HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4739, 2 September 1893, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING.

' •■.'■''% .' j.QtrESTIONS. \ 'Beplyin'gHo'Mr Fiab,. ' ■ Tij^fiojl W, P. Eebvbs said the Governicea,Vnad nofc yet decided whether it would recejf ' Dr Macgregor'a engagement as Inspector of Hospitals and Charitable Aid at MZOO.a year. • EepJying toMr Pish, TfaaHon W. P. Kkbvbs said it was quite true that 500 employees of the Lunacy Depai&tneiit hod either been dismissed or vcluntirily retired since Dr Macgregor's appo'ntmenfc as Inspector, but a large Dumler of tbesa were due to tha reorganiration of three large departments, and the services -of many of the employees were dieSeoßed with ' by the ' Medical Superintenaenw. ■■ ; , . • idMf Fiek moye^^e adjournment of the foiisf, aod criScj^e,d-^t some" length Dr BO^^w'a^jna&a^eipaent; of the Lunacy D*pVAmehtT contending that a Balary of £.1200 a year "was far too large. He Hfec ! ally referred to the caseofMisa Finch, who- lirad bsen. goaded into resigning her r-ORifion of matron of the Wellington Asylum, and when she was advised to with(irsw. tier, Tesignatiou she was curtly jofprmed that not only could she not withdraw it, but, that her place had actually been filled up. It appeared to his (Mr' Fist's) mind that the whole matter had been carefully planned to get this young ilady out of her position. He deprecated f,o much, power being placed in Dr Macgregoi'd 1 ands, and he hoped that the attentiontit the House and the country would be called to hia remarks. • Mr M'Lean aaid he had a otrong feeling Jh'ajt 'the Lunacy Department was not manage^ in the beat manner, and if he came back to the ' House again he should do hi 3 best-to effect some change in that management. TheVHon W. P. Beeves said the Lunacy Department was a large one, and five baudfed changes in seven year 3 seemed a large number, but it must be remembered tba*i in many of these cases the retirements wejee .Yoluntiry, as it was frequently found tha,tp3bple were not fitted for the positions tfcey-aacl uudertaliea io thati department.

With respect to Miss Finch's case, he had . no fear of the xosult of any enquiry into I this matter. The fact wa3 that Miss ; Finch, although an exceilact woman, waa j neither physically nor by temperament ; ; fitted for the position of matron oC au | asylum, and the appointment should never j have been made. Mr Fish waa not correct in saying that Miss Finch waa not allowed . I to withdraw hey resignation, but after a I '. lengthy and fery kindly trial it waa . decided to pub somebody else in Miss Finch's place. Ab to Miss Finch's reflections on Dr Maegregor he (Mr Reeves) said he j had never seen a more enthusiastic, skilful | or devoted public servant than Dr Macsjre- ! gor, and if he had any voice in the matter j ha should advocate that that gentleman's | services should be retained by the Colony ( l at his present salary. j ! Mepsys Taylor, Hogg, W. Hutchison, : O'Conor, Euesell, Meredith and Fergus ; also spoke oa the question, and after a ; j lengthy debate the motion for adjourn- ,' ment wsb lost. . .' - - „. )- > Replying- to Sfi'Dtttb to J The Hon Bi J.^SKKDONisaid .there waa.no ; J occasion to increase the police force in the j ) Colouy as a whole, but in coxtain districts j '.. steps would be taken in that direction. j > Replying to Mr W. Hutchison, whether j during fche recess the Minister for Defence j will cause a scheme of superannuation for the police forca to ba formulated, The Hon B. J. Seddon said he should like to see the Bill now before the House { extended co aa to. include all branches of the Civil Service in tbe direction indicated, ! and he thought that might be done in j Committee. > Replying to Itfr Kolleaton, whether the Minister for Agriculture has received an application requesting that fie Government, will take the necessary Bteps for pro- ; viding for the repayment to the account of ) S the School of Apiculture at Lincoln of \ • £5000, which is agreed io ba due to that ! accouat from the funds of the Canterbury i College, j The Hon J. M'JKenzie said this matter ! was now under the consideration of the Government, but he could not yet say whether it would introduce a Bill thia i session or not. J Replying to Sir K. Stout as to what ' steps the Government intends to take to prevent the illegal f ale of alcoholic liquors .in Sydenham, The Hon W. P. Reevks aaid aa au appeal had been lodged the police did not intond to prosecute, but it-was open to any private person to do so. Replying to Mr Solisetpn, The Hon R. J. Seddon said he hoped to '. be able to announce on Tuesday that the ■ poifolio of Native Minister bad been i .filled. As to the date cf delivery of tbe Public Works Statement, he hoped to be able to inform the House of the date aa soon as public bus'ness had made moce progress than afc present. SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply £ill for .