PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1550, 20 September 1912, Page 6

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT. SHOULD IT BE EXCLUDED? The Pubiic Service Bill was committed. On Clause t, which ■ excludes certain Departments and officers, notably the Railway Department and the Defence Department, from operation of the Bill, • Mr. T. H. DAVEY (Christchurch East) moved an .amendment to add to the Departments "excluded, the Post and Telegraph Department. . Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) claimed to have a .prior amendment to, make the Bill apply "to any. officer or member of tho Defence Forces."

Tho Hon. A. T., NGATA (Eastern Maori), moved a prior amendment to that moved by Mr. Wilford, the- member for Hutt agreeing that his amendment should stand over meantime;

The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said, in roply to Mr. Wilford, that he was under the impression that lie had'told a deputation -from the Post, and Telegraph Department, on ilie previous Friday, that' their Department would not bo excluded from the.operation of the Bill.

Mr. Wilford said he could assure the Minister absolutely that the officers of the Post and I'elegraph Department were unanimous in desiring exclusion. Jlr. Herdman: That is not so!

51r. Wilford said that the Minister would get a letter within the hour stating that an absolute misapprehension had been conveyed to the House by the letter rend by the Minister on the previous evening. The Minister having told them .that they could not be left out they had agreed to the terms contained in the letter. Their desire was, however, to be excluded. Mr. L. 31. ISITT (Christchurch North) said that- he had been under the impression that the Minister .hail agreed on the previous night that the Bill should not be re-committed until that evening. Mr. Herdman said that he had not said anything of the kind;'. Speak Out! Mr. T. H. DAVEY (Christchurch East) said that himself and Mr. Witty had jointly wired to the Christchurch branch of the Post and Telegraph Department on the previous eveningi The reply indicated that the Christchurch branch was still antagonistic to the Bill. This was peculiar, in view .of tho fact that the Minister had stated'on the previous evening that only the Invercargill branch was now opposed to the Bill. There was something .about, the letter which'the Minister had read oil the previous evening about which he (Mr. Davey) did not wish to speak harshly just then. Mr. Herdman: Speak out! Say what is in your mind! Mr. Davey repeated that he did not wish to say nnything harsh, but it seemed that the Minister had forced tho Post and Telegraph officers into a position of acquiescence by telling them that they could not be excluded.

Mr. Herdman: If the lion, member for Christchurch is conceding anything, why does ho not speak out? . Ho added that there had been no attempt on his part to bring pressure to bear upon tho officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. If the hon. gentleman had any nasty suggestions to make Mr. Davey said that he had not nade any nasty, suggestions. He repeated'the statement ho had made and asked the Minister whether-there anything objectionable about it.

The Minister: I admit, that there is nothing very nasty about that and so wv arc friends again. Mr. Davey: Wo smile once more. Mr. Herdman said that he had to!i' the Post and Telegraph officers, candidly and without any hesitation the, position ho was going to, take up. Ho did propose to exclude tho Post and Telegraph Department from this Bill. It was 'inpossible. If the Post and Telegraph Pennrtment were excluded the Bill wo'iH be dropped and Hon. members who were opposing the Bill- knew it. Was it the only duly of a member of Parliament to consider tho Post and Telegraph i)tpartment? The whole discussion had been in tho interests of the Post and Telegraph Department officers. Members wero there in the interests of the üblL(Hcar, hear.) B.ecause half a dozen Port, and telegraph gentlemen had got - hold of tho member for Riecarton he was v.p ill arms and wanted tho Post and Tel»graph Department excluded from the operation of the Bill;. II r. Herdmail said he had mado concessions, .reasonable concessions, to these gentlemen. He. had complied with the three special requests made in him, and amendments hn,d been introduced to do so, but he would go no fui - tlier. Ho urged that these officers would bo much better off under the Bill than now were. He would be as reasonable with members as might be, but ho would bo absolutely firm.

Talking for Time. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) said that members who had beeu in communication with post office officials had understood that tho Bill would not come on until evening. Tlicy had not yet received their replies to queries, and the effect of bringing it on at i o'clock would mean that members would talk lor another hour and a half 011 Clause 4. He ivas opposing the Bill because he did not believe in it, and not localise ho had post office officials in his electorate. The* Government would never have taken up the Bill had it not been the honourable member's one ewe lamb. Uven (lie Prime Minister was opposed to it. Mr. Massey: .Oh,' 110, lie's nol. Mr. Witty said that members of (he party did not wan! the Bill. Mr. G. M. Thomson: As usual, you're talking nonsense. ■ Mr. Witty: If the honourable gentle-i man would study fish a littlo bif, I might I get 011 to discussing the Bill. Mr. Thomson: A mighty lot you know about it. ....

