PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2522, 16 July 1902, Page 87

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill for £573,000 wai introduced by Governor's Message. Sir "WILLIAM RUSSELL said he could not urge the House to refuse to pass the bill, but he pointed out that the Government had three months after the end of the financial year in which it could spend money without authority ; but session after session the Standing Orders -were becoming mere and more a farce, and the result was that the House was now in the position of having either to consent to setting aside the Standing Orders or to refuse to pass this bill, and thus put the country to great inconvenience. The system that was growing up of the Crown getting money from the House without proper explanation wae against Constitutional principle. Parliament could have been called together earlier. After a brief discussion, in which Messrs Wilford, Monk, Pirani, and Fisher took part, Sir J. G. WARD, in reply, said the opening of Parliament had been delayed to suit the convenience of members under very' exceptional circumstances, as there was a' general desire on the part of members tc , be in their own localities on Coronation. Day. For his own part, he thought Parlia-* meflt should meet a good deal earlier then had been the practice of late. There was pre-oede-nfc for. the delay in calling members together this session, and he was sure tlit right course had been adopted. The motion to suspend the Standing Orders to allow the bill to go through all its stages at on© sitting was carried Lt 44 to 10. On the motion for the second readinc or the bill, Mr HERREES asked for an explanation of the sudden discharge of men from public" works last December. Mr FRASER asked why the bill proposed to transfer £100,000 from the consolidated fund to the public works fund, seeing that on the 31st of March there was a balance of nearly half a million. Sir J. G. WARD said the stoppage of public works had not been on account of the shortage of funds. The reason was that throughout the country thero had been a gieat demand for tho prosecution of public works during the summer months, and the Government had to take care that the total amount of appropriations had not been exceeded. Ag to the state of the public works fund, members must bear in -mnld that the Government practically had to carry on -without the authorisation of Parliament until Septemher next, and the amount available on March 31 laet was required in most oase>s for works, buildings, etc., which were in progress, and could not be diverted to other public works. He declared again that the stoppage in December last wafl' brought about solely on account of the cave taken by the Government not to exceed the total amount of its appropriations, and emphatically denied that political considerations had anything to do with the treatment accorded to various districts. The bill then passed its final stages. The House rose- at 5.10. A SHORT-LIVED DEBATE. Members generally have been so muc'i upset by the revolutionary character of the changes in their districts made by the Representation Commissioners that they ara talking of nothing else, and it is no wonder that they could not work up any interest' in the Address-in-Reply debate, which started this evening after the dinner adjournment. The oratory has been of a very mediocre quality, even for the present House, and the galleries have been treated to eloquence of a distinctly debating society character. Few of those who spoke rose to the occasion, and during the whole evening tbe members who did grace the House with their presence either coiled themselves on, their benches in comfortable, if inelegant, attitudes, with their hats over their eyes, or elso listened to tho watered eloquence with bored tolerance. Mr K. M. Smith* treated the House to an hour's confidential talk on ironsand, etc., and regaled them, with some choice anecdotes culled from hin English experience. A choice one detailed was an exciting wordy encounter between. "E. M-" and two English bank manager.", who displayed woeful ignorance about our labour laws and the inestimable benefits they assured. Mr Smith told the House that the colony came out all right in this little encounter. Another good one concerned a tilt in which the member for Taranaki broke a lance with Sir Somethinpr-or-Other about New Zealand's financial position. The. colony was again tho victor. At 11 o'clock the briefest Addresa-in-Repiy debate came to an abrupt termination, t^c no one seemed displeased. THE NEW ELECTORATES Members continue to express indignation at the readjustment of the boundaries ol then- electorates, and have not yet pertleri down to ordinary business; while it is more that doubtful whether any unite rial alters, tion will he made in the divisions fixed by the commissioners. It miu>t be remc-mhered that before the mattr.