THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 6

THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

GOVERNMENT & COMMISSIONERS. MORE ABOUT NAVAL DEFENCE. SIR J. WARD AND MR. MYERS. The Orders of the Day were then postponed in order that ' the Ilousa might go into Committee of Supply on the 'Supplementary Estimates. Mr. (i. \V. RUSSELL (Avon), oil the motion to go into Committee, asked whether tho original salaries., plus tlio estiniai.es of supplementary salaries now before the Houso, balanced with tlio amounts fixed by the Public Ser« vice Commissioners as attaching to tho different offices. Ho ventured to say that if they did not, and if the Government was again, by means of tho Supplementary Estimates, taking into its hands tho right to give increases of salaries to officers over and above tho amounts fixed by the Commissioners they were departing from. tho essentia! principles of tlio Public Service Act. Increased Expenditure. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Awnrua) said bo had asked the honourable the Minister of Finance it day or two agb if tho amount on tlio Supplementary Esti' mates were in excess of the amount- provided for in tho Budget. Tho honourable gentleman replied that the amount was in excess of tho amount provided in tho Budget. Ho wished to call attention to the fact that the total amount set down as available for the Supplementary Estimates was £121,879, and that the total amount actually provided for in tho Estimates was £321,061, just £200,000 in excess of the ways and means the • honourable gentleman provided for in the Budget. How did the honourable gentleman propose to 1 provide- for the excess nf £20(3,000? Ho (Sir Joseph Ward) thought ho was entitled to say that in the general estimates of revcfiuo and expenditure, tho huiourablo gentleman had very largely underestimated bis rovxnuie, and greatly 9verost.ima.ted his oxpendiftirfe, and that in that way ho was relying upon his margin to make up the difference of £200,000, Ho wished to luiow whether this was the case or not, Australia and Now Zealand.. There was another point to which he wished to draw attention, and it fras in connection with the naval expenditure.. lie wished to refer fa a statement made liy Admiral Henderson m London, and cabled to Xew Zealand, that in his opinion New Zealand must join with Australia ill forming an Australian squadron, with proportional ropretfontatioii for New Zealand oil ilw Naval Board at Melbourne. He (Sir J. Ward) bad said in tho debate 011 the Naval Hill that some board would be require*! to control tho Australian and New Zealand Navy. The statement- of Admiral Henderson supported that opinkm. Mr. Masse?: Do you agree with that ? Sir J. Ward; No. 1 am absolutely and totally opposed to the whole idea of a. local navy. But, h'e continued, tlio experiencednaval,offijor who had advised tlio Commonwealth Government oil tlio whole of their for a local navy indicated that in his judgment N«w Zealand ships should ho attached t<s tho Australian Squadron to be of ajiy use. This ■confirmed what he (Sir 3. Ward) had pointed out. A Collqaguo Disowned. He referred also to a statement mads