Mr. 11. G. ELL (Christchnrch South) taunted the members of the. Government with being dumb dogs;' They were excellently drilled; the.v would net. speak except lit the direction of (.he. Whip, -iml they went out inlo Urn lobbies liko sheen after a bell leather. Mr, F. H. SMITH (Waitaki) eiid

if honourable gentlemei .r.ilogical reason, lor not sn : -r.'-v : Govermnedt members n,. >' I-.:- , ■ thing to say. But all th ■ ■> i - .. u . that a few people had sc . 1 . jeeting to the Bill. A Government member ! j them (Opposition mcmbei Mr. Smith asked whet. the onlv people to be con H Mr. A. E. GLOVEK (.'., Iral), with much dramatic i •. ■ : r, t!ic Bill, and lie besought ■ . the Minister to withdraw it. Mr. T. Jr. WII.FORD (Hutt) said he admitted that tho Bill would go on the Statute Book. His reason for opposing the Bill was not <i small reason in the interest of nny .small section, for he believed that this Bill would do a vast deal of harm to the Public Service. A Somewhat Peculiar Position. When the Committee resumed at 7..'i0 p.m. the debate was continued by Mr. G. W. Forbes and Mr. L. M. lsitt. Mr. ISITT said that the Minister, no doubt witli perfect good faith, had placed himself in a somewhat peculiar position by stating on tiie previous evening that the various branches of the Post and Telegraph Association were perfectly satisfied with the Bill. As a matter of fact they mere nothing of the kind. The Minister said that members had to consider not these men, but the public. Mr. Herdman: I did not say that. Mr. lsitt said that the Minister, had said that the country wanted a proper and not an improper service. The member for Christchurch North went on to declare heatedly that the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department would compare favourably with any similar Department in. thei,world. Mr. Anderson:'Take a breath!

Mr. A, E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) said that he might be looked upon as tho leader of a party offering factious opposition to this Bill. '

Government members (heartily and emphatically): No! No! Mr. Glover "entreated and implored" the Minister to hold his Bill over until next session in order that the officers of the Post and Telegraph Department might have twelve months in which to "inwardly digest" its contents. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurch South) asserted that the rank, and file of tho I'ublic Service tare opposed to this Bill. The Civil Service Association, which, had sent a - deputation to the Minister, had only about l.'iO members. Olio of the principal requests put forward by the deputation was that the salaries of the assistant-commissioners should be raised from ,£BOO to .filflOO. The request had been given effect to. Mr. JDU invited tho member for Tanmarunui to get upon his feet and protest - against the waste of public money proposed in the Bill.

Proof That the Bill is 'Wanted. Mr. Ct. V. PEARCE (Patea) said the Minister in Charge -of the Bill represented a constituency which contained more Civil Servants than any other in New Zealand. Yet, though he had advocated this Bill for years he had been returned by almost the largest, majorities obtained by any member of the House.

Mr. W. H. D. BELL (Wellington Suburbs) said that his constituency contained nearly, as many Civil Servants as- were resident in Wellington North. He had never failed to advocate this Bill from any platform on which- he had spoken during the election, and his largest majorities were obtained in those sections of his constituency in which Civil Servants were most numerous. .

Sending Out Telegrams. The Hon-. F. M. B. Fisher said that last year he liad presented a petition from between tw.o and three hundred Civil. Servants, who resided, in his, constituency. N.ota.w.onl of protest, against the Bill had come, to him from a single one of these people. Mr. Hinc: You did not send a wire, perhaps.

Mr. Fisher: I certainly did not take the step of asking people if there was anything, that could be put. forward as an objection to the Bill.

Mr. Ell: They (the telegrams) camo unsolicited.

Mr. Fisher: The lion, gentlemen will deny that they sent out telegrams? Mr. Isitt: Absolutely, until the first telegrams came. . Mr. Fisher: The hon. gentleman need not be obsessed with the idea that he is the whole Opposition! (Laughter.) Mr. Isitt: I have received these telegrams personally. Mr. Fisher said that hon. gentlemen on the other side of the House had sent out telegrams. Opposition meuibers: Which one? Mr. Fisher said that the member for Christchurcli East had read a telegram on the previous night in reply to ono sent out.

