EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6025, 11 November 1897, Page 4

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee on the Estimates. After along discussion Mr Montgomery's motion for reporting progress was lost by 'S'6 to 27. District Magistrates and? Wardens' Courts, .£4:5,953.' Carried. Native Land Court, .£1P>,905. Carried. Criminal prosecutions, .£13,500. Carried. Prisons, .£23,002. Carried. Industries and commerce, .£1075. Carried. Miscellaneous, £loZQ. Carried. Postal and telegraph salaries, i^IG.oOS. Sir R. Stout said that there should be some rule laid down for the appointment of cadets to this department. There were 3000 on the list, and they were chosen haphazard. They should either be selected from the various electoral districts of the colony or by competition, but at present there was no system at all. The Premier agreed that there was no system at present. " Ho said that boys were taken on as telegraph messengers, and then drafted as clerks and to the operatingroom. The matter required thinking out, and some scheme devised to make the system of appointment more satisfactory. Mr Taylor called attention to the recent increase of .£2 a year made for the telephone service, which he regarded as altogether unwarranted. Mr Seddon said their telephone service was the cheapest in the colonies. It was £2 a year less, than in New South "Wales, and he thought also in Victoria. Hewould, however, look into the question and see if any reform could be made. After a long discussion, the vote of .£210,598 was passed. The Premier. moved to report progress. Agreed to. ■ -.'": The House rose at 11.20 p.m.