IMPREST SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 6

IMPREST SUPPLY.

THE PARTIES AT GRIPS. VOUCHER PAYMENTS. . SETTER METHODS INTRODOOED. An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor s. Message at 3.17 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward said that the first amount authorised was £1,100,000, and the second amount £1,000,000. This appeared to him to bo moro than the usual amount. Tho Hon. Jaires Allon said that there was an increase upon tho usual amount of £204,000. This was dxio iu part to the increased services that accompanied tho growth of tlio country. Further, tho Government had not boon taking quite enough to keep it going for tha month. Sir Jotmph Ward: That is £204,000 aoro than usual?

Mr. Alloa:, That is so. Sir Joseph' Ward: Is that duo to increased business P Mr. Allen: Wo are clearing up vouchers much more oleanly than they used to bo cleaned Up at the end of the month. ■ _ Sir Joseph Ward said that this waft a miserable and politically contemptible statoment to make. "Mr. Allen said : that vouchers were being olearcd up cleaner than they used to be. I ask the honourable gentleman now what was unclcan?" i Mr. Allen said that the hon. gontloman was putting an interpretation <jn his words that they did not Dear. When lie said that vouchers were being cleared up miich cleaner ; than they Used to be cleaned up, ho was alluding to his own administration as much as to that of the hon. gentleman. Ho did not mean to suggest that there was anything unclean in the sense of anything being wrong. In answer to Sir J, Ward, Mr. Allen said that the system of post-audit had replaced - pre-audit, ' but ho did ttot think it had affected the Touchers. Innuendoes. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunul) said that the Minister of Finance had been guilty of another of the innuendoes for which he had been responsible in the past. In his opinion the Minister had left the impression that there had been something crooked in connection with these vouchers. Sir Walter Buchanan (Wairarapn) said that this was a pretty little storm in a teacup. In a business Sense, "cleaning-up" usually meant bringing acoounts up to date. Mr. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) said that he felt bound to refer to the continual attacks that were made upon the Ward Administration. , The Chairman pointed out that Mr. Allen's explanation had been acoopted by Sir J. Ward. Mr. Buddo insisted on dealing with the matter, however. He challenged the members of tho Government party to justify such terms as "unsavoury past," and recommended tho Govern■rnont to go to the country on its merits, and not on tho alleged demerits of those that preceded them. , Mr. J. Payne (Grey Lynn) said that ho was anxious to deal with this point because he was one of those who had "damned Sir Joseph Ward up hill and down dale during his election campaign," He was now only too anxious to admit that he had been Wrong. Some Opposition members, attempting to enlarge upon Mr. Allen's remark about vouchers, were ruled out of order, on tho ground that tho Minister's explanation must be accepted. Mr. Ell Is Obedient. Mr. H. G. Ell was ruled out of order in his turn when he was, attempting to speak to a point of order. , _ Mr. Ell at once said, in evident excitement : "Then, sir, I* move— Hero he was interrupted by Mr. Hanan, who rose and throw out his hand with a gesture of repression, in obedionoe to which Mr. Ell sat down without completing his sentence, and with a Buddenness-that provoked hearty laughter from Government members. When Mr. Hanan had concluded his speech, Mr. Ell moved to take tho Speaker's ruling upon tho Chairman's decision. The Primo Minister asked what point the Speaker's ruling was to bo taken upon. The Chairman said ho had ruled that tho honourable gentleman must accept tho statement made by the Minister of Defence! Mr. Ell: I am not disputing that. The Chairman: Then I understand the honourable gentleman withdraws his motion. Mr. Ell said that he wanted a ruling us to whether a statement made in the House could bo discussed, not as to whether a reflection should bo withdrawn. Thoro was some further talk on the subject, but Mr. Ell's proposal did not go to the vote. increased authorisations. The Hon. Jame'S Allen, asked to explain the heavy increase in authorisations, said that tho Post Offico was making heavy demands. In addition to this, a largo number of vouchers had, accumulated. He had used the words "cleaning up" with no sinister intent. He knew no other word that exactly expressed it. Vouchers, instead of being loft in tho hands of imprestceß, were now being allotted to the various Departments, and charged to their accounts. Sir Joseph Ward said, that the whole control of vouchers rested with executive officers, and not with any Minister i of the Crown. Tho change from the I pre-audit to the post-audit system which ho had inaugurated threw upon the separate Departments the responsibility for payment of vouchers, aiftd expedited payments. Ho suggested that in asking for such a large amount the Minister intended to avoid coming for further supplies for a fortnight later than usual. Mr. Allen: That is not so. Sir Joseph W)ird accepted tho statement. Oppositionists Declaim. Mr. L. M. Isitt (Ohristchurch North) made a speech in his usual declamatory style, in tho oourso of which, he assailed the Government as a,political faction wedded to monopoly and backed by a press established by tho large land-holders to support it. Mr. H. G. Ell (Ohristchuroh South) said, that this sossion was remarkable for. one tiling Tho Hon. R. H. Rhodes: Waeto of timet

