PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 20

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

•"••.'•V- TUESDAY, AUGUST 8. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. The following new bills were introduced, and read a first time: —Auckland Hospital Act Amendment (Mr Kidd), aind Tapanui Commonage Reserve (Mr J. W. Thomson). The Government Advances, to Settlers Act Amendment Bill was intro- ). cEuced hy Governor's message, and read th first time. THE ESTIMATES. On the motion that the House go into committee on the Estimates, a discussion on defence matters (reported in another column) was opened, and continued for most of the afternoon. The House adjourned at 5.30. • The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the Estimates was continued. Mr JAMES ALLEN wanted information regarding £SOOO spent on the South African service over and above ~ the vote passed. He was unable to discover how the money had been expended. - Mr T. MACKENZIE 1 urged some simpler mode of telephonic communication with remoter parts of the colony. He complained that sufficient inducement was not given attendants of the insane to make it their calling; also that sufficient money was not being expended for the carriage of children to central schools. He considered improvements should be made in the Cus- ... toms in order to have its business more smoothly conducted different officers gave different definitions of the tariff. He thought it was time amendments were made in the methods of levying rates for hospital and charitable aid. Mr BAUME drew attention to the fact that the Preferential Tariff Act was being evaded in regard to tea. The duty of twopence on a lib packet imposed on imported tea was being overcome by packets containing 16Joz being foawarded from Ceylon. The Hon Mr HALL-JONES', in answer to a question regarding deep-sea fishery, said that trawling experiments had not been a success, and he did not think the Government would he justified in spending thousands of pounds in hunting for fishing grounds without tangible information beforehand. Mr SEDDON, replying to charge® by Mr Massey of favouritism being shown in regaa’d to Government advertising, said the issue of the advertisements was left entirely to the heads of departments. He did not think there was a Minister of the Crown who said to the heads of his departments that preference should be given in the matter of advertising. If they took the expenditure in this direction for the last five years, they would find the officers of the departments had been very impartial in distributing the advertisements. - Mr MASSEY: The “ Liberal Herald,’' for instance. (Laughter.) Mr SEDDON considered there was too much advertising. There were a number of journals springing up in this colony, and everyone asked to be placed on the Government list. It now cost the colony over £16,000 a year. Mr TANNER: The complaint is that the advertising i® not spread sufficiently over the colony. There's too much of it in the centres. Ma' SEDDON asked on what principle they would go. It was a problem that ought to be solved.

In rieply to objections raised that members of the Civil Service should not occupy positions on public bodies (the case of Lieutenant McDonald, of the Defence Department, Mayor of the Lower Hutt, and a member of the Wellington Education Board, being mentioned in particular), Mr Seddon said that where the holding of these positions clashed with official duties, they should be given up. In this respect there was room for inquiry. However, as regards Borough Councils and school committees, which met at night, he did not think that this objection could apply so much. Mr TANNER, mentioned that railway servants had been ordered off Borough Councils within the last two or three years. % Mr DUTHIE instanced the case of Mr McCurdy, who had to resign from the Pest and Telegraph Denartment because he was secretary of the Farmers’ Union. Mir SEDDON pointed qut that Mr McCurdy was atn officer of a political organisation. Mr MASSEY: No, no. Mr SEDDON: He was secretary of the Farmer s’ Union, and Civil servants should keep clear of political organisations. Mr ELL urged that the Labour Department should amplify its reports by including, in its comparative figures of wage®, etc., the cost of living. Mr GUINNESS desired to draw the attention of the Minister for Mines to the management of the State coalmines. Under the State Coalmines Act the Crown had the power to take up Crown land or any other land for mining purposes. It so happened that the State coalmine was started in the Grey constituency, where Crown land was not available. A reserve was made over as an endowment to the Greymouth Harbour Board to enable it to pay interest and provide a sinking fund on money borrowed, for the purpose of improving -the harbour. That was taken possession of by the Government for the purposes of the State coalmine. This endowment had been leased to private individuals and syndicates, arid subsequently to the Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coalmining Company, which had from time to time asked the Government and the Board to allow the rents which had become in arrears for many years to stand over' for payment until the mine was developed. The Government took possession and cancelled the lease. The Government had declined to pay a single penny to the Greymouth Harbour Board, either for rent, special rate of 3d per ton levied on coal exported from Greymouth, or for wharfage. The opening of the State mine had been the cause of decreasing the output from some private mines, which would have paid the necessary rents, export duty, wharfage rate, and special rates. When asked about the matter in the House, the Minister for Mines had evaded the question. Did the Government intend to continue to keep back or refuse to pay to the Greymouth Harbour Board what- were its just dues? The Hon Mr McGOWAN said the Grey Harbour Board was really a Government Harbour Board—it was a Government harbour. The Government had in the ’"first instance provided the reserves and lent the Board money. In fact, it had carried on the whole concern. The Government had purchased the railway and the mine, and in opening up the mine had been to a considerable expenditure. Notwithstanding all that had been said about the State coalmine, it had been worked prudently and wisely, and it would be of advantage not only to the district, but to the whole colony. He believed that all coal harbours should be the absolute property of the colony, and it would be to the advantage of the State if the Government took over the control of them. Mr WOOD said that, a a far as the State coalmine was concerned the general public bad been taxed to open up the mine, and the merchants were getting the benefit. Mr HEORDMAN moved to reduce the first vote (Legislative Council) by £l, as an indication that the method of making appointments to the Council was not satisfactory. They had the authority of the Premier himself that the time had ooime when the Council should be abolished. Mr SEDDON said that in such a, large question as the constitution of the Legislative Council, it was not the proper way to deal with it hy moving to reduce the vote. This would not assist members in coming to a conclusion on a question on whim such divergent views were held. He suggested to the hon member that he should withdraw his amendment, as the better way was to deal with it in a bill, and Sir W. J. Steward’s bill for the reform of the Council had already been carried on its second reading. What was the use of causing irritation to another branch of the Legislature?

