HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6308, 4 August 1888, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Fbiday, At/gust 3. AFTEBNOON SIT UNG. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. PBOTILEGE. Mr Walkbb brought up the report of the Privilege Oommittee appointed to enquire into the question, of laying a letter trom a Civil Servant, commending on remarks made by a member of the House, on the table. He stated that he did not agree with the report of the Committee, whioh was to the effect, that tas no question before the House waa likely to be affected by the letter in question, no further action should be taken. Mr Walker added that the report was only carried by a bare majority of the Committee. He moved—" That the report lie on the table." Mr Dowkie Stewart moved as an amendment — "That the report be considered on Thursday next," which was agreed to. QTTESTIONS. Beplying to Mr M'Kenzie (Waihemo), The Hon E. Mitchelson said the reason why the promise made by him on May 23, to charge grain by actual weight had not been given effect to, waß in order that farmers might be made acquainted with the proposed change before nezt session ; but the promise would be carried out. Mr Brtjcb asked the Government whether they will consider the advisability of supplying all Public Libraries and Institutes throughout the Colony with ! copies of the valuable work now being produced, viz. — ** Manual of Grasses and Forage Plants useful to New Zealand." The Hon T. W. Hisloi* said there would be no objection to sending this work to the country libraries. Mr Ballance aaked the Minister for Education whether he will obtain, during the recess, information in detail respecting the system of agricultural education in Ireland, which has recently been introdnoed into the elementary schools, where children are taught the principles of agriculture and horticulture on school farms and gardens. The Hon G. Fisher said he should : comply with the request to lay all availI able information on the table. I Mr Joyce asked the Premier if he will afford the House an opportunity this i session of discussing a resolution in relation 1 to reciprocal tariff treaties of natural products with tho Australasian Colonies. Sir H. Atkinson thought the matter Bhould stand over till next session, when it might receive some consideration. Monday's sittings. Sir H. Atkinson moved — "That the House at its rising adjourn till Monday at half-past two, for Government business only." Agreed to. SAN FEANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Beplying to Dr Newman, Sir H. Atkinson said he hoped to set apart a day next week for discussion of the San Francisco service. THE SCHOOL AGE. Onthe motion that the House go into Committee of Supply, Mr Tanner moved, as an amendment— " That, in the financial condition of the Colony, it is desirable to amend the Education Act by raising the school age to seven years." He hoped the House would go into this question to consider it fully, as he contended it had not been properly put before the House. If the amendment were carried, he did not propose that it should take effect at once, but that due notice should be given to teachers of the proposed change. He spoke on the question at some length, and quoted figures to prove that if his proposal were agreed to, the saving to the Colony by withdrawing 20,000 children of seven years and under from the schools Wonld be no less than .£30,000, while only .£9OOO would be saved by the withdrawal of children of six and under. Sir H. Atkinson said now that his hon friend had made his Bpeech, which no doubt would have dud weight with the country, he hoped he would withdraw the amendment, seeihg that the House was hardly disposed at this juncture to again discuss the question. Mr Tanneb disclaimed any intention of having spoken merely in order that his remarks might be reported in Hansard. Sir Hi Atkinson said the hon gentleman quite misunderstood him, as he did not intend to convey such ah impression. The motion for going into Committee of supply was carried by 64 to. 10, andthe amendment was lost. COMMITTiEB OP SUPPLY* The House then went into Committee of Supplyi arid progress was reported owing to the dinner adjournment. EVENING SITTING^ The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. IN COMMITTEE QN THH ESTIMATES. Vote" General Post Offlce, £8046. Sir H. Atkinson said he had npt been able to bring about his classification scheme, but he hoped to bring it gradually into use, taking a small percentage! off small salaries, and a larger percentage off higher one's. Anomalies were unavoidable, but hei should try ahd prevent them next year. The reason why he had not reduced the Superintendent of Telegraphs, or the Secretary to the Post Offlce, was because he thought their present salaries were hot too large for men of their responsibility aiid attainments. Agreed to. Chief offices and Bub-offices, -£120,133* '"" Mr Waktj called attention to the fact ihat the telegraph operators all over the Colony were very much under-paid at present. Sir H. Atkinson said this question had occupied much of his attention. The House would see that to increase the salaries of these officers would largely add to the Estimates ; . but-tho whole- eubject 'would