Mr. Ell explained' that he meant- tho studiei silence of the members of tho Government party. Ho blamed tho Government for not putting up a' 1 Minister to reply to Mr. Isiti, mid complained- that oil one occasion "tho baby" of the Deform party had been put up to reply to that member. Such conduct-, he considered, was offensive. Thero was a conspiracy of silenco on the part of th® Government and its supporters. Mr. J. Pape (Gray Lynn) set out to discuss tho philosophy of "RedFedism " as he called it, but ho was called to order. Twice subsequently ho was called to order, the second time being warned' that if ho did not ohey the ruling of tho Chair, ar.d speak about something connected with tho administration of the country, he would, be ordered to resume his seat. Mr. Payne did then go on to discuss other subjects, mostly Socialistic, but ho was a Rain called to order. After this ho confined ■himself to abusing tho Government merely, and ho was called to order for only one more relapse into Socialism. The Old Chareos. Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) remarked upon the delay in aiiiiotuvoinc: the naval policv of the Government, and upon the delay in presenting tho financial proposals of tho Government, Tho latter should have been ready for announcement, and ho suggested that tho rottson for withholding the usual statement Wris to prevent tho Opposition from discussing them until tho next Imprest Bill enmo down a month hence, Ono of the causes of the Government's financial difficulties was tho excess of withdrawals over deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank. Tho Government had, ho declared, broken many of their promises, and he asked what single promise made at last, election iiad they kept? Ho accused tho Government especially of extravagance, and of failing to leild money to settlers in order fo help tlm private moneylender. behoved the Government was aetino: .in tho interests of tho money-lender. Mr. G. Witty (Riccartoh) also aeousod tho Government of failinc to lend.

