PARLIAMENTARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3129, 8 July 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICES OP MOTION. Mr Stewart gave notice to move, " that tho House disapprove of the action of the G-overmnent in forwarding to the Australian colonies the names of the telegraphists ■who took part in the late strike." Mr Pjke gave notice of a bill to amend the Education Act. Mr Fulton gave notice to move that the Education Bill should he amended so as to enable any committee to allow Bible reading in their school subject to a conscienceclause and time-table. AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL The Public Petitions Committee reported on the petition praying for an alteration in the constitution of the Auckland Grammar School, that as the petitioners offered no evidence they had no recommendation to make. The report added that the prayer of the petition appeared a fair and reasonable one, but if the grievance complained of was severely felt the local representatives in the House should take Legislative action. LEAVE OP ABSENCE. Leave of absence for a fortnight was granted to Mr J. W. Hurst. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Treasurer would make his promised statement re local government on Tuesday evening; a telegram had been received from London, intimating that the report on the Life Insurance Department from the actuaries had been posted, and that the s\im of £50,000 was divisible amongst the insured —a scheme of distribution was in preparation and would be brought down shortly, and the accounts of the department would be produced in August; a bill was being prepared to place the Government Insurance Department tinder the control of a Board ; it depended upon the progress of business whether or not the Fencing Bill would be re-introduced this session, but if not the Provincial Ordinances- would be validated ; the Premier had found on inquiry that all. the papers connected with Dr Pollen's pension had been printed with the exception of an outside sheet containing an informal telegram, which had been overlooked. HEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time: —Borough of Hamilton Boundaries (Dick) ; Counties Act, 1876, Amendment; Land Act, 1877, Amendment (J. B. Fisher) ; Wellington College Keserves Confirmation A.ct Amendment Bill (Bunny). SECOND READINGS. The following bills were read a second time : —Waitara Harbor Board Loan Bill; Taranaki County Council Loan Act Amendment Bill. CROWN LANDS. Mr M'Donald moved for a return showing the area of crown lands contained in the counties of Tauranga, Whakatane, and Cook; what proportion of such area has been purchased under the Native Land Purchase Act, and what area of the said land has been sold by the Government or by the Auckland Waste Lands Board since January, 1872.—Carried. NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD. Mr Wright movedjjfor a committee to inquire into the financial position of the New Plymouth Harbor Board in respect of its present and future relations to the public creditor, and to report generally in the matter ; the committee to consist of Messrs Barron, Fulton, Moss, Montgomery, Murray, Ormond, Pitt, Richardson, Weston, and the mover. Mr Wright traced the history of the New Plymouth harbor works from the passing of tho Act authorising the Board to raise £200,000 on G per cent debentures. The net proceeds of that loan, lie said, were £185,754, and the estimated cost of the works was £928,700, It was in view of these facts that he thought inquiry was demanded. Mr Kelly thought the mover could have found a grievance demanding inquiry nearer to his own door in Canterbury, instancing the Timaru Harbor Board works, which he (Mr Kelly) described as a work calculated to damage the railway, and consequently to damage the colony at large. The operation of the New Plymouth Harbor Board had been inquired into over and over again, and he complained that these interferences were injurious to the work in hand. The Board had done valuable work in the way of making preliminary arrangements for carrying on the work. He had no desire to oppose the motion, but he would strongly ! urge that the enquiry be confined to finance, and that the progress of the work should not be interfered with. The motion was carried. The House adjourned afc 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. DB. POLLEN'S PENSION. The debate on Dr. Pollen's pension was continued, and the report of the Public Accounts Committee thereon. Mr Speight moved a resolution to the effect that the House agree with the report of the committee, and that no more pensions should bo paid to Dr Pollen until the House had by a special Act determined what amount, if any, was due to him by way of pension. He reviewed the whole facts connected with tho matter, and contended that the whole thing was done irregularly, and certainly illegally in regard to the salary of £300 received by Dr Pollen as Imperial Paymaster.

Mr Saunders thought Dr. Pollen's by no means the only case in which pensions had been illegally granted. Civil servants were very considerate to each, other in granting pensions, as shown in the cases of Fitzherbert, Gisborne, and Domett. He objected to giving away public money to men who had been well paid for their work when it was impossible to find money to make roads and build bridges. £18,000 a year was now paid in pensions. He moved as an amendment that it was inadvisable to express any

opinion on Dr" Pollen's case till the Committee of Public Accounts enquired into and reported on the cases of Fitzherberfc, Gisborne, and Dometfc.

Mr Weston considered that Dr. Pollen was legally entitled to the pension given him, but if there was a technical loophole ib would be very mean for the colony to take advantage of it, as Dr. Pollen had actually rendered the services. In any case his claim should be submitted to a legal rather than a political tribunal.

Mr Do Lautour considerd the amendment would shelve the whole question for the session. The real question was not so much Dr Pollen's claim, but whether tlic Government had not acted improperly in paying the pension without the authority of tho House.

Mr McLean supported the amendment. He was opposed to pensions altogether, but thought Dr Pollen's claim a just one as the law stood.

Mr Montgomery saw no reason why each case should not be dealt with on its merits.

Mr Wood said their duty ivas to protect the revenue. In Dr. Pollen's case the money appeared to have been paid without the authority of the House, and it should be fully enquired into. He was surprised to find'the Government attempting to throw blame on Sir Julius Vogal, who was absent, but whose conduct in the matter they had endorsed.

Mr Moss strongly supported the motion

Mr Stewart thought the Government should not have granted a pension of this sort without the direct authority of the House.

Sir W. Fox supported the amendment. If the money bad been paid improperly the Government was certainly responsible.

Mr Spright opposed the amendment, which he said was meant to bury the whole matter.

Mr Johnston contended that the Government had acted in a profeefcly legal manner, and wished all these pension questions probed to the bottom. Mr Ballance admitted that Dr. Pollen had large equitable claims, but his legal ones should be decided first. This had not been done.

Mr Levestam thought the whole question of pensions should be looked into as well as other illegal payments, such a3 that of £300 to Kees.

Mr Kelly thought the question of Dr. Pollen's legal claims should be referred to a Judge's Court of Appeal. The House divided on Mr Speight's original motion, which was negatived by 38 to 31.

Mr J. B. Fisher then moved an addition to Mr Saunder's amendment, to the effect that, until the committee reported on the other cases, no further payment should be made to Dr. Pollen.

Mr Swanson suggested that the amendment should be made applicable also to the pensions of Fitzherbert, Gisborne, and Domett.

Mr Fisher and Mr Hall agreed to this, and Mr Saunders' motion as thus amended was agreed to, the committee to report in three weeks. The House rose at 12.50.