THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1900.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11807, 9 August 1900, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1900.

There is a good deal of justification for Mr Pirani's sarcastic criticism of the Government proposals for increasing the payments out of the consolidated fund in respect of the salaries of Ministers as being compai-nble to a jjutch auction. Ministers asked for very large increases at first. They have since modified their demands very considerably. The Bill which they brought down a few weeks ago proposed to make the annual appropriation for Ministers' salaries a sum of £11,750. When they hastily withdrew this Bill they substituted .for it one in 'which £9900 was named as the sum that should be paid. On Tuesday night, on Mr Seddon's motion, the amount was reduced to £8900. Even this represents a substantial increase upon the payment which is authorised under the existing law. " The Ministers' Salaries and Allowances Act, 1887," provides for the payment of £5000 to six Ministers. By a palpable evasion of the law, however, wo have at the present time seven Ministers, one of them (Mr Carroll) receiving a salary of £400. If we add this sum to the authorised payment to Ministers of Cabinet rank, we find that the total charge on the consolidated fund represented by Ministers' salaries is £5400. The latest Government proposal is to increase this sum to £8900, tho difference of £3500 being thus distributed : Increase of tho Premier's salary, £500; increase of the salary of tho Minister 'of Railways, £600; increase of £200 in the salary of each of four other Ministers, £800 ; increase iv the salary of Mr Carroll' (by raising him to Cabinet rank), £000; salary of a new Minister, £1000. There are really, it will be seen, two proposals, which should not have been incorporated in one Bill. In the first place, there is the proposal to increase the salaries of Ministers, with which we have a considerable amount of sympathy. Then, there is the proposal to increase the number of Ministers, and in our opinion so cast an unnecessary burden on the country.

The discussion upon the second rending of the Bill showed that while ninny of the members were unfavourable to an increase in the number of Ministers, they thoroughly ap-

! proved of the ..provision for an increase

•in the snlnries. Generally spooking, ■| wo believe, the colony agrees that the . | salaries of Ministers should be increased. The reduction which was made in 1887 was merely . regarded at the time as a •j_ temporary expedient forced upon Par- . | liament by the financial exigencies of ! the colony. The circumstances which i necessitated the reductions no longer i exist. That being so,-if it is admitted that the salaries paid prior to-1887 were fniv and proper salaries to attach to the Ministerial 'offices, there is no legitimate reason why an increase should not now be granted. The details of the proposed increases do not entirely comi mend themselves to us. We do not agree that any differentiation between . the salaries of the Ministers other than the Premier is desirable, but the argument that the constitutional Ministers of the colony should he well paid, and that they should be more highly paid i than they have been .since 1887, does j not seem to us to have been in any way destroyed by the'speeches of those mem- | bers who have opposed the increases. i The proposal •to add two new members 1 —one of whom is Mr Carroll—:to the j Cabinet is really a. more important one. llt raises two questions. Is the present j number of Ministers insufficient to overtake the administrative work" of the country? Is the present number of ; Ministers in the Lower House fairly. I proportionate to the number of mcmi beys in the House ? The latter ques- | tion was effectively answered by Captain Russell in the course of the second reading debate, when he said that "if the present proposal to increase the Ministry was carried there would be, including the whips, 18 per cent: of the House absolutely interested in maintaining the Government in power." Since then the Government proposal has lost some. -of its objectionableness through the abatement of the demand of the Government from three to two additional Ministers, But even then, if the Premier of the day should choose to exercise his right to appoint two Native members to seats in the Executive Coiuicil, the number of members (including the Government whips) who would be directly interested in retaining the Ministry in office would be 16 per cent, of the. House. That proportion would be so large as to be dangerous, and it is surprising to find professed democrats supporting it. But Mr Seddon now talks of increasing the number of members. If he has any intention of giving effect to his- vaguely expressed opinions on that subject, it is reasonable to contend, as Mr Millar has conI tended, that the, increase in the number of members should precede the increpse in the number of Ministers. And | it may also reasonably.be argued that a proposal to increase the number of | members should be submitted to the | electors before its, adoption. It is very doubtful whether the country is prepared to assent' to any such proposal. Then we are assured by Mr Seddon and by other members that the present Ministers • are overworked. The fact that they are never prepared for the meetj ing of legislators, and that, though Parliament met t on the 21st June, the Financial Statement has not yet been delivered, and the questions of the inI cidence of taxation, the construction of railways, the defences of the colony, the mail services, arid other important matters remain yet to be dealt with, might perhaps be regarded as presumptive evil dence that Ministers are really overburdened with their duties. But when we know how habitually prominent members of the Ministry neglect their departmental duties while they gad about the country, interfering in elections and piling up ■ bills for travelling allowances and travelling expenses, and when we know how little departmental work some of the Ministers do, we receive Mr Seddon's statement with some degree of hesitation. If the Ministerial duties were distributed more evenly over the occupants of Ministerial offices there could be no ground for complaint by individual Ministers of beiug overj worked. At the same time, we recognise that since the Act of 1887 was passed there have been fresh duties imposed upon the Government by the creation of additional departments and by the natural increase in the work of the country. Upon that fact an argument in favour of an increase in the number of Ministers may justly be based. But if some members of the Cabinet accepted ay fairer proportion of* the Ministerial" work than is at present performed by them, and if, in particular, Mr Carroll should, on his elevation to Cabinet rank, display more activity than he has hitherto shown, there should be no reason why any further addition to the number of Ministers should be made. Mr Seddon has no right to ask, because he has chosen to surround himself with weak colleagues, that he should get more of them. The House has, however, by a substantial majority, acceded to the Premier's modified demands.

