PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 14 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

/ Wellington, July 13. x Inthe Legislative Council to-day,. In answer, to Mr. Taiaroa, Mr. Whitaker said the whole policy tof the Government re the native prisoners would be disclosed by. Mr. Bryce in a day or two. They were not tried before because it was thought inexpedient. If any of them died while waiting trial, the Government would be sorry, but could not hold themselves responsible. ..In moving for a return, Mr. Waterhouse alluded to the great charge upon the Colony for education, and said the children of the Colony were , being educated above their station, and were all bent upon obtaining miserable clerkships, &c., in preference to becoming useful settlers. Colonel Whitmore and Mr. Reynolds; reiterated Mr. Waterhouse's remarks, and said the teachers were far too highly paid, and were not to be subjected to the same reduction as the Civil Service. Teachers of too high attainments were also employed to teach infants rudiments. The motion for a return of all employed (with ages and salaries) under the Education Act was carried. • Mr. Taiaroa's motion that the draining of Lake Ellesmere should not be pro-: ceeded with unless the natives were compensated for loss of fishing rights was, negatived by 13 votes to 7., The Council rose at 4.55 o'clock.

In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Bryce laid on the table the report of the Commissioner upon Native Re-; serves. ■ ; Replying to Mr. Andrews, Mr. Rolleston said the Government would take steps if possible to recover from the Westport; Colliery Company the expenses to which the Colony was put in consequence of the said compa,ny, through their general manager, Mr. Arthur J. Brims, refusing to find employment for the miners brought out'to the Colony at the request of Mr. Burns. One itemalone of which expenses —viz., rations—amounted to L 239 7s. •Replying to Mr. Murray, Mr. Hall said the 10 per cent, reduction would be made to apply to salaries under permanent account and pensions, but that no distinction would be made between pensions drawn by absentees and those drawn by residents. The reduction, however, would; not be made to apply to judges, whose salaries were fixed by law and unalterable during their tenure of office. Mr. Moss complained that the present electoral system, in excluding leaseholders from the franchise, was doing a gross injustice. It not unfrequently happened that leaseholds were more valuable than freehold rights. He wanted to know if the Government were bringing down any amendment this session. . Mr, Montgomery objeoted to one piece of property carrying two votes. He trusted there would be no alteration in the law as it stood. Mr. Hall said if the member for Parnell thought this was such a grievance, he ought to have brought down a distinct resolution, and not have confined himself; simply to asking questions on the subject. The Government did not intend to make any alterations in the electoral law, but if the lion, member thought it right, the Government would bring down a proposition on the point. Mr. Whitaker said the member for Parnell had objected last session to property having a vote at all, as. he considered it sufficiently represented in the amount of influence it was enabled to exercise over members of that House. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr. Ballance drew attention to a paper laid on the table, purporting to show that the late Government expended a sum of L 11,239,527during their two years office. He took, exception- to that statement. When the statement came to be analysed, it was very different from what it was represented to be by the Colonial Treasurer. He (Mr. Ballance) then proceeded to analyse the statement, at some length, and referred to the different items in detail. The total expenditure of the late Government during the given period was, he contended only L 3,072,969. In considering the question as to whether or not that was extravagant expenditure he had to remind them of the fact that their predecessors in office had spent during a similar period as much as L 4,464,831. Again, it was said that the Grey Government left liabilities to the extent of three and a half millions, but the fact was these extended over a very long period. Then again he did not find their liability at all equal to those of the preceding Government. They found that in 1875 that Government stated their liabilities at four millions. If this account was properly looked into, it would be found that their expenditure was much more economical than that of their predecessors. It had also to be borne in mind that before the land revenue was delocalised the Government collected it and paid it over to the localities. Then again they were entitled to deduct ,the expenditure made under the permanent Acts, interest on loans, and other expenditure, which was absolutely beyond the control of any Administration. If they added these charges they would find that a total of L 4,322,457 had to be deducted. Looking at the amount the Government had placed on their estimates this year, it would be found if they deducted permanent charges they proposed to expend L 1,940,000, against an expenditure of L 1,700,000. Mr. Mncandrew said they were indebted to Mr. Ballance for having cleared away the misapprehension created by the Treasurer as to the amounts spent by the late Government. He hoped the speech would yet get prominence, and would counteract, to some extent, the unfounded statement circulated by the Treasurer. .... Major Atkinson said that the charge he had made against the late Public Works Minister was that he spent money without, knowing anything about it. The speech just made would prove thai all he ha.d stated was correct. They attempted to justify their conduofc by drawing a comparison between themselves and the late Government. ■ What he wanted to bring home to the people of New Zealand was that they had spent the sum of eleven millions. It did not matter what it was spent for. It had passed the Treasury, and that amount of the people's money was spent. He was bound to assume that the hon. members knew what the money was spent for. Mr. Ballance contended that so many things should be excluded that if he only went a very little further, he would have been able to satisfy himself that they had. spent nothing at all. What he most reprobated was that the late Government left them liabilities of a very serious amount, and that they allowed the Colony to drift into a most critical condition, with liabilities becoming due in England and no arrangement made to provide for them. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was then put and carried. Vote, Electoral Department,, L 3680. Mr. Turnbuli moved the reduction of LIOOO. . : , . . . The. amendment was putand negatived. Mr. Turnbuli moved as a further amendment that the vote be reduced;L4oo. The House divided-—Ayes, 29 ; noes, 29. The Acting-Speaker gave his casting vote with the noes. A further amendment was moved that the sum be'reduced L 240,. which was put and agreed to.. Audit Office, L 8450. . .Mr:,; Dick proposed that this vote :be sent for consideration to the Public Accounts; Committee. The Government did not wish to control- this department in any: way, but would be prepared to give effect, decision of .the Committee.