Opposition members: In reply to ono received.

Mr'. Fisher said that the member for Christchurch North, while denying that telegrams had l>ren sent out by members, had asked the Minister in charge to keep the Bill back until that evening so that he might get replies to "wires" which ho himself had sent out.

Mr. Isitt: - After wo received the first telegrams. Spending and Saving. Government members: Too thin! Take your gruel! Mr. Fisher continued that Mr. Ell had said that tho member for Tauroarumii was asking tho House to spend additional .£3300 a year on the Commissioners. If the Commissioners were worth anything at all they would save .£300,000 a year of the extravagant expenditure that tho party now in opposition liad,been indulging in for years. Opposition members were fond of quoting the words of the late Mr. T. E. Taylor. Mr. Taylor had said on many occasions that if an efficient administrator were in charge of the Public Service of this country a million a year would be saved in extravagance. That statement should not be forgotten. The member for Taumarunui had been accused of wanting to waste .£3300 a year Opposition members: So he is. Mr. Fisher:So he. is in favour of trying to save some of the gross extravagance perpetuated by members on that side of the House! ■

Mr. Forbes asked the Chairman what the Minister's remarks had to do with the clause under discussion.

Mr. Lang said that lion, members generally had gone very far from the point. From that time forward ho would ask niombers to deal entirely with tho clause under discussion.

Mr.. Fisher referred to the fact' that the party on the other side of the House had dismissed at the end of 1908 some 800 men from the Civil Service. All the services had increased enormously; and vet they wero being run with a thousand less hands.'

Mr. Hanan: The same took place in Australia.

Mr. Fisher: "Would ,you justify unseemly fights in this House because they took "place in Australia?" (Laughter") A claim had been made in the House that over .-£400,000 a year would bo saved in the Department, and there was waste in the Departments yet. It would never be otherwise while members, of Parliament could. get their friends into positions regardless of their ability. lie did not see why one man should get preference because he happened to know a member of Parliament a little better than somebody else. Amendments to Come. Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christchnrch North) said that what lie and other members of the Opposition had done was to telegraph for information from constituents with whom the.v had previously been in correspondence, to ascertain whether it' was n fact, as they lmil been informed, that the Post and Telegraph officers had withdrawn their opposition to the Bill. Ho declared that there had bee.n no political patronage lo speak of under tho late Government, nor did he think there would be any patronage under the present Government. It would be impossible under any system to prevent the use of a certain amount of inllnoncc. The Hon. li. M'lvliN/UR (Molilalia) described the Bill as the worst that had ever l>een placed before the House; every line of it was bad. The Public Servico was costing .£(i,751i,000, and tile. Departments to be excluded, including I ho Postal • Department, which the .Minister would have to drop i[ ho wished to make progress, wove costing ,E.i,S!)G,olli), so that very little reliance could lie placed cn the statements of tho Minister for Marine. It was deplorable to see the Minister in charge of llie. liill looking so downhearted with his thumb in his month. fie. was relying upon members of the Rouse to put the Sill 113 to workiMitlita form. If th? prii tout Ministers w«r» not capable oi con-

tilling the service, why not apply for au-i-ritv to, appoint three more Ministers • allow them to control it? They would ■■ responsible to tho Parliament and to ■: people. If a commissioner were to ' ■ appointed it would not be long bctoro fould be bossing not only the Civil ice, but tho Ministry and tho House, ■ the whole country. 'He would voto i - st. tho Bill, but he would offer no ■ -us opposition to it. He would ex- !.- his views on the several clauses, and .... n.td concentrated them into SO amendments of. 20 clauses. Can it be Wondered At? Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said- the fifty amendments would be duly considered when the clauses were read. The honourable gentleman was a typical specimen of the politician who 'had thrived under the old'svstem. r 'The honourable gentleman said I had my hand in my mouth," said Mr. Herdman. "It is infinitely better to keep your hand in yoni mouth than to put your hand in the public till and scatter golden sovereigns round the country." Mr. M'Kenzie: I don't think tlie Chairman should allow tho honourable gentlemi\n,.to ,«iy that * P ut m y howl in the public till.

The Chairman ruled that the lion, the Minister had been referring to public expenditure.

