GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11808, 10 August 1900, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. iIRST READING. The Criminal Code Act Amendment Bill was read a iirst/urae. iULLKKW HOUHS OF LABOUR. The .Millers' Hours ox Labour Bill was read a third time and passed. jNOAIGUfci WKKDS. The ISoxioua weeds Bill was further considered iv committee. On clause li, wnich had been postponed, the Hon. \v. C. \VAliKiiit saui no div not think thero was any necessity to vary the clause, as suggested by. the xxuu. Mr Elevens, m orctor to uual witu unprohlable land in wiiieli gorse might bu growing.—'i. he clause, as previously amended, was agreed .o.—An uriniiporLaut amendment was made iv tue third scnedule, and the bill was reported with amendments. IiiLLS i'ASriJKD. The Thames .borough Jiuciowiueut Leasing BiU and Uisooriie ixaroour iioard further liinpoweriiig were passed lurough committee without amaitlmciui, road a, third time, and passed. iMI'KISOxNMEiNT -b'UK l)KBi. The iion. W. C \YA.bKJiH moved the seconu reading of the imprisonment ;"or Debt Limitation liiil. '.the iiou. Mr S'lii Y'Ei\>S said if tne fees for declaration of bankruptcy were teauced to a nominal ngure, the wuoic question of imprisonment ior uebu would tume to an end as between an ordinary creditor and ju ordinary debtor. v.ho Jrioii. .sir Jsoi.i-iJL< 1. said the out did not adequately grapple wicn the question. 'Xuc lion. Ail1 -riiliU agreeu «iac me bill did not go far enougu, but was willing Umt it should have a year's trial. . The Hon. Mr bUUTijAiND said it was useless to attempt to limit the credit system to one class of tue community. The Hon. (i. M'LiiAiN objected.to the abolition of imprisonment for debt in the case of persons who could, and would not, pay their debts. The rLon. Mr TOOiiEi." described the bill as a piece of class legislation, und as one. which would promote fraud and protect rogues. The Hon. Mr X.XXX. said he would vote ior tho bill. It was only to do away with associations; which traded on assigned debts. On the motion oi; the Hon. Air iiOJSAK. the debate was adjourned. . i The Council rose at 4 p.m.

HOUSE .OP liJiPiiESEi\ TTATiVES^

THURSDAY, JJJGUST 9. The House met at 2.30. Leave of absence was granted to Mr M'Lachlan for one week on urgent private business. ORDER FOR HAY. In reply to Captain \V. R. Russell, The JXigln itou. Air SE.D.DUN said he had ■ asked the Agent-general to communicate with the War Urtice and ask that.the time for supplying 4000 tons of .i:ay be extended, iao period originally mentioned being too short to collect that amount. FIRST'AND SECOND READING. The Mastertcn County Bill No. 2 was introduced and read a first time. The Workers' Compensation for Accidents and' Factories Bills were read a second time pro forma. MINISTERS' SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES. . On tho motion that the Ministers' Salaries and Allowances Act Amendment Bill be read a third time, ilr X JIiiANI called attention to the abuse of travelling expanses by Ministers, and urged that "a stipulated sum should be voted ior the'purpose.' lie agreed that . the Native JViiniater should be raised to a legal status, but he did not approve of the appointment of an additional .minister. Mr J. W. TiiO.UtiUiN considered the salaries hitherto paid to Ministers were sufficient. Altogether under tiie bill, and with his emolujneftt; as a member of the Assets Board, the Premier would be iv receipt of a sum of iikiOOO a year, and having obtained an increase in their own salaries Ministers could scarcely resist the pressure of members ior an increase of honorarium, .tie objected to the increase in. tne number ox Ministers.' The number of private secretaries Ministers had enabled them to get through a greater amount of • business ti:an former Ministers, who were : not so.lavisii in tuat respect. He also opposed the principle oi differentiation iv the payment of Ministers.

Mr FIbHER thought now was the lime to discuss the question of an increase in members honorarium, not with the view to an increase this, session, but to let constituents know, what their opinions were on the subject, with a view to an increase next session; Air COLLINS contended that the Premier ■wlis entitled to an increase in salary, but the House was not justified in treating other Ministers and members in the same way.

Mr LEWIS, while not opposing the increase, attacked the" principle of uuierentiation which it contained. lie also disapproved of the increase in the number of. Ministers.

