TO PURIFY PUBLIC LIFE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1549, 19 September 1912, Page 6

TO PURIFY PUBLIC LIFE.

MR. HINDMARSH'S BILL. A FRIVOLOUS FINALE. The Legislature Amendment Bill (Jlr. A. H. Hindmarsh) was committed. . Jlr. A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) explained that the first part of the Bill aimed at bringing about purity in elections and the second had to do with tho regulation of the press, s and the abolition' of anonymity in newspaper writing. He repudiated strenuously the suggestion that the main function of Parliament was to make our country more productive. (Cries of "Oh.") "The object of Parliament," ho said, "should he to make the people of this country a great and noble nation.'.' Jlr. Pcarce: Sounds well. -Jlr. Hindmarsh: The honourable.gentleman does not understand that. He doesn't understand' anything beyond cowspanking. (Laughter.) "Cow-Spankers" Defended. Jlr. J. A. YOUNG (Waikato) said that ho agreed with the last speaker that it was desirable to elevate public life, but the member'for Wellington had used other expressions to which lie took exception. Mr. Hindmarsh had said that, tho members on the Government side of the House were only fit for cow-spanking. Jlr. Hindmarsh: No. I addressed my remarks to the member for Palca, who is tho champion "cow-spanker" of the House. (Laughter.) Jlr. Young said ihat he represented as many, "cow-spankers" as the member for Patea, and was in a position to declare that as many high-minded men were to be' found amongst "cow-spankers" as in any other class. The man who was sneered at as a ,"cow-spanker" wns the man who enabled the fellow in the city to hold on to his job. Finallv, Mr. Young offered to conduct Jlr. Hindmarsh on a tour through the Waikato electorate in order that lie might become acquainted with the inner working of the life of the "cow-spanker." Jlr. W. C. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) said that the last speaker had misapprehended the position. Other things than cows required spanking, ■ and in some cases the spanking was too long delayed. Had tho hon. gentleman in charge'of the Bill been subjected to the process at an earlier date, the House would not have had to listen to the speech which lie had delivered that afternoon. He was sure that tho hon. gentleman in his busmes:entered into transactions with "cbwspahkers" as readily as'with.anyone else. Why. then, should he deprecate . "cowspankiilg"? Mr. Hindmarsh had inherited a name which, was :very well andhononrably known in another colony. No doubt lie ires aaxiou|to do justice, to it. Mr, i

Buchanan concluded by advising Mr. Hindmarsh to give reasons for supporting his Bill. Mr. Hindmarsh: I can give you reasons, but you can't understand. Fighting Funds. Mr. J. B. HINT. (Stratford) said tlintlhe member in charge had inis>o(t the vital point. What they wanted to know wis not so much how large organisation- expended their funds in support of political candidates but how they became.possessed of their funds. For instance, it would he interesting to know how thii party on the other side of the' House.got its fighting fund. Ho would like to know how much was contributed to the fund by large landowners, wealthy brewers, and vnrioiis other wealthy men throughout tho country. It was well known that the Opposition" received a huge supp.irt from the capitalistic section of the community. If they could not find out what wns .contributed to special associations which expended monev for politicaj ends, it would be impossible to apply a definite remedy. The penalty provided in the Bill was the same for a "person as for a big association. This.seemed'unfair. The clause relating to signed articles would fneet -with the condemnation of every man in the House and should be cut put. A Series of Protests. Mr. 'd.'.VC. FORBES .(Hurunui) pro-, tested tllat lime wns being 'wasted in order to prevent: the Bill being seriously cbnsidcred. ft os very necessary that some restriction should be placed .on the use.of, wealth at elections. Government members should adopt another attitude towards the Bill which had been introduced by Mr. Hindmarsh'in.all.sincerity as a.result of his experience at the last election in Wellington. Mr. A. HARRIS (Waitemata) protested against the remarks of the member for Hurunui. If, Mr. Forbes himself had not spoken, seven'minutes would have been saved. Did he wish to gag the House? Was he in favour, of the Bill ? Mr. Harris went on to say that he approved of the genera] character . of the Bill. The principle underlying'it was sound, but it. must be thoroughly, discussed in order that it might be knocked into shape.,Mr. L. M'.