£258,500 was passed through ail its stagee. NATIVE LAND COURT. The Hon R. J. Seddon moved the second reading of the Native Land Court Certificates Confirmation Bill, which was rendered necessary by the legislation of last session. The Bill was to be sent to the Native Affairs Committee. •Agreed to. NATIVE LAND TITLE?. The Hon R. J. Seddon moved tbe second leading of tho Native Lands Validation of Titles Bill, explaining that he should take the debate on the Bill when it came back from the Native Affairs Committee. Mr Sheba objected to that course, and said the Government should give a full explanation as to the reason for . bringing in the Bill before the second reading was passed. Mr Seddon said the Bill provided more saf aguards than the Bill of last year. He hoped it would be allowed to go to the Committee. Agreed to. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The Houee resumed at 7.30. CHEVIOT. The House went into Committee on the Cheviot Estate Disposition Bill. Clause 5, residue of estate to be rural land. Mr Earnshaw moved an amendment to the effect that no portion of the Cheviot Estate shall be sold. The Hon J. M'Kknzib explained that it would be absolutely necessary to sell a portion of the estate for cash in order to provide money for the surveying and catting np of the estate, which could not possibly be done out of the consolidated revenue. A lengthy discussion ensued, during which The Hon W. P. Beeves said it would be impossible to get a Bill passed through both Houses which would provide that the whole of this estate should be leased. He should therefore give a reluctant support to the proposal that land should be sold. Amendment lost by SO to 7. Mr Earnshaw moved an amendment to the effect that not more than one-third of tl).e estate as a whole should be sold for cash. Loßt by 50 to 4. Mr Earnehaw moved that the land be sold on perpetual lease instead of on lease in perpetuity. Mr RoLLEsroN supported the amendment, and said he was bound to vote for it. The Hon J. M'Kknzie opposed the amendment, and hoped the Committee would not agree to it. Lost by 30 to 19, and the clause passed without altsration. Clause Id, power to sell the mansion house and land adjacent. Mr Sandfobd moved that the land to be sold should not exceed 5000 acres. Lost by 34 to 10. Progress was then reported on the Bill in order that the Bank Note Issue Bill might be iatroduced. The Cheviot Estate - Bill was furthe considered in Committee and reported with amendments, which were ordered to be considered on Monday. LAND jF.OR SETTLEMENT. The Hon J. M'Kensie moved the second leading cf the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill, to amend " The Land for Settlements Act, 1892." The Bill provided that the Government may acquire lands for settlement by purchase or exchange, and may take lands compulsorily. He referred in detail to the various provisions of the Bill, and said he hoped the House would agree to the second reading that night, when he should refer the Bill to the Waste Lands Committee. Mr Rolleston thought the Bill was one to promote Ministerial jobbery and robbery. The Minister for Lands had asked ■ for advice from the House, but he (Mr j Rolleston) never knew that hon gentleman to take advice from anybody. He had never contemplated giving power to the Minister to take land anywhere compnlsorily at his own sweet will; that would lead to thd grossest abuse. • Sir R. Stout, Mesßra Allen, Scobie' Mackenzie, Meredith, M'Guire, Moore, Fish, Harknesß,. Hall- Jone3 and the Hon W. P. Raevea spoke on the BUI. Mr Weight moved the 'adjournment 0! the debate. Messrs Caencsoss and Buick hoped the debate would not be adjourned, but that the Bill would be allowed to go to the Waste Lands Committee. The motion for adjournment waa lost. Mr Eabnbhaw, Sir John Hall and the Hon J. M'Kenzie also spoke on the Bill. The motion for the second reading was agreed to, and the Bill sont to the Waste Lands Committee. LSAYE. Further leave of absence for fourteen days was granted to Sir George Grey, on account of illness. The House rose at 1.25 a.m.