"T'-'lroponfly. .Mr. .Arthur jf'Myers (member for Auckland, East), and dfeclarM' 'tliatVlltlrt 'jtfioiS ;cJid"'.not understandi'jvhat;.l)ub'liq;dpimQn. in New Zea- ' land iwas.' i His cxjjcnenco, oir. public N J e)v -tiiat it_\vas ',e<!Sl iiavy v Tho Mlll- - i d '* .tlirou^li:'ili.fttUS#> i ,^%l said-that it did iibt' ! £o'iuhiif jfro'lHisate 'for a'local navy, lie was Notlnns would bo .more disastxouslfj'pni tlie financial stand■r' ci}(infry- than' the estab- ' T lishniciWoT-a IcsfaPiiavy. "-'-To lie ol any ~. use, a lo,cal navy must be efficient, and •••' this ! in'{''Mvc'd' ! ''e!Voi a .Mu.rp-cpst. . Sir. J. ■W.h{tr? , iliIWiohuling;1Wiohuling; disclaimed : '';"iinv' int'6ht-ioH ; '6f-'tiihba.rrassii)g "tho l»o«- ' - ernm'eift?Mi'uTh'fi£i'sfcd : tne' necessity of observing oveVVl.tfbssiblo precaution in connection w.itji iir.yfil.defer.ee. ;'*• ,faW^'CP N. JAI,LEW. ■ iiit riipßptiNc: 'Position., •m.-v' ".-'fhoiiiifiiH jiUir.cAEt'EN saicl that tho =.v!i'Estiniatts''dwEj!o/.ti«> Estimates, ot tlio , 'E.'GoVei!nmeut;/ else im '-•' were fr;lraed- upaii4k®-*epor# of .the I JO-rait.iie'"Scn*ico!!-GoiiimßS!pn«rß,> ,so tar as -vitfsalat'iesr. in-: Departments under then V tor.trfri'' , wt'L-o;'.coii'ccrned,r - these .«&'•>Estimates; however;- wero : absolutely 11111 -tiib"-contix)l of'.-tlie -Government, and osa't-he GofcrnDiiivt',had: very carefully ,con : tfi'-Bicka-oi'vvhiithUVa-tkcyi.aliotild make rateable reductions or.•npt.;'-and-,liad dccul-,-ifced that it,would .ilot';bo.wisc t.9 do so. "ivlt . was quito pos'sibk'i.'that.tho- Appeal Board - might coinc,i.to ~.tho. ..isiithatv some fur.thfr.v.incroases should bo given. The adiniliistvative.ibrmicli of tho • Service, and,-.tiicj-LiJSislatno Deiirvpartment *I e control 01-Hhc: „ If,! wero a sort qf nusturo; thoy ««.e on tircly tho Government Estimates. were Aho; rien? of tho fci-'Eublic.ii.'Settfte k] "" s . fts: m'rtl'"~o'il Gov n oriUH(>at * ideas. ?n s "! r tint 'tlie : salar-v- increases .provided a„rl' ,■related' aboutvWOiOOO,. . As to vrhat Sir "Joseph ?Wafd J increased amount of tho Estimates tnat that prac- 1 w tStiiv Pf tljo.toercl.ses were • S on" felkipf ft® h ° Smi,U - . Opidcniic>.f j[jt, i-. •' :• | ' .gavoauo Calns. in Prospect. In -Vtiiii-ti' > finai.w'a l ' .position, 1 .r^bou^ighhrnoulKiof-tbolniancialycar ■r liad mv.v .gone, bv, r :andjie,was, able 0 rirauge-.vtlie .';P9sit' o, V-, 1 ; mprc accurately -.d.cliv,efcd :: the - !• mancial 1 V:jStateme:nt.'-v;lIe--.trfl3:.i;;»«': ftj'l.o to saj • wthat tlie actual, some De*^7♦ tnrfcmontfl^vcfiiid.lower,-.tliau tlio cstQ 5150.000 or j w j.?more would J.e this I" 1:5 cSiiected.rto- dcnve.-.&O 000 . .".v additional' i froiil;tiie.aand,tax': and as to I -.v-Ciistoai-s.-duties,- unsteadj-of the strike « putting him in tho position of. having 1 A.*to- e\!>rct-a- sii.TllM-C'ustomsrevenue he 1 " was (dad to tell the House that, ho ex- 1 •T;v:,pected to ge.t;.