-r is finally bellied a bill will be neeespary. Members are sure to have a long list of grievances to unfold, but I believe the only way in which any alteration can be affected is somewhat cumbersome — namely, by the constituents petitioning the eommis'-ioners. This, of course, would take time, nnd it is p\tremelv doubtful whether we will see the boundaiie- much altered. THE AUDITOR-GENERAL'S CRITICISMS. The Auditor genera! to day auhmhtcd to Parliament a copy of correspondence in n case when 1 the Audit Office declined to pass £36,?59 as the sum by which the appropriation for working railways could, under section 6 of " The Public Revenues Act Amendment Act. 1900," be deemed lo have been increased for an expired portion of the year on the ground that the computation was not made on the revenue. in th« public account according to the Public Revenues Act. The Governor-in-Council de-j termined the matter in dispute by deciding that the excess of the actual over the estimated revenue from railways for such' expired portion of the year was, as shown by the computation, £3b,859. The Auditorgeneral claimed that the increase of appropriation shtndd be cnily £27,215. The ActingTremier proposed to refer tho matter to tho Public Accounts Committee. Several members commented on the fact that during Mr, Seddon's leadership this committee ua«i stuffed with Government supporters whr< were " bossed ' by the Premier, *nd thau l*st session, the? delayed nxuDi-u^z o Eoni'St

areferences submitted to them and failed to report on others, the result being that discussion was buried in regard to important {matters relating to finance. They asked Sir jJoseph Ward for an assurance that the question would be submitted and reported upon at the earliest possible moment. Sir Joseph fVftard gave this assurance. He said the whole 'question was whether th« actual revenue and tthe estimated revenue should both be conindered on the one dat» He thought they %hould_be co considered. He said they had (thousands of these disputes going on with jthe Auditor-general, but th«« House only heard of some of them. The correspondence was referred to the Public Accounts Comjmittee. The Auditor-general also presented correspondence in a case where a difference m opinion had arisen between the- Audit {Office and the Treasury as to which account should be charged refunds of stamp 'duty on estates of deceased members of Contingents in excess of the 'item 25 of vote HB, £100, in tho appropriations for last financial year. The Governor-in-Courieil determined the question by deciding that such item applied to all stamp duty paid on the Restates of deceased members of the contingents during the year, and that consequently 5t was lawful to make the remission and to charge the expenditure in respect thereof }to the vote 48, notwithstanding that the amount of the item was thereby exceeded. iThis matter was also referred to the Pub'no 'Accounts Committee without discussion. ARTICLES OF COMMON CONSUMPTION. An interesting return, showing the consumption of articles of common use per head of population from the year 1881 to 1901, was presented to Parliament to-day. The consumption of spirits has been gradually decreasing from £2 12s in 1881 to £1 17s 3d in 1891 and to £1 19s 7d in 1901. Tobacco has remained very steady, having only raised a couple of shillings during the 20 years. In 1881 it was £1 4s 2d, in 1891 it was £1 3s 7d, and in 1901 it was £1 4s %±d. The consumption of cigars and cigarettes has steadily mounted from 2s ■lid to 4s 7cl in IS9I, and to Is 6d in 1901. Ale and beer have been going down from 2s to Cd ; wine decreased from 2s 7d to Is 3|d. The amount of tea consumed last year was Is lid per head, as against 3s Oid in 1891, and 2s 5d in 1881. The conEumption of coffee and cocoa has also decreased ; while sugar has steadily increased "from 2s 10c! to 4s Id in 1881 The New •Zealand brewed beer consumed last year was &3 7Jd, in 1891 2s 9£d, and in 1901 3s 2Jd. TEE AUDITOR-GENERAL. Correspondence from the Auditor-general .with reference to the auditing of the Imperial payments made on behalf of the |War Office was, after considerable discussion, referred to the Public Accounts Committee. ■ In the course of the discussion, Sir J. G. fWARD said the New Zealand Audit Oflice could not have undertaken the auditing of the Imperial accounts as the difficulties in 'the way were too great. With regard to a statement he had made in a recent speech tin the sowth to ihe effect that about two anillion sterling hid been spent by the Imperial authorities in New Zealand in connection with the South African war, Sir J. G. Ward explained that a great proportion of that sum had never passed through the •hands of the Government. In assessing the firures he had included the expenditure which had not passed through Government channels. Further