PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6289, 21 September 1898, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association.] OF REPRESENTATIVES. /,. Tuesday, Sept. 20. • • : ' \ . .. EYENJNG. SITTJ^Gt,, ..,.^ ..... •After the Telegraph Office closed. coiiside*a : tion of the Justice Department Estimate? was ;.' continued. , | . ' :';,'."■,' The. item, contingencies £2000, eiicite4 considerable debate, several members claiming that in accordance with the Premier's promise, the details of last year's vote under the same head, should be supplied. The Minister gave the principal items, but was unable to give the amounts. Mr G. Hutcliison claimed that the Minister of Justice had broken the Pr-* niera promise. Mr Dutliie pointed out that the honour of the Premier was at slake, as Mr Thompson liad sacrificed his pledged word, and refused information. At 3.15 a motion to report progress was negatived by 21 to 17. Mr Seddon said that there had been no attempt to keep back information, and his promise had not been broken. These contingencies Ave,re not on the same footing as ethers in the Estimates. Mr Lang said that on previous occasions verbal arrangements had been made by Ministers, but in the present castf they had the Premier's undertaking in writing. ; Mr Seddon said he had never deliberately Woken a promise either in public or private life. After further discussion the vote was passed. District Magistrates' and Wardens' Courts., £44,748. As a protest against the disproportionate salaries of district judges and stipendiary magistrates, Mr Buchanan moved to reduce the first item by £50.

Mr Thompson stated that the magistrates had been classified, the maximum salary for the first-class being fixed at £500, secondclass £450 and third class £400. A long debate ensued on Mr Lawry's recent statements in connection with Mr Northcroft. ■- " '■■ Mr Seddon said that it would-be unconsti-tutional-foe a Minister to contradict a statement made by a member of : the House, and it would be. an interference with liberty of speech if such were allowed. Mr Thompson said that he would be quite prepared to place before the House Mr Northcroft's statements as to Mr Lawry's allegations, but he would not undertake 'to contradict Mr Lawry's statement. Mr Lawry said he had no hesitation in saying that all that he had saiu about Mr Northcroft was absolutely true. After a further and lengthy debate, the motion was negatived, and the vote agreed to. Shortly before seven, o'clock Mr Duth'.r moved to report progress. Mr Seddon asked the House to finish the Justice and Post and Telegraph votes. With, respect to the Vancouver and San Francisc > mail services, he would give the House an opportunity, before the Supplementary Estimates came down, to discuss them, The motion was withdrawn. Much discussion ensued on the Department of Industries and Commerce, which several speakers asserted should be abolished. Mr Seddon said that if the Department did not give more satisfaction by next session, it would be suspended altogether. Mr Duthie moved to strike out the item promotion of New Zealand produce in the United Kingdom, £250. Negatived by 24 to 14, and the remainder of the class agreed to. Class V., Post and Telegraphs Department. On the motion of Mr Lethbridge, Hie vote for the conveyance of mails by sea wis reduced by £1, as an indication that consideration of the San Francisco service piidild fee taken later on. With respect to the cont:n«en >a in this class, Mr Seddon. said that £146 was for the travelling expenses of his pr-.v.-iie secretary on tlie occasion of his trip to England. The class was passed, and progress reported. The House adjourned at 8 a.m.