House of Representatives.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 25, 29 July 1893, Page 2

House of Representatives.

Sir John Hall moved, as a question of privilege, that the attention of the House bo called to the correspondent on the subject of appointment of officers of the House laid on the table by Mr Speaker and that the sanie be referred to a committee of privilege to consider the same and report its opinions thereon to the House. He referred particularly to the recent appointments of two Hansard reporters, in which the recommendations of the Speaker had been ignored by Government. Mr Seddon defended the action of Government in making the recent appointments and said it was a distinct order of the House in 1891 that the Government of the day should have charge of the Legislative estimates. The whole thing resolved itself into the question whether Ministers of the Crown were to be responsible for the expenditure of the taxpayers' money, or whether all patronage was to be left in the hands of the Speaker of the House or President of the Council. After a lengthy discussion, the motion was agreed to nnd the House rose at 5.80, On the motion that the Imprest Supply Bill for £258,500 be passed through all stages, Mr Kolleston said it was necessary that members should be put in possession of the Public Works Statement before they were asked to go on with other business of the session. Mr Seddon declared what the leader of the Opposition was asking for was quite unprecedented. Mr Kolleston again complained of the Premier's action and said if the Public Works Statement were not shortly brought down he should test the House upon it. Mr Seddon said the Government would conduct the business in its own way, and if the Opposition obstructed the Supply Bill they must take the responsibility before the country. Sir John Hall referred to the Bublime audacity displajed by the Premier, and remarked that a more obstructive, inconsiderate and outrageous opposition never existed in the House than the present Premier and the members of his party. Sir Robert Stout pointod out that in the former session the Public Works Statement was not brought down till within the last week or two of the session. He hoped the business would be allowed to proceed. After some further discussion the Bill was put through all its stages.