PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 56, 20 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

tPer Press Association.) Wellington, October 9. The Council mot at 2.30 p.m. The Pacific Cable resolution passed by the House was agreed to, as also was the report of the Joint Library Committee, affirming the desirableness of establishing a manuscript and historical section in connection with the library. l . A discussion initiated by ’the Hon. Mr Wigram on tfie question of the new Paiiiaijt nt buildings, and especially regarding the site, brought thanks from the Attorney-General, and a promise that the matter would ho referred to Cabinet for special consideration. The second reading of tho Widows’ Pensions Hill was agreed to, Sir John Findlay indicating that an amendment would bo submitted to prevent widows (who earned largo incomes by means of profession or ai t getting an advantage not intended for widows of moans. Tho following Bills were put through their final stages:—Methodist Church of New Zealand, Elingamito Rehearing, Dunedin Technical School Site, Old Age Pension Amendment, N.Z. State Guaranteed Advances Amendment, and tiic Auckland Grammar School Site Bill. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE CF REPRESENTATIVES, Guardian Trust Company. A long discussion took place upon tho amendments made by tho Council in the Guardian Trust and Executors’ Company Bill. Mr Herdman contended that tho amendments did not safeguard the people whose estates might be administered in future by the company. So far as he could see there was nothing to prevent the directors dissipating tho capital. Sir Joseph Ward failed to Bee any objection to the Bill. A now company had taken over the rights of,the old company, and proposed to carry on the business under new conditions. The Bill had received the consent of tho Public Trustee. Messrs Massey and Fraser approved of tho Bill, and the Council’s amendments were agreed to by 38 to 27. Electoral Matters. Mr Massey asked what had been done with regard to tho electoral matter ho brought up yesterday. Sir Joseph Ward stated that definite instructions had been given to strike off the names of those who were dead or who had left tho district. Tho whole matter was receiving the closest attention.

The End cf the Session.

The Premier informed the House that he did not propose to ask them to sit on Saturday. On Monday the House would sit at ten o’clock to consider local Bills, and the business of the House should be concluded by Tuesday night. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill (Sir Joseph Ward) was read a first time.

Public Works Estimates. The House went into committee on the Public Works Estimates.

On the Departmental vote of £lB,000, Mr Herdman moved the reduction of the Undersecretary’s salary of £BSO by £lO, as an indication that legislation should be introduced to abolish the pernicious system of construction of roads in the Dominion at the will of a Minister of the Crown. Only about a third of the amount voted last year had been expended. Sir Joseph Ward said it was all very well to criticise in tho'wa?/man had done the expenditure of the Public Works Department, but the expenditure went on to the end of September, and the Estimates wore made up to March 31.

EVENING SESSION

Tho committee resumed on tiio Punlie Works Estimates at 7.30 on the proposal to reduce the salary of the Under-Secretary for Public Works. '•Sir Joseph Ward said the Opposition evidently overlooked the fact that a large percentage of this year’s appropriations were really unexpended amounts voted last year. Mr Massey argued that the system should he remedied. The Hon. 11. McKenzie said this was impossible, as if he rushed the expenditure through in the summer, hundreds of men would be out of work in the winter, which was most undesirable. Mr Herdman said that what he wanted to make clear was that districts requiring votes and grants wore at the mercy of - the Minister, and that members who were not persona grata with the Minister got nothing. Sir Joseph Ward said Mr Herdman wqilld hand everything over to boards of aristocrats. Mr Jennings said tho abolition of the Roads Repartment was ono of tho biggest mistakes ever made. He know of settlers who had been on tho land for fifteen years who had only a six-foot road for carting their produce and stores. Mr Allen was of opinion that roads should Im administered by local bodies, who were in the best position to know what was wanted. The present system was unsatisfactory, as too much money was voted to some districts and not enough to others. Tho Minister stated the (administration of the Roads Department iu Mr Jennings district had cost more than in the whole of the South Island. Mr Massey said Parliament and tho country acre sick of the present system of administration of roads and bridges, and were desirous of a change. He agreed with Mr Jennings that a huge mistake had been made when tho" Roads Department was abolished by a stroke of the pen. The Department was doing good work before its extinction, and its officers were thoroughly conversant with their work. He advocated a system of classifying different districts for expenditure on public works. If the present system was to bo continued he was of opinion that no money should be placed on the Estimates except at the request of local bodies or the member for the districts concerned. Mr Herdman’s amendment was lost bv JO to 23. The Public Works vote, £IB,OOO, was passed unaltered. Mt. Egtncnt Branch Lino. When the railways class was taken, Mr Dive moved that the vote of £15,000 for Alt. Egmont bo reduced by £lO as a protest against ttho unbusinesslike methods of the Government in regal'd to tho construction of the lino. He said lie had never soon any work worse administered. It seemed the .Minister was absolutely incompetent to attend to tho administration of tho Department. Wellington, October 20. After midnight, Mr Herdman’s amendment was carried, and the vote reduced by £lO. Mr Duncan complained that tho vote of £55,000 for the South Island Main Trunk lino was too small. Promises made in the past were not being fulfilled, and the work should be carried out with more expedition. Tho

line should take precedence of all others. In a general reply, tho Minister raid lie considered that tho South Island Main Trunk line was receiving very good treatment. In regard to votes, he took a keen interest in Marlborough, and tried to assist members of the district as much as possible. Tiie railway vote passed. On tho irrigation and water-supply vote, the Minister, in reply to a question, said the Department had satisfied itself there was sufficient water available to supply ample power to work Arthur’s Pass Tunnell traffic electrically. 'Hie vole passed. Wellington, Aug’’s + 20. The vote for mental hospitals was discussed with twenty members in tho Chamber. Tiie vote passed after a very lengthy discussion. The Minister stated that it was proposed to commence the erection of a new lighthouse at North Capo. At 4.i0, wiwi twelve nioiuojis in iho House, the Vote for the Minister of Mines was taken, and alter considerable discussion, passed unaltered! The remainder of the Estimates were then passed, and the House lose at 4.50 a.m.