Tlhie Chairman ruled that the amendment was out of order, as there was already a bill dealing with this matter on the order paper. Mr MASSEY considered this an. extraordinary position, for it meant that anyone who wished to hurk debate on a particular question on the Estimates had only to introduce a bill on the subject. Mr SBDDON asked which of the officers of the Council was to lose the £1 ■jT r

if the amendment was carried ? The whole thing was a waste of time. Mr Herdman’s amendment was lost by 26 votes to 24. After further debate, the first item on the Estimates was passed. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.55 a.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9. The House met at 2.30. NEW BILL. The Havelock Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute Incorporation Act, 1887, Amendment Bill (Mr J. Allen) was introduced and read a first time. MR FISHER’S CHARGES. The whole of the afternoon sitting was devoted to a debate on Mr Fisher’s charges, the report of which appears elsewhere. The House adjourned at 5.30. The Housei resumed at 7.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. The discussion on questions put to Ministers and the replies thereto was taken until 11.30 p.m., when a division was taken on a motion to' adjourn. The motion was lost by 43 votes to 19. MARRIAGE RESTRICTIONS The Marriage Restrictions Removal Bill (Sir W. J. Steward) was considered in committee. The bill, which seeks to make marriage with deceased wife’s niece or deceased husband's nephew valid, gave rise to a very hilarious discussion, in which the possibilities of aunts, stepfathers, cousins, et hoc, in-ter-marrying, were jocularly depicted. The bill was reported with technical am eudmen ts. The House rose at 12.30 a.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE FISHER CHARGES. The whole of the afternoon sitting was taken up with a discussion in connection with a petition from certain public officers praying for an inquiry into suggestions on charges made against the accuracy of reports furnished by them to the House by order of the Premier in-connection with Mr Fisher’s charges against Captain Seddon. A full report is given elsewhere. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LOCAL BILLS? The Timaru Borough Drainage, Sewerage, and Loans Bill (Hon Mr HallJores) ; the Eiltham Borough Drainage and Water Supply Empowering Bill (Mr Symes); the Wanganui Harbour Bill (Mr Willis); and the Palmerston North High School Reserve Bill (Mr Wood) were passed through their committee stages with slight amendments. WELLINGTON CITY STREETS. The Wellington City Streets Amendment Bill, making it lawful for the. City Council to declare all or any of the 122 streets in the schedule to be public streets was passed through committee without amendment. The third reading was set down for Thursday. SECOND READINGS. The Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr Alison); the Dilworth Trustee Act Amendment Bill (Mr Lawry); tiie, Dannevirke Education Reserve Transfer Bill (Mr Hall); the Wanganui Suburbs Lighting Act. Amendment Bill (Mr Willis); Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mi* Ban me); Auckland Waterworks Loans Sinking Funds and Borrowing Act Amendment Bill (Mr Kidd); Gisborne Harbour Bill (Hon Mr Carroll); HaveLoclc Commonage Bill (Mr J. Allen); Oanmru Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute Bill (Hon Mr Duncan); Wallace Hospital District (Mr J. 0. Thomson); Petono Borough Empowering Bill (Mr Wilford); and Eltham Public Hall Bill (Mr Symes) were read a second time on the voices. The House rose at 12.20 a.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ROTOKARE DOMAIN. The Lands Committee recommended: That the petition of M. A. O'Shea, and another, of Rawhitiroa, and John Walsh, of Eltham, praying for an amendment of the Rotokare Domain Act Repeal Act, 1903, and compensation, for loss through the passing thereof, he referred to the Government for consideration. Mr BUCHANAN urged that no provision had been made for compensating the people whose leases had been cancelled. The only way to settle this matter was to refer it toi a proper tribunal, namely, a Compensation Court. Mi’ SYMES pointed out that this report left these unfortunate people in exactly the same position as they were before. From the report of the committee, it was .evident that nothing would be done by the Government in the matter. The report of the committee was a sham, and in making its report the committee must have known that nothing would have come of it. The MINISTER, of LANDS justified the action taken by the Government in this matter. The question was “ talked out ” by the dinner adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m.

