PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11635, 12 August 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Home of Representatives. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August li. The House met at 2.30. THE LAND COMMISSION REPORT. Mr Mas3ey asked the Premier whether he was prepared to fix a day for the debate on the Lands Commission report. .The Hon. Mr Seddon said he would look into' the order of business, and give a definite reply on. Rotokare leases on Tuesday. The . Lands Committee recommended to the- favourable consideration of the Government a petition from tha lessee of the Rotokare Domain (near Haw-era), for compensation for being deprived of his lease. To the motion that the report be adopted, Mr. Massey moved as an amendment

that the House is of opinion that the • settlers 'whose leases were cancelled by the Rotokare Domain Act Repeal Act, 1903, should bo fully compensated for their losses. The discussion lasted nearly the whole of the afernoon, and was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. CCTMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House resumed at 7.30, and went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates. At the vote for Legislative departments, d 82359, complaint was made that members 3) ad not sufficient convenience provided them. Mr Seddon replied that the Estimates showed quits enough money was voted last year. It was expended, and no further vote on those items was required. Why burden the Estimates with a lot of details about that sort of thing? Mr Taylor complained of the difficulty that even members had of cettinff even a

fragment of information. Members of the Civil Service seemed to be iv a state of terrorism 'and were afraid e.veu to answer a simple question as to the time of day.- , Mr Taylor moved to reduce the vote by £1, as he had reason to believe that the coal used in Parliament Buildings did not come from the State cual mines.

Mr Seddon replied that the coal came from the Seddonville mine.

Mr Taylor's amendment was negatived on the voices.

After further discussion, the total vote passed unaltered. '

The Colonial Treasurer's Department,' ,£44,318.

At the vote for .£IOO for the law costs of the Land and Income Tax Department, Mr Taylor said tHere^ must be a large number of lawyers in the Government employ, and it was beyond his comprshension why money should be thrown away on otvfcside firms. The colony must throw away a small fortune every year on legal- expenses. If Ministers gave good attention to their departments they could save the colony ,£IO,OOO a year. We were going to have a period of retrenchment in this country, and it was a pity we did not make a start now to prepare for it.

At item .£49,000 for extra clerical assistance,

Mr Taylor, in protesting, said the large number of highly qualified lads now passing the civil service exams, should be drafted into the various departments in preference to engaging casual assistance.

Mr Herdman urged the establishment of a Civil Service Board.

Mr Seddon said he would not interfere with the administration of the Tax Department. The number of people who sent incorrect tax returns was surprising. They did not see any sin in "doing" the Government.

Mr Massey took exception to the vote of ,£3OO honorarium to W. Kennaway for services rendered.

Mr Seddon said the vote was for extra work. As to the cost of the last loan, he declared that it would not cost^nuch more than .£25,000.

Mr Massey: Besides the prepaid interest?

Mr Seddon : That's another question entirely, which, he urged, did not come into the cost of raising the loan. Altogether the result was ,£97 ss-.

Mr Massey urged that the cost of the' loan did not include the prepaid interest — about ,£4OOO. That was part of the cost of floating the loan.

Mr Seddon: No, no.

Mr Massey expressed the belief that the cost of the loan would be nearer ,£30,000 th£Mi .£25,000. A return should be presented showing the actual cost of the loan. The eclony, he urged, was paying 4 per cent for a" Joan which would not net ,£97.

Mr Taylon" moved: "That the vote of .£3OO to Kenriaway be struck out."

WELLINGTON, August 12. '

After the Telegraph Office Closed, an amendment by Mr Taylor to strike out the vote of ,£3OO, honorarium to W. Kennaway for services rendered to the colony's stock and loan agents, was rejected by 33 to 6, and the total vote for the Colonial Treasurers Department passed unaltered. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 1 a.m.