GUARDIANS OF THE PUBLIC PURSE!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 955, 24 October 1910, Page 6

GUARDIANS OF THE PUBLIC PURSE!

Over two and a quarter millions of the people's money was voted by the House of Representatives for expenditure by the, Government as the result of the all-night sitting on the Estimates on Friday night and Saturday morning. The House sat continuously, with the two customary adjournments for dinner and supper, from 2.30 p.m. on Friday until 12.30 p.m. on Saturday. In the earlier part of the proceedings, that is to say, up till about 1 a.m. on Saturday, members gave fairly close attention to business—thereafter the attendance was small, and smaller still was the section that devoted itself to' scrutinising the proposals for expenditure by' Ministers on the various Departments of State. It is really-a-very strange thing that the public should remain so indifferent to the manner in which their interests are attended to when these, driving tactics are adopted by the Government. Could they but see the state of the House during an allnight sitting and witness the proco dure they would be shocked into making a,protest that would end the political existence of a great many of:those they at present send to represent them in . Parliament. ■ Instead of 80 members being in attendance scrutinising the proposed expenditure of enormous sums of their constitxients' money, 1 it seldom happens on such occasions, after one or two o'clock in.the morning, that that there, are more, than from 20 ito .30 present in the Chamber cxtept when divisions are being taken. Many of those _ who are present are to be seen reclining ;-. at'lull length asleep, or dozing; occasionally some overloud snorer disturbs the proceedings; while the actual work_of eliciting information from the Minister-in charge concerning the items of expenditure set put on the Estimates is left to half a dozen members, usually opponents of the Government. When; these discover some act of administration which 'they.'..consider objectionable; or some proposal which appears unwise or unjust, and take exception thereto, the division bell is rung and members who have heard nothing of the 'matter under discussion come trooping in and blindly follow the Minister into the lobby, outvoting those who have been attending to the business of the country. This is the usual procedure on .these occasions. We.have;, directed attention to it in-the past,.and; we shall continue to mUkc . protest in tire hope of stimulating the growing feeling against isiich- -methods of Parliamentary procedure. It 1 may interest our readers to note 1 the items of expenditure agreed to during this sitting ofj the : House. They were as follow: ■ ;•. '•■■■■•':"•' ; ''■'■•' -■■':■'■". ■■'■< ,; Department; •-. ■ -•' ' ■ •;.>'•> i!.'.* *■ Defence ...„....„; ............. 216,400. Lands '...........,....:........ .237,290 Agriculture and Commerce ... .139,182 . .: Tourist' ...v..;...-....:.:.......:....-.; 42,396;, ' Education' .".......•;.........•;.'.......:. 925,642 "'State.-Coal ■■■'■~':.■.!..'.;; ..'„;;•• 297,695', Scenery Preservation ............ 10,350 Lands fori Settlement .:.......... .' 9,436 Public Tru5tee;;..;::..;...;.........;: 18,712; • Government, Insurance ....;.... 65,216; . Government :'■ Accident.' Insur- .:. ance ;...-....;:.....:.... .....\-7,110 ■: .. State Fire Insurance 1 :........... -13,556 State Guaranteed Advances ... '■'. 412,749.; When the importance .of' some, of .the above public Departments is borne, in mind, together with the large sums involved, it is; outrageous, to think that these votes should, have. been forced; through a worri-but House with little more than a bare quorum of members present during a great part of the proceedings.: The Defence Estimates, which caihe 6ri : first and when members were -fresh-.'.- and alert, alone .occupied the .House from 3 'p;m;".till l : a.m.;;but the; whole of the remaining votes, despite the protests of the; Opposition, were rushed through an exhausted; assembly; between lia;m. and ,12.30 p.m. on.Sat-, urday. .Weshall see a good deal more : of this sort of. thing during; the next few weeks—and. this is how the' business of the. country is conducted.