THE ESTIMATES. Further consideration was given to the Estimates. Legislative Departments, £23,559. Mr TAYLOR complained of Ministers’ action in instructing departmental heads to refuse to furnish information on public matters to members of Parliament, who, he considered, should have access to all public documents and vouchers. Mr SEDDON said there was a very good reason why members should nob be allowed to see vouchers. On one occasion a voucher was lost, and taken out of the buildings. It was not a safe policy that either the public or members should have access at any time to public vouchers. Mr FISHER moved that the item “ mailman during session, £50,” be reduced by £l, as a protest against an extra £SO a year being given to a man who was pensioned by the Post- and Telegraph Department at the rate of £l4l annually. There were plenty of men in the town who would receive the £SO as a God-send. Mi’ TAYLOR urged that whatever money the State had to spend should be distributed over as many people as possible. Mr SEDDON said the mailman was an experienced mam, and was doing his work capably. If it was to be laid down as a principle that men who had been retired on a small pension were to be prevented from taking up other employment for the State, there would be a lot of people retired from the public service. That was the position to be faced. If a pension was not sufficient for the needs of the receiver, why should the pensioner be prevented earning a. little more? Mr LAURENSON wished that the member for Wellington bad flown at higher game. He knew of one public officer receiving more than five times the amount in question, and did not do a tenth part of the work, and whe had a fine estate up country. The amen<£ment was lost on the voices. The whole of the vote for the Legislative'Departments was passed unaltered. Colonial Treasurer’s Department, £44,328. Mr TAYLOR', referring to the sum of £IOOO for law costs in the Land, and Income Tax Department, thought the colony must be throwing away a little fortune in legal expenses. The pruningknife should be* applied. Depression was assuredly coming, and they should be economical before it did come.

Mr SEDDON, dealing with criticism regarding the large number of casual clerks employed in the Civil Service, said not a penny more was being spent than was needed. As to 10s a day not being sufficient for these clerks, he pointed out that . the Government was paying its casual clerks more than did the banks and insurance companies. Objection was taken by Mr Taylor to the payment of “£3OO to W. Kennaway, C.M.G., for services rendered to the stock and loan agents,” on the ground that it was a payment to himself (Mr Kennaway), who was one the loan agents. In discussion, the Premier said the colony had got £975,000 for its last million loan. Mr MASSEY said the loan cost £25,000, with £4OOO as prepaid interest-, which meant that the loan was floated at £97, and the* colony was paying 4 per cent, for it. On the item “£336, expenses attending the annual ‘drawing’ of debentures issued under the Consolidated Loan Act, 1867,”,.- Mr Seddon explained that the loan agents were Sir Edward Blake, Major Cameron, and Mr Mercer. Their payment of half per cent was fixed by the act- of 1867. Their apnual payment was £271, which would go on for another eight or nine years. Mr MASSEY said the position appeared to be that they were paying £271 a year to three old gentlemen in London for half an hour's work a week. Some better arrangement should be made, seeing that the colony now had a High Commissioner quite capable of doing the work. Mr SEDDON said the loan agents had been appointed for years, and he was not responsible for their appointment, except one. He presumed the Government would not care to* cancel an engagement made all these years. A half per cent, might seem much, but they should take a broader view of these large financial questions. Their services might be more valuable than the half per cent, paid them. If the High Commissioner did this work he would doubtless want to be paid for it. He would, however, write to Mr Reeves, and see whether a change could he made with prudence to the colony’s interests. Mr Kennaway, whose salary was £750 per annum, was a valued officer, and not over-paid for the services he rendered to the colony. Mr DUTHIE pointed out that Mar Kennaway, who was receiving this honorarium, was an officer of the colony, and they did not receive that information which was due in regard to the colony’s loans. He did not blame Mr Kennaway, a man of high, character and ability, but the information was intentionally withheld by the Colonial Treasurer. The particular* about the last loan were in the hands «f Ministers in February last. Mr SEDDON said this £3OO had nothing whatever to do with tho last loan.

ibut was a payment covering a period of three years—long before the last loan was raised. In regard to that loan, he would give full particulars about it on the next Imprest Supply Bill. It was not true to say that the particulars regarding the loan were in possession of the Government long ago. He had cabled Home for the details in order to include them in his Financial Statement. He received a reply that all the expenses were not in, but that details would be sent out as soon as possible. Mr Taylor moved to strike out the honorarium of £3OO to Mr Kennaway. Lost by 33 votes to 6. .- The total vote for the Colonial Treasurer’s Department was passed unaltered. Old Ago Pensions Department, £4333. The rote was passed without alteration. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 12.55 a.m.