PARLIAMENTARY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1417, 30 August 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

IBy Telegrapß.—Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL f Tuesday ROAD FORMATION The Council met at 2.30 Tho Public Works Amendment Bill (Feldwiok) was re-committed, and the following new clause wai inserted on the voices: "On the petition of a majority of owners owning not less than two-thirds of tho frontago on any unformed road of not less than sixty-six feet in width, which has for five years or upwards prior to tho year 1900 been used as a public road, tho looal authority may form the same, and epportioft the cost thoreof. amongst the whole of tho owners in proportion to tho frontage held by thorn re» speotivoly, and may recover tho amount apportioned as if the same were a rate," Tho Bill was reported as amended. FINAL STAGES The following local Bills were passed throngh their final stagesPalmerston North High School Resorvo Bill, Wanganui Harbour Bill, and Eltham Borough Drainage and Water Supply Empowering Bill. TIMARU DRAINAGE The Timaru Borough Drainage and Sewerage Loans Bill was reported from Committee, with amendments. The Council rose at 3,45 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES ' ' Tdesbay The House met at 2.30. NEW BILLS Mr, McGowan gave notice to introduco the Mining Ad Conciliation Bill and Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, FIRST READING The Industrial Conciliation and Arbi trotion Act Compilation Bill (Seddon) wa? read a first time. i LEAVE OF ABSENCE One week's leave of absence was granted to Mr. McNab. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT ! Mr Seddon announced to the Hons that the Public Workg Statement was in its final stages of preparation, and ho could liavo kept tho promise ho mado somo time ego to bring it down that day, i but he thought it advisable to first dispose j of the question whether the House should ■ resolve itself into a committeo of the whole to consider tho land proposals, of which I ho had givon notice, When his motion to go into committee was decided be would bring down tho Public Works Statement, and ho proposed to make his motion the first order of the day for Thursday, Mr. Mnssey said he could not understand why the Public Works Statement was to be delayod unless it was because tho Premier intended to take one ot the amendments given notice of on the land question as a want of confidence, motion, If he had made up his mind to tako that course, why did he not say so ? IMPREST SUPPLY 1 During further disoussion Mr Scddon, referring to the Imprest Supply Bill, ■ which was to bo v btought down that after- . noon, said tho bickoring and, baiting of Ministers, and the wilful wasto of time that had accompanied the Supply Bill this c session, wore driving the Government to consider Iho advisability of obtaining , 0 power to mako the Imprest Supply Bill i cover three months instead of one month. \ ■1 Mr Seddon wont on to say that the term of. tho whole of Maori Land Councils of the ' colony would expire on Wednesday, and he had set aside that day for the passing of a Continuance Act. . ' ; > On the motion t'o go into Committee of' Supply to consider the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Herdmnn moved an amendment, " That with a view of seouring theoolony's efficiency and security in the administrate tion of tho various State Departments, ;e tho House is of opinion that the Public Service of tho colony Bhould be. managed and controlled by q Public Service Board.", 3 ' Speaking to the amendment, Mr Herd- ' 3 man declared that the present system of 3 ' patronage in the Publio Service was inker)B ently vicious, and he pointed to the Police, e ' State Coal Minos, and Lands Departments, each of whioh had formed the subject of investigation by a Royal Commission, as showing that ihoro was something radi- , oally wrong in the Public-Service, Thero J 0 was a foeling growing up in the minds of tho' prople that they could not ] y trust tho Government to administer tho various Departments of tho State, and if it could be prorod that appointments were made for political reasons it would be o'ear that tho whole system wa? wrong. Mr llerdman wont on to refor to tho good work done b) the Public Service Board of Now South Walos, which had offeoted .. larso sayings in various direotions in the Civil Sorvica. < It had aotod as adviser to tho Government as to tho way in which the various Departments should be controlled, and bad generally raised tho tone of tho Public Service in that; State, If a similar system of control prevailed'in New Zoaland, he was satisfied it would bo infinitely bettor for the service and for the people. Sir J, Ward said'tbat Mi Herdman had evidently endeavoured to convey to the country an impression that Ministers had beon doiog'impropor things in connection with appointments to tho Civil Sorvico, but he ventured to say that no old member of Parliament would eay that any good hid ovor been dono by indulging in suoh philippics against Ministers. Tho debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Tho Houso resumed at 7,30 j Thodobato on, lit'. Herdman's anioudmont proceeded throughout tho evoning,' Sir Joseph Ward said what was wanted was elassifica'ioL" and suporannuatiou for tho Civil Sorvico, and the Government would give tho Houso an opportunity of going on with that schemo this session,.. Mr. Massey said that if tlio Opposition got into power one of its first onactmonts would bo to establish a Civil Service Board, Mr. Soddon objected to tho establishment of a . public Sorvico Boatd on tho ground that it would taka off tho shoulders of tho Government tho responsibility of carrying on the Civil Service, After several hours' debate Mr. Herdmau's amendment was negatived by 43 to 23, aud after fiuthor discussion the Imprest Supply Bill was put through all its stages. 1 Tho Houso i'oeo til ds,m,