HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 27, Issue 950, 27 June 1883, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Fridit, 22rj«Fiirra«B. f t! %» TJM^louse met at 2.30 p.m. •* B ff *r Tmie>MyßST MEMORANDUM. he intended to move aiy ote JwMfentnf & ou the Government in connection* withjtoS imprest supply on the last day of the 9 financial period. The Hon. Major Atkinson said heCKafl^ intended to make an explanation on the «4>iect, hut-aji^Mr Montgomery,^waß in^ sj|\i^n|r^'fee*jfraujld wait tt^Meat.what he had to say.^*He moved the postpone:" ment of all busmess down to supply.^ ;'- v Mr Mont^ne^^idjbCjrtis^iiiy]doMig his duty irlTOdeuTOdfttig to niaititain. the control of Parliament over-^ihe. -public, purse by bringing the matterifimmediaitely befprer.the. House. - He hoped .that the male JJ r O woSW nßk'be'Mitea 1 inn fatty spirit. Whether the motion he was about to propose was carried or not, it would place on record that he had done his duty In protesting against an illegal and imprpp<^ttit;.6n r .the , T*eMurer's ( sart. .; If thfc &ui(ej dicfc npt>pplthe njotion^'the country could then judge between the TreasurerlandOlioie whoiriea to do tKfiir duty in guarding the public purse. He moved—" That this House' disapproyeslof the conduct of the Ministry in retaining an imprest £192,000 by a grave" evasion of the law, and contrary to the intention of Parliament, and considers that the Treasurer is deserving of censure for not laying on the table the memo, of the Controller and Auditor-general as soon • as it met, as requested by that officer and promised by the Colonial Secretary." i The; Hon. Major Atkinson said Mr Montgomery had ended by entreating members not to take. a party view ok this ' ' matter. The ordinary courtesy of risking him to explain his conduct had not ev^n been extended to Him, which was a pretty good proof that he was acting entirely in a party spirit. He denied that /there had been any evasion of the law! The Government had 'simply exercised a discretion entrusted to them by the House. A full third jpf the ordinary revenue was always spent A on imprest without pre-audit. While he held office he would always claim the right to spend -as m,uch as he taught for the public good. The House could judge how he used his discretion. Had: he looked, he could have got this money without a word being said 1 , but he wished to do 'it most Such a power as he. exercised- 'must' be held by Government if the public service was to be cfcrrfeft on. The' more he saw of the present system of control the more he was < 'convinced that it was entirely useless for

practical good. The money was voted ' 'and placed in the hands of the PaymasterGeiieral as imprest. * -Mr M. W./Green argped that they were * bound to look at the principles involved in "this question apart altogether from party 1 considerations, and that in ranging himself on the side of the Opposition he was I doing an act his conscience could endorse to the end of his life. The Government had acted illegally and unconstitutionally, , and deserved punishment. He. feared they had very little respect for the law. Last session they had yielded to-mfluence and connived at the escape 1 of a criminal

who embezzled funds, and the bonds of

the- sureties had never been estreated. — (Loud cries of "-Name!") He would not ' give r .the name. ' - The Hon. Major Atkinson absolutely denied the truth of both statements. Mr Green believed he was correct, but tie .would not give the name. It was a matter of history. The .Hon. Mr Bryce said that Govern- . jnent/had been accused of having connived at the escape of a criminal during last ,t Bessipn— one who had been committed for trial for embezzling Government moneys.

; If Mr r Green could make good that assertion, he (Mr Bryce) would leave the Go(Vernment at once. If not, he (Mr Green) would have to lie under the imputation of making grassland 'unfounded statements yrlthqut, cause, simply because he. was. * 'p'rbtec'ted by Parliamentary privileges. Mr Shaw said he understood Mr Green to have been alluding to the case of one Rattray. He spoke from his personal knowledge^ when he said that the only persons who mterested-themselves in Rattray were Mr John Sheeban and Sir George ' IWhitinbreV These gentleman became bail foirhim, and their bail was estreated; and had, been paid. ; An extradition warrant' for the arrest of Rattray whenever found had been issued, . • . . , a AfteV several other' members had taken ' paWin the' debate, th^ House divided« on " the question that the House go into Cbra- ■ mittSe of Supply.— Ayes, 43 ; ndesy 29. ' t ; .60VERKMENT BUSINES3.

. vThe Hon. Major : Atkinson Mid. he had intended to, make a definite statement ■■■ a» [to. Government business, ;but that intention vha,d been interrupted by thedebate. He, would be, prepared to make the Financial Statement on Wednesday, if members would. give up that night ; if not, tbe Statement would be -delivered, on .Friday evening, and then Estimates brought down -immediately afterwards. Thb following Tuesday the Public Works Statement^ would be delivered, ; and the Public Works Estimates brought down immediately afterwards 1 . > 'Next week he would ask that -Thursday should be given up to Government? for' the rest of the .^liiiionV'i' ** '/3i/ 3i ■ • ' .:° "TRISOKB BILL. .. Thflj Hop. , Mr, Gonolly moved the "second 'reading, of the Prisons Bill. (i Amongst {Other reforms,,^ prpposed to revoke the power now possessed hy" visit- 1 : ingJu-Blicep of giring additional terms of - \ imprisonment for prison* offences.- - 'It also provided, thaitj ajl serious offences, ishould be dealt with, not, in the prison, but at the nearest RJM. Court,' and : eveh in' • minor' offences,- 7ori which the 1 visiting . Justices could decide the case would have to be heard, in th,e presence of the prisoner; 1 A new 'feature ' 'was the , in-

trodttctiod of a new class of i visitors to „! gaols. , Respectable working men and yromen,irould ba appointed, not with ,the pbwrirs of visitjhg Justices, but with full' < power to visifc'^nd' make themselves r (acquainted with- what went on in ithe gaols. The second reading was agreed to. ; •" The Hbtiserose at 12.40 am. • ' "

, 'I'! , i( . . >. . . . — - . professional : Two housemaids strolling past a bric-a-brac fchoppausedtolook at two chandeliers in the window a fine.' ■ eighteen branched one and ope of three 'branches ' ' ''Which dd you • like belter I'! ' .^iaidthje yoriitfe^^idV ' ."Thetjireebran- ;^ oher^iwd.TltiS; veteran ; '«*& » easier clsjcnsid.': „! ,-••;,' : ■" i • [••. i