MORNING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4791, 7 September 1883, Page 4

MORNING SITTING.

The House met at 11 o'olock. QUBBTIONS. Beplying to Mr Duncan, the Hon W. Johnston said Government oould not pay railway employees' wages for the time they were employed on juries at inquests. Government would not supply platelayers with shovels, nor yet grant them the three publio holidays usually allowed publio servants. Beplying to Mr W.White, the Hon W. Johnston said Governnment would se* what could be done for the unemployed petitioning for work. Government was not aware that workmen f i om Addington Bailway shops had been engaged repairing the s.s. Catalonia. Prisoners from Lyttelton and Addington had been employed at these shops doing certain work, but the amount was very trifling. MBHBHBS' TBAVBI_IN<J BXPBNSKS. To satisfy the objections made by the Audi* tor, Major Atkinson moved— "That the fares of members and their wives residing more than a few milos from the seat of Government be defrayed by Government for attendance at Parliament." The House divided :— Atbs, 29 j Nobs, 15. WATS AND —BANS. The House went into Committee of Ways and Means, when the usual resolution pre* paratory to the Appropriation Bill was adopted. On being reported to the House, and the motion to introduoe the Appropriation Bill being mado, complaints were made of the treatment private members' business had met with at the hands of Government. It was urged that at an early period of the sessionthey took away one of the private membora' days, and latterly they deprived them of any time whatever. Major Atkinson replied that in effect members had three days psr weak for their private business. In addition to the two days speoially Bet apart for them, they had liberally availed themselves of ths order paper for questions, motions, and for bringing forward their grievances on going into Committee of Supply. Monopolising, as they did, aa muoh time, it would be impossible to go on with the Government business at all unless Borne restriction were made. Sir G. Gbbt, in a strong speech, impugned the general polioy of Government, and moved as an amendment — " That the resolution of the Committee of Ways and Means be not agreed to until a copy of the agreement between Government and tho' Bank of New Zealand is laid on the table." Major Atkinson stated that the Treasury did not possess a copy of the original agreement made with the Bank of New Zealand when that bank first commenced lo keep the Government acoount, but that he had applied to the bank to try and procure a oopy.