HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1001, 21 July 1883, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Frioay, July 20. The House met at 2.30. NOTICES. Mr Hutchison gave notice that he would move for the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the best method for shortening the hours of labor in banks, shops, etc. The Hon Major Atkinson gave notice of a Bill emitted the Payment of Members of the General Assembly Bill. QUESTIONS. Beplying to questions, Ministers said: That the reduction of fees for registration of water rights, etc., on gold fields would be considered ; also the question of issuing duplicate miners’ rights and business licenses. The Government could see no reason for changing present arrangements for the reduction of rents for mining leases, or giving power to Wardens to order costa in the case of frivolous applications under the Miners’ Act, 1877. That the Government would not propose to offer a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield in the North Island.— That the Government would bring down a Bill dealing with the native lands question early next week. He would not therefore give a day for discussing Mr Kelly’s resolution on the subject.—That the two Bills of last session dealing with Government Life Assurance would be reintroduced this session.—That the reward of LSOO offered for the discovery of a payable goldfield in Canterbury would not be extended to other parts of the colony. These places, however, would be dealt with, if the question arose, upon their own particular merits. [On this reply being given, Mr Seddon moved the adjournment of the House to enable them to debate the question, on the ground that the reward should not be confined to Canterbury. After discussion the motion was withdrawn]. A LAND TAX. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir George Grey asked ;that the Government would name a day when they would be prepared to discuss the motion re the land tax, of which he had given notice. ihe Hon Major Aikinson said the Government proposed to ask that the Committee of Supply should be continued from day to day, and Sir George Grey could move his motion any day. Sir George Gres’ said in that case he would move it on Thursday. The motion for going into Committee of Supply was carried. SUPPLY. Class 2 —Colonial ■■'ecretary—Premier’s office, L 459 ; passed. Colonial Secretary, L 1,895. Mr Hutchison said that it was high time some change was made in this expenditure. It was a monstrous fact that no sooner did a useless young man, the son or elative of a Lord, make his appearance in the colony than he was drafted off into the Government service. Big as the building was, he did not know where they all found, room. Mr Macandrew spoke in a similar strain, adding that the remarks made the previous evening by Mr Turnbull had made a deep impression on his mind. Mr Swanson also spoke of the necessity that existed far a material reduction being made. With that view, he proposed that progress be reported, in order that the Estimates might be referred back to the Government for reduction.

Mr Barron acquiesced with the opinion that the Estimates should bo reduced.

Mr J. E. Brown opposed the motion. No Government, treated as the motion proposed, could possibly remain in office if such a motion was carried.

Mr Seddon said that this was the only practical motien of the session. Be asked the Government to accept of it as an indication that Parliament was ef opinion the Civil Service had become overgrown. The amount it took to govern the colony was ridiculous.

Mr Swanson said that had he believed this would be taken as a party question ha would not have proposed it. The Hon. Major Atkinson said that the Government was not prepared to reduce the Estimates by L 50,000. If there were members in the House who could conduct the public service more economically than the present Goverernment could, then let them be placed on the benches. It was not true that the Estimates had been increased since 1881. They had practically been reduced, as proved in the Financial Statement. The Government could not accept the B otion proposed. The Estimates had been brought down with every care. Not only could they not be reduced, they would in some cases be increased. He went over the heads of expenditure to show that no increase had been made since 1881, as had been alleged. Mr Swanson said that he had made the motion in no hostile way, and he hoped that if the motion was carried, it was the Government now in power that would be expected to carry it out. , Mr Montgomery said the Government knew this expenditure could be largely reduced. He felt perfectly certain the amount could be reduced L'50,000, and he would vote for the motion. Mr Turnbull said that it was the Government and not the House upon whose shoulders a reduction must devolve. It was unfair for the Government to talk about asking men from the other side of the House to make reductions. They had noc the necessary information The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30. The debate was resumed by the Hon Mr Dick. He opposed the rrv 4ion strongly, saying that it was impossible to reduce the expenditure. Last year an addition had been made to the education vote, Mr Montgomery being one of the staunchest supporters of the increase.

Mr Seddon, in his shown that he was one of those who were prepared to shed the last drop of "their brother’s blood in the cause of retrenchment, but last year he was the strong advocate of the ' honorarium j being increased to L3OO. ■. S '

Mr Turnbull said that had Mr Wrlgh r been apg6inted<Minister of Public Works he would havA-taken them out of their railway difficulties, and yet they’rejected hia services. He repeated what he had said, in,.effect,thafc,»nder. proper tration all their deficiencies could be made up out of savings in the administration of the railways.alone., - Mr M. W. that savings could be effectedj.bub they, would.have to go about it very careiully. Mr Fitz Gerald appealed to members tnat this was n, vote of .confidence, and that those who.v.qted againaLtha Government with the promise of a Commission for the purposa of re-organising the Civil Service staring them in the face, would do well to pause before they recorded their votes with the ayes on this occasion, as, undoubtedly, its effect would be a change of administration. He would oppose the motion. Mr George said that what the ulterior motion arrived at was not the re-casting of the Estimates, but simply that they should be reduced L 50.000. In fact, it was in effect the same motion as had been moved in 1881 by Mr Saunders, when the 10 percent, reduction was made. Mr Sutton thought that the Civil Servants should be encouraged. His motto was to work them well and pay them well.

