PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 2, 27 September 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THE NEW PUBLIC TRUSTEES

DISCUSSION IN THE COUNCIL

THe Legislative Council met yesterday at 2.35 p.m. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. SHI FRANCIS BELL moved the second reading of tho Public Trust Office Amendment Bill. He explained the clauses briefly. Tho Hon. 0. SAMUEL said the Bill had been put through .the House of Representatives at great speed on Monday evening, when it made its first appearance, and no time had been allowed for its full consideration. He regarded'the Bill as an amendment, to the Public Service Act as well as the Public Trust Act, since tho Public Trustee was being excluded from the sphere of the Public Service Commissioners. A high office had become vacant. One of the Commissioners who under the law would have appointed a person to that office was himself an applicant, and so he was being given the appointment by Act, the power being taken out of the hands of the Commissioners. The Bill was an lndTcaTlon that the Public Service Act was not satisfactory, and that its piecemeal alteration was being undertaken. The Hon. R. MOORE said he did not •agree with Mr. Samuel. The • Bill selected the man regarded by the Government as the best man available for the appointment, and it did not touch Hie principles of the Public Service Act. SIR, WILLIAM HALL-JONES said that during his service, as Minister he would often have been glad to be relieved of making appointments, but he would have resented interference with his right to make promotions. He did not 'understand why a Public Service Commissioner was being given the- appointment -lAen competent men were available in Bio Public Trust Office. SIR WALTER BUCHANAN said everybody had known that a successor to the Public Trustee was to be appointed. The advertisement calling for applications had specified for a knowledge of the law. He had not agreed with that. The Public Trustee required financial and commercial knowledge; he could always procure expert legal advice. He was not convinced that the gentleman selected for the office possessed requisite knowledge and. experience. The Government had not proved, as far as he could see, that the best available man hacl been selected. The Hon. J. HaCGREGOR said he regarded the Bill as a compromise arrived at by the National Government. It was an unlucky compromise, and was not at all likely to be successful. There was no need lor three. Public Trustees. He had not believed that three Public Service Commissioners were necessary, and it appeared now that two were considered enough. SIR ERANCIS BELL said he might have olaboratedO the reasons for the change m moving the second reading. So far as he knew, Mi'. Triggs had not been an applicant for the position, nor had his name been submitted by his brother Commissioners. The reason why Mr. Triggs was-selected wasthat he was a man who had largo business experience. For the last three years Mr. Triggs had been largely detached from the Public Service Commission, and had been engaged in the direction of very large business concerns which had been forced upon the Government by the war. There was strong reason for the association of legal knowledgo -with business and financial knowledgo in tho Public Trust Office. That was why one of the threo Trustees was to be a lawyor. Tho exception of tho Public Trustee and the two assistants from the operation of the Public Sorvico Act was not singular. There were other appointments that could not be left to tho course of routine and promotion. Tho State guaranteed tho Public Trust Office, and the responsibility involved was very .great. There was no departure at all from tho principles of the Public, Service Act, which had worked well for five years without amendment. The Bill was read a second time and committed. Consideration of clause 13, rotating to the constitution of a public trust "board, was postponed at the suggestion of Sir Francis Bell.

LAST OF THE FIRST DIVISION. The Military Service Act; Amendment Bill, authorising tho calling up for'the residue of a. class en Woe, was read a second time, put through its other 6tagcs, and passed. The Council adjourned at .3.40 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day.

THE HOUSE. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. A. WALKER (Duncdin North) gave notice of I' the Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill. The greater part of the sitting was occupied in dealing with questions and tho War Pensions Bill, as reported elsewhere. The House rose at 10.8 p.m.