-a:-:l?irger- ainPii.nt,in Uis- 1 toms duty than hadjiceu esuimatcd. lie . r.nticipateflv-4liatr-4lie-4Wotuio for the < vear would"Tcscfecd by some £ios!,Cbll.' ' j i*;t: Naval'txpendlturo. Xa-val..expenditure would be exactly ' <vii.it 'tlio House liked to'mako it. This Vear'it would be-110 more than the ; £100,Q0(V which was given , to. the Im'perial'Nrivy each-'ycar.:. Of- this amount 1 1 ' had paid, and the ' sv ot tl' : ha provided'in the. < -' ; The : --Goverument y;as.not responsible for Admiral Hender"s"csbn's;irchiarirsVV;H°e:lli£id inado'_ it perfectly, clear wheff'tllfr'NaVal Bill went through Zealanjl would conc.idop Zealand;-and main-; 1 fea-itaiiv matters; Australia this.., perfectly ja .01 Afeitihp same Jii 'timo ifnmight :'fe;-'fl'>right.'aild proper ' £-;: thingi?-i!t poaeev';timg;- tq.iliave - man-. ' oeuvres with the Australians and work 1 with ■ them while New Zealand retained its own identity,--its own navy and con-, ; trol pi. its own. ..establishment. He w'ishcil to'put'oti rccord tho" remarks made in IviwdouibjiMirl Myers to which Sir Joseph Ward had referred. Tlie Minister then road tho following cable message:— . . ~.. j ji'r J -»'Ai '• -ft t - > Myers,- M;P. (formerly New Zealand Minister of Defence in tho Mackenzie Administration), speaking at _t-ho Jinited. Service,. Institute, said -.sfJiat 'tlfre' Vtf#'a ! growifig- J " feeling in New Zealand to alter the present naval policy. Tho'lMnmions had formerly r . looked to,.tho, Inipprial - JCavy for pro'iV*was''now evident that the latter s w^s,.taxed to .the utmost for tlie defenco of the North Sea. and the Vr Mediterranean... Australia and New Zealand recognised.that they must de...fend their'own-shores against invasion. . "Australia,' said Mr. Myers, had estended the-hand .of fellowship in mu;;V'.tuai'dcfehce.,.aud|.in.' grasping that hand V,';.aSew ZealahdihadiSaitl,-that-she was pre.jrpared .'4o ,'dd' -lier j'sEare . to ' secure im."ir,Unity .•.f.rjxni ".im;a.s.ipn.,, .'Tlio overseas il'l-lDomihioiui earnestly desired'to . have ofraprejentatijOii. pntho Committee . .jp- .'of Imperial Defgice.'' .. , . :jTwo;.Kin(l3 : ;et. Patriotism. -In reading- tlio -cablegram,-Mr. Allen wixomaikotV itlmt',' iu his:.opiniou, Sir J. 'r '.Ward ■ iiiril mot :b§pn>fair to his-colleague, -•■lilr. "Myers; '"id-'f 1 } 1 - Sir J. Ward: In what respect? Mr.aVllbn'iri'du Wore: not fair in say-i-.3-:ing. thftt.iSlrf.sUj'era: floes not represent -::JiNew Z-enlniiid-opiuion.-' . .You do not ii .:know-enough ©I New -Zealand opinion to •;----:!sa.y;that;Jte\M'yers- does .not.-represent ..;r»>it-. -' Wii-s.-f itf -nofr(-.a--»rights and- proper ■ lycthingjitlle Ministw 1 continued', that New Australia?.-should , defend fe>i" .their oivn'i&horos.-agaiirst-invasion? Mr Joiltc-iNb; -'.-il .1-:-. -.-Mr.,- Allen]said-, that!heJ did: not like kind oE patriotism.".". L«k" .'Mr.Jsitt :'k support-the' British Navy. by:': Mr. -iAllein .1 Patriotic Christchurch— .--~ ; !?ic!V Ztidlamt-i:; .aiot-.to .defend .its own shores against'invasion—it i 3 going back ;to tliß'-oid (lays of. tho mercenaries, ai'r" ••••Mri-.