-ISITT (Christen urch North) said.that it had been, an idle pretence oil' the part of the last speaker to pretend that this Bill was'not being blocked. Mr..lsitt went on to refer to the member for. "Cowinurunui." It eventually transnired that, he'meant Mr.'Young, the.member', for Waikato. While Mr. Isitt. was speaking it. was noted that. Mr. Hindmarsh had left his scat at the table, and hod returned to his bench at the back of the Chamber. • Mr.Buick was the first to draw attention to Mr. Hindmarsh's change of position, but soon .afterwards Mr. Yomig asked v;hether the discussion could continue when the hon. member in charge of the Bill had retreated. Mr. Harris also professed ignorance of Mr. Hindmarsh's whereabouts. • , Mr. Lang ruled that any member could take, charge of the Bill in the absence of its regular sponsor. Mr. Okey declared himself - willing to assume the responsibility, but the hour for adjournment was almost at hand. •■■ Mr. Isitt held.the floor when the Bill was: talked out. and "killed." .' , SUPERANNUATION BILL, The Local Authorities' Superannuation Amendment- Bill (the. Hon! A. L. Herdman), was read a third time on the voices. AN EDUCATION RESERVE, AUCKLAND MEMBERS AT ISSUE. ' The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister lor Education) .moved the third reading of the Auckland Education Reserves- Bill. • . Mr.-H.' POLAND- (Ohiheini'iri) repented his protest, against all: the income from, the endowment being'.utiliscd .for,secondary education', arguing'that; one-fourth of the money should be available for expenditure on priinarv-cdueatioh. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurch . South) found fault with "the terms on which the . endowment ■ was being leased : to MaCky, Logan, .Caldwell'and'-Co., iis a warehouse site. Ho'said the lease did. not secure to ' the public a reasonable share of the profit from this very valuable piece of land. The Government could easily, if it chose, establish a rich endowment for primary education by withholding from sale sections in newly-established townships. ■ Mr. A. HARRIS (Wuile.mata) sought to show that the lease was an equitable one. Mr. J..PAYNE (Giey Lynn) supported Mr. Poland's protest that there wiif need for the endowment to provide funds for primary education. He declared that the lease transactions: was "an impudent piece of jobbery." The section was now worth .S3OOO a year, and. Macky, Logan,' and Caldwell were to get it for 63 years for ,£B3O. Making the highest possible allowance for depreciation, the, amount to . be found annually would not. be more than JEHSO, He..hoped the. Reform. Government would, not let this'robbery of the community go through. ■...-. Mr:'T. W. RHODES (Thames) protested against the apportionment of the revenues as set forth in the Bill. County secondary schools, he- said, -were not to recoive a reasonably fair share, and the Auckland schools would practically monopolise the benefits of the endowment, which was intended, for county schools. He thought a just.bargain,had been made on behalf of the trust with Macky, Logan, and Caldwell. Mr.. A. M. MYERS /.Auckland EasO justified the extension of the lease; he thought this sort, of thing could be safely left to the parties interested... It would have been impossible for the firm to put up a new warehouse without getting an extension of the lease, and the price paid for.the extended lea.se lyas an adequate one. Tn short, a' fair .bargain had lieen struck between the parties. ' The Hon. JAS. ALLEN,' in replying, said that some strong, words had been used about the lease granted tq Macky, Logan, Caldwell'and Co. "Infamous piece of jobbery," was air expression .used by ono hou. member. . Who had committed the infamous piece of jobbery? Was it himself or the Government now. in office? He had. not had anything to do with the arrangement of the lease, The hon. gentleman who had used the phrase had supported the Government that completed "the infamous piece of jobbery." Mr. Payne: It has only.just come out.. Mr. Allen said that the lease was arranged in February, 1912. He did not say that it .was an infamous piece of jobbery. The. member for Grey Lynn said so. He (Mr. Allen). was upholding the arrangement because he did not' agree with the hon. gentleman who said that It was an infamous piece of jobbery. Words of this kind were used-sometimes, by-gentlemen who had no sense of responsibility. It was as well that the House and constituencies should realise that there were members who came there with no sense- of responsibility, and did nothing else but talk. Mr. Allen entered into a detailed defence of the terms of the lease, maintaining that the Public Trustee had made a good bargain for the trust and for Auckland. Tho member for Grey Lynn, he added, did not care about Auckland. He only cared about the limelight. Mr. Allen maintained that tho recommendations' of the- conference agreed almost word