Mr. Reader Wood said the business of this department was conducted in the most prefunctory manner. It did not matter very much whose name was to the account, it was passed by the department. , The vote was withdrawn on the understanding that it would be brought up at some future time. Vote. Government Statistics Department, L 13,910. Mr. Dick moved that it be reduced to L 6600. The sum of LBOOO for taking the census would not be required this year, and' he proposed that the sum should be reduced to LIOOO. Mr. Adams moved that the items, Registrars of Marriages of several registrar districts, L 3650, be struck out, and the duties in, future be delegated to Resident Magistrates. Mr. Hursthouse pointed out that Registrars had to register births and deaths, and as Resident Magistrates were not at all times accessible, it might lead to serious inconvenience. Mr. Adams' amendment was negatived. Yote, Geological and Meteorological Department, L 3566. Mr. Dick said they proposed to abolish the expenses of weather reports and alarm signals, LIO7O, and combine it with this department. Mr. Reader Wood said, with the exception of meteorogical reports, all the rest was dilletante scientific- nonsense. He proposed the reduction of the vote to L2OOO. After some discussion, the House divided on Mr. Wood's amendment : Ayes, 21; noes, 35. The vote as printed was agreed to. Vote, New Zealand Institute, LSOO. Mr. Dick said the vote was provided for under clause 14 of the New Zealand Institutes Act, 1876. Mr. Macandrew moved that the vote be struck out. The amendment for striking out the vote was carried on a division of 30 to 23. Vote, Agent-General, L3OOO. Mr. Dick asked leave to withdraw this vote until the House had had an opportunity of discussing the Inscription of Stock. Mr. Wood said they had gone far enough with the Inscription of stock. 'He desired that the consideration of the vote should be gone on with. Major Atkinson said the two subjects were so mixed up together that it would necessitate the discussion being taken over again. He hoped they would agree to the postponement. It would save time to do so. The vote was withdrawn. Vote, Charitable Aid, L 25,000, put and oarried. Vote, Lunatic Asylums, L 36,547 15s. Mr. Dick proposed the reduction by L 1741. Mr. Speight moved that the item be reduced by L 221. He wanted to have the items for wines and beer struck out altogether. Mr. Andrews moved that the item Inspection of Lunatic Asylums, LBOO, be struck out. Mr. Dick said the Inspector's services had been of immense advantage to the department. They had evidence that he had saved the Colony a large sum of money in the way of economical management, far in excess of the salary paid to him. The vote as proposed to be reduced by Mr. Dick was then put and carried. Mr. Speight pressed his amendment for striking off L2OO, being the sums set down for wine, &c. If they were necessary for medical purposes they should be put down under that head. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the vote as reduced passed. Vote, Printing and Stationery, L 24,552 10s.: Mr. Dick stated that it was proposed to appoint three experts to enquire into the whole qustion of printing. The vote was reduced by L 2300 and Vote, Sheep and Cattle, L 13,000. Mr. Seddon moved a reduction of LIOO. . The vote as printed was passed. Vote, Miscellaneous Services, L 30,600 10s lid. Mr. Dick moved that it be reduced L 2500. Mr. Gisborne moved that the item General Contingencies be reduced from LIO,OOO to LSOOO. On this the House divided, and the amendment was lost by 25 to 29. Mr. Turnbull moved that the vote be reduced by L4OOO, which was lost on the voices, and the item passed. Item, Introduction of Salmon and Whitefish Ova, LBOO, was omitted. 'Vote, Compilation of Maori History, L 4500. A long discussion took place on the item. A motion to strike it out was lost on a division of 25 to 10. Mr. Whitaker then moved its reduction by L4OO, and the discussion proceeded until progress was reported. At an earlier period a vote of L4OOO for the Melbourne Exhibition was agreed to, Mr. Dick stating that Dr. Hector had received strict injunctions not to exceed it. The House rose at 2.45 a.m.