The division list upon the proposal on Tuesday night to increase the number of Ministers by two was somewhat instructive. Mr Millar and Mr Syines, who had both spoken strongly on the previous Friday night agaiust any iucrease in the number of Ministers, voted with the Government. So also did Messrs Gilfedder, Graham, Hanan, Kaihau, G. W. Russell, Steward, and .Willis, who had absented themselves from the division iipon the second reading of the Bill, and were not paired. It is rumoured that a Bill to increase the salaries of members will be introduced later in the session. The constituents of these members will be interested to know whether their representatives have been concerned in any bargain under which the acceptance in part of the Government proposal for increasing the number and salaries of Ministers is to be followed by a measure to increase the members' honorarium. The electors will do well to watch for developments.

The principle that eight hours shall constitute a working day is generally accepted in the colony. There is no legal recognition of the j>rmc'Ple ljecause there are industries and occupations in which it cannot he regularly applied: it would be absurd, for example, to restrict the hours of labour in agricultural districts during harvesting time to eight per day. But where there is no overwhelming reason to the contrary— where no serious risk of loss would be involved in a departure, from the principle —an eight hours' day for male adults has been adopted by use and custom. The Arbitration Court, moreover, has recognised it in its awards. In the flourmilHng trade it lias not, however, boon adop'.w, and from time to time complaints have reached us of the long hours whioh iriillera are required to work. T.-ieir reju&viy, of course^ is to

apply to the labour courts for relief. In this district they have- adopted that course, and the Arbitration Court has made a temporary award, fixing as the hours of labour -those hours which may be mutually agreed upon between employers and employees, so that it may be able to place the conditions of employment ill Otago and those in Canterbury on the same basis. In the meajitimo, Mr Lee Smith Ims introduced in the Legislative Council a Bill to provide that "no miller shall be employed in or about a mill in which flour or patmeal is made for more than eight hours in ni;y one day, nor for more than 48 hours in any one week." Last year the honourable gentleman had charge of a, Millers' Hours of Labour Bill, in which the proposal was that the maximum hours of labour should be nine in any one day and 51 in any one week. Mr Lee Smith's views have progressed in the intervening twelve months.. His present proposal is an improvement upon his former one; but it seems to "iis undesirable, even if the existence of the Arbitration Court shoiHd be disregarded, that there should be legislation respecting the hours of labour in any one branch of industry. Why should flourmillers be specially legislated for and not sawmillers or flaxmillers? And it is especially undesirable that where the conditions of labour in a trade are being ad- . judicated upon by the Arbitration Court the Legislature should interfere and take the settlement of a portion of an industrial dispute out of the hands of the court. Parliament has established competent tribunals for the settlement of the hours of labour, among other things, which shall- be observed in the industries of the colony, and, when it has done that, it is singular that it should be asked to take away from these tribunals the right to define what the hours of labour shall be in a particular industry.

War correspondents are now regarded as a. necessary adjunct to a modern newspaper. In the early days, when war was waged in various parts of the North Island against the Maoris, there were little or no opportunities for the war correspondent, and until recent years enterprising journals in this colony de-. voted more attention to exploration and, the opening up of new country for settlement than to warlike subjects. From time to time representatives of this journal have headed of taken part in many such expeditions. The Parihaka camwaign was the first real opportunity afforded in this colony to the war correspondent, and Mr Pricker (now on 'the editorial staff of the Melbourne Argu3) represented the Daily Times on that occasion. The recent fighting at Samoa saw Mr ■ Malcolm. Ross early on the scene. When war broke out in South Africa stens were rtt once taken by the Daily Times to send special war correspondents to the front. We were somewhat unfortunate in having Mr Moultray, as well as our representative with the second contingent, stricken down with enteric fever; but Mr J. A. Shancl, our second representative with the first contingent, has admittedly done good work, although he, too, was laid aside for a few weeks from, the effects of the '■ dreaded enteric. As soon as it was evident that there would be serious trouble in China the Daily Times arranged with two or three other newspapers in the colony to despatch ,to the Far East as. war correspondent Mr Arthur PI. Adams '(a son of Mr C. W. Adams, late chief surveyor of Otago), a- promising young journalist, and we this morning pub^ lish what may be considered as the introductory to a series of letters which we believe will prove highly interesting. Mr Adams has taken with him letters of recommendation and introduction to Admiral Seymour and other British officers, and we rjave every reason to believe he will, in the Far East, more than sustain the reputation young New Zealanders have already gained elsewhere.

lij the Legislative. Council yesterday the Canterbury ouiiege Empowering Bill was passed. Some progress was made ■in committee with the Millers' Hours of Labour Bill.