for word with the judgment of the Appeal Court, and they were embodied in the Bill. He was Astonished that there was any difference oi opinion among Auckland members. If the suggestion that a share of the revenues should lie given to primary education were adopted, the effect Would simply have, been that Auckland would have been roblied to relieve the public .purse. The vote for primary education would have been lessened, and Auckland would have made up the deficiency. As a fact, the share for technical classes included a "benefit for such classes in connection with primary schools. LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT. The amendments made in Commitcee in the Land and Income Assessment Bill were approved, and the Bill was read « third time and passed. PIAKO SWAMP DRAINAGE. The Hauraki Plains Amendment: Bill ft he Hon. W. F. Mnssey) was introduced by Governor's -Message and rend a first l time. The Bill empowers the Government to borrow an additional .625,000 to complete the dmimujo of the Hnuraki Plains. This brings the total amount borrowed for this purpose to .0115,000. PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM. BILL INCOMMITTEE. PROTESTS BY THE OPPOSITION!. •An amendment to Hip Public Service Rill,.to rais« the salaries of !•))« two assistant commissioner; from .2600 to.

,£IOOO, was introduced by Governor's Message. The Bill was then committed.

Sir".loSEl'll WARD (Awarua) said that important proposals by way of amendments had been circulated on a Supplementary Order Paper. They made it practically'a new Bill, and it was impossible for any member to discuss the Bill intelligently in its new shape at once, lie suggested flint the Minister should have the amendments printed in italics and incorporated in the Bill. lie also spoke of the distrust of the Bill nmnng members of.the Post and Telegraph Department. Postal Department Satisfied. The Hon. A. L. ILERDMAN, .Minister in charge of the Bill, said he was sorry he could not accept the suggestion of the honourable gentleman. The officers of the Post and Telegraph Department had lit first opposed the Bill, and had asked to' be excluded from the scope of the Bill altogether. He had met the executive of their body, and the Postmaster-General had received a letter from the chairman of the Executive, Committee of the gentlemen who were opposed to the Bill. The letter was to the effect that opposition from the Department would disappear if certain things were provided for, and he had made provision for the amendments desired. He had made amendments on the recommendations of certain branches of the service, and he was ready to make other reasonable amendments, but the backbone of the Bill must stand. .Mr. G. WITTY (Hiccarton) urged that the Bili ought to be reprinted. Jlr. T. H. DAVEY (Cliristchureh East) endorsed ivhat the member for Awarua had said. He hud been communicated 1 with, and strongly urged to oppose' the Bill on certain grounds, and lie, therefore, urged that-the Bill ought to be reprinted in order that. members might communicate the effect of it to the officers interested. The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) said that the forms- of the House would not permit of a.nything of the kind proposed being doiie. Such a course would, be possible only in the c«;e of a Bill referred to a'committeo. Mr. L. M. ISlTT.(Christchurch.North) .said that delay now might mean progress in the end... Members were in a very ' invidious position,:having. received strong protests from. officers, and they wished time to communicate further with their correspondents. Satisfactory Amendments. the Hon. A. L. HERDMAX said the proposed anioiulmcnts.'had. been accepted as. satisfactory by .nil branches of the service except Inveicargill.. He could not agree to the'exclusion of the Postal and Telegraph Department from the operations of the Bill, nor could he delay the Bill, but he would explain as fully as possible the new .amendments as they were reached; Sir JOSEPH W T ARD (Awarua) argued that. the. mode of procedure he urged could be followed by the Government in accordance with the Standing. Orders. He was opposed to the..Post and Telegraph Service coming under the provisions of the Bill,' for.: the autocratic rule of a commissioner would be a bar to the promotion of messengers, and -the Post and' Telegraph ' Service had been entirely staffed by the. promotion of .messengers. It was a highly specialised Department, and should not be mixed up with the rest of the Public Service. • If the control of this Department was to be taken from Ministers, let -.it be provided'.for under another Bill, and under a separate commissioner. Ho would .vote, to exclude the Post and Telegraph Service from the operation of the Bill. A Question of Examinations.'