correspondence from the Auditorgeneral with reference to payment of £3000 on account of the oxpenres of the Coronation Contingent was also referred tc the Public Accounts Committee. FIRST READING. The following Government bills were read m first time : — Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment, Unclaimed jMoneys Act Amendment, Sharebrokers, Pro- j ducts Export, Referendum, Motor-cars Regu- J lation, Fisheries Conservation Act Amend- | ment, Bank Holidays, Orchard and Garden Pests, Land and Live Stock Auctions, Birds Nuisance, Stamp Act Amendment, Secondhand Dealers, State Coal Mines Act Amendment, Mining Act Amendment, Criminal Jurisdiction of Justices, Shipping and Seamen, Shops and Offices, Public Works Act 'Amendment, .Inspection of Machinery, Consolidation, Factories Act Amendment, and J Rating on Unimproved Value. The following bills, introduced by private members, wero also read a first time: — Solicitors' Bill of Costs (Mr Pirani), Christchurch Drainage Act Amendment (Mr Collins), Christchurch Tramways District (Mr Collins), and Inspectors of Schools (Mr Gilfeddcr). RAILWAY SERVANTS' SUPERANNUATION. Sir .7. G. WARD moved the second reading of the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Bill, to establish a superannuation fund in couection with the Government Railwaya Department. He said it was scarcely necessary for him to pay that, in ft department which now consisted of some 8000 employees, it was desirable that a scheme should be adopted on the lines proposed in the bill. In sketching the scheme provided by tho bill, he pointed out how the superannuation system had worked in connaction with the London and North(Western Railway Company, and said the i>ill was an honest effort to meet a complex difficult problem. He quoted extensively^ from figures to show how the scheme .•would benefit the employees of the department, and informed the House that the officers of the department had reported that the bill provided a very safe and sound ficbems. and one that would prove beneficial *o emp'oyces as a whole. He admitted that the 5 per cent, contribution by employees .was v. large one, but he pointed out that ♦he fund must be established on a sound fcasis. The bill had been before the railway ■employees during the recess, and, personally, he had not received any objections ( whatever to it, although a sliding scale of .contributions had been suggested which he could not agree to. It was proposed to promote some of the temporary hands in the xailway workshops to the permanent staff, and they would consequently participate in rthe benefits of the scheme. Many similar euparannuation systems had worked out satistfactorily in other parts of the world, and ihe believed thi9 bill would prove beneficial ito the colony as a whole. As the bill was an innovation it might be desirable to refer It to a Committee of Investigation after the second reading had been carried. Mr PIRANI said he desired to see a workable superannuation system on the Statute but he disagreed with the conclusions arrived at by Six J. G. Ward in regard to jthis bill. He complained that the echemo {was drafted on parsimonious lines. Sir J. G. Ward had objected to a sliding r (-iale of contributions on the ground that it vvould

[ entail a sliding scale of subsidy from the Government, but he (Mr Pirani) pointed out that there was a sliding seal© of contributions in connection with the Police Provident Fund, although the Government did not contribute on a sliding scale. The old men in the railway service had no prospects under the bill, and it looked as if the Minister was afraid of opposition to the measure ' from those of his own party who objected to .pensions. Mr ELL thought the aim of the bill was excellent, but, while the bill would be good for the younger men, it would press heavily on the older men of the service. The older men in the service were willing to contribute on a sliding scale, and the younger men would make no objection. Mr WITHEFORD expressed his satisfaction with the conciseness with which Sir J. G. Ward had set forth the points of the bill. It was a humanitarian measure, and would have his support. Mr MDLLAR congratulated Sir J. G. Ward upon the attempt he had made to grapple with a difficult subject, but he thought the matter should be gone into carefully and cautiously, otherwise they might have to retrace their step*. The bill was of great importance, and he approved of its going before a Select Committee. Under the bill it was proposed to establish pensions again, and he contended the House had no right to commit the country to the payment of pensions until the matter had been considered by the people. Mr GILFEDDER approved of the bill. It would be manifestly unfair to allow of old men now ready to retire taking the benefit from a. fund they would do nothing to create. Mr E. M. SMITH congratulated