PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4750, 21 July 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[Fbb Pbbbb Association.] HOUSE OF BEPBKSENTATIVm Fbiday, July 20. AFTERNOON BITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. KOTIOB Ol 1 MOTION*. Mr Hutchison gavo notioe he would move for the appointment of a Commission to enquire into the best method of shortening the hours of labour in banks, shops, &o. PATMBNT OF MBMBBBB' Bill. Major Atkinson gave notice of a Bill entitled The Payment of Members of the General Assembly Bill. QUESTIONS. Beplying to Mr Petrie, the Hon W. Bolleston said the reward of £500, offered f,r the disoovery of a payable gold field in Canterbury, would not be extended to other parts of the Oolony. These places, however, would be dealt with, if the question arose, upon their own particular merits. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On the motion for going into Oommittee of Supply, Hir G. Gbby asked that Government would name a day when they would be prepared to disousß the motion re the Land Tax, of which he had given notioe. Major Atkinson said Government proposed to ask that Committee of Bupply should bo continued from day to day, and Sir G. Grey oould move his motion any day. Sir G. Gbby Baid that in that case he would move it on Thursday. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was carried. Class 11. — Coloaial Secretary, Premier's office, £450. Passed. Oolonial Seoretary, £1895.— Mr HuiOHISOK said that it was high time some ohange was made in this expenditure. It was a monstrous faot that no sooner did a useless young man, the son or relation of a lord, make his appearance in the Oolony than he was drafted off into the Government service. Big as the building was, he did not know where they all found room. Mr Maoandbbw spoke in a similar strain g adding that the remarks made the preoeding eveniog by Mr Turnbull had made a deep impression on his mind. Mr Swanson also spoke of the necessity that existed for a material reduction being made. With that view he proposed that progress be reported, in ordsr that the Batimates might be referred back to the Government for reduotion. Major Atkinson said that Government was not prepared to reduoe the Estimates by £50,000. If there were members in the House who oould conduot the publio service more economically than the present Government oould, then lot them be placed on the benches. It was not true that the Estimates htd Seen increased Bince 1881. They had practically been reduoed, as was proved in the Financial Statement. Government could not aocept the motion propoaed. The Estimates had been brought down with every care. Kst only could they not be reducsd, but they would in some cases be increased. He went over tho heads of expenditure to show that no increase had been made since 1881, as had b«en alleged. Mr Montgohbby said Government knew this expenditure could be largely reduced. The motion proposed was exactly the cour«e followed by Government in 1881. The proposal to appoint a Commission was entirely wrong. It was the Government itself that knew bost how to do the work of reduotion effectually. They had Commissions going all over the Colony, and they did no real good. The number of servants should be reduced, and not the salaries paid. He felt perfeotly certain the amount oould be reduoed by £50,000, and he would vote for the motion. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30 p.m. The debate was resumed by the Hon T. Diok, Mr Smith pointed out the hospital vote as one whioh might very well be knocked off. That item might well be reduced £20,000. They had been told by Government that no reductions could be made. That at onco disposed of the assertion that it waß for Government to make these reductions. It reductions were to he made, they oould osly do so by supporting tbe motion. The Committee thon divided : — Ayes, 3_ ; Noes, 43. Division list:— Ayes, 34 : Messrß Barron, Bathgate, Braoksn, J. Buchanan, Daniel, Dargaville, De Lautour, Duncan, Feldwick, Fißh, George, J. Green, Sir G. Grey, Messis Holmes, Hutchison, Ivess, Joyce, Levestam, Macandrew, A. M'Donald, Montgomery, Moss, Pilliet, Sheebao, Shephard, Bhrimski, Bmith, Steward, Swaneon, J. W. Thomson, Tole, Turnbull, WhiU, Wright. Noes, 43 : Messrs Atkinson, Beetham, J. E. Brown, Bryce, W. 0. Buohanan, Oonolly, Dick, Dodson, Fergus, FitzGerald, Fulton, M. W. Greon, Hobbs, Hurst, Hursthouse, 0. J. Johnston, W. W. Johnston, Kelly, Larnaoh, Lee, F. W. Mackenzie, Mason, M'Millan, Mitohelson, Morris, Munro, O'Callaghan, Peacock, Pearson, Petrie, Postlethwaite, Bolleston, Shaw, Sutter, Sutton, Tawhai, Tomoana, Trimble, Watt, Whitaker, Whyte, J. G. Wilson, Wynn- Williams. Paibs. — Ayes : Messrs Taiaroa, Seddon, J. 0. Brown, Cadman, Harris, J. M'Kenzie, Te Wheoro. Noes : Messrs Allwright, Driver, Stevens, Levin, H. Thomson, M'llraith, I. Wilson. The vote Colonial