HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Southland Times, Issue 14713, 4 August 1900, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Auckland Hai boar Beard Empowering Bill was in committee till 2 15 this morning, when it was reported, practically without atnendtntnt. When the House met this afternoon several petitions were presented ; one from a number of Chinese, through Mr Guinness, asked Parliament to take sttp] to prevent or minimise the importation of opium. Mr Gilfedder obtained leave to introduce his Press Association Bill and the Mmitter of Jus ioe introduced the Indict) Me Offences Summary Jurisdiction Amendment Bill. On the report on the SLAUGHTERHOUSE INSPECTION BILL coming down from the Joint Stock Committee Mr Col sin moved that the report be referred back to the committee, alleging that it was not in the interest? of those having small slaughteryards. This was objected to by the Premier, who said that some of the slaughteryards on the West Coast and in other places were of auoh a character that if the public knew more of the reports presented to the St ck Department they would be chary of t iking the meat. He promised that amendments to the bill would be introduced by Governor's message, dealiDg with compensation to butchers for slaughteryards which would be abolished. Mr Wilford raised % laugh by intimating that he bad twenty-seven amendments to propose. Mr Hauan regretted to hear the Premier s»y he intended to give oompenaation to those butchers whose slaughteryards were to be done away with. Mr Bollard condemned the bill as being in th« interest of monopolies and tending to throw the whole business into the hands of large companies who would crush the smaller batchers. Mr Calvin withdrew his amendment and the report was ordered to lie on the table. -<* QUESTIONS. In answer to questions Ministers stated — ' That the question of appointment of a Chief Parliamentary Librarian would not be considered uutil after the removal of the library to the new wing. That the Government has a supply of 50,000 yards of khaki, at lOd a yard, which it is willing to supply to Volunteer corps, but ib would not allow the payment to stand over a period of one or two years as a charge against capitation. An officer from South Africa having stated that khaki turns white, the Government were disposed to tell the stock on hand, leaving the volunteers to get their uniforms made where they chose. That the Government would consider the question of remitting Customs duties on kerosene though no complaints had been made on the subject. That the Government will not introduce a bill to amend the Old Age Pensions Act so as to remove the restrictions against granting pensions to persons born of European or American parents who have complied with ail other conditions thaa becomkg naturalised. Ie was proposed, however, to redu c the period at which naturalisation could take place to 12 months. The Government would not extend the scope of the Stoke school inquiry beyoad two years because such a course would ba unfair to all parties. Neiihsr the Cummigßioners nor the counsel engaged considered an extension of lime to ripe years desirable. That recent escapes from the Wellington gtol were not due to the inefficiency of the warders. That the matter of increasing the amount of money lent as loans to looal bodies would be considered. That there seemed to be no finality to the naval and military land claims and the Government were averse to reopening the question. That the attention of the Government hai been called to the influx of ATistrijns at Auckland and Bteps would be taken to prevent their landing. The Premier laid on the table correspondence with the Imperial authorities in connection with the despatch of the New Zealand contingents to South Africa. Leave was given to Mr Speaker to visit Christohurch on private badness and Mr Guinness took the chair in the House to-day. THE MINISTERS SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES ACT AMENDMENT BILL. was before the House last evening. In moving the second reading the Premier said it was with some diffidence that he did so and that diffidence arose from the fact that he was personally interested. He could say that it was the first time since he had been a Minister of the Grown that he had been placed in that position. The object of the bill was to do justice to the Ministry of the day and to provide that in future those who might hold the responsible position of Ministers should receive a salary adequate to their services and commensurate te their positions. Speaking with ten years experience he unhesitatingly declared that the colony had for years underpaid its Ministers. — (Hear). It had frequently been said of himself by the Opposition that he was underpaid. Well, if that assertion was sincerely meant those on the other side of the House would be put to the test that evening. 