Parliament Day by Day.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7357, 3 November 1898, Page 4

Parliament Day by Day.

NOTES PROM THE GALLERY. xbxbgkaph.) (from our own correspondent. ) Wellington, November 2. The Premier this afternoon asked leave to introduce the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, but by 33 to 30 leave was noc given. Mr Hall-Jones moved that the House go into Committee of Supply on the Public Works Estimates.

Mr G. Hutchison said that by delaying the debate until this stage, the Premier bad in word and spirit broken his promise to the House. He attempted to show the manner in which the Premier had made the surplus, and said that it had been managed by crediting the Lands and Survey Department with a sum of L 30,000, which sum was taken from receipts for sale of the North Island Main Trunk Railway lands.

Mr Pirani devoted his remarks to criticising the Government's system of conducting the business of Parliament. Important matters which were directly in favor of the Government were obstructed by Government supporters. The personnel of the Ministry also received criticism from him. He considered that, if a motion objecting to the personnel of the Government had been tabled, it would have been carried, and the Government supporters would have helped to carry it. They had a hope that there would soon be tv?o vacancies on the Ministerial Benches, and the proverbial bunch of carrots in the form of portfolios was dangled before their eyes. The Premier was too astute to allow the opportunity for such a motion as he had mentioned being considered. He moved an amendment to the motion that the House should go into Committee of Supply as follows :—lt is undesirable that the present session should be terminated until important questions relegated to select committees have been exhaustively dealt with. Mr Fisher criticised the action taken by Mr Pirani in 1896 and at the present time. At the former period he been aconsistentfollowerof the Government and had harangued the Opposition when they made accusations agaiDsb the Government. The reason of the change would be found in the fact that there was a vacancy in the Ministry and the position had not been offered to him, therefore the grapos were sour. All this session Mr Pirani had, at the bidding of the Opposition, obstructed business. After Messrs J. Allen and Buchanan had spoke, Mr Pirani's amendment was negatived on the voices. Before the question of going into Supply was decided. Capt. Russell filled up half an hour by objecting to the administration of the rai! ways by the Minister for Railways. The House had no control of Ministers. He considered that everything was managed by the Cabinet, and members were never consulted.

The Premier, in reply to the charges made by the Opposition, considered that there had been no back down by the Government on the Public Works Estimates, as they intended to bring them down on the date fixed, and the Opposition were fighting for them to be brought aown a week earlier, and it was really they who had surrendered. In respect to the date on which the Estimates had been discussed, he had not broken his word, and the virtuous Opposition had brought no pressure to bear upon the Government with the idea of having them considered before. They had kept rigidly silent on the matter. The Opposition tried to make capital out of the transactions of the Government in connection with railway votes, and said the surplus was swelled by It. But the surplus had not been increased or decreased in the slightest degree by it. There had been an abnormal increase in the business done by the railways, and it was not at all creditable to say that they were administered in a lax manner.

The Maori members gave their views on the Public Woks Estimates when the House resumed at 7.30. Wi Pere'a speech was certainly most entertaining. He said that the present Government was the only Government that had done anything for his district. He had suggested last year to the Government that they should borrow L 20,000,000, so that all public works should be proceeded with. While they were borrowing it would be as well to borrow an amount sufficient to complete the various works. Members were very fond of saying that they did not believe in borrowing, but deep down in their hearts he believed they connived at borrowing. The Opposition were always talking against borrowing, but they raised no objection to the votes proposed to be spent in their districts. He advised the Government not to pay any attention to the wants of the Opposition, who were always opposed to Government measures. In conclusion, Wi Pere hoped that the Government would have a long life and prosperity. At 9.15 the debate closed, and the House then went into Committee to consider the Estimates.

On the first item the qusstion of roads and bridges was raised. Mr Montgomery wished to know what was the policy of the Government in respect to these. He considered that there was too much money spent in constructing roads and bridges, and the amount was yearly increasing.

The Minister for Lands said that the Government's policy was to expend money on roads so that land could be opened up for settlement. It was all very well for the South Island to deprecate expenditure on roads, as their roads had been constructed. He thought it would be well to pass the Local Authorities Bill, so that these roads could be constructed and managed by the local bodies. The item was passed at 11 o'clock. On clause 3—railways construction and land L 171.600 some considerable debate ensued on the different lines under construction, but the vote ultimately passed unaltered.

Clauses 4 to 7 were postponed. Clause B—Public buildings L 126.420, general L 30,000. A discussion ensued on the proposed expenditure on the Parliamentary Buildings.

Mr Hall-Jones said that a two-storey building would provide sufficient space in which to lodge the General Assembly Library. In answer to further questions, he said that the cost of altering the addition froma two- to a three-storey building would be L 4500. 6

As an indication that a three-storey building should be erected, Major Steward moved that the item "jNew buildings, L 25.000," be reduced by LI. Negatived by 34 to 17. Class B—Public buildings. On the item Burnham Manager's and Clerk's Offices Mr Hall-Jones premised to meet a deputation at Christchurch with a view to remedying defects in connection with the management of Burnham Industrial School.

A lengthy discussion ensued on the 'item "School buildings, special technical school buildings, L 25,000." Mr Taylor and other members asked the Minister to give a pledge that'the money would be used only in connection with State schools. He was also asked; to make a similar promise to that given last year, that the vote would nob be expended until legislative authority had been given. Mr Hall-Jones said that the money would only be expended In accordance with the law.

Mr Seddon said that he hoped next day to bring down the suggested new clauses to the Technical Education Bill, providing for,doabling the .capitation and giving an'

opportunity for the vote being distributed in a satisfactory manner to all concerned. If any payment were made It would be made as made last year. As the replies were considered unsatisfactory Mr Montgomery moved that progress be reported.

After discussion this was withdrawn and Mr Montgomery then moved that the vote be struck out. Mr Ssddon said that if this were carried it would limit the amount to be expended. After debate the item was struck uut by 20 to 19 and the clasß passed.

Class 4—Construction and maintenance of roads and bridges L 360,00 agreed to after a short discnssion. The other classes passed without alteration. The House adjourned at 4.35.