MR SHANNON'S AGREEMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 38

MR SHANNON'S AGREEMENT.

The Commerce Committee reported on Mr Shannon's agreement. The report stated:— "The committee has taken evidenoe thereupon, and finds that Mr Shannon was engaged by the Atkinson Government under an agreement dated 30th October} 1888, and signed by the Hon. George Fisher as Commiseioner of Trade and Customs. The agreement contains terms as follow:— 'Yon will be allowed pay at the rate of £800- from, Ist November next until 30tk June, 1889, together with travelling allowances at the rate of 30e a day whilst fcravellinaron public service, including your stay at Wellington, and you will receive ona-fourth share, of all net proceeds of seizures and penalties recovered directly through your action.' Under this agreement Mr Shannon claims that he was entitled to 30s per day ' all the year round,' and that this was intended, to augment 4iis- salary, and according- to his evidence he ha* drawn £1340 a year. This amount represents £800 a year salary and 30s a day allowance for every day of the year, including Sundays. In addition to that he has drawn £260 from fines."

The report was ordered to lie on the table.

.BILLS PASSED.

The PRIME MINISTER moved the third reading of the Chinese Immigrant* Act Amendment Bill.

Mr HORNSBY moved an amendment that the third reading be postponed in order that the Government might reconstruct the bill and impose a higher poll tax, namely, £200 on every (Jliinese entering the country The amendment was negatived by 56 votes to 10, and the bill was, read a third time and passed on the voices. The Co-operative Dairy Companies BUI was read a third time and passed.

The Divorce an<J Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill was read a third time by 60 votes to 7, and passed. The Rangitikei Block Exchange Bill was „...- •_,} +^0 aR d passed.

'"ORKS ESTIMATES

;-i> then went into Committee c: rup.-.iy oil the Public Works Estimates.

Af iho first item (railways, class 28. touJ vote £1,125,000) Mr MANDER urged that more money should be voted to the Kawakawa-Grahflinfitown line.

Mr W. FRASER urged that the Minister should make some definite statement as to what was intended to be done ir. regard to the Otago Central Railway. The Bon Mr M'GOWAN, in replying stated that the best had been done with the money at the Government's disposal. and a fair average had > been, maintained in allotting the money. MrJtfASSEY urged that through, tickets should be issued over the Main Trunk Line from Auckland to Wellington, so that passengers could utilise the route during the summer. He was convinced # that the owners of coaches would be only too glad to place their conveyances at the disposal of the Government to connect the two end* of the line.

Mr HANAN strongly condemned u ne vote for the Lawrence-Roxburgh line, and said he regretted that it was not possible to get the vote struck out. as it was ahameJ»l waste of public money. The vote was passed unaltered. Class 28 (utilisation of water power — £2000) was passed unaltered. The next class taken was Public Buildin «s.

Total vote, £251.800: sub-vote<s— General, £30,000: Judicial. £30.000; Postal and TeleLraph, £35,000. Passed unaltered.

The total vote was passed unaltered.

In re the petition of Robert Johnstone. of Blackstone Hill, prayinpr that the land held by himself and family be grouped in one holding, the Lands Committee reoo mm ended that the case was one requiring relief, and that it should be favourably considered by the Government with a view to special legislation being passed.