.The Hon.. A. t'. ■ HERDMAN:- sa ia that the--member-for A.wania had rather misrepresented the position .'in. that, he, had made, it appear' that telegraph: 'messengers -w.6n.ld not be able.to enter, the service without passing some difficult examiirtion. In point of-fact'a. messenger would have, no greater difficulty in getting into the Department than the.V had-now. The member for Hiccarton had accused him of having a fad. But the fad. fai' introducing this Bill was better than the desire to perpetuate favouritism and political influence. The honourable gentleman had fattened upon it. ■ (Laughter.) In reply to other members, the Minister said'that promotions would be mainly.or wholly by examination. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt).said he hoped the Government, would.-press the Bill through without, amendment, aud then the Government' must take the responsibility for ' ft. So far.-as he. could make out, the Bill would be bad for the Civil Service and good for the Government. It would in effect establish a corner in patronage. The power of patronage would never be done away with by this Bill. Jlr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui) said he .would like to see the Bill-abandoned. Ho could' not see how wrongs in the service c.ouid be righted by tho appointment of another 'highly-paid Government officer. He did not believe that any branch of, the public service had asked for this Bill, nor could he bring himself to the belief that it would be acceptable to the service. An Allegation of Coercion. Mr. R. M'CALLUM (Wairau) was proceeding" to read some resolutions passed by the branch of. the Department at Blenheim. . - Jlr. Herdman: But Blenheim has agreed. Mr. M'C'allum: Then they have bees coerced. Mr. Herdman: What did the honourable gentleman say? Mr. M!Callum: They have been coerced. Mr. Herdman: Tha't is a most improper thing to say. Mr. M'Callum: Of course they have been coerced. They, are forced into the position, and in order to'get something they are glad to come fti under it. The Hon. D. BUDDO" (Kaia'poiV said he was. surprised that a Bill which was to do away with political influence should provide for so much of it by the Gov-ernor-in-Council. He would oppose tho Bill in all its stages. . Mr. J. V. BROVtN (Napier) protested against the Bill on. behalf of the telegraph officers at Xnnier. Mr. G. LAURE.N'SON (Lyttelton) asked the Minister to be reasonable. There was not a man in the House who knew what the Order Paper of amendments really meant. Mr. G. W. FORBES (Hurunui) spoke in a similar strain. Mr .1. A. HANAN (Invercargill) said that the members of tho Opposition were entering a- protest against the passage of this Bill., They did so frr various reasons. One was that they considered that the amendments had been sprung upon them. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) said that the silence on the other side was so great that you could almost hear it . A Pica for Consideration. Mr. W. D. S. MACDONALD (Bay of Plentv) said he thought the Minister should surely at that .early hour (0.30 a.m.) show some consideration for members. Sir. Herdman had studied the subject for years, and now.when at the. last minnto he found it necessary to introduce a large number of amendments, it would be fair to the House and fair to the fervico to delav the further consideration of the Bill until it could be thoroughly understood by hoth members of tho service mid members of the House. Mr. L. M. TSITT-CChristchurch North) complained of "tho unreasonable attitude" taken by.the Minister in chargo of the Bill, saying that the Government's indifference in their treatment of the (?ivil Servantswas "almost brutal." Ther'o should be some reasonable time allowed to discover the 'effects of the new amendments. Mr. Herdman: Has anyone said that the Bill was going through to-night. Mr. Isitt: Well, if it is not goimj through to-night, why are these amendments thrust upon us to-night? The Prime Minister's Ultimatum. The Hon. W. V. MASSEY (Prime Minister) said ho did not rise to assist those members who were obstructing the Bill. It had been'-said that there was no case parallel with the present in the history of the New' Zealand Parliament. Mr. Isitt: The same old party pleasomebody else did wrong, therefore wo innv do wrong. (Cries of "Order.") ' Mr. Massey; If the' honourable gentlemen would make less noise business would go on tetter. Mr. Isitt: That's your opinion. Jlr. Massey: and if. is the opinion of a great many people inside and outside of the House. He quoted the ease of. the Slate Guaranteed Advances Act,' passe'd in 1»0!': .On the night when Hit: tiill wns committed, when everybody was pinMcally and mentally dea'd-beai. six p3jof. of amendment* were. hroußht down:' It was. i .case, of a .v.c.r.v..mucJi jvors* kuid,.

