HOUSE AND LOBBY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3863, 5 October 1899, Page 3

HOUSE AND LOBBY.

THE'ESTIMATES

The general Estimates were pul through in.‘ Iho House m the ‘ c-ariy ir- nrs of .yesterday morning. On the V’a.nation Department vote Mr Phan; moved to reduce Tim salary of the Supervising Valuer as an expression c; ri-iivpproval of tho action of tliat official’s taking part in party politics. The motion wan negatived by twenty-three votes to nineteen. When the defence veto was under consideration, Mr Monproiosted against tho absence of tin Minister of Defence, w ho, ho said, w,n; staying away for reasons that did no! exist. Tho Premier said he was sorry to hear such a. remark, to'whic’ Mr Monk replied ; I know all abuvv that. The loss . you. say tho better. Tho question of defence was deluded :d, .some length, Mr O’Regan protesting very strongly against, the ncglcc of flic-'authorities in protecting tho cor. porle,. .Wcstp.qrb. and Greymoutb, /Mr Lang '"protested against the’' mean ” way in which tho mounted Volunteers, wen; ‘rested. The Premier said it ha> been decided to grant, these men foragi in- their horses at camps of inslrucr; m. The question of tho New Ze: land Cross was also brought up, and else Premier stated that no provision had been made for tho payment of iho pension of Lilt a, year to Mr Harr,'. V.Ttgg. The, vote passed without alteration, as did a’so the Now Zealand State forests account, tho Public Trust Office, and the Advance?* to Settlers Account. The House rose at 4.3; a,in., adjourning till 7.30 p.m.

THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE. Tho question of the absence of tin Public Trustee was brought up in the House yesterday morning by Mr Pirani. ;.ho said ho was informed that the Government had in its possession Mr ■ Ln’s resignation. tie had seen a letter the other day, from wuiok it appeared that Mr Martin did not intend to return to tho colony till January, although ho had been granted only six months’ leave from March. During M r Martin’s absence tho office had very improperly, been in charge of ; temporary head. Tho Minister ‘foi Public Works (Mr Hall-Jones) said tha< Mr Martin was expected bad; within a very little over tho six months allowed him, and when he came bad he would resume his position as Publi Trustee. . Mr Pirani said the thins, was a perfect swindle from top tbottom; Mr Martin wished to resign his position, hut the Government wa v faced with tho fact that if he resigns, it would have to make ah . appointment on the eve of the meeting o; Parliament. ... The matter was therefore postponed, and Mr Martin was :advisfocl to take six months’ leave of absence. That was really granted to enable the Government to tide over the session, which had lasted longer than anticipated. Mr Martin had not returned, and,he had no immediate jntention of returning. The Premier said that Mr Marlin had not resigned, and he was coming back. He did; not think he would be much longer away. He, anticipated that he would be bad before the end of the year. It was not the,Hon J. E. Jenkinson, but the Hon T. W. Jennings who epoks in the Council bn Tuesday in opposition to the Young Persons’ Protection Bill. As a matter of fact., Mr Jenkinson is a warm supporter of the measure.