Mr Hobbs spoke in opposition to the motion.

Mr Swanson said there were plenty of other means for effecting this saving independent altogether of the Civil Service. He denied that his motion was a want of confidence.

Mr Smith supported the motion. The Committee divided Ayes, 34 ; Noes, 43. The vote, Colonial Secretary’s Office, L 1,895, was then put.

Mr Joyce said that after the vote taken the beat thing they could do was to pass the items in globo. They had been told that no reductions could be made and there was an end of it.

Mr Fish concurred in that opinion, adding that those who desired an economical administration should leave the Chamber, and let the Government do as they chose. The Hon Major Atkinson said that he hoped they would remain and do their duty—that was, to discuss the various votes, an 1 if they could show that anyone was unnecessary -tho Government would consent to the reduction.

The vote was then put and passed, Mr Pish moved to report progress.

A long discussion followed this motion, which the Hon Major Atkinson opposed, saying that they had still 24 hours before them, and the Government were determined to go on with toe business. Messrs Fish, Seddon, Turnbull, and J. 0. Brown kept up the talk till 2.15 p.m., when Mr Seddon’s motion to report progress was negatived. Mr Holmes then appealed to the Government to adjourn, saying the Opposition, as a body, was not responsible for the course adopted, but some independent members, whom the leader ef the Opposition could not control or curb.

Captain McKenzce urged the Government not to give way. He declined to believe'that the Opposition was not authorised. After some further talk the item Messengers and Office-keepers, L 3,370, was agreed to, as also were the items, Electoral, L 2,955 ; Audit, L 8,732 ; and Regis-trar-General’s Department, L 8.819. On the item L 3,640, Geological and Meteorological Department, an amendment to reduce it by L 1,500 was lost on a division of 32 to 7.

At three o’clock the Agenc-Gener il Department, L 3,500 was passed, Major Atkinson denying the truth of the rumor about Sir F. D. 801 l resigning.

In the item Charitable Aid and Hospi als, L 83.900, a motion to report progress was lost on the voices, and Messrs Montgomery, Holmes and others left the House, the Government refusing to adjourn. At 4.10 Mr Turnbull announced his intention of reading the whole of the Inspector’s report on the New ZeaUnd-1 hospitals, a paper of twe.ity-eight pages. At 4.15 a quorum had to be rung for, and Mr Turnbull then went on reading till 5 o’clock, when the motion previ »mly made to reduce the vote by L 2,600 was lost on a division of 21 to 10.

At 5.10 Mr Turnbull continued reading after moving that progress be reported. The Chairman stopped him and insisted on his confining himself to the subject. At 5.20 Mr Hamlin, in reply to a question, pointed out that the whole vote could be discussed on the report to the House. Mr Fish counselled Mr Turnbull to give way, as no good could now be done by opposing further. Mt Turnbull continued, insisting on the great importance of the subject, and treating of the whole subject of Charitable Aid. Mr Harris condemned the stonewalling. Mr Turnbull said he would move to reduce the vote pound by pound. At 5.40 the motion to report progress was lost by 27 to 7. Mr Feldwick moved the reducing of the Charitable Aid vote by LIO,OOO. Messrs Tornbull, Feldwick, and Fish kept up the talk till 6.15 a.m. , when the Committee divided, Mr Feldwick’s motion being lost by 25 to 3, the three being Messrs Feldwick and Turnbull (tellers) and Mr Fish. At 6.30 Mr Turnbull moved the vote be reduced by L 5,000, but did not call for a division

After the bell had been rung at 6.30, the vote passed as printed, as also did the following votes, after slight discussion on the various items:—Lunatic Asylums, L 36,743; Printing and Stationery, L 20,517 ; and Stock Department, L 23,650. On the vote Miscellaneous, Mr O’Callaghan moved the omission of the item LSOO for the introduction of salmon and and other fish ova.

Tne Hon Mr Dick expressed his willingness to omit the item, but Messrs Fitz Gerald and Dodson objected, and at 7.10 a.m. the Committee divided, the item being retained by 16 to 13. This was the last vote of Class 2, and progress was reported. At 7.25 a.m. the House adjourned until 7.30 on Monday evening.