Sir J. G. Ward on the excellent bill he had brought down. Mr T. K. SIDEY pointed out that since the railways were the property of the people of the country they had to be run in tho interests of the country se well as upon business lines. The measure before the House recognised this. Mr COLLINS supported the bill. He thought Mr Millar had somewhat cxag gcrated the point as to the bill being a pension one. It was merely a provident erheme. Mr TANNER considered the bill had been framed in a manner that would commend itself to the great bulk of the railway employees. He would, however, oppose the proposal to fix three as the quorum of the Management Committee of the fund, as it might have the effect of withdrawing from the men all power over the fund. Mr HOfcNSBY thought the fcheme should not be finally launched until some provision had been made for the older men of the service. If it was necessary to initiate a sliding scale to effect this improvement he hoped the House would s-se that it was done. There was no comparison between this bill and the old pension system, which had been justly condemned a.nd swept away. In the past provision had been made for post and telegraph officials and other Government employees, but there was nothing for the navvy to look forward to, and he hailed this bill with pleasure as the thin edge of the wedge in this respect. Mr W. FRASER, eaid the bill contained the principle of thrift — a principle that all members of the House had approved of. Mr HASELDEN expressed warm approval of the bill. Mr M'NAB said clause 23 should be amended, for in its present form it meant that if a man drew under the Workers' Compensation Act a few pounds for an injury received he would thereby be debarred from receiving the benefits he should be entitled to from the Superannuation ' Fund. Mr FISHER objected to the comparison of the present bill to the old system of pensions under which men battened and fattened upon the country. Mr FLATMAN also supported the bill. Sir J. G. WARD, in replying, expressed his appreciation of the way in which the bill had been received by the House. He was very strongly opposed to the old pension system, but the provisions of this measure could not in any way be construed into resurrecting that 6ystem. This was a bill to assist the workers in their old age or in time of accident. The various points which had been raised during the debate would have careful consideration, but care would have to be taken not to overweight the scheme. j The second reading was then rxgrped to on the voices, and Sir J. G. WARD gave notice to move on Tuesday to set up a Special Committee to which the bill should be referred. STEAMER-BUILDING IN NEW ZEALAND. Mr Millar asked the Mini-ter of Railways if any tender has been accepted by the Government for a new steamer for Lake Wakatipu ; if not, will he call for tenders from engineers and shipbuilders in the colony for building such a vessel before any contract is entered into. He said the local manufacturers complained that they had not been given an opportunity of tendering. There were, ho wa3 convinced, local builders who could turn out just as good a steamer as they could get in tho Old Country. Sir Joseph Ward said he had already, on representations having l>een made by MiMillar, decided that local builders should be given an opportunity of tendering. He had not been aware until then that there were any firms who could turn out such a steamer. He was glad to hear they could. Ho hoped to have the plans and specifications available shortly. THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. Mr Arnold asked the Minister of Railways what steps the Government have taken or intend to take for the purpose of extending the capacity of the railway workshops so as to obviate the necessity of further importations of rolling stock. He said he understood tli9 deficiency last year was 74 locomotives, 92 cars, 65 brake vans, and 1038 waggons. He thought the work should be done in the colony, but they did not seem to be making sufficient provision to get it done. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government would got the whole o£ the rolling stook, excepting engines, made in the colony. With regard to the engines, he was sorry they would have still to be imported. In regard to other rolling stock, the Government found that good work could be done by private firms, and when there was any necessity their assistance would be called in. The workshops would, in the meantime, be gradually extended co as to cope with the increasing work. THE GRAIN SACK QUESTION. Mr Flatman asked tho Minister of Railways whether anything is being done with the object of fixing the maximum weight of sacks of wheat earned on the New Zealand j railways. Sir Joseph Waid said he had had regulation* prepared with a view to bavins;