-.2Elle'n-sTront on: to ask .whether •Knthe. ; Leadni-of Ihsf Opposition -wanted to Ml cut"off:'iNew;vZcßland altogether, and •c.-»liavo iiithingc-wha'feer'to'..do"witb Aus--.Ji't.ralia.-<J2 Would: he,vif; Australia were *z; in danjp!;;;.refnse- to: allow New. Zealand "rfc.rto.go to AnSli:aliara':holp?.'-'.r -r>7«f.3lr:: Hrtiwn ; :^Toll.ilirmiw.hat-.to':do. Mr. Allen: I would go"to. Australia's iiii help with cyery man-J had! - That was if 'his patriotism. ■' Ifrwns nob thc;patriot»3js»nf 011 the other side.'Ho.agroed with Mr. Myers,' tlia.t ilia Overseas D.ominioiif. earnestly desired to have roprnsnn--Imperial Do■■d lor.ee. jiiioy -.•<>]::mi- " . ,V/liat'Aflmira!-:Hont!erson SalU. -"i-■? 'AHmital" , 'lTe!iflpr.soii ; :' i ha''(l' said- that. Sew Zfcal^ii'd'should; join 'With' Austra--s:"'lia .in "forming nil j -Australasian squad-'"•-;ron, with prnpßHioiial representation to •'" '•'New Zealand.' : ' rle (Mr. Allen) was not -, i'nspoilsible- for ffth.it Admiral Hender- '; ■ son- said;; biit'VAdin'iral' Henderson had not- said that we. 'feh'onld* put" ourselves : under .the control- of Australia, but .'""merely:tiiat, NcwiZcala'ud should bo represented ' on tho 'Wftly, wliich was to " "'fhs 'Australasian ' Navy. However, that' : iv.is- not' for tho' Government, or the Housofto' tloal '.with now. All ." •' that the JT'ofeViirnpnt .'how proposed was '"that we,"should trqin our own' 'person- ' nol. ' ; ; . JH/CbMMItTEE. ; V -v , N(J FIIIST 'iß^i- DEBA7SE. '-.The :-ilouse-went--into, Committee of -v '.:Supply--at 11-/40-a.m.-' ' Mr. G. JI.T-Thom3on, was '.voted to the Chair. . • . --' ; Sir Josoph Ward proceeded to open iivgefie'ral 'di'ieiisSibii on tho first ri'.-i-.item■: :! Tlio Hon. J. Allen at once raised a point of order —that tliero could bo 110 general discussion on the first item. Mr. Thomson uuliold Mr. Allen's

point of order, whereupon Sir Josoph Ward at once moved to report progress, in order that Mr. Speaker's ruling bo taken. ~ , , . , -i Mr. Speaker said ho had no hesitation in ruling in favour of the Chairman's decision. , The V/airarapa Magistrate. Sir Walter Buchanan protested, on behalf of his electorate, against tliu Magistrate, in charge ot the Wairarapa district remaining resident in Wellington. In the opinion of the legal lratornity in \V:iirarapa that gentleman's residence in Wellington hampered the proper conduct of his work. 'j.no Hon. A. L. Herdiuaii . said the agreement inado with Mr. lleicl when ho was appointed i Magistrate having charge of the Wairarapa district was tiiat ho should be permitted to reside in Wellington. Sir Walter Buchanan: That was wrong. . .... Mr. Hordman said that lio -felt impelled to carry out the agreement made with tlio Magistrate by the - previous .Government. Also ho had heard 110 complaints from tlio Wairarapa district as to inconvenience caused by the arrangement. Sir Walter Buchanan said tlio trains to Wairarapa were comparatively few, and there was a tendency to shorten Court proceedings to suit the train time-tables.. Mr. Herdman agreed that where possible it"was desirable that a Magistrateshould reside in his district.

