PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4489, 17 October 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

THE PREMIER AND MR FISHER. Thera was another interchange of compliments yesterday between tho Premier and Mr Fisher. The latter, speak'ng on the Defence Estimates, brought up tho case of Mr Christie, sug. gesting that he ougbt to have been appointed to succeed the late Mr Bradford as armourer. The, Premier, in reply, complained of the political influence sought to be exercised by members .of the House, and said that when it was necessary to bring experts out from Home, and a contract had been entered into, the time of the House was to be taken up because this did not please Mr Christie or anybody else, he as Min. ister of Defence would not accept such a position. This nettled Mr Fisher, who demanded, in strident tones: “What does the right hon gentleman mean by saying that ho is not going to subject himself to any more political influence ?” He went on to that he himself had been sent into that House to re„ present thp small men, the men of small means, and the impression was gaining ground amongst his constituents that the Premier was attending to the in-! terests of what they called “the big bugs,” whilst the little men, whoso votes were useful at election times, were be.j ing neglected. He resented the statement of tho Premier as to political pressure, and asked where was the. political pressure in calling attention to the wny ! in which a man had been treated ? Uo would bring such matters before the House whenever he thought fit. Mr Sed don retorted that he would not get much! further forward in doing so. Tho memj bor foi*Wellington might put on as many ■airs as he liked, and might rag® and ( fume as much as pleased. He (Mr Sedi don) was open to reason at all times, but he was not going to be coerced by any member of the House. The hon member had been persistent, and had Intruded himself on occasions. The least important officer in the Govern, ment service got the same prsatme.it ■from him (Mr Seddon) as the highest bfficer, but if members of the House w ere to be approached, and attempts wore thus made to force increases in salaries and promotions over and above those re - commended by the Commandant, then he was to be subjected <0 .this treatment when the Estimates were before,tho House. But Mr Fisher might ;lo all ho could, and he would find him-

self no further forward. Mr Fisher : " Can you say one word against this man as to the manner in which ho nas discharged his duty?” Mr Scddon re. plied that Mr Fisher had for years con„ .sislcntly forced this man upon his attention, as against other men in tee same employment. It was proper when tile man received promotion and got his increase. Mr Scddon, in the course of his remarks, intimated that lie would maintain his position,- and do what was right, to which Mr Fisher replied : “I will maintain my position also in this city, and not bo put down by any threat of the Premier. I am quite a s free in my opinions of the hon gentleman as tho hon gentleman is of mo.” So the duel ended. THE IMPORTED HORSES. There was considerable discussion yes,, torday morning on tho Agricultural Estimates relative to tho purchase of the imported horses hv the Agricultural Department- Mr , Horries gaid_ ho could name any number of horses in the to, lony which would boat those imported by tho department, and ho looked upon this vote as a sheer waste of 'money. The Minister of Lands said, in reply to a question, that tho officer who had gone Home had received instructions to go to tho "War Office, and obtain advice as to the best class of horse, as tho War Office had sent horses to South Africa. There were a number of men in this country in favour of racing stock, and those were tho people who condemned those horses; hut tho officer had not gone Homo to buy racing stock, but to buy remounts- Mr Hornsby said the fact that tho agent had been instructed to go to tho War Office capped the let. Ho could not understand why iho agent should have been sent to the War Office, which had made such hideous blunders in tho war in South Africa. Tho very finest horses in South Africa were sent from Nov/ Zealand. Mr Pirani did not think tho State ought to compete with private individuals in this way. when tho settlers on the lands ccnld not get roads. Mr Horries quoted tho prices of horses to show that tho sum paid for thoroughbred horses was about two thousand guineas, instead of only £6OO. Finally tho Agricultural Department vote was passed without any alteration. THE ESTIMATES. After a continuous sitting from 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, the House adjourned at 1.35 this morning, after passing the remainder of tho General Estimates. Notwithstanding tho efforts of the critics of tho Government, none of tho votes in any of tho departments were reduced, with the solitary exception of the item “fees to members of Waste Lands Boards,” cut down bv- £2 as an indication that members of Parliament should not be appointed to these Boards. JOTTINGS. “ I am as anxious to got hard wood sleepers in the colony ns anyone,’’ said Sir J. G. Ward during tho discussion on the Railway Estimates last night. “ You can get plenty of hard sleepers in this House,” said Mr Pirani. The Public Works Estimates will con. tain a large sum for tho establishment ' of rifle ranges in various parts of tho colony. The committee dealing with the Counties Bill has gone through almost the ’ whole of the measure. The only import-, ant question remaining to be dealt with is that of the county franchise. Mr Field was informed last night by the Minister of -Railways that Guard Hicks, injured on the Rimutaka line, was receiving 30s per week, and that i suitable employment in the Government ■ service would be found for him. , The- Minister of Lands states that the question of appointing a SurveyorGeneral will receive attention, directly.