receive his careful consideration, and promotion on merits would be open to all officers in the Service, including the telegraph officers. A lengthy discussion followed, several members objecting to the salaries put down for officers in their districts. Sir H. Atkinson regretted that the necessity had arisen for reducing the salaries of their Civil Servants, but there was no doubt that many offioers of the Service were too highly paid. Government, however, would look carefully into the whole question of salaries, and would endeavour to deal with the various officers in as fair a spirit as possible. The vote eventually passed without alteration. Telegraph cable subsidies, .£309. Agreed to. Conveyance of mails by sea, .£69,541. Sir H. Atkinson said he hoped next week to bring down a resolution dealing with the whole question of mail services. The present vote only provided for services already authorised. He hoped the Committee wonld agree to this item now, and he should bring down his resolution at the earliest possible moment. Mr Ward hoped the resolution would be brought down before the Public Works Statement was delivered. Ib was well known that their public works expenditure would not be of a very lavish character this year, and as he considered a saving of .£50,000 could be effected by tho abolition of the 'Frisco service, the Houso might see its way, if they agreed to its ' abolition, to expend a larger sum on i public 'works. | Mr Thompson (Marsden) thought Mr ! Ward had 'Frisco service on the brain. j Mr Ward said at any rate he had it at his fingers' ends, and he should be able to provo that to the hon gentleman when the vote was under discussion. The vote passed without alteration. Conveyance of inland mails, £26,859. Carried. Carriage of mails by railway, JS93O. Carried. Miscellaneous, .£43,430. Carried. CUSTOMS DEPABTMENT. Customs offices and services, £33,009. Mr Mackenzie (Clutha) called attention to th.9 vote of £475 for Collector of Customs, Duuedin. He wished to know why an officer in such an important part of the Colony should be reduced from £600. Mr Allen also commented on this reduction, and thought it was unwarranted. The Hon G. Fisher said his own opinion was that this officer should receive a higher salary thau any other Collector in the Colony, and but for the fact that he was a junior officer, he saw no reason why this should not be so. Vote carried. Miscellaneous services, £1968. Carried. Marine and harbours, £20,271. ] The Hon E. Eichardson suggested that there Bhould be some change in the system of conducting enquiries into wrecks, the present system being very unsatisfactory. The Hon Cr. Fisher said Government intended to see whether these Courts of Enquiry could not be improved. Miscellaneous services, £7750. Mr Monk asked when the Government intended to sell the steamer Stella. The Hon G. Fisher eaid Government would only be too happy to dispose of both the Hinemoa and the Stella if Mr Monk could find a purchaser. Mr M'Kenzie (Waihemo) said when the present Government were in Opposition, they had plenty to say about the irregularity of the Stout- Vogel Government in maintaining the Hinemoa, and in order to teßt the question, he moved that the item £250, expenses of the Hinemoa when laid up, be struck out. The Committee adjourned for supper. On resuming, Mr Peacock thought the Hinemoa was a | much more suitable boat tban the Stella, and if one of the two boats had to be sold he thought the former should certainly be kept for Government work. Mr Keek asked what the expenses of the Hinemoa amounted to. The Hon G. Fisher said £500 a year. Messrs Mackenzie (Clutha) and Hobbs expressed surprise at the present Government maintaining an expensive boat of this description. Mr Bruce said it was absolutely necessary to maintain a boat like the Hinemoa onthe Coast, and he should regret very much to see her sold. Mr Kebb moved that the item £4800, working expenses of the Stella, be reduced by £150. Sir H. Atkinson hoped the Committee would not agree to the proposed reduction, which would be a fatal mistake. Captain Fairchild had saved the Colony more than three times the amount of the vote. He gave it as his opinion that neither of the boats were suitable for the work required of them, but they were unable to purchase a suitable boat, and if they disposed of the steamers they would not get anything like their worth. He hoped the vote would be passed without alteration. Personally he should prefer the Hinemoa being put in commission and tbe Stella laid up. Mr Bruce hoped the House would not agree to a reduction of Captain Fairchild's salary. Mr Kerb disapproved of selling the steamers, but he disagreed with those speakers who contended that Captain Fairchild's salary should not be reduced. Mr Mills thought it was highly necessary that Government should have a vessel to look after lighthouse work, but he considered neither the Hinemoa nor the Stella were suitable for such work. He pointed out that captains in the XJnion Company commanding vessels of the size of the Hinemoa received £300 a year, and £25 extra provided they steered clear of accidents. Mr Kerr's amendment was then put and carried by 28 to 24. Sir H. Atkinson understood that the vote just taken was a direction to the Government to reduce- the salaries of the officers of the Stella, a statement which was corroborated by Messrs Kerr and M'Kenzie. An amendment to reduce the expenses of the Hinemoa by £50 was then lost on the voices, andthe total vote, as reduced by £150, was passed. Treasury Department, salaries £6370. Mr Monk moved to reduce this item by £50. Mr Peacock hoped this would not be pressed, as the Premier had already stated that no recommendation from the Committee would be stronger than the desire of the Government to effect reasonable reductions. Amendment lost, and the vote agreed to. i Friendly Societies Kegistry Office, salaries and other charges, .£lßl2. Agreed to. Property Tax Department, salaries and other charges, £32,395. This vote elicited a lengthy discussion oh the property valuations and mode of assessment. Vote passed. Miscellaneous Services, £8150. Carried, after a long discussion. Stamps Department, £6141. Carried. Land and Deeds Begistry, £18,320. Carried. Miscellaneous, £450. Carried. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1.45 a.m.