PARLIAMENT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1161, 31 October 1917, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

WAR GRANTED. ALLOWANCE TO RAILWAYMEN. Prist Astoeiatton. WELLINGTON, October 31. The House of Representatives met .it 9.30 a.m. _,. iiM The Supplementary Estimates were introduced by Governor s MCSS.lgC. r Sir J. G. Ward, Minister of Finance, said he desired to explain the position of the war bonus to civil servants. He said members would notice that in each of the revenue-earning departments an item was set down for a war bonus. This meant that each department had to provide its own bonus out of ils own revenue, so that the bonus would not be a charge on the Consolidated Fund. The bonus would be paid this vear on the same basis as last vear—that is, £IOO,OOO would be voted and divided amongst those in receipt of salaries not greater than £315. In addition to the £400,000, an extra provision of £ 175,000 would be made in the Appropriation Act for an allowance »» one shilling a day to the married men in the Railway Department, which would absorb 158,000 to the ,>nd of the financial year. This nlowance would he made to the men receiving not more than £220, and was necessary to maintain the efli-| riency of the railway service, the, men in which had been leaving in considerable numbers of late. None if the bonus would go to the higher t paid officers of the Slate. This al-i iowance to railwaymcn would be! provided out of an addition to the railway rates. He desired to point, out that in the Budget the amount estimated to be necessary to cover the Supplementary Estimates was 1700,000. The amount voted in, three estimates was £060,000, so, there was a saving of £ 10,000 on j the estimate. i Mr \\. A. Wright put in a plea for the lower paid officers in the postal | service. Could they not be put on j the same footing as the men in the j railwav service? Mr Fletcher asked what the Government proposed to do about the j cost of living report. Were they go-] ing to carry it out or ignore it'.' Hcj contended that the recommendations regarding the supply to the I neople of cheap lish could be put into operation at once. The Premier intimated that Cab-! met would consider what portions] "of the report would be given effect) to. Mr Ell complained of the unfair vav in which some officers were! seeking to frustrate the establish-' ment of slot telephones by a system of unfair charges. They were en-| deavouring to persuade the Minis-1 It that this system of telephones, ['ill not pay. Mr Anderson regretted that more! money was not voter! for the open-ing-np of new country. If we were I piling to maintain a high-rate of! taxation we must have new sources! of revenue. Mr llornsbv and Mr Isitt complained of the unnecessary expense' incurred by the Defence Department in connection with courts uartial. j Mr Poole made an appeal lo the Minister of Hallways to resume the! mburban trains to help solve thci h'tusinQ uroblem in cities. Mr Colvin urged Ihe openinx-un ■ .j" new State coal-mines on the West Const. C.hvwt real was essential toll r.i-.r industries. j !>.=• Xewin.'tJ] Mamed the Govern-1 '••e.-.f for no! doing anything to re-| •'::•(• (lie n:sl of living (n people. Al 1-ood Controller should be appointed. Vegetables should be grown | here Rowers were now grown. IVivji i>n;-.l shinld be eaten ins; .1 fv! i!.-. uiH the Government ';•■:!■! buy !(!;'),KCO boxes of butler 'l'-n :! was cht.no. and sHI to the • ■'■ojsle :>| reasonable prices during (!••■ winter. v endorsed ihe ap-l ' inl;venl of a Food Controller. I I <;•■'■ 'Vv ndda h.T.-l dote ; : real work n Great P"-it.-i'i. Whv no! have The flehnte was continued by Messrs Witty and Vci!<-h. Dr Thack'-I "-. and Messrs Ofccv, Jennings, Glover. Younp. :ip,j Pnvne. who dealt plainly with local relevances. The elnte vv;!s innr—cli-i" when the | House rose at I o'clock. ITEMS FROM TnE ESTIMATES, j IFrom onr own Parliamentary Reporter.] I t WELLINGTON. October 31. j -imongsl items on the Supplementary Estimate* were the following:— ] J*"j»r Imnus (approximately! .. Iflo'nofl ' Additional allowance to railwayincn UftS.ooo ■ ' A«!vai;ces to oil boring companies.. 1 00f I I NiMtary Service Act administration 20 000 i • nrgislration of aliens.. .. 2 ")00! ' Boils, additional .. " 17,000 ' V 7" litl nygirnr administration 1,500 M fc»oenv-s in connection with the I i 'li-triliution of patriotic funds ' i p 7 ,! . ! ,v ir « 5 0,000 I VEI2?* T ,ar k "'ncniu Alms .. .. 7 fi(M) I Ammonal telegrams beyond Do- « "IZ? \ "" ;,t shr, P s M.OM Ail'iKnVTi m Ison rruit Pad""'* 1.000 \\ir ~l •: ,1 ' > »i''ices. schools, rtc. 9,00(1! ' II hj n ,-lmg cairn Sir John McKrnzic 500 j j Additional payment Slate coal- ! niiiurs .„ „,.„ ; ] *"!","*, ■•'''waller, Or "li'tchrtt ' | ■»-l.- INiljlic Trustee i -,oi| i 1