Mr IIERRIES opposed the bill entirely. If Ministers were dissatisfied with their salaries, let them resign, when there would be plenty other members willing to take their places. It seemed to be a Liberal principle to dip their hands as deeply as possible into tho public purse.

Mr WILFORD would vote for the third reading of the bill on the ground that he approved of the increase iv salaries, although he opposed the increase in number.

Mr J. ALLEN did not object to the Premier addressing people throughout the colony on policy subjects, but he objected to him interfering in elections and making personal attacks upon candidates opposed to him. It was degrading to Parliament that the first measure of importance introduced by the -Government this session was one to increase their own salaries.

Mr HOGG defended the Premier for taking to the public platform, on the ground that the great bulk of the press of the colony had misrepresented him.*

Mr LAURENSON supported the bill, believing that he could justify his vote to his constituents.

Mr MORRISON supported the motion. Mr SYMES opposed" the bill. Mr FOWLDS said he voted for the'second reading of the bill solely on the understanding that the number of members was increased by eight, and unless that were done he would oppose the increase in the number of Ministers.

Mr ELL opposed the bill, and condemned Ministerial interference with candidates ai

elections.

Mr PALMER supported the bill. Captain RUSSELL said he did not object to Ministers holding a private position, but urged that they had no right to occupy positions that might bring them into conflict with their official duties.

The.debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Captain RUSSELL continued the debate by pointing out that, in addition to the eight Ministers provided for in the bill,, the Ministry had power to call two members of the Native race to the Executive, thereby placing undue power in the hands of Ministers. SLAUGHTERING AND INSPECTION! The debate was interrupted by the Governor's message containing certain amendments to the Slaughtering and Inspection Bill in the direction of paying compensation for slaughterhouses and for animals destroyed at the rate of £1 per head for cattle and 5s to 10s for pigs. MINISTERS' SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES. Mr ARNOLD continued the debate on the Ministers' Salaries Bill, which he supported. Mr FLATMAN supported the bill. Mr G. W. RUSSELL, while supporting the bill, regretted that when the measure was in committee an opportunity was not given to introduce the elective Executive principle. Mr T. MACKENZIE believed in paying Ministers and civil servants well, and on that account he would support the bill as far as it proposed to increase Ministers' salaries, but he objected to the provision increasing the number, therefore he would vote against the bill. ■

Mr ATKINSON thought if Ministers paid less attention to functions and duties outside their official work they would not have to complain of overwork. The Hon. J. G. WAIU) said Ministers were not afraid to go before the people and defend the increase of salaries-. ' He had not intended to speak on the question, but he would not iit still without defending the Ministry on the position they took up on the question. The Opposition objected to members of the Native race occupying seats in the Executive, because a majority of them were supporters of the Government. As to the statement that soma of the stationmasters worked 84- hours a week, he gave it a most ernpliatic denial. As to Ministers' allowances, it had been the custom of opponents of the Government for years to. disparage the Ministry on that account, hoping that by crippling them in that direction tho classes would be able to supplant the masses "on the Treasury benches. The hands of Ministers had been somewhat tied in the discussion on. account of their being personally interested.

Messrs NAPIER, BCDDO, GILFEDDER, mid MILLAR supported the bill.

Messrs MONK and BOLLARD opposed tho bill.

Mr J. HUTCHESON considered the question of the increase of salaries had not begn before the country. • Politics, as a means of living, was precarious, therefore lie did not think Ministers had a right to expect to make permanent provision for themselves out of the emoluments of office. What had been' done in tho past had no bearing upon tho question, except as to what should bo avoided, and, looking at tho present position of the colony; he thought the bill unnecessary.

. Messrs E. M'KENZIE and HALL supported tho bill. The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON, in reply, complained that many members who formerly advocated an increase of Ministers' salaries had since backed down upon the question. The increase proposed meant about Jd a head of the population of tho colony, and surely tho liberalism of the colony would not object to that sacrifice. He had travelled a good deal over the country, but had never profited thereby; but he was satisfied if the colony and party benefited thereby. He was pained at some of the remarks made by members of the Liberal party on. the subject, and stated that these members were only being used by the Opposition. He defended the Ministry from the charge of want of constructive ability. The third reading was carried by 41 to 15. The House then rose.