In the House of Representatives, before rising yesterday morning, the Ministers' Salaries and Allowances Bill was put1 through committee. Yesterday afternoon' some discussion took place on the question whether those provincial Government servants taken over when the provinces were abolished were entitled to compensation. The Premier would not. admit any. liability. Replies to questions occupied the remainder of the sitting. In the evening a number of measures, including bills to amend the Criminal"Code and Police Offences Act, were read a second time.

Last night's meeting of the City Council was characterised by the despatch with which the business was got through.. The mayor delivered an interesting acidvees concerning matters arising. out of his mission to Wellington in connection with the Municipal Conference, and this, together with the question of an additional water supply for the city, were the principal matters which claimed the attention of the council.

Mr Justice Williams was engaged yesterday hearing argument on motions to set aside judgments and writs of injunction in the crises of Dunn v. Nelson Bros., same v. Frost and others, and same v. Cameron and others. In thess cases the plaintiff was granted an injunction, by consent, restraining- the defendants from carrying on dredging operations on the Tokomairiro River which would be* prejudicial to ths rights of the plaintiff, and it was now sought, in each case, to set aside the judgment as entered, and also the writ of injunction issued in pursuance of that judgment on the ground that it was not in accordance with the judgment as pronounced by the court.' 1 His Honor, after hearing argu-ment,-reserved his decision.

The Governor has received the following reply from Mr Chamberlain in answer to the joint address of the New Zealand Parliament to the Queen on the occasion of the death, of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg:—" Her Majesty commands me to convey her sincere thanks for your kind message, and to express her high appreciation of the loyal and sympathetic terms of the resolution passed by theLegislature of New Zealand."

The extension of the Otago Central railway to Wedderburn and the acceleration of the railway running between Dunedin and the terminus has enabled Ophir to be made the night stopping place of the mail coaches, instead of" St. Bathans. The days of the departure of the mails from Dunedin by the Otago Central railway for places between Wedderburn and Alexandra are to be changed to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, thereby providing an (iltornate daily service with Dunedin by way of Lawrence and Roxburgh. St. Bathans will also,have a daily, instead of a thrice weekly, mail, and a new service is to be established from Alexandra South to Cromwell, giving the Clyde arid Cromwell residents a daily mail service as well.

In moving a motion in connection with an additional water supply for the city, Cr Carroll, at last night's meeting of the City Council, said that since the preliminary surveys had been made it had been ascertained tli.it a saving of £15.000 could be effected by tho non-purchase of certain lands and by other curtailments. It was proposed to devolo this sum towards making a reservoir at Whare Plat and in constructing filter beds at the two reservoirs now in existence. ;

At a silting of the Supremo Court in Banco yesterday the case of the Now Zealand Refrigerating Company v. The New Zealand Shipping Company was to have come on for hearing in the form of a motion to redupe damages or for a new trial. Mr Sim, however, stated that negotiations were going- on between the two companies for a settlement. Mr Justice Williams said that he could take the case on Friday if the negotiations were not concluded, but Mr Sim did not think tha-* it would come on en. that daj, ';

A Wellington telegram plates that a supplement to the Now Zealand Gazette «as issued yesterday notifying that "The Immigration Restriction Act, 1859," ramc into operation yesterday. The act prohibits tlis landing of persons other than of British (including Irish) birth or parentage who fail to write out and sign, in any European language, an application form which is sot out.

A meeting of the Port Chalmers Arbor Day Committee was held in the mayor's room on Tuesday evening, when it was resolved to celebrate Arbor Day on the afternoon of the 15th in>:t. The deputation who waited upon the council reported that the latter had refused to lay a drain in Scotia street, but had voted £5 ss. Mr M'Kenzie was instructed to provide some willow? and superintend, planting the same on the Recreation ground, and trees are to he planted in Wick-, liffe terrace and on the Beach road. The mayor will arrange for the erection of a fence to protect the- trees planted in the gullies on tho Town Belt.

At yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court Mr E. H. Careu-, S.M., ordered, in the case of R. E. Wilson against John A. Stewart, in which plaintiff sued on a judgment summons for the recovery of £6 19s 3d, that defendant should pay £5 19s 3d, still due, and 8s costs, by September 10 ; in default, 10 days' imprisonment. Mr James appeared for plaintiff, and there was no appearance of defendant. Several other cases were confessed, adjourned, or struck out.

