IMPREST SUPPLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12415, 26 July 1902, Page 8

IMPREST SUPPLY.

A "BREEZE" IN PARLIAMENT.

(From Our Own Oop.rk9Pondf.kt.)

WELLINGTON, July 25. Tho House this afternoon shook off its lethargy, and for the first time this session a debate became really lively. It was the Imprest Supply Bill No, 2 that galvanised members into unwonted vigour, and the irrepressible Mr Pirani who switched on the current tlmt gave tlio first- shock. The member for Palmcrstoh North stated that even when the Loan Bill is passed tho colony may- have some difficulty in raising the money on the London market. This called forth a protest from Government supporters against such a statement as unpatriotic, and prejudicial to the credit of tho colony. The Acting-Premier, in the course of a speech, said that no one oi: the Government side of the House objected, to honest criticism, but what was objected to was that in the discussion of the financial position of the colony an impression was sought to be created abroad that the state of New Zealand was such that wo should r ot ' )e r> ?' ) ' o to ra "' ee 'he money under the Loan Bill. It was true that in tho first quarter of the previous year he had started with a credit balanco of £520,000, and that we had commenced this year with a credit balance of £270,000; but'to suggest, as o<<e member had done, that because we had not at the beginning of this year a sum equal to that at the beginning of 'the previous year wo were not in a solvent position, \m entirely wrong. When funds were being drawn upon for the public works of the colony it was clear that therp could not be the same sum at one period as there was at another. Referring to the failure of a neighbouring colony to raise a loan without paying 1£ per cont., be said that when lie had predicted it a few days ago he had been laughed at from the Opposition benches; but who wnS now proved to be-right? The Acting-Premier went on to say that during the last two years the financial'world had been completely out of joint. Before the war British consols stood at 111. but during the course of the war they had fallen to 91— a lower figure than at any time sinoo the establishment of consols. Since the close of the war, moreover, the money market had been easier. New Zealand had stood off tho market throughout the war, with a result that the colony ought to bo proud of, and that every member, on either side of tte ought to bo .proud of—namely, that we had been able to get our loan at 94.— Mr James Allen hold that it.was not fair and open criticism which did harm to the colony's credit. The injury was done by the misstatements of the cplony's position, and these misstatements csmo from the Government side of the House. He quoted figures to show tlmt the receiots under various headings had shown a falling off. , In the courso of further discussion Mr Hornsby said that it was : unpatriotic and improper far Mr Pirani to' say that if tlio Loan Bill were passed tho money would not bo raised on tho Home markot. Such statements, he asserted, were deliberately mado with - the) idea of'being cabled ,to London, Not many years ago an ex-member of the House had gone among members of ihe Stock Exchange with tho intention,of smashing tho credit of Now Zealand.—(Cries of "Name" wero_ met with the - response, "John Duthie.")—Mr Masse-y exclaimed "That is not correct," but Mr Korneby reiterated' that it was true.—Mr James Alien said that there was only one answer to the speech of the member for Wairorapa, an absolute and complete donial, and with that lie left it.— (Opposition choers.)—Mr Hornsby: "I repeat tho statement."—Mr Atkinson: "Will you tay it outside? "—Mr Homsby: " Yes. anywhere. I don't want to shelter myself behind parliamentary privilege."—Mr T. Mackenzie said that if anything was. calculated to provoke a heated and intemperate elifmission it was tho intemperate and irresponsible speech of tho, member for Wairarapa. As one who had spent somo timo in London, thu speaker said that colonists going there divested themselves of party polities, and united in doing all {bey could for tho interests of New Zealand. He drelared that there was no foundation for the conduct attributed to Mr Duthie, whoso long and honourable public carcer was well known to members of the House.

After somo personalities between Mr T. Mackenzio and Mr. Hornsby, Mr James Allen rose and faid ho had rung up Mr Duthie as soon as possible after the statement of the member for Wairarapa, 'and had received from him a denial, which ho wished to put on record. His reply .was: "There is no communication by word or otherwise, no dealing, no communication in writing that could over bo pointed to which will justify any such charge' as Mr Hornsby makes. There is not a tittle of evidence for the' statement, and it is utterly unwarranted."—Mr Hornsby held that Mr Alien ought to have submitted to him l the question put to Mr Dutbio before he had put it to tho latter, Mr Duthie, ho claimed, did not deny anything.—(A Voice: "Yes; absolutely.") Ho only said that there was no proof that he had over said it,-Mr Pirani said that Mr Hornsby should make his charge outside the House, where ' tl;e person attacked would hnvo an opportunity of replying.—Mr Hornsby: "I havo published it-'in a newspaper before to-day.".—Mr Pirani retorted that the member for Wairarapa had probably published a good many things which lie would not rare to have read in- the Hou-e.

Mr Witheford said ho had met many New Zcalanders in London, including the member for YVnihomo (Mr T. Mackenzie), and he had always found that they had aeted most loyally to tho colony.—(Mr James Allen: "Does not tho remark, apply to Mr Duthie?") Mr Witheford: I am not aware of Mr Duthie doing anything else than advancing the interest's of this country, but the Opposition speeches and ,the articles in tho Opposition papers have done incalculable injury to the colony and prevented capital coming here—Mr Massey said that of all men in the House Mr.Hornsby was the one who most frequently used the privileges of Parliament for attacking people outside tho House.—Mr Hornsby took exception to this statement, and with that the" dinner adjournment arrived. On resuming at 7.30 the debate took on a quieter tone. Somo of the Opposit! on wore anxious as to the whereabout; of £72,500. 1 ost OPhce revenue, which was not included m tho first quarter's accounts of tho present year. The question was put in several ways il, the Acting-Premier, And Mr Pirani esked point blank if the reason lay in the fact that it had been used hy way of imprest for the payment of enarges for other departments. The Acting-Premier assured him it had not been iif-ed for any departments outside and Telegraph Office. Mr J. Allen: Did you pay old-age pensions out of it? ' Sir Joseph Ward: I don't think so.

Mr Allen pushed the matter furthevand wanted to know if the money wore-lying in the Post Office to the credit of any account, or whether it had been used to meet any other account, ft was not understandable that such a large sum should be lying in the hands of the Post Office and not transferred to the public revenues. Sir Joseph Ward, while admitting that tho money was jiot paid into the public revenues account before March 31, said it remained under tlio control of the Post Office in the usual way, and was naid into tlio public accounts after June 30. Mr J. Allen: Was the money used for paying other accounts? Sir Joseph Ward: The inonev was not tml outside tho Post and Telegraph Department. Mr Allen: That is not an answer to my question. Sir Joseph Ward replied that it had not been used outside Postal and Telegraph purposes, and could not be used for anything else. Mr Allen: Old •age pensions comc under that department, Sir Joseph Ward: Well, then, I will say tn,'it it was not used for tho purpose of paying old-ago pensions. Mr Pirani denied the statement that the money could not have been used for anything else than Pc3t and Telegraph purposes. It could be used for anything in connection with the public service.?, and it was the. famous Public Revenues Aot of 1900 which made it possible. Thsro was not a Dublic service for which ic would not have been possible to have used it. Sir Joseph Ward: I have said it was not. Mr Pirani: That is a different thing. You said it could not. All this money could be. used without audit under imprest. I think that while harm inav not have been done in the present case, 'it is just as well that all members and the public should know that such a thing might bo done.