I.—B

4

Moved by Hon. Sir B. Stout: "2. That, if the Ministry decline to accept the recommendation of a Speaker, the reasons for such action shall be submitted to Parliament, and the matter referred to a Privileges Committee; and in the meantime the Speaker shall have power to appoint a temporary officer." Upon the question being put, "That the resolution be agreed to," it was negatived on the voices. Moved by Hon. Sir E. Stout: "3. That all appointments be made from persons who are acting as officers of the House or Council, or from the Civil Service, and that the provisions of ' The Civil Service Eeform Act, 1886,' be complied with." Moved by Hon. Mr. Seddon, as an amendment to the foregoing : " That all the words after the word ' That' be struck out, and that the following words be inserted in lieu thereof: 'In case any vacancies arise in the offices of the House the vacancies should be filled by promoting the officers then employed at the time such vacancies occur ; and that in regard to the appointment of Hansard reporters, and with a view to encouraging the use of shorthand by officers of the Civil Service, and by holding out promotion to those officers who are making themselves efficient therein, preference should be given (unless under exceptional circumstances) to officers in the employ of the Government—this being in keeping with the spirit of the Civil Service Act.' " Upon the question being put, " That the words proposed to be omitted stand part of the question," a division was called for, and the names taken down as follows : —■ Ayes, 5: Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Captain Eussell, Hon. Sir E. Stout. Noes, 6 : Mr. Guinness, Mr. W. Hutchison, Mr. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. And so it passed in the negative. Words struck out. Upon the question being put, " That the proposed amendment be inserted," it was resolved in the affirmative on the voices. Upon the question being put, " That the resolution as amended be agreed to," it was resolved in the affirmative on the voices. Moved by Hon. Sir E. Stout: "4. That during the session the Hansard staff be under the control of the Speaker and the Printing Committee, and all other officers of the House and Council under the control of the respective Speakers." Moved by Hon. Mr. Seddon, as an amendment to the foregoing, " That the following words be inserted after the word 'That,' 'for two weeks before and;' also, that the following words be inserted after the word ' session ' ' and for one month afterwards.' " Upon the question being put, "That the words 'for two weeks before and,' proposed to be inserted, be so inserted," a division was called for, and the names taken down as follows : — Ayes, 6 : Mr. Guinness, Mr. W. Hutchison, Mr. Saunders, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. Noes, 5 : Hon. Sir J. Hall, Mr. G. Hutchison, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Capt. Eussell, Hon. Sir E. Stout. And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Words inserted. Upon the question being put " That the words, ' and for one month afterwards,' proposed to be inserted, be so inserted," it was resolved in the affirmative, on the voices. Words inserted. Moved by Hon. Mr. Seddon, " That the words ' and the Printing Committee ' be struck out." Upon the question being put, " That the words proposed to be struck out stand part of the question," a division was called for, and the names taken down as follows: — Ayes, 6: Mr. Saunders, Captain Eussell, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Sir E. Stout, Mr. G. Hutchison. Noes, 5: Mr. W. Hutchison, Mr. Guinness, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Words retained. Moved by Hon. Mr. Seddon, "That the following words be inserted after the word 'and,' ' that for two weeks before, and during the session, and for one month thereafter.' " Upon the question being put, " That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted," it was resolved in the affirmative, on the voices. Words inserted. Upon the question being put, "That the resolution as amended be agreed to," it was resolved in the affirmative, on the voices. Moved by Hon Sir E. Stout, " 5. That during the recess the officers of the House and Council be under the control of the respective Speakers." Upon the question being put, " That the resolution be agreed to," a division was called for, and the names taken down as follows :— Ayes, 5 : Captain Eussell, Hon. Sir J. Hall, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Hon. Sir E. Stout, Mr. G. Hutchison. Noes, 6: Mr. Saunders, Mr. W. Hutchinson, Mr. Guinness, Hon. Mr. Seddon, Mr. E. Thompson, Mr. T. Thompson. And so it passed in the negative. Words struck out. Moved by Hon. Mr. Seddon, " 2. That the resolution carried whilst the House was in Committee of Supply, in the second session of 1891, practically set aside any decision arrived at on this same subject in the session of 1862, and was in keeping with the report of a Committee of the House appointed during the session of 1888. Further, that permanent officers of the House are ordinary Civil servants, and the estimates are presented to Parliament by Her Majesty's command,