THE ESTIMATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7450, 2 October 1895, Page 3

THE ESTIMATES.

|Fbom Oub Special Reporter.] Wellington, last night. The consideration of the Estimates was resumed in Committee of the House this afternoon, and immediately a long debate arose over the question of increases to higher paid officials. As an indication that no salaries over £300 should be increased, Mr 6. J. Smith moved to reduce the item "Nine Travelling Inspectors Audit Office £2300" by £1. in view of the depressed circumstances of the colony, increases in salaries should not, he said, be countenanced. Messrs Earnsbaw, Buddo, and others strongly supported the motion, and some were inclined to go further and vote no increases on salaries beyond £200. A discussion then ensued on the question of the efficiency of the Audit Department, and the Premier announced the intention of the Government to go into that question during the recess, and to submit a scheme next session for revision of the Audit DepartOpposition members contended that the non-efficiency of the Audit Department was due to the action of the Government in holding it up to odium and in keeping it undermanned. Mr McLachlan moved as a further amendment that the salary of the chief clerk of the department (£400) be reduced by £30. ft was pointed out that there was no increase proposed in this salary, and Mr McLaohlan could find no one to support him in his amendment, which was accordingly losfc. „ „ , Mr G. J. Smith then varied his former motion by moving that the item contingencies (£500) be reduced by £1. The motion was lost by 31 to 24. Wellington, to-day. The Registrar-General's department was next taken, and on the vote " census of 1896 and agricultural statistics £31,000" Captain Russell asked for an explanation. The Treasurer said ib was proposed to extend the scope of the agricultural returns with a view of giving the public earlier and more ample estimates of grain yields, etc. It was not intended to collect the census next year for economical reasons, and beoause he could see no necessity for it. The £20,000 would be better spent on roads and Several North Island members objected to the postponement of the census, saying that , the North Island bad largely gained in population since 189r, and should have , larger representation at the next general ; election. , ' After some discussion the vote was passed, i Agent-General's department £4350 passed unamended. < Under " printing and stationery an | attack was made on salaries over £200 being i Mr MoLachlan moved to reduce the salary , of the Government printer from £440 to , £420. • Motion negatived by 60 to 6. ( Miscellaneous services £19.313 elicited a , ihoal of questions, in answer to which Mr \ Ward said fire brigades would not be for- , gotten in the supplementary estimates. The flax and starch bonuses had not yet been i earned, and would be kept open. He con- \ aidered the Imperial Institute expenses, \ _S5lB and frozen meat kiosk £250 had been , of value to the colony. The £500 grant to the Christcburch exhibition was merited by j the excellence of the exhibition, and if there j —as a profit the money would be devoted to , «n Industrial Hall. The salary of the « Resident at Raratonga was necessary in , oonsequence of New Zealand's trade with ] Crtoklßlands, and he would like to see a f RamMent appointed for Samoa. New Zealand ( oould -jxot withdraw its support to the j Tmnerial institute without being regarded 1 **<uw*iv<>lv i*»ean, and the annual cost in ] SSTSm «*' exceed «**_*«£ , spoke as if he considered the colony did not , set much value for its contribution. j The total vote eventually passed. The Colonial Treasurer's department was ( 1 Mr e McLachlan moved to reduce the salary , of the Secretary 'to the Treasury from £700 } to £650, which was lost on the voices. \ The vote of £400 salary to the Financial , Adviser to the Government in London was i •truck out at the suggestion of the Premier, ] who said be wonld accept it as an indication j that aome one instead of Sir J. G. Julyan « _ould be appointed to the position. Per- , ■onally be felt that something should be | done by the colony for Sir J. Yogel. and he would be pleased to offer that gentleman the ; R Stout moved to reduce the vote of , £1500 on contingencies by £50, as an indica- , tion that the oommittee resented the scurvy , treatment accorded the House in the refusal of the Treasurer to say how the debentures , bad bees treated. ' Mr Bell also complained of the withholding , off all information as to the sinking funds of , Local Bodies. . ' The Treasurer, in reply, said he had the , certificat* of the Auditor General, and that was snfficfant for him. The information , would be' snppJed when the next Financial } Statement was delivered. i Sir Robert Stout's motion to reduce the contingencies having been negatived by 28 ; to 23, Mr Kelly moved at 2 a.m. to report progress, but this was lost by 26 to 24. The justice branch was then considered. The proposal to strike £100 off the salary of £850 of the law draftsman was lost by 28 to 17 At 2.45 Mr Hutchison moved to report JroKresß, but ib was lost by 24 to 18. The Minister stated that Mr McCarthy, a fcaseby Bolicitor, had been offered and accepted the appointment of warden at Clyde, vice Mr Revell, who was retiring on a pension. At 3.20, before the Post and Telegraph estimates began, Mr Pirani moved to report progreaß, bub this was again lostrby 24 to 14. J»r Pirani expressed the opinion that in view of the enormous increases given to certain officials, the Secretary of the Post-office should be raised from £700 to £1000. A motion by Mr Pirani to Btrike off the increase of salary of Mr Rose, Assistant T_i?ector of Post-offices, from £500 to £470 was loft by 17 to 16. Mr Ward, in answer to a question, said giris were appointed to the telephone uervice on the recommendation of responsible members. Mr Millar pub in a pleafor over-wor.ked chief messengers in the post-offices, and Mr O. J. Smith for the savings bank clerks. Mr W&& promised to look into both matters, saying 2* the same time that every consideration was sfcown to the officials employed in both the post and telegraph- departments. Mr Ward stated, in answer to Mr Bell, that the vote for the Canadian service would appear on the supplementary estimates, provided the House •Sanctioned the Bill dealing with it. At 4.40 progress was reported, and the House rose. In all, four classes of the estimates were passed, and votes amounting to £554,863 were agreed to without any reduction.