HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3862, 4 October 1899, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3. '-i ! The Speaker took the chair at 3.30 p.m. : LEAVIS OF ABSENCE. Fourteen days’ further leave of absence was granted to .Mr Rawlins (Tun-' peka) on account of illness. ' ' ' NEW BILLS. , The Railways Authorisation Bill, the Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Bill, and the Shiner -v rt Seamen’s Act .Amendment Bill (Minister-for Public Works) and the Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill (the Premier) were read a first time. ARBITRATION COURT WORK. The PREMIER (Mr Seddon) replying to Mr Millar (Dunedin -City) said no one was more anxious than he was regarding “the delays. in ,the, . work pf ; the Arbitration Court. The President of the Court■■•(Mr. Justice -Edwards), would be here at the end of the week, and unless, he could proceed South on Arbitration Court work other arranger monts would have to he made. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. v The ACTING.MINISTER of LANDS (Mr Hall-Jones) replying to Mr Flatman (Geraldine)- said an offer had been made by the Laud Purchase Board for the purchase of 8000 acre® of the Levels Estate, but the offer had been declined. Negotiations-were in progress for purchasing other land in the vicinity. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICERS. Mr PIRANI (Palmerston North) asked the Premier, whether he . i would place a sum on ; the SuppleV mentary Estimates to restore the salaries of the Speaker, Chairman erf Committees and - Sorgoant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives to the amounts paid some years ago?- He remarked that, in 1886 the salary of the Speaker was £Boo,' Chairman of Committees £SOO, and Sergeant-at-Anns £250. . • , The PREMIER said this was a question that ought to be dealt with by the new Parliament, together with the salaries of the Governor and Ministers. He thought some increase was necessary. TORPEDOMEN'S UNIFORMS. The PREMIER, replying *to ‘ Mr El, G. Allen (Waikouaiti) said the uniform worn by torpedomen was‘not suitable for the work to ho done. , SOLDIERS’ GRAVES. ' Mr FISHER (Wellington. City) asked the Government whether it would issue instruct ions that the graves in the Wellington cemeteries of soldiers killed during the time of the Maori .disturb-, ances shall be kept iu a decent state of repair? ~ • , v : The PRna._4.ER said that steps were being taken to ascertain , the condition of the graves. ’When that was done, the- Government would .consider' the ((hestion of keeping them in order. They should nob allow tliese graves to be a standing reproach, , THE GORGE BRIDGE. Mr' O’MEARA .(Pahiatna) asked the Acting-Minister of Lands what had been done by the Government in the way of . setting up a Commission respecting the Gorge bridge; or whether the Government was prepared to accept the £3OOO which, it was understood, had been offered by the Mahchhster Road Board, and proceed at once with the re-ereotion of the Gorge bridge? ■ Mr HALL-JONES said the other local bodies had made no offer, and the Manchester Road Board was backing down from its first offer, which was £3720. If offors were made from the various districts, he believed the work would bo commenced in throe months. Plans were now being prepared for the bridge. THE KETCH ENVY. : Mr FISHER asked the ' muster of Marine whether any further opportuh-. ity would be given to Captain-Cham-pion. master of the ketch Envy, to refute the statements persistently made in regard to.the unseaworthiness, ot! the Envy during her recent voy age from VV elIhiigton to Auckland? '.aptom Cham* piou, ho added, was anxious, that; there should he some official investigation into tho matter. Mr HALL-JONES said that a departmental inquiry had been licld, ai winch witnesses were >exajnined on outii, but ho thought it was very uosirable to have the matter threshed out. ELECTORS’ RIGHTS. Mr Tu,a.\l asked the Premier whether he would consider the adyisa,hiiity of amending section 43 of the Electoral Act, 1593, so as to prevent electors temporarily absent from the;

colony from being struck off the rolh without being given an opportunity to defend their rights? Tire PREMIER said lie would be most happy to make the registration as perfect- as possible. The Law Officers of the Crown, however, advised that a man was not to be consulered absent from the colony if ho went Home, leaving his family, or part, of his family, behind. NEW ZEALAND f.syjN ORES. ' Mr BROWN (Taranaki) asked the Premier if, with a view of developing the mineral resources of the colony, ho would', place ’a sum of money on the Supxilemontary Estimates as bonus’ for the manufacture within the colony of 10,000 tons of wrought iron or steel, to be manufactured out of the ironores of the colony? The PREMIER said ho was not altogether in love with tho bonus system, especially after his experience with tlie bonus for the • manufacture of folt. NEW ZEALAND FIREMEN. The PREMIER, replying to Mr Fisheri • said he did not think the benefit dbrived from sending a team of firemen from New Zealand to take part in. the International Fire Brigades’ Congress, to be hold in Paris, would be commensurate with tho expense. Other questions having been answered, the House adjourned for dinner at 5.50 P ‘ m ‘ THE ESTIMATES. On resuming at 7.30 p.m., tho House wont into Committee of Supply on tire Estimates. Tho first allocation' to come on for diaotissibn was that of £.62,524 for the i Agricultural Department. Mr O’REGAN (Buller) pointed out that a great deal of destruction was going on among native ground birds in consequence of stoats and weasels having made - their appearance in the Soundsdictrict of the South Island. He thought , it extraordinary that this pest should lie allowed to prey on colonial fauna, while, at the same time money was being expended to provide sanctuaries for the birds.