THE STRIKE VOTE,

PAYMENT TO "SPECIALS." ' Sir Joseph Ward asked for. some general idea of what tlio details of the expenditure of £100,000 for the striko . would he. Ho also expressed his very great regret at tho' inadequacy of the. vote of i'JOO to the widow of the lato Mr. Laurenson. Ten Shillings a Day for Man and Horso. r lho Hon. A. L. Herdman said that 110 special allowance at all had been made to the special constables. Tho mounted constables were paid at tho rate of 10s. per day J'or a man and a horse. When they wore on duty they wero of course : entitled to be provided' also with food . and forage. As to tho loot specials, those who claimed wero entitled to payment at t'ho rate'of Bs. per day. lie wished to say that a good number of the Mounted special constables had not made claims, and had not been paid anything. J In Wellington and in Dnncdin tho foot "specials" were for tlio most part mak- 1 ing 110 claims at all for pay. In Auckland they wero making claims. Tho amount of £100,000 was only an estimate. It was very difficult indeed to I say what tho cost would be. As tlio lion. ' gentleman knew, mounted special con- 1 stables were in Wellington still, and ; there were a few in Lvttelton. They • would bo withdrawn from Lyttelton after j the ele:tion, and next week the number 1 iu Wellington would bo reduced to about 1 a hundred. There wero 110 foot spccial 1 constables in Wellington now. Tho ' vote did not represent what had been ' paid, but what tlio Government estimated might bo the cost. : Difficulty of Precedent. ■ 1 The Hon. J. Allen said lie recognised : that the services of Mr. Laurenson had : been groat, but the difficulty of the Government had been that this was tho usual allowance, and if they made an exception they did not know quite where they would get to. When the' Defence vote canic up for discussion,Sir Joseph Ward asked tho Minister whether he had noticed tho resolution of the Christclmrch Navy. League condemning the proposal to bring a Bristol cruiser to the Dominion. Ho also asked , what the , expenditure foi 1 tliVJ)<Sfdh'ie 'Department was for. Personally, he was strongly of opinion that the Defence Department was one that required holding in, as it appeared ta be inclined to.run away in finance, and ho could say for his side that thev wero prepared to help tho Government to hold it in. • Tho Hon. Jas. Allen said that ho had not hoard about- tho resolution of the Christehurch Navy League. ■ Tlio Estimate? of tho Defenco Department last ynr, lie snid, wero cut down ton low. . Tlio Mackenzie Administration sent the Estimates back to bo cut down and they wero cut down by some £100,000. As a fact , they were cut down too low,-but when he came into office 110 kept them down. Tlio item referred to was largely to meet tho cost of camps. Payment to Members. Mr. C. K. Wilson inquired about an item of £245, payment to Messrs. Yeitch and Kobertson, M.P-.'s, for their services on the Cost of Living Commission. He considerod, he added, that the report -o'f this Commission was not worth twopence.. ' Tho Prime Minister said that tho payment was being provided for in accordance with an arrangement entered into by tho Mackenzie Government. Mr. Okoy: Is this in addition to £1 Is. a day travelling allowance? . Tlio Primo Minister said that it was.' It was a payment of £2 2s. a day for 57 days in addition to a guinea a day. Tho last itom 011 tho Estimates was passed at 3 35 p.m. AUDIT OF TRUST ACCOUNTS. Tho conference on tho Law Practitioners Amendment Bill reported that they had agreed to delete the clause introituced in tho llouso relating to tho auditing of solicitors' trust accounts, and to substitute for it another.. Tho olfecfc of tho now clause was to provide tor tho making of regulations to deal with tho question, and to make it compulsory upon tho Minister to mako the regulations before March 31, 1914. Tho Hon. A. L. Hordman moved that tho report of the conference bo agreed to. Tliis was carried. DEADLOCK UNLOOSED. . Tho fourth conforonco on tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill reported having como to an agreement, tho ctfcct of which was to givo to all local authorities tho right, to run motor bus services, and to insert in tho Bill a special sub-clauso affecting Auckland, 'this sub-clause did hot give Auckland full powers to run. motor buses whoro tho council should choose, but only to run services "extending or supplementing" the tramway service, which is controlled by a company, under deed of delegation. ' The clause also provided that the question of whether any particular service was in fact "extending or