HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1723, 23 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ThCTrsdat— December 22. The House met at noon . GOVERNHBHT KAIIAVAYS BILL. The Government Railways Bill was read by message from tbo Governor with an amendment making the salaries of the chief commfßßioner of the Railways Board £2500 a year instead of £1600 as paaied by the House. Mr Downie Stewart thought £2500 an oxoeaaive amount. Mr Mltcheleon said Government had no Intention of paying naoh a large salary as £2500 if they oonld get a competent man for less. Me R. Reevea (Ijangahua) thought it an anomaly that the commissioner should rco.lva three|times more salary than his chief, the Minister for Poblio Works. Dr Fitobett moved to substitute £1760 for £2000. Me O'Oonor hoped the amendment would be withdrawn, as the commissioner's duties would be of the moat Important oharaoter. Mr Peacock thought the hands of the Government should not be hampered In the way of salary, especially as men la the ! position of ohief commissioner of railways j sometimes reoeived doable the salary now j proposed by Government. Mr Mobs opposed the increase. Sir Buchanan supported the increase. [ After a long discussion the Premier said he hoped the House would agree to the i proposal of Government, The appointment was of great Importance, aod the , whole success of the scheme wonld depend on getting a oompetont man for the office. H© assured the House that no appointment would be made until It had received mostoarefal consideration. The House went Into Committee of Supply to consider the Governor's message on the Government Railways Bill. In reply to Sir Julius Yogel the Premier said that the Bill could not come Into force till Gavernment had made all the neoee*ary arrangements. They proposed to mako enquiries for a suitable ohief commissioner In England, America, and the colonies, New Zealand Included, Sir G. Grey urged at 1.15 p.m. that the usual lanch adjournment should be taken! The Premier hoped the Committee | would settle the matter before the lunch i adjournment as a long discussion bad already taken place on It. He hoped thn division would be taken at onoe as this was the last day of the session, and there was.no other business to be brought on. Sir George Grey still urged the ComI mlttee to adjourn till 2.30. Mr J, O. Brown moved to report progress, I The motion was lost by 29 to 11, Sic George Grey then moved an amendment to the effect that no alteration be made In the salary of £1500 passed by the House. The Committee continued on the Government RaUways Bill, and after some discussion the resolution increasing the salary of the chief commlasioo.er to £2500 was »grood to by 22 to 10, and reported to the House. NAVAL DKJFBNOE BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Australasian Naval Defence Pill, la doing so he said It was the first step to binding the colony m closer unioa with the Mother Country. He trusted the Houae would pass the Bill. He had for some time past favored the colonies contributing toward* the cost of the Empire, as they would then have some voice In questions involving peace or war. He referred to the class of vessels to be employed. The eovon to be nsed were first olaas of their kind. The Imperial Government would find the cost of the fleet (£700,000), and the colonies were to pay S per cent on the cost for ten years. Two ships were to be stationed m New Zealand waters, and our contribution of £20,000 he thought was very reasonable. Theße vessels wonld expend a largo eonount io the colony In purchasing coals, provisions, etc. Tha proportion of cost was allowed on a population baals, which ho thought was a fair one. Unless the House agregd i to the Bill jfchls session, there would be a delay of twelve months m the construction of the venaels, as the Imperial Government wished to lay the whole scheme before Parliament In February next. He Intended to id ova a new clause to the effect that New Zealand's contribution shonld be ou the baala of all the colonies contributing. Referring to land defences the Premier said Government were considering the advisability of concentrating their attention' upon rortlfyjng pae p>rt only In whiph these ships could run for j coala and to refit. " Sir Julius Yogel supported tha B,ill, but failed to see bow it wonld affect the federation desired by the Premier. H» ' . thought tbit Geeat Britain wai got fur

I distant from a ■yatem of Protection, and when that was arrived at the question would arise whether preference would be given to - the colonies m the matter of duties. That would be more likely to effeot federation than anything else. He thought all p«r(« of the Empire should contribute towards l f a defences, nor should Grown oolonlea be exempted. He "| hoped the Bill would bo passed aa qutckly as possible. Mr Hutchison thought It was not complimentary to the Parliament of Great Britain or of the colony that the Bill Bbould be hurried through m this manner. He spoke at great length m opposition to the BUI, and contended that it wan futile to expeot that all the potto of the colony could be successfully defended by seven or even a dozen warahipe. Sir George Grey whihed to know the names of the members who had paired on the Bill. The Speaker ruled tbac pairs could not be produced until used. Sic George Grey moved the adjournment of the debate for a week. The motion was loat by 31 to 5. Tue BUI was read a second time on the voices. The House went Into Committee on the Bill. The new clause referred to by the Premier m moving the second reading wai added to the Bill. The Houbo roes at 550 p.m. - The Boaae resumed at 730 p.m. On the motion for the third reading of the Naval Defenoe Bill, Sir George Grey protested against the Bill being passed with so many members absent from the House and all Information as to how