THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3276, 20 August 1873, Page 2

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

Wellington, August 19. A Message was received from the Governor respecting an increase of the Governor’s salary by L6OO, and respecting certain arrangements for furniture, &c. The House went into Committee. The Premier said the nroposal was to increase the salary by LSOO, and reduce the allowance for the establishment by the same amount. A circular had been received from the Home Government, stating that the Colonies were only expected to bear the expense of furnishing reception rooms. Accordingly, the furniture of rooms other than reception rooms would be valued, and the Governor would pay interest on the amount. This did not refer to the present Governor. It was proposed to increase the salary of the (. lerk of Executive by LSO, and to spend money on Lowry Bay Estate, as it was found that the accommodation was insufficient for the Vice-regal establishment. The Government had taken on itself to spend money for the erection of new ropms for rovernment House. —Mr Bunny said the House desired to deal liberally with the Governor, but it also wished to know what the vice-regal establishment would cost. The House voted L 4,500 and L 1,500, and was told afterwards that it would cost L 9,000. A rumor had circulated that the excess had been for liveries, harness, archery, &c. The House might not object, hut desired to vote all that was spent.—Mr Fox said the rumors were mere canards, having no foundation,— Mr Bunny replied that be knew liveries had been paid for. The mere assertion of Mr Fox was not sufficient to satisfy bis desire for inquiry.—The Premier said that after the late Governor left, the newspaper correspondents stated that the allowances had been exceeded as a bribe to the Governor. Ministers did not take the trouble to deny such statements. Neither he nor the late Premier personally knew anything of exce ses of allowances. He read a statement showing that the allowances bad been exceeded systematically for the last three years.—Mr Stafford said it was good that the question should be discussed regarding the past and the future. Mr Vogel had not answered Mr Bunny’s statement, and Mr Fox was evidently misinformed. He personally knew that payments had been made on account of articles not contemplated by the House. Doubtless others bad been paid. The Queen’s regulation would simplify matters. He knew something of the question, having served under three Governors. Colonel Gore Browne’s reception rooms W’ere furnished by the Colony, but not the other rooms. W hen Governor Browne left, his furniture was sold, and portions bought by Sir George Grey. When the removal of the seat of Government took place, in consideration of the want of accommodation, certain allowances had been made. Since then the system had grown, till blankets, linen, and clothes had been paid for, and grounds were given for the rumors, for while he was in office for a short time he had refused a requisition for saddlery. There should be no doubt on the question as to what should be paid. The law should state the matter plainly, and Ministers should not be placed in the position of having to refuse. He perhaps was responsible for the allowances in a lump sum, as he bad in 1865 proposed such a course. He bad read in the Nelson Examiner an article on the question, and knew it was well founded!. He also read a general denial in the Independent, which was not satisfactory. There was a widespread feeling that there had been an improper expeuditure of public money. The Premier had taken a proper course in facilitating a discussion,—Mr Vogel said he admitted the votes had been exceeded, but he had nothing to do with it.—Mr Fitzherbert was glad Mr Stafford had brought forward the matter. If not, Mr Fox’s statement would have put him in the wrong. He had already established the fact that the newspaper article referred to was not unwarrantable. They had got that oat. The Government said, “ don’t fix it on us,” but that was the time to discuss the question. The charges had received substance, except that which no one in the House had referred to, but which had been nevertheless denied by Ministers, namely, of Ministers having allowed excesses with the view of swaying the late Governor. He suggested that the House should vote a lump sum far the Governor and his establishment.—Mr Buskland said the Lowry Bay Estate was a jfhite elephant, and should be given to the Governor he Bill was read a first time. The report of the Committee on the National Bank Bill was read. It stated that the Committee had considered the petition of Mp

J. L. Coster* and ftlsa the suggestion by Mr Bathgate that certain clauses ol the Otago Bank Bill should be introduced. Regarding the petition, counsel had been heard and evidence for and against taken, and it was decided to pass the preamble of the Bill unaltered. The Committee did not consider it advisable to introduce the propo ed clauses into the National Bmk Bill, but considered the introduction of a measure to the same effect worth the consideration of the Government. —Mr Stafford stated that the petitioner against the Bill had withdrawn his opposition. —The Bill was ordered to be read a first time.

A Bill to regulate burials near the City of Wellington ; a Bill to amend the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872 ; a Bill to amend the Disqualification Act, and Prom’ssory Oaths Bill; and Amendments by the Legislative Council on the Assault on Constables Bill, were agreed to. The Floatage of Timber Bill was read a second time, on the understanding that it would be referred to a Select Committee. The Estimates are now on.

