HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7203, 14 September 1901, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Friday, Sept. 13. EVENING SITTING. \ ' • THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. After the telegraph office closed this morning the discussion upon the statement made by Mr James Allen in Tegard to the Tagus troopers was continued. During the debate Mr Allen read from jibs " Hansard" proof to «how what, he had stated at first as to the Premier's responsibility for the sacrifice of the lives of some of the men who came by the Tagus. Mr Seddon moved) that the words should be taken down j remarking that he wanted/ to give Mr Allen an opportunity of withdrawing them. \ Mr Allen handed his "Hansard" proof to the Acting-Chairman (Major Steward), and after a long discussion the committee adjourned in order to enable tie parties interested to come "to an- understanding as to What the Premier objected ito, and what Mr Allen was prepared to modify. Upon resuming, the Premier withdrew ■his motion, and Mr Allen said he would withdraw the following portion, of hie speech : —"Since that ship (the Tagus) left Albany five or six of these men were dead. Who had the responsibility? The Premier was afraid *o offend the people of Invercargill, even though, to please them he had to sacrifice the lives of men who had been serving their country. The Ihon gentleman haA taken the responsibility of ithe lives of these men upon his own shoulders. Who had the responsibility of all the sickness and the breakdown in health of all "these men by sending them by a cold route?" Mr Allen said that ihe would modify another phrase to this: —"He (Mr Seddon) would have to answer ito the House asd country for declining to acoept the advice given by a doctor," and would withdraw the statement thait "these men had been sacrificed to political exigencies." THE ESTIMATES. At 3 a.m. a motion to.report progress was,lost, and the committee proceeded to discuss the first item of the Estimates. Mr Monk said tha/t lives had been lost by taking young people to Christchurch to the review at the time of the Duke of York's visit. He did not blame the Premier, but he though^ it dndiscreet and unnecessary to assemble the Cadets at that review. Mr, Hornsby and Mr J. Hutchison objected that details were not given of the Legislative Council vote. Mr Hornsby complained that one of the Legislative Council officials was the owner of a large sheep citation, and that in *his democratic community we were " greasing the fat sow always." He moved to reduce the item by £70 in reduction of the salary of a clerk drawing £250 a year, and as an indication, that reform was necessary in this direction. '"" >: • After considerable discussioifl the motion was negatived at 5.15 a.m. by 25 to 5. Shortly before seven o'clock a motion by Mr Piraaii to reduce the first item, by £50 was negatived by 30 to 4. Mr Seddon intimated that if .the progress of the Estimates was obstructed by sucli tactics he should have to move to report th-i position of affairs to the Speaker. The Chairman said that there was no power in the • Standing: Orders to report the conduct of the whole committee. Mv Seddon promised that every information would be supplied in due course in every department of the Estimates. Eventually, after a long discussion, the first item on the Estimates, the vote of £1870 for tho Legislative Council, was agreed to on the voices without alteration. Mr Seddon • then moved to report progress, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 7.40 a.m.