supplementing," or wii competing, could bo ' dccided at any tune by a quick proc.css by originating summons in tho Supremo l Court. Tho report was agreed to by 35 votes ; to 13. | LAND AGENTS BILL. ■ When tho Land Agents' Amendment . Bill eamo up fpr committal, tlio Primo , Minister said 110 did not propose to . movo the usual'motion to proceed. The Bill is, therefore, dropped. | VICTORIA COLLECE. Tho Hon. J. ALLEN said, when moving tho second reading of tlio Victoria Collego Amendment Bill, that ho did not propose to proceed beyond tho second reading. The Bill was then read a second timo 011 tho voices. DEFENCE REPORT. , MORE ABOUT THE NAVY, t Tho adjourned debate oil tho report of tho Joint Defcnco Legislation Com--1 mit-teo was resumed. > Silt JOSKJ'H W ARD read tho resolu- . tion to which he had already referred, j passed by tho Christcburch Navy Leaguo,

Ho claimed that tho resolution was in opposition to tho Government's proposals, but tho Hon. J. Allen and other mombers of tho .Ministry indicated by interjection when tho text of the resolution was road, that it was a declaration iu favour of tho Gm'eninu'nl's proposal, lie was in favour of tlio J'.id!) agreement, and he wished to kr.ow who suggested id the British Government that tlio agreement should nut lie carried out. While lie was; iu olliee he had never had the slightest indication from the Admiralty that it would not be carried out. llodid not agree, that the people of New Zealand were in favour of a Iccal navy, it was a very serious charge to make to say that the Imperial Government hail failed to carry out its obligations. Agreement not Carried Out. ihe Hon. \\ . I''. MASSRV said that one statement ma-do by the hou. gentleman lie could not allow to go uiic-iiallenged. Tho hon. gentleman hail asked who had suggested a breach of tho I'JO'J agreement, and there seemed to be a suggestion 011 his part that tho New Zealand Government had suggested it. There "had been 110 such suggestion on the part ol the New Zealand Government. Nothing of tho kind had occurred. When the Government eamo into oilice in 1012 they found that not tho slightest attempt had been made by the Imperial Government to comply with the. i9(19 agreement, made three years previously, and the hon. gentleman had been three years in olliee after the agreement was made, and iu that timo had never suggested to tho Imperial authorities to comply with it.. Sir J. Ward: I never questioned their carrying it out for a moment. .Air. Allen: The time had run out. Sir J. Ward: Did you suggest that they should carry it out H Mr. Massey soul the Defenco Minister had asked tho Admiralty whether tlio.y would carry 'out-the 1909 agreement, and if not what they intended to do. Mr. Allen had been- informed that the Imperial authorities could not carry out tho agreement; and had nU'erpd.tlu: two ships now on the New Zealand coasts. Mr Allen suggested that we should have a training ship, which proposal was agreed to. When Mr. Allen returned he reported what had taken place, and a long correspondence took place. Mr. Winston ChtirchiU had stated in one of his dispatches that it was impossible for the Imperial Government to comply with tlio agreement to send out two British cruisers. Sir J. Ward: Did ho say ho would not do it ? Mr. Massey: lie said it was impossible to do it. Sir J. Ward: At present. Mr. Massey: Ho did not use the words "at present." Mr. Massey proceeded to say that the New Zealand Government had in consideration of tho Admiralty agreeing to carry out so much of the 1909 agreement as to send out two Bristol cruisers, offered an extra £50,000 a year,in subsidy. This the Admiraltyhad declined to agree to, and the Government had felt then that the matter could not be allowed to_staud, • After referring to the 'correspondence between the Imperial Government and the New Zealand Government on the subject of the 1909 agreement, tho Prime Minister said that it had been made abundantly clear that the. British Government did not intend to . keep its agreement with New Zealand. He was sorry to lmve to speak thus plainly, but."it was just as well that ihe people of New Zealand should understand tho position. The present intention of the Government," failing any. arrangement With the Imperial Government, was to ask Parliament to voto tho cost of a Bristol cruiser next year. If tho Imperial Government agreed to supply New Zealand with two Bristol cruisers, the building programme would ho abandoned.. As to the resolution ' passed bv the Christehurch ..Navy 'League, the Prime Mmift'er'■ remarked that the people iivlio passed it might como along next