a maximum weight of 200 ib fixed, but he found there was a great diversity of opinion on the point, and .pather than fix a weight that might not satisfy those concerned he preferred to wait for a further expression of opinion from farmers and others. Many people thought the cental system should be introduced, and that the maximum weight should be reduced to 1001b. MR SEDDO>TS CABLES. The frequent cables sent out by Mr Seddon since he left New Zealand shores were the subject of a question in the House this afternoon, when Mr Monk asked the ActingPremier if he would suggest to the Right Hon. R J. Seddon, now in London, that in the interests of economy it is unnecessary for him to transmit cablegrams that are either a paraphrase or a duplication of the information promptly supplied through the daily journals of the colony. In putting his question Mr Monk said he thought it was only right, in the interests of the taxpayers, that the Premier should have a little more consideration for those who found the revenue, which was required for more urgent purposes. Sir Joseph Ward said he was sorry that the hon. member had thought it necessary to put the question. He might say that the great majority of the telegrams sent by Mr Seddon were coded, and a very few worcjs often conveyed the whole contents of his messages. Sir Joseph considered it was only natural that Mr Seddon should from time to time keep his colleagues advised of his movements. Ho would point out that there had been requests for copies of the telegrams not only throughout the eclony, but from Australia. ■ Cables had corrie asking that Mr Seddon's messages should be repeated to Australia for the information of the people. While pome members might take exception to the comparatively few pounds that would be concerned, he (Sir Joseph) must say that Mr Seddon had never been incorrect in his in formation. The first cable that came to the colony containing news of the postponement of the Coronation was sent by Mr Seddon. BANK HOLIDAYS. The bank holidays provided by Sir Joseph Ward's bill to amend the law relating to bank holidays arc as under: — New Year's Day, Good Friday, the day after Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Christmas Day, the day after Christmas Day, St. Patrick's Day. St. George's Day, St. Andrew's Day. the Sovereign's Birthday, the Prince of Wales's Birthday, and Labour Day. " SHAREBROKERS. The Sharebrokers Bill, introduced by the Acting-Premier, provides that, no per-on shall sell or purchase any shares directly or indirectly for or on behalf of or as agent for any per-on unless he is the holder of a share-broker's license as hereinafter provided. Every person who commits a breach of this section is liable for each offence to a penalty not exceeding £100 and not less than £50. Any person who desires to obtain a sharebroker's licence shall make application in writing to the Commissioner of Stamps, who shall, on payment of an annual fe-e of £2, issue a license. Every Stock Exchange or association of sharebrokers shall within one month after the commencement of this act, or, in tho case of a Stock Exchange or association formed after the commencement of this art, then within one month after its formation, forward to the Commissioner of Stamps a list of its members and a duly certified copy of its rules. Tho Commissioner shall, on payment of a fee of £1, enter in a register the aforesaid particulars, and thereupon such Stock Exchange or association shall become a registered Stock Exchange under this act. FISHERIES CONSERVATION. The Acting-Premier's Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill provides that whenever it is necessary in the public interests to acquire land for the establishment of fish breeding or fish hatcheries in the colony the Minister oi Public Works may take such land as for a " public work," subject to the provisions of the Public Works Act, provided that not more than 20 acres of land shall be so taken for any one hatchery. land co taken may be vested in an Acclimatisation Society. "INDICATIONS" OF A SHORT SESSION. The manner in which papers are coming foiward and the business of tho House generally is being facilitated is .