The High street School Committee met as ttsual last night, Mr Melville, the chairman, presiding. . The other members present were Messrs Fleming, M'Lood, Watson, Liliy, Mclvin, West, Walker, and Captain Stewart. It was decided to hold an entertainment in aid of the school' funds at an early date. The Head Master reported as follows:-—Pupils on the 'roll for the month —Boys 333, girls 303, —total 64-1; average attendance —Boys 304, girls 272,—t0tal 576. The amount placed to the credit of t the penny bank was £13 12s 6d. It was also decided to appoint Robert Whj'te janitor of the school. Mr Melvin and Mr Walker were appointed a Visiting Committee for the ensuing month.

. There are now in quarantine a valuable Berkshire- boar and sow imported by the National Mortgage and Agency Company for Mr Pt. Dickson, of Henley. ■ These animals are from the best strains in England. The boar is from the well-known herd of Lord Carnarvon, and the sow from •Mr Edney Hayter's herd. A boar out of the same litter Hi? the sow secured the championship at tho Royal Agricultural Show of 1899.

Last week there were five bankruptcies in the colony—a 'contractor at Whangarei, a baker at Paeroa, a forwarding agent at Auckland, an engineer at Ashburton, and a contractor at Invercargill.

-•Wo have received for the E. B. fund the following subscriptions:—Mrs P. Lang and M. G., Hindon, 5s each; F. E. L., 3s.

.-There.was" a large attendance at the Morning ton Presbyterian Church hall last night, when'the Rev.. W. Scorgie gave a lecture descriptive of a' ramble through the Vatican, St. Peter's, and the Pope's garden. The lecture, which was illustrated by some capital magic lantern Views, proved .very interesting, and the audience manifested their appreciation of-it by frequent outbursts of applause. Mr Scorgie had the singular good fortune when-in Home to be .permitted to visit some places that ' were quite Out of .the ordinary run of tourists, including many portions of the interior of the Vatican, and his description of these places was listened to with a great deal of pleasure. At the conclusion of the lecture, which was in aid of the church debt extinction fund, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded, to Mr Scorgie, and also to Mr-B. Galloway, who manipulated the magic lantern.

Mr H. 0. Campbell has been appointed assistant secretary to the Ota-go A. and P.

Society,

-.A Beyrout telegram in the London Daily Mail says:—Among the books found in the mosque at Damascus is a series of 10 books, written in beautiful gilt Cufic, beginning with the smallest-sized Koran ever seen, and ending in one as large as the one in the" Native Library in Cairo. Nazem Pasha has called a military and civil committee, and made them take an oath that not a single piece of paper shall leave the room in which they are kept. The books are kept in sacks and boxes, and every evening every member of the committee liiu'st fix his seal to these, and they cannot be 9pcned unless all the members are present. The German Academy entertains great hopes that the original New Testament may bo there too.. The 'German Emperor has written to the Sultan on the subject, and it has been decided that a German professor shall be sent to Damascus to try to find it.

Mr W. A. Shields has been promoted to the position, of manager of the Victorian branch of the Massey-Harris Company, arid will be leaving Dunedin next month. Mr Edward Honey, of Melbourne, will have charge of the company's agricultural implement business, in Dunedin, and although not definitely decided, it is believed Mr C. Neunhoffer,. of Canada, will take chnrgel of the cycle business. Since lie has been stationed in Dunedin Mr Shields has taken an active interest in all public movements. He devoted, with others, much time and attention to patriotic movements, and was a most energetic member, first of the Patriotic Committee and afterwards of the Organising Committee, which despatched the Otago and Southland section of the fourth contingent. He took a prominent part in assisting the Ladies' Committee to raise funds and despatch the nursing sisters from Otago 'to South Africa. His many friends, while regretting his departure, will congratulate him on his promotion.

A large audience greeted the performers at the Alhambra Theatre last evening. The programme was well received, the applause accorded'the various members of the companyshowing that their-efforts to entertain were appreciated by the patrons. A number of artists have been specially engaged for Mr Failing's benefit concert to-morrow night.

Who is Peter JJICK:'—The moat reliable ■Watchmaker ur.d Jeweller, opposite CoiTre Palace, Moray place, Duncdm. Cmrges strictly moderate.—Advt.

To-ihy.—Carlsr'H Great- Sale. Tremendous bargains in alt departments. Come early and Be». for yourselves. Carter's Great Sale. —Advt. Treatment by massage, electricity, and Tallerman's hot dry air for rheumatism, paralysis, nervous, and joint troubles.—Mr and Mrs EmviN Booth, Stuart street, Dunedin. Telephone 600.—Advt.