HOUSE.

Colonist, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7735, 15 September 1893, Page 3

HOUSE.

In the Hou?e last night, The third read of the Lard end Income Assessment Bill was agread to on the voioes, and the Bill paesod. On the motion that the House go into uommutea of Supply, Mr Taipa moved an U f °" dn " a t, Thai it ia contrary to the spirit _™,m Oon6 titotion that a portion of the v 1 4 fl _ Bp3rli EUUUaU y out of the civil list should be expanded for other than purely Native purposes. The amendment was lost by 22 to 20. Tha House then went into flrmi »-«"-- -* Supdl* *«• '-*«uer consideration of the Estimates. The defence vote was under consideration nntil 5.30 a.m. Several members strongly urged the Government to defer the vote until after the discussion had been taken on Colonel Fox's repoit, but Mr Seddon would not agree to this course. Ha undertook, however, to bring on Colonel Fox's report for consideration at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday. A general discussion on defence matters went on for several hours. The total vote amounting to £65,104, was finally oarried without alteration. The votes for polioe £95,619, and JuaMce £119,421, were oarried without alteration after an exhaustive debate. At 8 a.m. the House adjourned for breakfast. On resuming at 9 a.m., Mr Bolleston moved that progress be reported, aB he objected to dealing with the Lagislalive Estimates when so many men were absent. The proceedings of the night had been humiliating. Sir Robert Stout condemned the aU night sittings whioh the Government had forced on the House. The Premier urged that • the Legislativa Estimates Bhould be gone on with then. Tbey did nob involve the questions raiised in the Privileges Committee's report. Sir Robert Stout said that if the Premier had taken the discussion on Colonel Fox's report, and that on the Privilegg Committee before taking the Estimates, they wou'd have been gone through without the least trouble Sir J. Hall oould not help saying that it seemed as though there was something behind the Premier's aotion. It looked aa though forcing through the Estimates was part of a eeheme for the frustration of the Woman's Suffrage. The Premier said that until he got these Estimates away he could not bring down tho Publio Works Sjatement, nor olose the s s^ion, as he hoped to do by the end of the month, The Government's aotion over the Estimates had no connection with tho Electoral Bill. Mr Geo. Hutchison suggested that the House should insist on hearing that the Electoral Bill had reoeived the assent of the j Governor before it paßßed the remainder of the Estimates. They bad a right to withhold supplies until the will of Parliament waa acceded to. The disoußsion went on at considerable length, the whole question of the control of the Legislative offioei's being gone into. At 12.15 Sir Robert Stout suggested that a compromise should be effected, and advised the Government to set apart to-morrow night for consideration of the report of the Privileges Committee. The Hon. Mr McKenzie pointed out that the Premier had already said that an opportunity would be given to discuss the report. Several members urged the Premier to adjourn the House for a couple of hours to enable some compromise to be arrived at, but Mr Seddon could not see his way clear to do this. Mr Rolleston thought that, a3 the Ministers were believers in the principle of conciliation and arbitration, they should agree to a short adjournment. Eventually Mr Seddon agreed to fix next Monday week as the date for the discussion of the report of the Privileges Committee, and the House got to work in earnest. The motion to report progress was put and lost. In reply to Mr Hutchison, Mr Seddon said that the fears expressed by several hon. members as to the fate of the Bill were entirely groundless. The vote for the Legislative Department, £15,324. was under discussion at one o'clock, when the House adjourned till two. The House resumed at 2 p.m. The Legislative vote of £15,324 passed without amendment. Working Railways, £729,000. Replying to Mr Hutohison, Mr Seddon said the Railway Commissioners were responsible for the estimates. Mr Hutohison pointed out tbat tbere wore several inoreaseß, and thought the House should have some oontrol. Mr Biobardson said when the Atkinson Government were in offioe, the Bailway Commiesioners submitted the estimates to them the same as other departments. Mr Seddon said there were certain regulations in the Railway Department over which the Government had no control, and the Railway estimates were framed in accordance with such regulations. He would not go fully into the question of railway management now, as another opportunity would be , given for that when the Bailway Bill waa under discussion. Mr Rolleston said he had had a great deal of departmental experience, and if estimates i were presented to him that he did not approve of, he would not present them to the House. The Minister was bound to make himself acquainted with the details of the Estimates. If he thought the Commissioners had behaved improperly, it was the Premier's duty to suspend them, though he protes ed against ttfat Minister constantly traducing absent men placed in the position by Act of Parliament. Mr Fergus spoke at length in defence of the Commissioners, and contended that full information had been given. The Premier, he said, had used every effort to discredit the Commissioners, but failed. Evtry farmers' club thronghout the Colony, and people who used railways were thoroughly satisfied with the management. The fear, was that the control might get into the bands of i such men aa the present Premier, and thb ' Mi water ol P^lio Works.

'"-'lft J l«dl6h aiid hs had mide no sudH u attMsFO- "ttto (Commissioners, but he had Mb mtimm Maw- from the imputWions so frequently rnadf, and he re-asserted he would M«*pt no responsibility in connection with •lie estimates. ' y, . .tW • ■-'' Mr Hutchison moved an amendment ma* the departmental vote, £32,815, be reduoed by £5, as »n indication tbat the Committee disapprove o! ibe increase in wages and travelling expenses, and extended leave of absence. ' . The amendment was oarried on the voioeay Clause as reduced waa passed. Clause 2, Public Buildings, Sohool Building! Domain, and Inspection of Maohmery, £54,775. The Premier sated tbat daring the recess it was intended to improve tho ventilation ol the House. He had a oomplete soheme in hia possession, and the work would be completed by next session. ;■ After a brief diaonssion tbia item was passed. . The Premier moved to report progress, wbioh was agreed to. . A Bill authorising the Treasury to issue debentures in payment of the Cheviot Estate wee read a first time. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.80. The Tairua Land Bill, to provide for the surrender of leases of Crown lands available for settlement at Tairua, Bay of Plenty, waa read a Becoad time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. ■ The Native Land Validation of Title Bill; the Native Land Court Certificates Confirmation Bill; the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill; and the District Courts Jurisdiction Bxtenaion Bill were oommitled, read a third time, and passed. On Mr Seddon'a motion, the Mining Aot Amendment Bill (No. 2) was read a second time, and referred to the Goldfields Com* The Cml Sendee Insurance Bill was further oonsidered in Committee. In olause 4, persons permanently employed in the Government Printing Offioe were added to the list of servants to whom the Aot does not apply. In clause 18, it was deoided that all women and girls employed in the Telegraph Office, and all offloe«, non-commissioned offioera, and men of tbe Defence Foroe may be brought under the provisions of the Aot. The Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. Mr Beeves moved the seoond reading of the Infant Life; Protection Bill. He said publio opinion throughout tbe Colony would endorse the introduction of a Bill of this kind, especially as facts were known to the police authorities whioh rendered it necessary the | Government should legislate on this subject. The Becond reading was agreed to on the voices without discussion, the committal being set down tor next day. The Timber Floating Act Amendment Bill and the Trustees Act Amendment Bill were read a Becond time, committed, aod put through their final stages. Tbe Home rose at 10.25 p.m.