year, and say that the Government was doing tho right thing in proposing to build a Bristol cruisor. Thoy wero "not proposing to build a Bristol cruisor meantime, but they did say that if tho 1900 agreement was,, not observed, New Zealand would have to do something for itself. The chairman of the meeting which passed the resolution disagreed with its reference to tho Bristol cruiser, and held that such a vessel would:-be a valuable protection to commerce. Everybody know, Mr. Massey continued, that the ships now 011 tile New Zealand .coast wero | out of the question as fighting ships, although tho seamen manning thc'..i wore as good as could be found anywhere. It would suit thorn very woll if, oven now, the Imperial Government eamo along, and said that they were willing to supply theso two Bristol cruisers. Sir J. Ward said that when he went out of office he had 110 reason to doubt that tho 1909 agreement would bo carried out. Mr. A. H. HINDMARSH protested that ho had been accused without warrant ill the Press and elsewhere of opposing tlio Defence Bill last year, when, in fact, all that he had done was to support a proposal by Mr Isitt to provide alternative service for conscientious objectors. He had never been against defcnco. The report was agreed to on tlio voices. LABOUR DISPUTES BILL. Tlio Labour Disputes' Investigation Bill was returned by tho Legislative Council with two amendments, one of which was technical, while tlio other provided that a secret ballot of employers must bo takon prior to a lockout. '1110 amendments were agreed to. THE APPROPRIATION BILL. The Appropriation Bill was. introduced at 5.50 p.m. The amounts providod for wero £7,711,717 grants out of tho Consolidated Fund, £3,046,881 out of tho Public Works Fund, £1,180,579 out of various other .special accounts. A clause in tho Bill also contains a provision authorising the Minister of Finance to mako payments, not exceeding £50,000, for naval defenco purposes. Another clause empowers payments to members - of the Hoiiso of Representatives for services rendered, without thoso members incurring tlio penalty of loss of their seats, as provided in the Legislature Act. Tho clauso has referonce to payments to Dr. Rangihiroa for services ill connection with the smallpox epidemic, to Messrs. Yeitch and Robertson for services 011 tlio Cost of Living Commission, and to Messrs. Poland and J. C. Thomson for 011 tho Education Commission. Tho Bill provide.t for tho payment to Civil Servants of tho increases duo under tho Public Service Commissioner'!) Classification as from April 1, 1913. Tho Hill was reported to tho Houno at 6.10 p.m., and was road a third timo and passed six minutes later. Tho House roso at G. 18 p.m., to sit again at 8 p.m. CLOSINC SCENES. APPROPRIATION BILL SIGNKI). When the House resumed at 8 p.m. it immediately adjourned "until I Ins ringing of. tho bell." For about twenty minutes then) was a mods Parliament, with Sir Jas Carroll iu the Chair, IIIIL as a humorous effort tho thing wan a bit of 11 failure. Later tlio Licensing Hill and an Order Paper of (iiirsliniiM 11ml Answers were circulated, and I In 1 Prime Minister answered one or two i|in:it iotin. In reply to .Air. Russell, hi' slated llial. j ho intended to visit Olirislelinn'li during tlio recess, and unswerinn nnalli"! i|ii»n lion lio said that (lie Lieens'ii!'. Hill would be introduced in the 1ir.,1, iwdt ul next session. Tho Appropriation Dill nan returned from tho LcjjinU) ivr Comidl ul 11,-IU p.m., and tho Speaker ul oneo not out

for GovonimeiH llouii: !o obtnii: •ho j Oovornor'ti Aemt,'. :0.. iha:. inc isure. ' "■'[ Afterivards; Parliament,"'iirwiiicii 11;>r-i.jic>-^si;><lii!i | was the (jiieMio:'. .i,i:::<'ii'.i:en belor.' tiie.'j liouse, akiuuislr ?\lr.;i W-ny i.::pressedii™ preference for a-'iueasui'i'i'i ontitleiir!thij;l Jlomc iluio for Auckliiirl. Carroll attempted iohi::ve s tho l.ieeuiiin;; iliii amended to;;ni:ikei r .it?,|: read "the Taihoa Jdcensi'ig Aiiionihneiitrr Hill.'" Air. J. A. \ ottiis j' demanded?!: to be informed wi:-o ".May"- •iwas?~that. J ".|' tho Speaker should - fpio'Li'\her ,,, .'so^'y)!&. ; lidently. After half an Jio;ir o.f' : |Heasant : Ji': fouling, the Dill was solemnly-''reported'!; to the Speaker (Sir amendments the word taihoa." Sir .ias.-j Carroll gravely explained that ilie ivoi'd. was derived from the l'Vench, and s'i'g-*.' liiliod in English, "Not for the prosoiit."Tho next measure dealt with was '.'tho.] Suffrage Bill," in charge oi -Wilson. '■ -rS®;!; Tho breaker relumed at 11.10 p.tn.,-.', and announced that tho Appropriation-.j Hill had received tho Governor's Assent.',!!

