PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4734, 16 August 1902, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15. Tli(! Council met at 2.30 p.m. Warriors as Warders. Tlio Hon. J. RIGG asked the Alinister of Fducatiou why members of the I'er/mineiit Artillery were employed as warders in Wellington city, and how lone was the practice, to continue? Ho put the question because he believed in the pnnicplo of one man lor one “billet.” The MINISTER replied that the practice of employing artillerymen as warders was a legitimate one. Certain works were being carried out, and it became necessary to appoint artillerymen as warders because of the permanent warders not being numerically strong enough. “ Hansard.” In I he eourso of a discussion on the report brought down by the Reporting and Debates Committee on the present method-; of appointing “Hansard’’ reporters. the Minister nf Kducation said he quite agreed with tho recommendation that tlio Speaker of I ho-Legislative Council should he given a voice in the qeiecrio'i of future reporters for ‘'Hansard.” The report was adopted. Local Bills. The Wellington Harbour Board Kmpowering Act, which was passed by tho House of Representatives, was read a first t ime and referred to the Local Dills Commit tee. The Christchurch Tramways, Dunedin Town Belt Roads Closing and Regulation, Christchurch District Drainage, Act Amendment, Dilworth Trustees Amendment, University of Otago Empowering, and Masterton Trustees Empowering Bills were received from the Lower House, read a first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Wellington Hotels. The Hon. CL JONES moved, “That tho resolution of the Council in reference to the unsatisfactory condition of certain Wellington hotels bo forwarded to (be Government for their consideration.” At. the suggestion of Hie Minister for .Education, who was suffering from a relaxed throat, the discussion on this and on further orders of tho day was adjourned. Tho Council roso at 3.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY, AUGUST 15. The House mot at 2.30 p.m., Mr Guinness in tho chair. New Bill. Tho Licensing Committee Quorum Hill (Major Steward) was road a first' CTmo. Questions were answered, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. A Discussion on Supply. On the question that the House should go into committee of supply for further consideration of tho Estimates, Mr MERRIES spoke of tho proposed ■steam .service to South Africa and the Blue Star line contract. Ho said that lio had no wish to embarrass the Government in tho matter in any way, but ho must say that its past actions had not been those of people who had the best interests of tho colony at heart. Tho establishment of a steam service with South Africa had been a burning question over since tho war broke out, but matters bad not been brought to a itead until this session, and lie contended that if the Government had gone about tho negotiations in a more businesslike way there would have been some definite result. Ho complained that tho Government had treated Mr Sleigh in a very easy-going manner, and declared that tho interests of tho farmers had boon materially affected by delay that bad taken place. The negotiations should have been broken off ns soon as it, was found that Mr Sleigh was trying to float a dbuipauy on tho London market on tho Strength of concessions lie was supposed to get from the New Zealand Government. Mr TANNER attacked the present administration of the Education Department, saying that one might despair of what the future of tho education system was to be. No member, of tho House bad over objected to ttio expenditure on education, but lie pointed out that tlio expenditure was now increasing by leaps and bounds, and claimed that fair value was not being received for this money. Ho complained that school committees weto left without sufficient funds to carry on, -though the money voted by Parliament for education was ample. Tlio blame rested entirely with the department. Mr ELL moved as an amendment to Supply, “That it ho a direction to the Government to make provision on tlio Supplementary Estimates for a grant of money in order that tho incidental funds of tho school committees may bo •strengthened, and provision bo made for sowing mistresses for small country schools.” The ACTING-SPEAKER mlod this amendment out of order, according to “May’s Parliamentary Procedure,” on the ground that it dealt with a matter about which tlio House in Committee of Supply had already come to a decision, When tho resolutions from Committee of Supply were reported to the House there would ho an opportunity to further discuss tlio matter. Mr.BUDDO regretted that technical instruction was not being attended to. Ho strongly urged the necessity for tlio teaching of sewing in tho country schools. Air PIRANI, dealing with defence matters, held that the administration of tlio Defence Department was a crying scandal. It was wrong to have tho department under two heads—tho Commandant, with experience and np-to-' date knowledge, and the Under-Secre-tary. Having criticised tho method in which work was done in the Undersecretary’s office. lie said that tho expenditure on defence was becoming so, groat that this department was threatened to become a menace, not to our enemies, but to tlio people of tho col- \ . ony. There was, ho considered, no inducement for men to rise in tho Permanent, Force. Mr ATKINSON considered it alarming to see Hie manner in which tho expenditure on defence was piling up, and was afraid that there was no corresponding increase of efficiency. Sir J. G. AVARD. in replying, said, with reference to tho remarks of Mr Herries, that the Government had taken tho fullest precautions to safeguard tlio interests of tho colony in regard to the South African sendee. As for the alleged delay, tho ■ Government had wisely waited to see tlio result of the trade carried on by tlio direct steamers. Had that been satisfactory, the Government -would not have intervened : but, unfortunately, tho trade did not prove remunerative, and there was also the risk that cargo would have

