PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 32, 29 August 1889, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATrV ES, • (pke unitkd pkess association) Tuesday, August 27. The House met at 2.30. The Public Accounts Committee brought up a report (through Mr Macarthur, chairman) stating that tbe Committee had passed the followingresolution : — That the power of investing the moneys belonging to the Post Office Savings Bank shall be placed in the hands of a Board, and that the Government be requested tobring in a Bill this session to give effect to this resolution. The consideration of the report was postponed. The Minister for 1 _ib__. Work* moved tbe second reading of - the. North Island Main Trunk Railway Loan Application Bill, which allocate* an additional sum of £120,285 for land purchases, part of sueh land t. be devoted to primary education poses.The second reading was agreed toafter a short debate. The Native Minister proposed the second reading of the_ Native Land Court Act Amendment Bill. Havingvery briefly sketched the , principal, provisions of the BiH, the Minister said it was, the -desire of tbe Government to induce legislation which would be in the interests of both races, without d- mg injustice to either_ Second rea< in£ agreed to. Tbe House went: into committee on the Estimates. Customs offices and services, £32,--920. — Mr Hutcbisou asked for information about . Mr Shannon's appointment. — The Premier said Mr Shannon's salary was £800 a year with 30s a day travelling expenses when he was on public: service. Mr Shannon had a twelve? months engagement, which the Government thought should be extended to three years. Mr McKellar, he might say, had expressed an opinion tbat £5000 had been saved to the revenue by Mr Shannon's appointment; The late and present secretaries of Customs also strongly approved theappointment of an expert sueh as Mr Shannon. The Premier added that Mr Shannon was an expert not only in soft goods but aiso in other branches. — Mr T. McKenzie said Mr Shannon was not an expert fn iron* mongery, which was a more important branch than soft goods. — The Premier: Not under tbe tariff. — Mr MarKenzie said ner. ber Mr Shannon, nor the Premier could interpret thetariflr. He moved that the votebe reduced by £200, as an indiepation thafc Mr Shannon's salary should be re-duced.-Mr Monk contended that ifc was not creditable to the department to have to require the services of 'an expert. — Mr Bruce supported the appointment.— Mr Ballance contended that discretion should* be allowed to> tbe Government in these matters. Dr Newr_an, speaking in the discussion which ensued, said the appointment was au unnecessary one. Eventually tbe motion to reduce Mr Shannon's salary was lost by 23 to 12, and the vote was passe 3. After a long^ , discussion the marine vote was reduced by £50, as an indication thafc tbe salary of Captain Fairchitd, of the Hinemoa (£500) should be re- ' duced.

Wednesday, July 28. Replying to questions, Ministers said the Government were considering whether further proceedings should not be taken against Bing Harris & C0., -for frauds, upon the Customs revenue. Mr Fergus introduced the Naval and! Military Settlers and Volunteers' Land Claims Bill. A message was read from the Legislative Council disagreeing with the amendments made by the House in tbe Fire and Marine Insurance Company's BUl.— The House insisted upon the amendments and appointed a committee to draw np the reasons. , ■ The House went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates. Educational Department.— Head office .62085, was agreed to after a long discus- ' - sion, and the Public Schools vote, £334 - 750, was also agreed to. ' Native Schools, -€15,750— Mr Feldwick moved a reduction of _650 as an instruction to put the Native Schools under the Boards. — Carried by 18 to 17. The other Education votes were passed although there was a discussion on the item i £400, for salary of art instructor at Wellington. Mr Goldie moved to strike -• the item out, which ,was lost by 16 to 11 —The Minister of Education "agreed to a reduction of £1, which Mr Seddon moved "as a protest against the manner in which the money bad been paid " Progress was reported, and the 'Houa* rose at 8.5 a.m. • - .