FINAL SPEECHES, j

MR SPEAKER CONGRATULATED^: Tlio Hon. W. F. MASSBY (Primo: minister) bad© farewell to members, awl, expressed, seasonable gu-od wishes.;; "At: tho end of a very long session',"' vho said, "a session which tor length and for the amount of business <lono is very easily a record, and by tiie way tlio; first session on which you, Mr. Speaker,' have had the opportunity of filling <-' 1( V position of President of tlio• Hons© ofe Representatives, .1 dosiro to congratulate you on the manner in which you liavo risen to tlio occasion, ami.on tlio manner, in which you have discharged your duties in tlio very high oilice to which 1 you have been ©ailed. Sir, there have been times during tho session when important matters 'wero being' discussed, whou the debates wore hen ted, when feeling ran high, when it was in part owing 1o tho combination of limitless and courtesy on your part that tho Parliament and the House of Representative:) especially has been able-to boUt high this reputation which wo havo established m past years. I am sorry. -Mr. .Malcolm is not present. ll- is 1 the first session on which ho has occupied tho position of Chairman of Committees, and although there we'.o times on which ilr. Malcolm lias felt it necessary to show tho iron hand beneath the | velvet glove, nnd although bo felt it was a strenuous session lor all ol'JiiV and especially for him, ho has fnlhlleu. his duties particularly well, and been of much assistance to you, sir." ■;- Mr. Massey went on Jo" compliment the op.ircrs. oi tlio Houso on the oilieicnt , and ~ courteous manner in which they had 1 discharged their duties, making reference to tiiß abscuoo of tho. "genial face. . ot. Mr. Rutherford" (sofnrtimw clerk "assistant of tho ilouse of Roprehcnlsitives). "With regard to my inenils of the Opposition benches," no,said, "although they have not been sparing in criticism, and although they have- not thought much of the old proverb t.iiKthougli speech is silvern, silencewas golden, they have not earned tnoir feelings outside the House. 1 want to wish 'you, sir, and my friends on toe Opposition benches, . a merry Christmas and a happy Xfi\v car, aim 1 liopo you will all. enjoy your holidays, and coino back next year refreshed and fit for tho important work, you will be called upon to do next session." 1 ■■ ■ Tlio Opposition Leader. SIR JOSEPH AVAR!) responded on behalf of bis party. He conveyed ! warm congratulations to tlio Spoaln'r, and stated that ho had exercised his high powers in a manner worthy of tho traditions of his office. The lnenibers ot i tho Opposition liatl not always ngrosut with Mr. Speaker's decisions, but. they had alwavs given him credit for imp.u--tiality. It was a matter for congratulation • thai there had not been a "scene" from end to end of the session. Sir J. Ward spoko in a similar strain about tlio Chairman of Committees (Mr. Malcolm). . Though members ■fought politically, ho .continued, they i very sooi; forgot tho acerbities of political life.. He acknowledged the deep indebtedness of member* to tho officers of tlio House, and to the attendants of. the House. Finally, he extended tho compliments of the season to the Speaker, Chairman of Committees, and the whole of the officers of the House. To his brother members or. both sides he said "An R< voir, but not good-bye." Mr. Speaker Replsos. The SPEAKER expressed his sincere thanks to the Prime Minister and Leader of tho Opposition. It was exceedingly gratifying to him. he said, to hoar the Leader of the Opposition say that, whatever his faults had been, lie gave him credit for a desire to be. absolutely impartial; He thanked members for' their generous consideration, ft had been Ids first session, and it had not been an ear-y one. Ho also thanked the officers of tho Houso for their'assistance, and wished members the compliments of the season. Mr. Speaker added that lie 1 had boon desired bv tlio Chairman of Committees (Mr. Malcolm) to thank mombcra for, the consideration thev had extended to mm. The usual cml-nf-scssion division was called for and the motion to adjourn was carried by 23 voles to 13. The Houso roso at. 11.34 p.m.