Mr HALL-JONES explained that no stoats or weasels had been liberated during the last eight years. Mr TAYLOR (Cruistchurch City) asked what it was proposed to do in regard to tho poultry expert. The expense in connection with this gentleman’s labours and experiments was considerable, and it could not bo said that tlie experimental farms were conducted in a satisfactory manner. There was reason- to. . _.iove that each chicken reared at ' these places had cost ten pounds each. Mr FISHER said the* if the poultry -branch of the department was not a success, that fact cou d not be attributed to the expert, who before being an' '.tinted hud been a most successful broader.

Mr DIITHIE (Wellington City) could not understand why the errointmont of a so-called expert 'to “encourage poultry breeding” had been made. Societies all over the country had been doing their utmost for years to improve the!character of the various breeds. Mr LEWIS (Christchurch. City) looked upon the whole affair as a most ridiculous farce. It was an expensive one, too, for it cost the colony '£7so a year. .Last season eggs werp sold at an average 1 of a shilling each which had., really cost the colony ha.lf-a-crown. Ho moved that Che amount of the expert’s salary be struck out. Air PIRANI min ed to strike out the amount,' £360, allowed to the Produce Commissioner in ~ u'-land, Mr Cameron. He looked upon tins expenditure as one of the most •wasteful in any public department. Tho officer's duties were to furnish reports every month to the Government, but these reports were practically useless. For instance, they were not even thought good enough to supply to the House. Tha'iPREMIER agreed that it would be wo'l to Have a man in England, with great knowledge of how .to dispose of colonial shipments. However, Mr Cameron was a valuable officer, and gave serviceable, information in his reports as to prices and requirements. • Mr BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) thought it was ridiculous to-suppose - that the services of ' a .competent representative to look after the colony’s produce could be. secured for such • a . paltry sum as was paid to Mr Cameron. ' , ' - Mr HOGG (Mastcrton) argued that it was necessary in the interests of the dairy farmers that such air officer as Mr Cameron should he retained in London to supply news and advice concerning the English market. The PREMIER explained that Mr Cameron’s duties were to keep the Government posted up respecting the price of all kinds, of produce. The whole ot his time was given to,the service ot the department. Mr MEREDITH (Ashley) reminded the House that other countries expended large sums in remunerating produce commissioners—such as Denmark, United States, France and Canada. ' Mr ROLLESTON (Riccarton) suggested that it would be desirable if the House were placed in possession of more information concerning the work performed by Mr Cameron. If he did not receive other emoluments then he was very m'adeqnately paid. , The PREMIER, after several members had spoken on the subject, intimated that he would have Mr Cameron’s work reviewed, and if it was .worth more money steps would be taken to have the salary increased.

Mr Pirani’a motion to .reduce the vote for the Produce Commissioner was negatived on the voices. Mr BOLLARD (Eden) wahtedto know why the assistant entomologist (£150) was receiving less tha' the- fruit experts (£iuJ). . From what ho could learn the latter were of little use whatever, but in the North the assistant entomologist gave the orcliardists great assistance Again, there was a great deal of ignorance among fruitgrowers as to the manner in which the codlih moth pest should be dealt with. What the Government should do was to acquire an orchard in an isolated place and demonstrate the best means to cope with the pest, at the same time making the Tuidortaking pay. Mr HALE-JONES assured xiio House that it was the intention of the Government to acquire a suitable orchard and experiment on the codlin inoth. ‘ As for the entomologist’s salary inquiry would bo made into the matter, and, if necesT sary, an increase would be provided for later on. : The committee then reverted to consideration of iur Lewis’s amendment to strike out the poultry expert’s salary. The question was debated until ll.ou p.m., when the proposal to strike out the item was negatived by 31 votes to 18 /. Mr HERBIES (Bay of Plenty) moved "to reduce the item ■ Analyst, £3OU,’" by £l. Mr HALL-JONES said that if farmers sent soil to the analyst, he would analyse it free of cost. Tne analyst had only been appointed about six months, and he (Mr HalJ-Joncs) had no doubt his services would bo availed of very largely. It was also intended that the department should test seeds. . The item passed without alteration. Eventually the class passed without alteration. The next class taken was Lauds and Survey, total vote, £131,582. Mr HERRIES moved to reduce the item, “ Surveyor-General, £730,” by £l, as an indication of the disgraceful way in which his district had been treated in regard to tlm allocation of rotes.

niter discussion the motion was withdrawn, and the'item passed. The vote passed, and the Valuation Department vote was also passed. When we wont to press Defence Department was being discussed.