HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11316, 7 September 1898, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesbay, September Q.— The" Deputy Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. ' Mr Joyce presented a petition, which ■was read r asking: that lady journalists be. admitted to the Press gallerj of the House, or have proper accommodation ' provided. The report of the Police Commission was laid on the table, and its consideration was made" the first Order of the Day for Wednesday, 14th instant. , Several returns were laid on the table, and several granted. ' The Yhamesßorough Loans Cob version Bill read a fir§t time. The Public Petitions Committee recommended to the favourable consideration of the Government the request of McAlliffe, who was thot while assisting the police iv capturing a burglar ac Duaedin , for relief. ' The report waa agreed to. The House, went into .Committee of Supply. Mr Seddon, in reply to Captain RusselJ, paid as soon as the House got the Gene) al Estimates through and the Loan Bill passed, he would bring down the Public Works Statement and Estimates. Captain Russell askea the Premier to give a promise that the Statement and Estimates would be down on September 20th. Mr Seddon said it was impossible to make such a promise, and in answer to Mr Smith, he said there <ras no foundas tion for the «imour that the whole of the Geaeral Estimates were to be passed at that sitting. On the first item — Legislative Council salaries and other charges, £1790 — Mr Taylor pointed out that there, was no indication that legislation dealing with therefoim of the Upper House was to be introduced. He 1 contended that the Premier should fix a date upon which the Public Works Estimates should be brought down. . ( , v Mr Pirani said the Premier was afraid to bring down his, measure dealing with the Teform of the Legislative Council, because members of that House interis ded to include a provision for- members to the Council being 'elected. > He /asserted that the House should refuse supplies until a defiuite understanding was. arrived at respecting when the Public Works Estimates and the Loan Bill were to be bronght down. ' ' ■ - After otherß had spoken, Mr Massey advocated , that the- membership of the Council be limited to 37, and. that both Bouses, by ,yote, fill any vacancies which might arise. The Chairman- of Committees ruled that references to the Government's polioy respecting the Legislative Council were "out of order. A discussion on various items in the Estimates, and on the desirability of bringing down the Public Works Estimates and Loan Bill, was proceeding at the 5*30 adjournment. On resuming at 730 p.m.,' ' " ' j •'- Mr Monk pointed out that if the public accounts 1 ot the colony gave details similar to those of the Dominion of "Canada there would be fewer acrimonious debates. He alleged that throughout the colony there was an impression that there was a want of honeßty of purpose iv the expenditure of public moneys. Mr ' Buchanan utged that a return showing the amount of Ministerial travelling expenses should be furnished. Mr Duthie said the country was sick of the talk in the House. There could have teen' nothing more reasonable than the offer of the Leader of the Opposition 'to give every aesistance in passing all legitimate Estimates provided the Premier promised to briflg down the Public Works Estimates in time to give the House an opportunity to discuss them. Mr Seddon pointed out that he had indicated in the afternoon that if the General Estimates and the Loan Bill were got through he would bring down tbe Public Woiks Estimates by the end of the present month. He referred to the fact that there had betn, bo far, no discussion of the Estimates. Speakiog of the methods of previous administration?, he pointed out that when Mr Mitchelson was Minister for Pubic Works, the House had pissed votes amounting to £1,800,000 at one sitting. Mr G. Hutchison contended that the "Public Works Estimates were of more importance than the General Estimates, as they were considered in the light of secret service vo^es which literally affeoted other votes in the House. Mr Pirani pointed out that in 1870 Ways and Moans preceded Supply by at least three months. Eeferring to the Estimates, he drew attention to the fact that on the West Coast the amount received from patients in hospitals only amounted to 3 or 4 per cent, of the total expenditure, whilst in other parts of the colony the percentage ranged from 8 to 13. Mr Seddon pointed out that miners on the West Coast contributed £1 per annum, vhich entitled them to the uuo of hospitals. With reference to Ways and Mea?s preceding Supply, he said the House in the past had been willing to trust the Colonial Treasurers for two and five years, but it sometimes happened that one Treasurer raised a ioan and another had bad the spending of the money. Atter otherß had spoken, Captain I Russell suggested that the Premier should undertake to bring down the Public Works Estimates on September 23rd, and be (Captain RusselH would undertake that there would be no prolonged or undue discussion on the General j Estimates, though, of course, the Opposi- j tion would require the fullest information possible, Beferring to the provision for I 50 extra constables, he. said tbe report of ! the Police Commission showed there was no necesfcity for an increase, as all the evidence went to show that crime was not so frequent as in previous years. In the discussion which followed, different speakers referred to the subject of hospital management and th 9 question of bringing down the Public Works Ehtimates. Shortly before midnight Mr G. Hutchison intimated that he intended going shortly to take some natural rest, but would be back in the morning, when, no doubt, the first item of the Estimates would still be under discussion. Mr Graham regretted that the Opposrtion had aeeu fit to set up a stonewall in connection with the Estimates. Mr Wason said the Opposition was not attempting to waste the time of the House.

j The discussion was continued till 3.55 a.m., when the Chairman left the chair till 2.30 this (Wednesday) afternoon.