' and all the amendments and new clauses were.put through.tho House before morning. It was a most unreasonable position to take up at this period of the session to stick up the Bill on the short title. No doubt members were within their rights, but he could assure them of this—that the Bill was going on to tlio Statute Book this session. So far as the objections to the Bill by members of the service were concerned, he claimed to have as close acquaintance as anybody with post and telegraph officers, and Ho had heard from people in the postal service (hat the Bill would 1» welcomed by them as a perfect Godsend. He said, in conclusion, that, he did not propose to drive the House, but he was willing to wait till, breakfast time, to make some reasonable progress and the business of the session would be done if the House sat.' till Christmas. . A Slight Misunderstanding. The Hon. A. T. . NGATA (Eastern Maori) said that there had been a slight misunderstanding. The Jlinistcr in charge of the Bill had objected that an unreasonable attempt was being made to delav its passage. Jlr. Herdman: I did not wish to convey that. -Mr. Ngata said that all that members wanted was an adjournment until the following afternoon. . .Mr. Herdman': Then let.us pass some of the Bill and we will do that. Jlr. Ngata asked whether the Minister would be content to pass the short title. Jlr. Herdman said that he wonted to go further than that.' . Mr. Ngata said that Clauses, 2, 3. and 4 were -the contentious-portions of the Bill. The Opposition did not wish to offer nnv factious opposition to the Bill, but they wished to pass the short title and adjourn until next day in order that they might communicate with tho organisations which had telegraphed to. them. Jlr. G. WITTY. (Riccarton) endorsed what Jlr. Ngata had said and stated that if an. adjournment'were consented to after tho short title had bepn passed, no undue opposition would be offered to the Bill on the following evening. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said there was no intention to pass the Bill right, through that night.. He wished to pass 'clauses L 2, and 3 that night. . The I'KIME -MINISTER said that the intention, had been to. adjourn not later than half-past'twelve as soon as progress had been made. . \ Mr. J. PAYNE (Grev.Lynn).read a telegram from the. Auckland branch of the Post and Telegraph Association asking that its members should be afforded an opportunity of • giving evidence on the Bill before a Select Committee of the House. ' : Mr. T. H..DAVEY (Christchurch East) said that he wished to move an amendment to Clause. 2; which repealed the Post and Telegraph Act. The Hon. Jas. ALLEN said ..that the.rei peal, would not take effect until the first schedule had been passed. The Jlinistcr promised to give Jlr. Da.vey an opportunity- of introducing his amendment. ■ Jlr. HERDJIAN. moved to insert a subclause providing that the Act should come into operation on April 1, 1913. The amendment, .was agreed, to. Clause 3 was passed on the voices with an additional sub-clause defining "Public Service" as meaning' the service of ■ his Jfajestv in respect of the Government of New Zealand other than honorary service. ' '. . ' , Progress was then icported, and tho House rose at 1.15 a.m. A SERIES OFAMENDMENTS. Fortj--fb.ur .amendments- to the. Public Service Bill, proposed by the' Minister for Justice-(the; Hon.'A. L.. Herdman), who is"in -clrargi: of .-the measure',- are "contain-, ed "in a. supplementary order paper .'cir-culated-last evening. .-Many,of.the amendments are technical' and . phraseological alterations, hu,t several of-them .are of genera! interest.- The Jlinistcr explained that the main.principles .of the Bill Were hot altered; the amendments, were proposed to meet various'points raised since the Bill, was .printed -. An amendment introduced by Governor's Message provided for an.increase in the salary of each of two assistant commissioners from--.£Boo. to-.