10 was in 18S7 that the salaries were reduced owing to the great necessity for retrenchment. Since then there had be?n an increase of population, an increase in revenue and expenditure and an increase in the powers aad function of the State. The result had bsen that the State had exacted too much sacrifice of valuable lives. In New South Wales the total payments to Ministers amounted to £13,200, besides which there was a Civil Service Board which practically brought the total up to £17,000 a year. In Victoria the ten Ministers at the preeent time were paid £1040 each, but in neither of these colonies did Ministers devote their whole time to the business of the country, which was made a secondary consideration. Here, on the other hand, no Minister could carry on private business and do justice to the colony. Mr Seddon pointed out that at present the heads of departments were drawing higher salaries than members of the Government. Dr. Macgregor, for instance, got £1250 a year as Inspector ot Asylum?, and Mr Ronayne £1000 as Manager of Railways, while the Minister was only receivI ing £800. As to the differentiation in salaries there was precedence for that elsewhere. He hoped members would not take up the attitude of assailing those Ministers who were to be paid £1000 a year because their mouths would practioally be shot. In the past there bad been sweating indulged in so far as Ministers was concerded. It was understood that the proposed increase of Ministers would be objected to and although that was a committee objection he preferred to answer it now by saying that with the increased number of departments and the exactions made on Ministers It would be a saving in the long run to the taxpayers to appoint additional Ministers. He said that advisedly, knowing it to be the case. Another argument that would be u?ed was that to increase the Cabinet; in a House of seventyfour members would be to give too great power to the Ministry of the day. If it was deemed advisable to relatively increase the number of members that was a matter in the hands of the House itself. He protest ci againßt the constant chopping about of electorates under the redistribution of seats system. He hoped to see the bill passed unanimously, and nrged members to refrain from allusions of * personal character to his oolleagues. The Hon. Oapt. Russell thought that two separate measures should have been intro-

duced—one providing for an inorease of Ministerial salaries and the other dealing with additional Ministers. Though the Premier spoke of the last matter as a comI mittee objection it wai to his mind the underlying principle against whioh the House would have to fight most strenuously. In the remarks which he must be called on to make he should do his best to avoid any unpleasant reflections for any particular member of the Government. He had always taid that he considered Ministers were underpaid and would ba the last man, for the sake of a party triumph, to advocate in the House a different course to what he advocated on the public platform or in private conversation. He protested, however, against the differential principal being applied. It seemed to him that there was an unequal distribution of portfolios and the work of Ministers got behind, not because they were overworked, but because they were continually stumping the country for political reasons. He strongly supported giving the Ministry befitting salaries, but he was hostile to increasing their number. Tbe mistake that Ministers had made was in tackling all tbe administrative work instead of leaving it to their Under Secretaries. Under the bill the Premier could, if he otiose, call two half-caBte members to the Government as native members of the Executive. The Premier said that there was no provision for paying them ealary, tot Captain Russell insisted that there was, In conclusion, the leader of the Opposition s»id that in a Houso of 74 members nine Mioi£t9r9 and two Whips would be given an undue voting power in keeping themselves in office. Mr A. Morrison warmly supported the bill. Though he largely represented the " 'Orny 'Anded," this class believed in a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. — Mr T. Mackenzie, in his maiden speech, supported the increase of Ministers' salaries but at present would not say what action he would take with regard to the Minister of Mines. — Mr Millar warmly endorsed the proposal to increase Ministers' salaries, but thought that the proposal to appout ex'ra Ministers should be held over till the represen'atii n was increased to eighty m-mb re, aa hinted by the Piemier. —Mr Napier considered that Ministers were underpaid and that they were overworked. A'ter the Bupper adjournment Messrs Ell and Hornsby supported the bil l , while Mr J. Allen announced that he would not vote for the additional Ministers till the time had come for increasing the strength of the House. Mr Symes, one of the "Boxere," thought that the time wai inopportune to bring down such a bill. Such increases should not be moved till the last session of a Parliament. He should vote against even the second reading of the bill. Mr Lang opposed the bill. Mr Fowlde, whilst supporting the measure, said deepditsitisfaction existed in the House and lobbies with the composition of the Minittry. If the number of Ministers was to be increased they would have too great a preponderating influence in the House, involving the necessity for increasing the members of the House. He suggested that a lump sum be voted to tbe Ministry, leaving its division to themaches. Mr Barclay supported the bill and defended Ministers for travelling about the colony to ascertain the wants of the people. At 1 30 Mr McLachlan moved the adjournment of the debate, which the Premier opposed. — Mr Wilford opposed the appointment of additional Ministers, but supported an increase of salaries. — Mr Collins, in a strong speech, announced his intention of opposing the bill at every stage, and he would divide the House on it if he stood alone. — Mr E. M. Smith supported both proposals. He was of opinion that Ministers were underpaid and overworked.