVIL SERVICE INSURANCE. The Civil Service Insurance Bill was further considered in committee. In clause-4: Persons permanently employed in the Government printing office were added to bhe list of servants to whom the Act does nob apply. In clause 18 : It was decided that all women and girls employed in the telegraph service, and all officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Defence Force may be brought under the provisions of the Act. The Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. PROTECTION* OF INFANT LIFE. Mr. Reeves moved tho second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill. He said public opinion throughout the colony would endorse the introduction of a Bill of this kind, especially as facts were known to the police authorities which rendered it necessary that the Government should legislate on this subject. The second reading was agreed bo on bhe voices without discussion, its committal being set down for next day. MISCELLANEOUS. The Timber Floating Act Amendment Bill and the Trustees Act Amendment Bill were read a second time, committed, and pub through their final stages. The House rose at 10.25 p.m.