PICKINGS FROM " HANSARD."

Timaru Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 5196, 17 July 1891, Page 4

PICKINGS FROM " HANSARD."

PEOIBBSIOSAL AHD TBADE INCOMES. Mr Buckland— As to makifg a difference n the rate upon incomes, I consider fiat it is a most oatrageous proposal. Why, Sir, if a man has a profession he cannot lose it, as a man may lose his capital m trade, do long a? be behaves himself be cannot lose it even by bankruptcy ; to be has a certainty, and can just simply live on it. Why ihould he not pay ai much as another man who is struggling with the competition of trade, and is subject to the ups and downs of business, snd lo probable failure always. Tbe man with a profession has always tomething he osnDot lose, while the other man at any moment may lose everything. There il another thing with regard to a clerk or a professional business man : if he bas no established business he can at any moment leave the colony and go to some otber place, and take his profession with him. And why ihould be not? But the unfortunate storekeeper is not to favourably situated. I do not tee any advantage that the storekeeper haa that will justify a difference of this sort m tbe tax. <H>V«R»HBNT LIJB nrsURANCB. Mr M'Guire — With reference to tho Insurance Department, no doubt tbat has given great satisfaction m tbe past.but, nevertheless, I think it might m one important item of management be improved. I believe there is no necessity for the Government Inpnranoe Department paying touts to go through the country for the purpos" of securing business. A better and sounder business could be done if Postmasters ond people m Ihe districts who knew the family history of people m tbeir neighbourhood undertook <-harge of this work, with tbe local medical men. I am afraid that owing to the system of touting an undesirable class of lives get into thn department. This department is a rmtiansl concern, ond tborofore_we should perfeot it m every way possible ; and if tho people knew that it was worked m an economical manner there would be no necessity to havo v lot of expensive buildings, or touts, or anything of lliut description : oil that would be absolutely unnecessary if the membors knew that good dividend* were paid, and the business wai sound. " POCTOBS DIFFBB. Mr O'Oonor asked the Minister for Publio Worki," Why the »p*cißcation for the Ngakawau Bridge necessitate! the wasteful, expensive, and retarding proceti of squaring ironbark piles j and why, if sujh equariog is deemed n-ce«sory, the stsi'hi at Westport are bi-ing erected with unsquared ironbark piles ?" Mr Seddon said ho had submitted tbe question lo both the Bail way Commissioners and the Publio Works Department. The Bailway Commissioners replied as follows ' — •' Hound ironbark piles are used m tbe staitbs-Kxtension of Westport, because they are st the same time the cheapest and best. To square these round pilei would involve expense, aod merely weaken thorn. Tho work* ing Bailwaji have for many yean used round filet wherever convenient. Theie remarks

: must not be taken m criticism of the Nga" \ ; kawau Bridgo, with which the Railway Com- ' missionere are unacquainted." I The Publio Works officers said — i " Square piles are specified m the Ngaka | -»v Bridge contract ia accordance with tho usual practice and standard designs for construction of bridge-piers. 'Jhese designs have been approved and used by the Public Worka Department for many yeara, and have been proved by experience to be the most suitable for timber piers for bridges. In the staitha at Weatport the foundation-piles only, which are all below high water, are of round ironbark ; all tbe upper struoturee of piera are of square timber.'" SOUR riGUBES OF SP-BOBC. Mr Taylor — I should like to ask tbe honourable member for Hals well, what about the leap m the dark ? Whore would the knights of old have been when they were being led by Moaes to tbe Promised Land- - where would they have been if they had hesitated about taking a leap m tbe dark ? — None of your half - and - half characters for me ! None of your half - and • half political nonentities, if I may use the term. I believe m a man sticking to hia colours and nailing his colours to tbe mast. — Take, for instance, the honourable member for Halswall. He haa had an official experience, I suppose, of something like thirty years ; and I usk whether he can point tn tbe slightest impreaa on the sands of timo to show that be haa done anything for the benefit of the people of the colony.