In the Legislative Council, on the motion of Colonel Kenny, the Provincial Council Powers Bill was ordered to be read a second time in six months hence. The National Bank of New Zealand Bill comes on for its third reading to morrow, August 20, The House last night, in Committee of Supply, considered the Estimates. Class 1., Public Departments, L 54.952, was passed, after considerable discussion respecting votes for the electoral departments. The Minister of Justice said the Estimates were framed on the principle that an officer drawing L6OO from either the Provincial or General Government should devote his whole time to the service of the Colony, and not receive extra remuneration for extra services demanded.—Mr White pointed out that the principle was not carried out, aud strongly objected to its violation regarding Westland officers. He said the work was being thrust, without remuneration, by the Colonial Government on Provincial officers, over whom it had no control. Mr Reader Wood pointed out several errors in the Estimates, and urged the postponement of their consideration, to enable them to bo corrected. —Mr Bathgate was generally “roasted” on all sides. —Eventually the class passed without amendment. Oa Class ll.—Law and Justice, L57,103-there was further discussion, with a bitter tendency. Mr T. B. Gillies asked what were the duties of the Minister of Justice, and why was a Secretary required. Ho opposed the creation of new offices. —Mr Bathgate replied that the Secretary was an old servant who was deserving ef promotion and in creased salary.—Mr Gillies objected to vote L2 0 additional salary to the AttorneyGeneral, principally on the score of the mode adopted. The salary had been fixed by Act, and, if not sufficient, the Act should be amended. The Class passed without amendment. On Class 111. Postal, L 144,813 - under ‘ Conveyance of Mails by Sea, L 43,800,” the Premier said, in reply to Mr T. B. Gillies, that L40.C00 would be suffi cient to cover the Sue* and Californian services. There would be a Californian service in a few months, and probably on the arrival of the Hero at Auckland arrangements would be completed for the Suez service. As Hokitika would suffer by the latter, the Go vernment proposes to spend L 1,500 on improving the road from Hokitika to Christchurch, so as to facilitate the carriage of mails. —Major Atkinson referred to the inconvenience Taranaki suffered through not knowing when the mails would arrive or leave.— In reply to Mr liolleston, the Premier said no time would be lost in endeavoring to arrange for the Fiji service being extended to the other islands of the Pacific, and to other Provinces than Auckland, but nothing had been decided yet Mr A. J. Richmond said Nelson and Marlborough would receive their mails last. Would the Government propose any assistance for them as well as Hokitika?—The Premier replied that it was unfortunate that the Government were unable to subsidise a special steamer for each port, as nothing short of that seemed to satisfy some Provinces. When the Californian service was established a steamer would run to Nelson as formerly. On Class JV Customs, L 47,200 —in reply to Captain Kenny respecting Ton channel, the Commissioner of Customs said the Government would ask authority to spend L 35.000 on lighthouses.-Some discussion arose regarding the Manukau Lighthouse.—The Commissioner of Customs said the light had been ordered, and tenders for its erection invited. —The Class passed without amendment. —On Class V.—Native Department, L2G.582 —Mr T. B. Lillies asked whether the item “ Civil Commissioner, LSOO ” was for a gentleman who, a short time ago, held an appointment in the service, and resigned to contest an election for a seat in this House? The appointment was new, and unnecessary. Civil Commissioners were not only useless but frequently mischievous. He proceeded to relate his experience of mischief caused by Civil Commissioners, who, he said, made unnecessary work.— The Defence Minister defended the Commissioners from attacks. The gentleman who was to receive appointment was an old and valued servant who had accepted a retiring allowance, but whose services the Government were again glad to accept. —Mr Buckland said he believed the flour and sugar policy was a mistake, and was growing to enormous dimensions.— A warm discussion on the Native policy ensued between Messrs Buckland, M‘Lean, Hunter, Jackson, M'Glashan. and Murray,—( n the jtem L,2000 for Native Councils. Mr T. B. Gillies moved the postponement of the item, arguing the absurdity of voting money to carry into effect a measure still on the Order Paper. After further discussion the item was passed, Mr Vogel promising to strike the item out of the Appropriation Bill, if the Native Councils Bill did not pass. The class parsed without amendment, and progress was reported. The National Bank Bill was read a third time and passed. To-day, in reply to Mr Reid, the Minister for Public Works said that till he saw the Evening Star he did not know the truck system was in force. In nearly all the railway contracts clauses were introduced prohibiting it. The Government would take stronger steps.