^omethmg quite new, and some of the memberb who have in former years had to drag returns and papers from the Government when the gentleman who is now representing the colony at Home was leader of tlie House cannot quite realise the new order of things. The House never dreams of looking for the Financial Statement before the first cix weeks have expired, and nidge of their surprise when the Acting-Premier expresses thp hope that he will be able to have it dewn early next week. I believe Sir Joseph intends making an effort to have it down on Tuesday night. In that case we may expect thp debate on Friday night, when we are sure to be inundated with electioneering speeches. From what one ran gather in the departments, mat tern generally are being pushed on with regard to returns, etc., co that it would seem as though the Gn\ernment were just as anxious to get rid of members as members were to get away from the talking i-hon and spy out the new electors who have been roped into their various districts by the readjustment of the boundaries I hoar from very good authoiity that there will I>p no attempt to keep tho session goincf till the return of Mr Seddon — a fear that has been freely expressed. — and if this be to there is very httlp to hinder hon. members following- their Inclinations at a comparatively eaily date. LAWYERS' FEES. The Solicitors' Bill of Costs Bill, introduced by Mr Pirani, i-, designed to provide a cheaper method of taxinfr lawyers' bills. At the suggestion of Mr Lanrpn=on, Mr Pirani intends to propose that the bill after tho second reading should pro to a Select Committee, stipulating, however, that no lawyer should be a member of the committee — a proposal which tickled the House when he put it forward. Mr Lanrenson, to show thp necpssity for such a bill as that of Mr Piram's. =ays he has received a letter from n man who, when confronted by an excessive bill of costs, found to I. is clitmay that it would be cheaper for him to pay the wholp amount than to meet the rost of getting it taxed. SANATORIA FOR CONSUMPTIVES Tho Acting Premier, speaking in regaul io the establishment of sanatoria for the treatment of consumption, says that the whole colony had bet v s-earched a» to the mo-t suitable place for a sanatorium. The Government made an offer for a ?ite months »£o. but the ownerj of the cronerLy de-

clined to accept the offer. It was not wise to take any step hurriedly, but the Government hoped to have sanatoria established in both islands at the earliest possible date. ARBITRATION COURT. Speaking in the Legislative Council on the recent attack by members of the Wellington Trades Council on the Arbitration Court, the Hon. W. T. Jennings, whose sympathy with the Laboiir party is wellknown, said he had been very sorry to see the attack. He ventured the assertion that 95 per cent, of the cases that had gone before the Arbitration Court had tended to the advancement of the worker. Why should extreme individuals who would never be satisfied with anything attempt to break down a very great and glorious experiment that we had started in this colony? He hoped that the true worker would recognise that though a mistake must be made occasionally by having the Arbitration Act, he had a treasonable method of settling a dispute that might arise. The only fault b> could see was that there appeared to be no finality. An award was made for one or two years, but then came up again, and that meant the unsettling of business. It must be remembered, however, that the experiment was only in its early stages, and he believed it would work out for the good of all. OFFICL\L AMENITIES. Some of the correspondence that passes between the Treasury and the Audit Office in cases where there is a difference of opinion makes amusing reading. In the last case before the House the Secretary of the Treasury winds up on© of his communications to Mr Warburton as follows: — "Life is too short to be troubled with trhial matters, which on every occasion seem to give an

outlet to the ruling passion of the Audf) Office, Cacoethes scribendi." To this Mf Warburton replies: — "The respect due to the position of the hon. the Treasurer is such that the style and language which ho has adopted in the Treasury memo, are extremely to be regretted. It would not become the Audit Office to consider as a trivial matter either the application of public money in a matter not authorised by law or the duty of reporting such application." REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, Ministers stated:—* No resolutions had been framed for submission to the House dealing with the carriage of mails from New Zealand to San. Francisco, as it had been tacitly understood! last session tliat the whole question of the 'Frisco mail contract would be left to the new Parliament. Shipbuilders in New Zealand would be given an opportunity of tendering for the construction of a new steamer for Lake Wakatipu. The extension of the capacity of the railway workshops v;as being carried on gradually throughput the colony. The question of increasing the capitation grant to primary schools was under the consideration of the Government. It was hoped to bring down the Financial Statement next week. With reference to the Manawatu railway the Government intended to retain all traffic which originated on the Government's lines, and no pressure or threats- would deter the Government from doing what they believed to be right in the interests of the colony. The .Westinghouse brake would be fitted on rolling stock running on the Dunedin sections of railways at as early a date a3 possible.