honorable gentlemen had paired on the Bill being kept from them r Mr Hutchison and Me FHzherbert protested at a/mat the Bill passing m a thin House. The Bill was then passed on the voices. THB LOAN BILL. ' The Loan Bill was received by massage from the Governor with alterations as follows :— Part 1, Insert "Immigration £70,000, unallotted"; part 3, Insert •Blenheira-Awatere-faOOO." The Bill wfta theo committed. A new olauso was moved by the Premier providing that no money should be borrowed beyond present engagements for three years. Sir Jaliua Yogel strongly opposed the olaose. A long dlsoußsion ensued. Mr Perceval asked the Premier's opinion of this clause. The Premier said that his opinion of this clause was known by his proposing it. He thought it was neceßeary that our full position should be kuown at Home There was no doubt the credit of the colony waa at father a low ebb at present, but be had every confidence it would be greatly improved before next session. An amendment to insert m the clause the Westport and Greymouth Harbor Aot as among present engagements (under whioh money could be borrawed) was agreed to. I The olause passed by 27 to 17. Mr Joyce raised a point of order aa to whether the vote for Immigration and. the Blenhelm-Awatere line having been strook out by the Committee at a previous sitting, they could now be proposed m the Governor's message as substitutions. Ha contended that they Bhould be brought down as additions Dot as substitution. The Chairman said that he was not responsible for the Governor's message. Sir Julius Yogel said he could take the Speaker'B ruling on the matter. The Bill waa then reported with amendments Sir Julius Yogel asked the Speaker's ruling ad to the point of order he had p; eviously raised. The Speaker said it appeared to him the proceedings were quite regular. blr Julias Yogel said he objected to the Speaker's rating. Ho announced hia intention of taking advico on the point he had raised, and if he found that his contention were oorreot ha Bbould teat the matter m the Supreme Court. The Bill waa read a third time and passed on the volcea. On the title being reached, Mr Hutchison moved that It be altered to the New Zaaland Immigration and Loan Bill, instead of Loan Bill. Tbe motion wm lost by 27 to 12. Sir Julius Yogel moved to add to the title "and for stopping borrowing m future." The amendment not being seconded, lapsed. The title then passed without alteration. On the motion for going Into Committee of Supply for consideration of the supplementary estimates, Sir Julius Yogel said he had gone through those estimate b, and found that they were simply a reversal of the retrenchment polioy promised by the Government, The retrenchment wai merely a sham. He referred to several of the items on the estimates, and commented on them. The Premier In replying pointed out that the late Government had spent { £13,000 on arms and ammunition when only £5000 was authorised, and that was a specimen of their whole administration, I Yet now tbe honorable gentleman hurled i charges at the present Government; He charged the honorable gentleman with having at this late stage of the ■esalon wasted tho whole evening, and by his action prevented many members from reaching their homes for Christmas. The House went into Committee of Supply. Immigration— £lo,ooo. Carried. Colonial Secretary's offioe — £7723. Mr Monk moved to strike out £1000 contribution m aid of the Imperial Institute, The vote was Btruok out on the voices. The total vote aa reduced was passed. Colonial Treaaurer— £3o6s. Carried, Minister of Jnßtice— £l7l6. Carried. Compensation to J. H. Atkinson for loss of offioe as mail agent — £250. Carried. Marine— £2Bß, Carried. G. M. Park, for funds expended, extra services as telegraphist at Taupo-£2OO, Carried, Minister of Mmea— £466o. Carried, Workine railways— £lll7. Carried. General Post-office, Wellington, £20,000. Sir Julius Yogel movod that the vote be reduced by £9000, Mr Mitchalaon pointed out that the lowest tender received when Sir Julius Yogel himself was In office waa £13,500, I Bir Julius Yogel then proposed to reduoe It by £6,600. The amendment was lost by 29 to 9. Sir Julius Yogel Bald that the vote just given showed that the retrenchment tham had burst. If ho had been ten years ! younger he should have atoneiralled thin , vote, and also the olanse inserted In the Loan Bill for limiting borrowing for three I years. The £20,000 waa then carried. Minister of Defence— £7Bß6. Carried. Minister of Laods-£1 7,800. Mr G. F. Richardson moved to reduco this item by £5000. Carried. Public Works Department — £432, Carded. : : Public Trust Offico-£5330. Carried, Government Insurance Account— £48,418. Carried. Consolidated Fund for services m ozcose lof votes- £53,085 15s Bd. Carried. Public Works Fund for eervioea not provided f0r— £28, 633 10a Bd. Carried . Government Insurance Department for services m excess of itom — £4982 13« tjd. Carried. The Premier moved a recolution respecting tho San Francisco mail service. Ho said Government had come to the conclusion to ask tho Bouse to grant authority to renew the service for one year by the present contractor. By that means tjjerd would be tjoie to consider thp matter next session, $ id to make frejuj arrangements. He moved— " That |n view of tbe contract of. tip Sao, frapojopg

mail service terminating ia November next, and of the impossibility of giving the question consideration this session, Government be authorised to arrange with the present contractor for an extension of the contract for 12 months, and to submit to the House next session definite proposals for the continuance of i the aervioe. ' Sir Julius Yogel asked whether Government would pay more for the service than at present. The Premier replied that the coat would j bs the same. • The motion was agreed to after some discussion.