Mr. Herdman: Can it be wondered at that the gentleman who is responsible foi this muddle outside here would have nothing to do with this Bill? He is the kind of. politician who will always oppose I his kind of Bill. Of course evervbody expects the honourable gentleman to oppose.this Bill. The other honourable gentlemen who had Iwen repeating the samo statements-all day would continue to oppose the Bill. They did not want to do away with patronage. They had kept alive for twenty years by the system they desired to destrov.

Mr. M'Kenzie: The Bill will not keep you alive.

.-Mr. Herdman: Tho Bill will keep this side alive longer than the honourable gentleman was in power. The public during last election were satisfied that this principle was a sound one, and that was why tho member for Motueka was in his present place and why the Prime Minister was in his position. He suggested that the discussion on Clause 4 had been long enough. Mr. G. LAURENSON (Lyttelton) said he thought the Government were "scared" to enter into discussion. He objected to handing over tho service to the control of an autocrat, who was above and beyond Parliament.. It was, he said, a wicked Bill. Ho suggested that a committee of the House should be set up to hear (he objections of the members of tho Post and Telegraph Service.

Not a Word of Protest. Mr. E. NEWMAN* (Rangitikci) said he could not understand the Opposition party's attitude. He could understand it up till 7.30, but now the members must have received their telegrams, ond yet they were not ready to go to a division. He had sent the Bill to as many people as he could think of who might fie interested in .it, and ho had heard not a word of protest from them. The late Opposition had declared on the hustings tor reform of the Civil Service, and the result was apparent. The Bill had been before tho country, and the people had virtually endorsed it. 'The Opposition party were anxious to retain the power in the hands of the Ministry, in tho hope that they might some day get into power again. Hut h$ regarde'd them as a party politically dead. Mr. Witty: But there'll be a resurrection. ■■■ .

. Mr. Newman said it was easy to understand why the member for Motueka and the member for Lyttelton did "not want the Bill.' They-knew how useful ivas the power'to dispense patronage,'and they would not divest- themselves of it.

Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) read a telegram from an official, protesting against tho Bill. ■All 'lion, member: Who is it signed by? Mr. Witty said he would not divulge the name of the officer, because if his name were found out he would be shunted. - Hon. members: No. Mr. Nosworthy: That's your political creed. Mr. Herdman: You judge everybody by your own standard. Mr. Witty said in conclusion that ho was prepared to stay some white to put the Bill into proper shape. The Little Game. The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) said he was glad to hear from tho honourable gentleman that he was not averse to staying late. That- attitude would suit the Uovernment excellently. But lie (Mr. Massey) was not going to assist the honourable gentlemen opposite in a little game they were plnying. An Opposition member: l'ou used to play it when you were here. "Mr. Massey: There was plenty of occasion for it then; there is no occasion for it now. He had listened with a good deal of interest to tho member for Lyttelton and tho member for Lyttelton appealing to the Committee with virtuous indignation iu his tones asking whether they would permit the Public Service oi this country to be put under the control of a board, that would be. above and beyond Parliament. Did he suggest for a moment that any board could be above and .beyond criticism'i If the honourable member had lead tho Bill and understood it he must know that the commissioners to be appointed were to be responsible to Parliament, and not to Ministers. The honourable member was attempting to mislead the House. The system of, nonpolitical control worked well in the teaching profession. Why not in tho Civil Service? There were two ways of entering tho Public Service—tho front dcor and the back door. The front door by way of examination, ond tho cadet vho entered by that way worked n>any years before he got a salary„of .£l5O a year. But the man who entered by the back door receivedithat salary at once, and Ik could.rise to any position in the Service. This would have to stop. A good deal had been said about telegrams from members of the postal service. He had received one, and it had not been asked for. He had sent a copy of tho Bill to a member of the postal service, and he 1 nd replied, thanking him for the Bill, srying that it was generally acceptable to officers, and wishing tho Government every success in carrying such a desirablo proposal. He said that the Bill was generally acceptable to officers in Aucklnud, nnu he was a thoroughly reliable and conscientious officer. He had been in the postal service for 20 years. He .Mr. Massey) had heard enough to convince l:im that the Bill was longed for, ai«l was' Diked for, and was almost demanded by the great bulk of tho Civil Service. It was idle to say that the Government members .wero opposed to the Bill. They had advocated a reform such as that proposed on every platform. In any case, the J3overnment would take the responsibility fet this Bill, and they would place it on the Statute Book.

