PECULIAR ATTITUDE OF THE LEFT WING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 25

PECULIAR ATTITUDE OF THE LEFT WING.

The feature of last night's debate on the Estimates was the attitude adopted by the Left Wing. Some time before midnight Mr Taylor drew attention to an increase of £25 in the salary of the Hansard supervisor, and moved to strike it out. The Premier said this had been promised. Mr Smith suggested that under the circumstances his colleague should withdraw his motion, and cast the responsibility upon the Premier. Mr Seddon then averred that ho had merely promised to put the sum in question on the Estimates. In the discussion that ensued it was repeatedly pointed out that the only way to reduce was by cutting a sum off the entire vote, leaving the Government to arrange the details, and, in the end, Mr Taylor's motion was rejected by a large majority. Mr Massey then moved that the item printing Hansard, £3500, be reduced by £500. This motion the Left Wing scouted as ridiculous, and, on a division, they all voted with the Government. The item passed, and the Left Winer, after wishing the Opposition joy, left the Chamber, and went home to bed before 1 o'clock, Mr Pirani alone remaining for another hour. The next class was the Colonial Secretary's department, which contained large contingency votes, including £3264- for printing rolls, etc., last year, and £2500 for the current year, with £7000 for general contingencies, while £9529 appeared as the expenditure for the preceding year. This class the Opposition debated until nearly 5 o'clock, and if their unassisted efforts to obtain information

were not entirely successful that is a matloP for which the Government nmst be blamed. In connection with the miscellaneous votes, most extraordinary statemenfs were made by the Premier. He said that to give detaib of all the contingencies would involve w.wmg through some four and a half hundred weight of vouchers, and members asking whether each voucher was not represented by an entry in some ledger or another, Mr Seddou said that each voucher was represented in the books by a number only. This extraordinary method of book-keeping was freely commented on as being probably unparalleled in the realm of finance. At a later stage, however, the Premier's statements were disproved by the Colonial Secretary reading out items totalling to within £30 of the £9529, representing last year's expenditure under "General contingencies." The table is to be printed shortly. Altogether, the night's proceedings were of most extraordinary character. So far as tha Left Wing were concerned, the entire Estimates, after the first class, might, and probably would, have been passed en bloc. Amongst other items that went through in their absence was the vote for the salary of the British Resident at Rarolonga, an item which, as it opened up the whole question of Mr Moss's management, was expected to evoke an animated discussion, in which members of the Temperance party would have taken a prominent part. Their action in absenting themselves and declining to discuss the Estimates because one of their number failed to carry a reduction of £25 is very freely commented upon. For the last four hours of the discussion not more than 10 members of the Government party were in the Chamber. MINISTER FOR LANDS. The Hon. J. M'Kenzie is still far from strong. He was .not in his place tc-day, it being considered inadvisable that he should leave his rooms, as the weather was very wet and boisterous. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The Premier seems to fear that the attack upon the condition of the Police Force may be followed by an endeavour to arouse public opinion regarding tho present system of mak--ing appointments to, and the general condition of, the civil service. Referring, no doubt, to the strong attacks of Messrs Pirani and Taylor on some of the recent appointments, Mr Seddon declared that there were indications that the agitation which led up to the Police Commission would be repeated in the case of the civil service unless the movement wa3 nipped in the bud. His argument, apparently, was that the report of the Police Commission should discourage any inquiry regarding the state of the civil service generally. Many members, however, are of opinion that the improvements which will probably be made in the administration of the Police Force frilly justify the expense of the investigation. The Premier himself admits that the inquiry will restore ponfiden.ee, and there is a feoling abroad that if a similar inquiry into the condition of the civil service would result in the setting up of a Civil Service Board, it would be well worth the time and expense. Even supposing the House should not pass any resolution definitely removing the Police Force from political control, the hands of the new commissioner will certainly be strengthened in resisting political pressure in the making of appointments and promotion*. A NICE LITTLE SCHEME. Mr Guinness has given notice of a bill entitled the Civil Service Reform Act Amendment Bill, which repeals section 4 of the principal act providing that no person may enter the civil service unless he has passed_ the civil service examination. In place of this section Mr Guinness proposes to insert a provision that only those who have been engaged as temporary clerks for a period of three years can be appointed. NEW BILLS. The Government gave notice of four new bills this afternoon. This naturally gave rise to a protest, and certainly it does seem absurd for Ministers to keep on bringing down bills when there are about 50 Government measures on the Order Paper, while nearly three months of the session have already gone. Of course, something like three- fourths of these bills will have to be abandoned altogether, and a large portion of the remainder will never reach the third reading stage. This is not altogether to be regretted. Indeed, a member on the Government side of the House informed me a few days ago that the country, as a whole, would not seriously suffer if nine-tenths of the 50 Ministerial bills were sacrificed. Whatever Ministers may say or think, the House as a whole will be secretly pleased if the country members go on strike after the Publio Works' Estimates have been put through. PERSONAL. Mr Rolleston left for the south this afternoon, and will be absent for a week. Mr James Allen is expected now in a few days. Mrs Parker, sister of General Kitchener, left for the south by the Penguin to-day. She will stay in Christchurch for a few days. Mr Watson, president of the Bank of New Zealand, will probably, in the event of his retiring from his present position, be a candidate for a directorship of the bank in the interests of the shareholders. Lord Ranfurly is anxious to see the country north of Auckland for himself, and to become acquainted with the settlers and tbeir work, and intends shortly to pay a visit to the district. He will be accompanied by Lady Ranfurly. THE COLONY'S CREDIT. Mr Duthie's question about the alleged refusal of the London Stock Exchange to quote fox the £2,700,000 3 per cent. New Zealand debentures in July last has been postponed for a day or two, and the Premier will cable to London for information. The Government have no information on the subject at present. MINISTERS AND THE POLICE REPORT. It is not easy to understand why the Government want to refer the report of the Police Commission to the Public Accounts Committee in order that the committee may take into consideration the cost of giving effect to the recommendations. As one member pointed out, it certainly seems absurd that proposals involving an additional expenditure of a comparatively small amount annually should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee, whereas the Government did not think it worth while to ask for a report from this committee on the Old Age Pensions Bill, which would cost the colony something like £100,000 a year. The intentions of Ministers regarding the suggestions of the commission have not been made clear. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones cautiously declared that the Government were endeavouring to give effect to similar recommendations made some time ago by Mr Tunbridge, and they would, as far as possible, adopt the report of the commission. This admission led Mr Montgomery to call upon Mr Hall-Jones to be consistent and support Mr Kelly's amendment, which simply meant that the report of the commission should be given effect to. The Minister for Public Works, however, replied that he would vote against it. [What the Government intend to do there-

fore remains to be seen. The three Ministerial speeches have thrown very little light on this point.