THE ESTIMATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16213, 25 August 1923, Page 3

THE ESTIMATES.

i DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. A CLOSE DIVISION. (per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. On resuming at. 7.30 the House went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates of the Education Department, for which a vote of £2.637,380 was asked. Mr. Wilford at once moved that the vote be reduced by £5, as an indication that full civil and political rights be granted to members of the public service in the division. This was lost by 35 votes to 34. Mr, Sullivan protested against the character of many of the school buildings, some of which he described as slum structures. \ He moved that the vote be' reduced by £4, as a. protest against this state of affairs. The Minister said the average expenditure on school buildings of late years had amounted to £428,000, whereas in 1913 only £93,000 was being spent. He would like a larger sum to expend, and .it was for the committee to say whether this larger sum should be provided or not. « The Premier warned the House against • extravagance in school buildings otherwise there would simply bo a "boom" and then a "bust." We were now spending 400 per cent, more on school buildings than we were doing a few years ago, and that was as much as they could do at present, if all other services and enterprises were to be maintafned. Members continued to stress local requirements and ventilate grievances in the matter of school" buildings and residences until 12.30, when Mr. Sullivan's amendment was defeated by 43 votes to ,29. ;. " i Mr. Holland immediately moved that the vote be reduced by £3, as an indication that before the income tax reductions become operative teachers' salaries shall be raised to pre-war standard. This also was defeated by 44 votes to 27. Mr. Smith (Taranaki) next moved to reduce the vote by £2, as an indication that school committees' capitation be increased. This was defeated by 39 votes to 32. The total vote was then passed. The working railways vote of £6,050,000 was next taken, in spite of the appeal made by Mr. Holland to defer it until to-morrow on account of the strain of long' hours' upon members. Mr. Massey replied with an equally pathetic appeal to members to put the Estimates through for his sake, and en-r able him to put the business of the House through befoi*© he left. He, too, was suffering from want of sleep, and was a verv tired man. Mr. Holland offered to put the Estimates through to-morrow by 11 o'clock, and the Public Works Estimates through during the afternoon. Mr. Wilford said that, while anxious to put the Estimates through, he could not agree to any limitation of time, and so the discussion went on. Mr. Fraser moved to reduce the general manager's salary by £lO, as an indication that full civil and x political ' rights should be glinted ' railway em- : ploveos. This was defeated by 35'votes to 33.

Mr. Wilford then moved that the vote bo reduced by £9. as on indication that the "hardship" clnuse should' be administered. Mr. Monteith gave particulars of several cases which he claimed came within the "hardship" clause, but received no relief. The Premier replied that he was officially informed that quite a number of cases in the Railway Department had met under the "hardship" clause. Mr. Mcllvride declared that the A.S.R.S. was not aware of a single case for which relief had been granted. WELLINGTON, this day. After the telegraph office closed the discussion of the railway estimates was continued. The Minister, in. reply to questions, said he had asked the general manager to report to him as to the possibility of running a daily express between Dunedin and Invere'argill. A review of the tariff was now in l type, and was in process of consideration. It would, however, take some time to coordinate the many amendments which had been made from time to time. While he did not hope to devise a tariff which would x please everyone, he was hopeful of getting something which would give gem eral satisfaction. The percentages of reduction in overhead charges were distributed amongst the various items as follows: Wages, 6.34; locomotive fuel and running,, 5.13; stores, materials, etc., .19; miscellaneous, .44. At 2.30 Mr. Wilford's amendment was defeated by 34 to 29. Mr. Holland moved that the vote be reduced by £8 as an indication that the Appeal Boards aaked for by. the A.S.R.S. should be granted. The amendment was lost by 33 to 30. Mr. McElvride mowed to reduce the vote by £5 as an indication that before reductions in income tax takes place the railway workers wages should be restored to the pre-war purchasing standard. This was defeated by 33 to 25. The total vote was there passed, and at 2.55 a.m. the House adjotvrned ' till noon. '