Mr. ,T. A. TIANAN (Invercargill) defended the action of the Opposition in opposing the Bill. • The Prime Minister, in his day had opposed other important measures.

When tho comniitte» resumed after the supper adjournment 110 quorum was present, and tho bell had to be.riing to bring in the necessary quota of 'members. The Hon; D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) described as "political humbug" the charges of political patronage which had been levelled at past Administrations by tho Hon. ]■'. M. B. Fisher, Mr. E. - Newman, and the L'rime Ministf*.

Mr. 11. ATMOKE (Nelson) said that the Minister had taken an unfair Advantage of members 011 the previous evening. Jt nolv appeared that officers of tho Post and Telegraph Department had only consented to take half a loaf instead of 110 bread wlicn they' were told that they could 1101 bo excluded. 110 believed (hat officers of this Department, from the North' Capo lo the BitilV, were opposed to beinj brought under tlio provisions of the Bill. The Minister was anxious to put through his pet scheme. Mr. Herdman: In which ..vou have believed.

Mr. Atmore said that he would come lo that presently. He had not forgotten it. The Minister had failed to substantiate his veiled charges of political patronage. Ho was qnile prepared to admit that n year ago he had believed tliftt there was a good deal of political patronage, but members of Ihe present Government had not proved the chargcs which they lad inado when in Opposition.

The Hon. K. M'ICEXZIE Ololucka) challenged the Minister in charge of the Bill to prove that lie had ever been guilty of political patronage. As to what the Minister hart said about Parliament Rnildiiiß«, th« pistif find prepared under tie Ward Administration were to

complete and so perfect that they had been adopted without alteration by-the present Government.

An Amendment. -Mr. T. H. D.WEY (Christchurch East) moved ail amendment exempting the Post and Telegraph Department from the operation of the Bill. Tho Hon. A. L. HEIiDMAN said that he could not accept the amendment, and Ihe sooner a division was taken the better. The letter he had read on the previous afternoon from the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Post and Telegraph Association had never been withdrawn, and stood unaltered. The letter stated that eleven out of fifteen branches either left the matter to tho executive or favoured the Kill.

Mr. Dave.v said that the position was a funny one.

Tho Hon. ]!. H. RHODES said lie ad-1 mitted that the officers cf the Post anfl Telegraph Department were satisfied. That was no reason why they should not be further benefited. He believed that the Department not only would not be injured, but would be benefited by being included in tho Bill. Letters a.iul telegrams from branches which had been mentioned were overridden by the letter from the chairman of the Executive Committee. Sir. L. 11. ISITT (Christchurch North) raid tho vast majority of those in tho postal service were bitterly opposed to tho Bill. He accused the Minister of having attempted to mislead the House. Otherwise the officers were making different statements to the Minister and to members. . , , " , Air H. G. ELTj (Christchurch South) declared that the letter read by the Minister did not represent the views of members of tho service. Mr. A. M. MYERS (Auckland East) said that whatever tho elVeet of the Bill might be, it would be a grievous wrong to exclude tho postal service. He was sorry that even railways were excluded. Too "much attention had been, paid to the opinions of officers in the Department. lie would vote against tho amendment.

The Interests of the Public. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui') said that if he thought the Bill would abolish, political patronage he would vote against tho amendment and for the Bill. His opinion was that the Bill would accomplish nothing. Change was needed in the Publit Service, but what was wrong was that New Zealand had been run by heads of Departments. More direct Ministerial control would be an improvement. At the same time he did not think too much attention should be paid to objections by members of the postal service; the interests of the public should be paramount always. He would vote for the amendment in order to exclude as uiany Civil Servants as possible from the operation of the' Bill.

At 11.20 p.m. the House divided on Mr. Davey's amendment to exclude-the Postal Department from tho operations of tho Bill..