money, and so forcing the interest rat® up. Mr. J, H. Bradney (Auckland West) protested against tho unwarrantable waste of time thqt was taking place in the Houso. They had been in session aiuoe June 20 ana not half of tho business had bean done. Tho samo statements had boon made over and over again, aftd the samo speeches that had been made in the early part of the session had been repeated that night. And for what purpose?. Simply to waste time. He had always understood—ho waß only a new member—that the middle session of Parliavmont_ was tho business session, and that in tli'o final sossion members played tho political flute, in order to get votes. Ho would urge honourable members to take up tho business of tho country, for thoro were somo very important measures to come down yo't. Mr. Forbes: Where is tho Public Works Statement? Mr. Bradnoy: You are blocking th« Public Works Statement. My opinion is that if you know what you were to got out of tho Public Works Statement, you would bo off home. Ho advised members of tho Opposition to leave the politiool flute fjono until next session. Tho Quest for Votes. Mr. G. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) s&id that tliG Opposition had poured out floods of eloquence about all Borts of tilings, from tho defence of Außtraha to the expenditure upon the furnishing of the Publio Service Commissioner's Office. The present Govern* ment had spent some £700 in this Way. but their predecessors had spent £B.OC upon a cowshed, and paid for it not out of revenue, but Out of borrowed money. In answer to eritioism of Commissioner control of the Publie Service, Mr. Wilkinson said that lio was in favour of it, and considered that the matter wa.s one not only, for Civil Servants, but for tho general publio', who paid them their wages. Ho Went on to refer to Opposition members who had lately been travelling about the country electioneering. A few nights ago, ho said, they had a Nelson Bill before the House while tho member for Nelson wot away electioneering, It was worthy of notice that two cf the members who had been travelling about the oountry did not belong to the Liberal party, but called themselves In dependents. Mr. Isitt: Independent Liberals. Mr. Pearco: Piebalds. Mr. Wilkinson wont on to compare tho electioneering parties to those who went ab'out_ making "shrieks and Bounds as if it wore the howling of the demented." Ho_ advised thorn that_ it was quite in vain to go to places like Stratford or Eltham looking for votes. Mr. Forbes, he continued,' was a very useful member. That day they had eooil him get up iust- before 8.80, eo that tho leading liirhta of Ha party might get up at 7.510, whec the galleries were full. Mr. Russell: And mado t. very good speech, too. Mr. Wilkinson: Yes, a very good spcoch muter the cironiMtanoea, Mr. H. At-moro (Nelson.) wwused tho Government of attempts at votocatohing in certain of their lend projwsals. "Abominable Wasto of Time." Mr. G. Lauronson (Lyttolton) repeated again his protest against the handing over of tho Publio Service to Commissioners. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) protested against "the abominable waste of time" oaused by the Opposition's endeavour to block business. Mr. P. 0. Webb (Grey) urged the sioed for bettor life-saving apparatus in mines, go that, in the event of an oxplosion, rescuers could bo equipped to go in against tho poisonous fumos. Mr. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty) contended that _ the handing over of tho Publio Service to Commissioners had not been for tho good of tho country or tho service. He said he hoped the Government would aid settlement, and' if they did as muoh in their term of offico as the late Government had, all the waste or unoccupied land in New Zealand would bo settled. Ho admitted, However, -that changed conditions demanded that thoro should be a change in tho motiiod of acquiring improved private estates for settlement. Tho Fag End. Mr, G. J, Anderson (Mataura) pointed out several misrepresentations by tho member for Avon and other members of tho band called in their own organ "Tho Flying Squadron," Ono statement mado b.y Mr. Russell that was incorrect w-aa that tho Minister or ■ Publio Works wiw -chairman of directors of tho Loan Company-., He suggested that in tho squadron the member for Avon perhaps was tho Frigate, andi the member for Nelson the Sloop. Mr. Isitt, tho member for- Christehurch North, lie likened to "The troubled sea, which cannot rest, and easteth up nuro and dirt." Mr. Laurenson, ho said, was the dinghy of tho flying -squadron, Mr. Escott: The dingo! Mr. Anderson said that the evening had been absolutely wasted: Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon) said that he accepted tho correction that the Minister-of Publio Works was not the chairman of the Loan and Mercantile ; Company, but lie. was Kipon tho directorate, Government members: Ho told ua that long ago. Mr. Russell went on to deal in orteuso with tho rate of interest and with the financial administration cf th<? Government and its predecessors, Tho Hon. W. F. Massoy (Prime Minister) cleared np o statement mado by tho member for Avon that since tho coming into offico of tho Reform Party tho deposits in tho Post Offico had decreased. Ho quoted tho figures showing. the oxcess of deposits over withdrawals in the last five years:—l9l2, £275,471: 1911, £065.321; 1910, £.1,013,424; 1909, £111,799; 1908, £250,164. Tin's showed at least that the people had not loss confidence in the' present Government than in tho late Government. /

An Interrupted Reply. The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister of Filienco) rose to reply on the second reading at 2 a.m., but ho was at onco interrupted. Tho member for Ricc.-ir-ton had bemi referred to in an interjection, whereupon, Mr. Witty: If the Minister for smallpox would stand, up and say what ho has to say instead of ihteriecting—Tho Hon. 11. H. Rhodes rose at onoo to a point of order. Ho said ho had never openod his mouth, and had made 110 interjection whatever, and ho asked Sir. Speaker to order tho withdrawal of the insulting terra "Minister for smallpox." Mr. Witty withdrew the term, but instead of apologising, went on to oxcubo himself for malting use of it. Mr. 6. M, Thomson: Apologise. Mr. Witty : If tho member for lobsters-— This term Mr. Witty ffns also ordered to withdraw. Mr. Allen at length went on with his'speech. He informed tho member for Avon that the deposits in the Post Oflico were increasing, but tho wider withdrawals wero causod very _ largely by tho habit of some corporation and local bodies of accepting 1 oall loans. One local- body in one district in tho North Island lie was watching very closely. Mr. Jill: Do you object to municipalities taking deposits, then? Mr, Allou: I don't say that I do. but tlio dopostor must bo protected. Ho concluded by protesting aftaiiist methods of political fighting such ne were adopted by the member for Avon. Tho Committee stage and tho third reading passed with brief debate. Tho Rouse rose at 2.21 a.m.