£looo. Another amendment provides that the measure shall come into operation on April 1, 1913, In the Bill as drafted no d;ite was mentioned. The Governor is given power, on the recommendation of tho commissioner, to extend tlie list of officers exempted from the operation of the Bill. The clauso relating to political influence has been redrafted. In its' original form it provided that anyone seeking the assistance of a member of Parliament in Order to obtain employment or promotion iu the Public Service should incur respectively disqualification and dismissal. As it now stands the clauso provides that no person shall' solicit or endeavour to. influence . the commissioner or an assistant-commissioner, and ..that any person doing so shall be refused appointment, promotion, or increase, and if in the Public, Service shall be liable to immediate dismissal. The provision dividing the clerical division into eight classes is withdrawn.. Another' amendment provides that any onicer-of the. clerical or general division may by acquiring special .skill or. technical knowledge qualify himself for the professional division, arid he mn.y on the recommendation of the commissioner be transferred', to. the. professional division. It is provided that if in. the opinion of the Appeal Board any appeal is frivolous or vexatious, the hoard may order the appellant to pay the costs of the appeal, and the sum.so ordered to be paid shall be rec»verable in the manner prescribed for the recovery of fines for breaches of regulations. Sections 47 and 48 of the Bill, providing that it should not apply to persons temporarily employed in carrying out any public "work or scheme, or in the Government Printing Office, or in the preparation of census returns, are deleted, and by an addition to a preceding clause the commissioner is given discretionary power to exempt from the provisions of the Bill persons to whom he deems it inexpedient, in the public'interest that they should apply. A new sub-clause provides that a vacancy in' the Post and Telegraph Department shall only be filled by an officer from another Department, when no officer within the Post and Telegraph Department is available for appointment. The first portion of the clause relating to entrance and other examinations is deleted, and the following substituted:— "The Commissioner, in grading and promoting officers shall take into consideration the following examinations passed bv officers before the commencement of this! Act, namely:-<a) The solicitors' examination, (b) the Senior Cm Service examination, (c) the Junior Civil Service examination, (d) the accountants examination, (e) the New Zealand University matriculation examination, and (f) such other examinations- as in the opinion of the Commissioner are entitled to recognition." \t any inquirv held under the provisions of' tho Bill an, officer accused is to bo entitled to be represented by counsel or a"ent. The Commissioner is given discretionary nower as '.o the receiving _or rejecting of evidence tendered at .an inquirv. ' Tho right to appeal is withheld where the penalty complained of is a fine not exceeding .£2. "Drapers are having a busy time with Warn-r's Rust-proof Corsets; so great is the demand for this favourite corset.Advt. Jless.rs. Harcourt and f'o., acting in conjunction with Messrs. E. Johnston and Co, will continue the auction sale of tho Aroadia Hotel furnishings, these comprising 400 lots of household linen, etc. Tho s.ilo start? at 1.30 p.m. to-day, ond continues to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. Jlr. 11. E. L.eigl>ton will' hold a horse sale at 2 p.m. to-day at Lower Hutt, in Mr. Twomey's paddock, adjoining blacksmith's shop. ■ Tenders are invited for the lease of the Porirua ,Ho'*l.' containing 25 rooms, with four acres of land. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is. Gd, I'V Chronic Che.st Complaints. The Jlanawatu and West Coast Agricultural and rastornl Association intend holding their Twenty-seventh Grand Jletropolitan, Agricultural, and Live' Stock Show and Industrial Exhibition on October 30. October 31, and November 1. Full particulars may be had on application to Jlr.W. T. Penny, secretary. Box 85, Pelmeiston North. •