The amendment was defeated on a division, by 36 votes to 26. Following is tho division list:—

Ayes (2G): Atmore, Buddo, Carroll, Colvin, Craigie, Davey, Diokie, Ell, Forbes, Glover, Guinness, isitt, M'Cailum, Macdonald, M'Kenzie, Ngata, Payne, Poland, Rangihiroa, Robertson, Seddon, Si (lev, R. W. Smith, J. C. Thomson, Ward, Witty. Noes (30),: Allen, Anderson, Bell, R. F. Bollard, Bradney, . Buchanan, Buick, Campbell, Clark, Coates, Dickson, Escott, Fisher, Fraser, Harris, Herdman, Herries, Hine, Hunter, Massey, Guthrie, Myers, NoSworthy, Okev, -Pearce, Pomare, Reed, R, H. Rhodes, W. Rhodes, Scott, T. H. Smith, Statham, Sykcs, G. M. Thomson, Wilson, Young. Pairs:—Ayes: Laurenfon,- Russell, Hanau.- Noes: E. Newman, Mander, J. Bollard. . Minister Moves an Amendment. Tho Hon. A.' L. HERDMAN moved an amendment providing that the Act should not apply to any officer or class of officers to whom or to which, on the recommendation of 1 and for special reasons assigned by the Commissioner, the Governor declares that his Act shall not apply. The Hon. H. M'KENZIE moved to omit the .words "Governor declares,", with, a view to inserting • the words "House of Representatives resolves.".' The Minister declined to accept. Mr. M'lCenzie's amendment.

Mi'.' M'Kenzie's amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 22, and .the' Minister's amendment was agreed to on tho voices. Clause 6, relating to political influence, w.os deleted, in order that a new clause might bo inserted later. Mr. A. E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) moved that the Commissioner and Assist-ant-Commissioner should be appointed for a term of three years, instead of for seven years

The proposal was negatived by 32 votes to 21.

Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurcli South) moved an amendment to Clause 8 to make the Commissioner's salary ,£9OO instead of .£I3OO.

Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN said he could not accept the amendment. The man to take cliargo of the New Zealand Public Service would he an experienced capablo officer.

Mr. Ngata: Where arc you going to get him ?

Mr.-Herdman: I don't know, but I hope to get iiim in this country..

Sir Joseph WARD (Awanta) suggested to the mover of the amendment that he should take the decision on the voices. It would bo false economy to .rc-duco tho salary as proposed. The amendment was lost on tho voices.

Tho Minister's' amendment to raise the salary of each Assistant-Commissioner from A'SOO to .41000 a year was carried on the voices.

The amendment to Clause 9 to allow Commissioners to take superaniTliation 'and pension benefits was carried on the voices.

Sir Joseph WARD (Awarua) proposed to add the following new sub-clause to Clauso 17:—('2} Nothing herein shall ail thorise the Commissioner to alter the classification of any Department which on tho passing of this Act is classified pursuaut to any Act.

Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN declined to accept the amendment. He stated that lie did not anticipate that the Commissioner 'would -interfere wtih the classification of the Post and Telegraph Department, which was considered very aaiififactory. At the same time he did not wish to tie the Commissioner's hands. .The amendment was negatived by 32 votes to 20. The Governoi>in-Council. Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved to delate Clause 18, which was to the effcct that the Commissioner's grading of officers must be submitted to the Governor for ratification. Ho said that members had taken exception to tile exercise of powers by tho Governor-in-Council, and as the clauso was of no great value, ana as lie did not like it very much, ho would move that it be omitted. Tho clause was deleted.

A similar amendment to omit tha words "with tho approval of the Goror* nor" from Clause 22 was carried. A division was challenged npou a proposal by th(\ Minister to restrict to male officers tho benefits of a clause providing that persons who, after attaining liio fig© ot 21 years completed a period oi three years employment in the Public Service and a period of one vear's service l".. a K division thereof, should be entitled to a salary of not less than *£10G per annum.

Messrs, \\ itty, Payne, and other members opposed the umondmont on the ground that equal work should bo rewarded with equal pay, but the demand tor a division was not pressed, and the amendment was ndopted on tho voices. Clause 32 was amended, on the motion of tho Minister, to provide tlmt the Postal branch and the Telegraph branch of the lost and Telegraph Department should each elect a member, to the Board of Appeal. The clause as drafted provided that the Tost and-Telegraph Department as a whole should elect n memIxn' to tile Beard of Appeill. Clause 33, providing for tho election of members for the Hoard of Appeal, was passed. Progress was reported. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL.

The Marriage Amendmoat Bill (tho Hon. A. L. Herdman) was received from the Legislative Council, and rend a first lime. Tilt; House rose at 1.20 a.m. It was stated in Wednesday's issue, that Mr. 0. W. Forbes (llurunuii gave notice to ask whether telegrams from members to Ministers 011 private would be received by tho Department freo of charge. Mr, Forbes referred to telp. fifnuif on politic, bu.«iuos#, and not on private . business .