HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10485, 2 November 1901, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

{Per United Press Association.} "WELLINGTON, November 1. The House met at 2.30. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr Bollard-w as granted leave of absence "for the" remainder of the session on account of urgent -private business. MINISTERS' ALLOWANCE. Mr Seddon laid on the table of the House a return showing the amounts diawn by Ministers for salaries, travelling allowances, and Expenses during the financial year 1900-1901. He said the amounts were as follows : — Mr Seddon £2259, Sir Joseph Ward £1677. Me*~ -VValker £1361, Mr Ball-Jones £1455, Mr Hall-Jones £1455, Mr McGowan £1326, the late Mr McKenzie £441, Mr Duncan £850, Mr Carroll .£1216, Mr Mills £579,- Mr Cadman £67, Mr Thompson £18. He explained that these amounts included- sums dispersed by Ministers in expenses,- but which they themselves had not received. In his own case -that expenditure amounted to £345,' so that all the ' amount he had drawn in salary and allowances was £1913. In Sir Joseph Ward's case the sum dispersed "for expenses was £276, making the net amount drawn by him £1400. Similar reductions had to be made from the 'totals placed opposite the names of the -other Ministers. Ha thought members would hail this return with pleasure as being a refntation of the statement that lie and Sir Joseph Ward had each drawn four or 'five thousand pounds. Mr Pirani contended the return did not disclosethe whole personal cost to the colony of Ministers. Mr Seddon said it was a complete return. • INQUIRY. Captain Russell asked the Premier > to state what, business he proposed go- , ing on ' With before the session closed. Mr Seddon said he would make an announcement on the subject on Monday" night. - RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Government Railway Classification Bill. He -gave figures showing an immense .increase in the Department since -it was taken over from the Railway Commissioners, and urged that the Government was justi--i fied in making the increases in salaries fl and 'wages proposed in his Bills. In round figures the wages of the employees of the Department were by this Bill being permanently increased to the extent of £30,000 a year. 1 The basis of the increase was of the. fairest possible kind, and he believed' it would be of great benefit to the Bervice. It was generally accepted by both divisions" as satisfactory. He had, he went on to say,- baen unable to agree to the request that -the decisions of the Appeal Board should.be final, vurging that the ; responsibility must finally remain with the Ministerial head of the Department, an-l^it would be impossible to hand over that responsibility to any Board.' Turning to the question of casual hands, he proposed, under the new regulations,, to give casual hands of four years' standing, the" right to go to . the Appeal Board. He also proposed that a member of the second division could be 1 transferred to the first division " after he had been in the service for six yearß, so that-anyone who began in, any. capacity might attain the highest posi- ' . tion-in the service. The -new scale was a great improvement on that formerly existing. Many of the benefits conferred on the employees had, been well earned ■ by them, and the Government had great pleasure in granting those benefits.. They had a splendid railway service, manned by . men who did every credit to the colony, and. what was now proposed would give" ; them for many years* to come, a fair rafe of pay. Messrs Wilford and Pirani congratulated Sir Joseph Ward~pn the improveproyement in. the present classification. Sir Joseph having briefly replied, the secpnd reading was agreed to on the voices. The Bill was immediately committed. Sir Joseph WarcJ,*-in reply to representations by Messrs Wilford and Mil- " lar, said .that he would have framed a , regulation by which an entrj.^-in-«r^ man's conduct book should be shown to him as soon as it .was made. At clause 13,- Mr Guinness moved an amendment to enable members of the first division "to select persons outside the service to scats on the Appeal Board.- ' ' This waslost-by 40 to 13. Progress was then .reported. DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CORNWALL.- • Mr Seddon moved a resolution conveying an" address to the King, congratulating him' on tho safer return to England of the Duke and Duchess of , Cornwall. Several members objected to what was desoribed as the fulsome terms of the address, and Mr Pirani moved that part of the resolution be struck out. This was lost 'after considerable discussion by 27, to, 18, and^he resolution, as brought' down by the Premier, was agreed to on the' voices. The House rose at 6.5 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. The first business was the consideration, of amendments' bjr 'the Council in sustaining the provision that either party could go direct to the Arbitration Court, practically thus doing away with the Conciliation Board, that while he greatly regretted such action, he said the Government had decided, as the best of several- courses which they could take, to allow the measure to go as returned to the House, and give it a trial until next session, and if it was then found that it was not working satisfactorily thoy could amend. He moved, under protest, that the amendment made by the Council be approved. The amendments were d serious departure from the policy of the Government, but he hoped those interested in labour^ disputes would not ignore the Conciliation Boards, but would endeavour to preserve that important feature of settling .industrial disputes. During the course of the discussion which ensued, Mr Willis said he thought the time had come when the Act should be altered in the direction contained in the Bill, and denied the statement "of the Premier that the em- - ployers had endeavoured to" destroy conciliation and arbitration. He was a warm supporter of that system, but not on the present one-sided basis. Mr Fisher was' criticising- adversely Mr Seddon, when ,his speech was interrupted by "the 10 adjourn-

mem. ... WELLINGTON, November 2. The Maori Lands Administration Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee after several hours' discussion, without material amendment. " RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. The House "at 7 a.m. proceeded to further consider the Government Railways Department Classification Bill in Committee. - ' " The Government Railways Department Classification Bill passed through Committee, practically without amendment, and at 8.55 the House adjourned till 10 a.m.

TO-DAY'S SITTING.

WELLINGTON, November 2.

The Maori Lands Administration Act Amendment Bill and the Government Railways Department Classification Bill passed their final stages at 12.50, and tlio House adjourned till 2.30 '0n Monday. ■■