been carried on to London. The Act-ing-Premier repeated that the Government, could not have accepted the tender of tlio South African Steamship Company, and sain that thus the only alternative was the tender 6i -Mr Sleigh. The Government was anxious to secure the service; but tlio delay took place in London, and not in tins colony. The Government laid not been disposed to let Air Sleigh out of the contract, but apparently ho had not been able to do that which lie had originally intended to do; and this showed that the conditions* were fairly strict so far as ttiis colony was concerned, and that Air Sleigh iiacl not been treated in an easygoing fashion, as bad been asserted by Mr Herries. The Acting-Premier added that negotiations were now proceeding in London in regard to tlio service, and that tiie colony’s solicitors had the matter in tiand. Ho had a cable message on In's bench which lie would show to any lion member, but this message lie could not make public, as lie aid not wisli to prejudice tho negotiations. Tho motion to go into Committee of Supply was agreed to. Ths Estimates. On tlio Estimates for Class XVIII., Valuation Department, £2(5,415, a long discussion took place as to tlio valuations, several members urging that tlio cost lo local bodies ought to bo cheapened. Tlio voto was agreed to. Class XIX., Ratos on Crown Lands, £9OO, was passed. With regard to the State Coal Alines Account, £81,500, tlio Minister of Alines stated, in reply to questions, that tho purchase of the GreymouthPoint, Elizabeth Kailway accounted for expenditure of £21,000, which had had to bo paid wit of unauthorised expenditure. It was intended to apply tho coal from tlio mine in supplying tlio needs of tlio Government first of all in tlio railways and other departments of the Slate. He could not state definitely when the first ton of coal would bo obtaihed from the mine, but lie predicted that this would not happen for twelve months, and' probably eighteen months. The vote, and those of £7OOO under llin Land for Settlements Account, and £21,285 for tlio Public Trust Office, wore passed. The votes for tlio Government Insurance Department, £50,088, and Government Accident Insurance Account, £8525, and the Government Advances to Settlers Office, £103,224, were passed, with practically no discussion.

The Defence Estimates. Tho Estimates for tlio Defence Department, Class XV., £189,232, -were then considered.

Air MEREDITH complained that the expenditure on defence was excessive, and said it could be reduced by onclialf. AYc had in Wellington and in tlio other centres a miniature AVar Office, with all tlio paraphernalia of tiie British AVar Office; and lie protested that wo ought not to waste our energies in tliis way. He moved, ns an amendment, “That tlio sum of £12,050 (tlio first voto on these estimates) should be reduced by £SOOO as an indication by this House of its disapproval of tlio excessive expenditure under tlio head of defence.” Tlio Hon AV. HALL-JONES pointed out that those who condemned tlio Government for what they termed extravagance would be tiie first to condemn tiie Government if anything happened and found ns unprepared. Tlio chief part of tlio voto was on account of the volunteers; then there was tlio vote for rifle clubs; and when there.was an army, however small—oven if it numbered only 500 —there must bo a head to it. Mr HORNSBY, who supported tiie amendment, said tho people of uie colony were seriously opposed to tlio present expenditure on so-called defence. Tho expenditure on fortifications was just so much money thrown away. ,Alr G. J. SMITH held that to cut tho voto down £SOOO, as suggested, would disorganise tho Volunteer force of tho colony. Mr COLLINS contended that the Defence Estimates had now reached a sum which tlio colony could not afford. Tlio Hon. AV. HALL-JONES said the question they would voto upon in voting upon this amendment was, Eor or against the A 7 olunteers? In cutting down tho head-office staff by one-half, they were destroying the efficiency of tlio A r oluntoers, for they must have an efficient administration for that force. Air BARCLAY said tiie weak spot in the Defence Estimates, he believed, was that tlio hulk of the money went to a standing army, and that tho men throughout tlio country who gave up their time to tho work got a comparatively small portion of it. Sir AYILLIAM RUSSELL .said it was essential that there should he a strong artillery and a strong headquarters staff; but lie believed it Was possible to reduce tlio volunteer vote. He thought tiie total voto could / bo reduced to £150,000, though it would not ho possible to, do so tiiis year. Air Meredith altered his amendment that the voto be reduced by £l, and in this form it was negatived by 30 votes to 21.

Tlio House was sitting when we wont to press.