Secretary's office, £1895, was then put. Mr Fish moved to report progress. He pointed to the vote of £30,000 for buildinga. With a failing revenue and a proposal for inoreased taxation, they might very well dispense with theso at present. It was no use entering into a discussion on the subject ; it was Bimply wasting time to remain and discuss these items. There was another item for Ministerial residences. Now Ministers were paid vory well, considering the state of the oountry, without this aot of extravagance. Again, they had £8000 for the Hinemoa. If he proposed to strike that out Government would at once oall in its majority and get the vote passed. It was no use attempting to oheck these votes. Looking over the Estimates, he contended that at least £50,000 might be save*}, and yet whon they attempted to do.it they were met by the Government majority, and the result was they were able to do nothing. On a fresh motion to report progress, Messrs Seddon, Hutchison, Tubnbull, and Fish continued speaking on general subjects up to about 12.30, when Mr M. W. Gbbbn Bpoke for half an hour in defence of hiß joining the Government Bide and in roply to certain remarks by Mr Fish. At a little past ono Mr Sheehan asked Government if they would be willing to report progress when this debate was over ; as, if bo, he would only occupy a few minuter. Major Atkinson said Government would not consent to report progress. Tbey still had twenty-four hours before them, and ■ Government were determined to go on with the' business. Mr Bhbbhan then continued Bpeaking for about 20 minutes, when he was succeeded by Mr Joyce, who spoke briefly. Mr O'Callaghan characterised the proceedings of the night as almost a disgrace to the House. Mr Seddon is now speaking again. WELLINGTON, July 21. Messrs Fish, 'jeddon, Tubnbull, and J. E. Bbown kept up the talk till 2 15, when Mr Seddon's motion to report progress was negatived. Mr Holmes then appealed to Government to adjourn, saying that the Opposition as a body were not responsible for the course adoptod by some independent members, whom the leader of the Opposition oould not control or curb. Captain M'Kbnzie urged Government not to givo way. He declined to believe that the opposition was not authorised. After some further talk the item Messengers' and officekeeperß £3370 was agreed to, as also the items Electoral £2955, Audit £8732, and Registrar-General's department £8819. On the item £3640, Geological and Meteorological department, a motion to reduce it by £1500 was lost on a division of 32 to 7. At 4 o'clock the Agent-General's department £3500 was passed, Major Atkinson denying tho truth of the rumour about Sir Dillon Bell resigning. On the item Charitable Aid and Hospitals £83,800, a motion to report progress was lost ,on the voices ; and . Messrs Montgomery, Holmes, and othera left the Houso, Govern- , ment refusing to adjourn, At 4.10 Mr Tubnbull announced his mii tention of reading the whole of the Inspec-

tor's report on the New Zoaland Hospitals, a paper of 28 pages. At 4 15 a quorum had to be rung for, and Mr Turnbull then went on reading till 5 o'olook, when a motion previously made to reduce the vote by £2500 was lost on a division of 21 to 10. At 5.10 Mr Tubnbull oontinued reading. After moving tbat progress be reported. The Chairman stopped hinr;, and insisted on his confining himself to tho subjeot. At 5.20 Mr Hamlin, in roply to a question, pointed out what vote could be discuesed, in order to report to the House. Mr Fish counselled Mr Turnbull to give way, ao no good could now bo done by opposing further. Mr Tubhbull oontinuos), insisting on the great importance of the subject, and treating of the whole question of Charitable Aid. Mr Habbis oondemned the stonewalling. Mr lubnbull laid he would move to reduce tho vote £ by £. At 540 a motion to report progress was lost by 27 to 7. . * Mr Fbldwick moved the reduction of the Charitable Aid vote by £10,000. Messrs Tubnbull, Fbldwiok, and FieH kept up the talk till 6.15 am., when the Committee divided, Mr Feldwiok's motion being loit by 25 to 3, the three being Messrs Feldwick and Turnbull (tellers) and Fish. At 6 20 Mr Tubnbull moved that the vote be reduced by £SCOQ, but did not call for a division. After the bell bad been rung at 6 30, the vote was passed as printed, as were also the following votes, after a slight discussion on variouß items; Lunatic Asylums, £36,743; Printing and stationary, £20,517 ; and Btook department, £23,650. On tho vote Miscellaneous, Mr O'Calla--_han moved the omission of the item of £500 for the introduction of salmon and other fish ova. The Hon T. Diok expresied a willingness to omit the item, but Messrs FitzGerald and Dodson objected ; and at 7.10 a.m._ the Committee divided, the item beiDg retained by 16 to 13. This was the last vote of Olass 2. Progress was reported, and at 7.25 this morning the Home adjourned until 7.30 on Monday evening.