The Estimates

Southland Times, Issue 19387, 10 September 1904, Page 3

The Estimates

im - — (By Telegraph).: (From Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON.Sept. 8. This afternoon, after the collapse of the Licensing Bill, the House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates. ASYLUM COMPLAINTS. The first objection that was taken was in connection with the Lunacy and Charitable Department, the vote for which Mr Davey moved to reduce £1 us an indication that the Committee considers it advfcable that an appeal board should be set up to consider complaints of asylum attendants. The grievances, substantial and well-founded as they have been proved to be, of asylum attendants were freely ventilated. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones expressed sympathy with the attendants. The question of increasing their pay was now before the Cabinet, nnd provision would be made in the Supplementary Estimates. He also hoped to be able to work out a scheme that would give attendants more freedom. The Government was also doing something in the way of the classification of patients. Mr Taylor broke, out on the Minister, and condemned his stubborness in regard to asylum improvements. He also wondered when on earth the Government was going to carry out the reforms in asylum methods promised last year. The Minister had then a lively time. He endeavoured to defend his position, but Air Taylor gave no mercy, mid his interjections absolutely ruined every word Mr I-fttU- Jones said, till the Minister was reduced to the inst extremity of exasperation. ARBITRATION FOR STATE SERVANTS. In the evening Mr Merries thought it remarkable that while the N.*Z. Government wus leading the world in the matter of labour legislation, their own institutions were the worst in the colony. He had heard no defence ; the Minister admitted the charges, and it was time that the provisions of the Arbitration Court were extended to Government employes. Why should the Government be the only sweaters allowed in the colony ? The Premier, endeavouring to throw oil on - the troubled waters, urged that discipline must be maintained in asylum-, and If the instructions of medical superintendents were subject to enquiry by a district board, discipline would be seriously impaired. As to the suggestion regarding the Arbitration Court : that came very well from a party that had used every effort to keep that Act off the Statute Book. The House must be masters of their own officers ; without that they could not have constitutional government. Why not apply the principle to members of Parliament, to judges, nnd to Ministers, of the Crown ? (Hear, I hear.)— The Hon. Hall-Jones asserted that asylum attendants could be made comfortable without recourse to an appeal board.— Mr Taylor quoted cases whero attendants were so poorly paid that they had to give up their life insurance policies. After a lengthy debate, Mr Davey's amendment was lost by *8 to 20, and the vote for the department— £-79,230— passed unaltered. MINES DEPARTMENT. This class was considered, and the appointment of a geologist in succession to Sir Jas. Hector was discussed, several members expressing the hope that competent men lin the colony would be given an opportunity of securing the position. The totnl vote of £21,1G6 was passed without alteration,, RAILWAYS. This vote— £1, 465,000— was then taken, and a lot of local matters were discussed. The question of trucks* at flag-stations was raised by -Mr Lewis, who complained that trucks ordered by one farmer were " jumped "by another.— Sir Joseph Ward explained that the trouble arose through inability to get a regular system with the users of the trucks. He was anxious to find a "means of getting over the difficulty.—The department's estimates passed unaltered, and the House rose at 2 a.m.