HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2177, 5 September 1907, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. THE AIATTER OF TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES. SOAIE STARTLING FIGURES. The House met at 2.30. In answer to questions Alinistcrs stated as follows:—It is not possible to say at present whether there will be any amendment of tho Municipal Coloration Act this session. It is the case that Air. District Judge Haselden, whose salary is £750 a year, receives travelling allowances at the rate ol £1 11s 6d a day. Owing to tho extent of the district in, which Courts are held, extending from New Plymouth to Invercargill, and including Nelson and Westland, Mr. Haselden is almost constantly travelling and is therefore unable to establish a permanent home in any one place. Like all other District Judges and Stipendiary Alagistrates who are required to travel on xiublic service Air. Haseklen is furnished with an official railway ticket. I am not aware whether his wife has a free pass. All fines inflicted by the Arbitration Court on employers having property on which distraint could be levied have been paid. There have been some cases in which men nominally employers, such as one driver employing another, have been fined and a. lew of these men have not paid. Some of these have left tho colony, some are bankrupt and some Rave died. These cases represent 2$ per cent, of the total. In every case the Department has pushed matters to the extreme at civil process before desisting from the effort to recover the money: Alonoys are still being received from men who were formerly' employers who are now out of business. Air. Alassey referring to the reply

to Judge Haselden’s travelling allowanco said lio liad been informed tnn Mr. Shannon was the only officer in addition to the Supremo Court Judge, who drew 30s per day allowance, yet liero was a man drawing ols bcl P°i day. The reply did not say. so but lio supposed it meant seven days i\ week, or a little over £ll per week, in addition to his salary. The session was proceeding and ho suggested that a special committee ho set up to inquire into these travelling allowances ns the public had a right to know what was being expended under the heading “travelling allowances by public officers. Mr. Ti Mackenzie said some promm- ■ ©nt public officials travelled about the colony and to neighboring colonies with a large retinue like ambassadors. Ho contended that if a committee were sot up it should have a right to inquire as to whether those officers were justified in continually travelling or whether they only did so m order to augment their salaries. Ho referred to the time when retrenchment had to be resorted to and said if it had to be done again many of the travelling allowances would have to be considerably curtailed. ... Mr. Hamm said it was only right that the public should know what travelling allowances woro authorised and win' the regulations had boon departed front in the case of officers who had drawn travelling allowances in excess of the regulations. Mr. Gray said the reply was not strictly correct, as ho was informed that Magistrates paid for their own Tailwav tidkets which were subsequently included in Magistrates’ travelling allowances, but in the case of judge Hasoldon he drew his travelling allowances in addition to a railway pass. Tho Premier said tho feeling of unrest in the colony was due to hon. members disseminating through the country matter concerning an officer whose appointment did not rest with this Government. Magistrates did not pay railway fares and tlieso did not come out of their travelling expenses. The Government did not intend to 'keep anything back and hon. members would be informed of all the travelling allowances at present paid to officers of the service. Proceeding ho stated that there were seven judges of the Supreme Court drawing £2 2s per day, the Arbitration Court judge £2 2s per day and the District Court judge £1 11s 6d per day, which was tho same as his predecessor who drow a higher salary. Tho auditorgeneral drew 30s per day, the assistant auditor-general 30s per day, the Customs expert (Mr. Shannon) 30s, trade representative, outside the colony, 30s, which he stated was tho usual allowance granted to officers travelling outside, and it was little enough in his opinion. That 30s was whilst travelling on land, and the usual allowance was made while on sea. One District Court judge received 25s per day, the head of the stamp department £1 Is, the head of the taxation department £1 Is per day, and there were 13 other officers drawing £1 per day. 16S drew 15s. 5 drew 13s, 51 drew 12s 6d, 30 drew 12, and 1 drew 11s. In addition there were 44 other officers, chiefly of the justice department, who drew allowances whilst travelling, the total number being 328. This number did not apply to ordinary officers who traveller! for a day or so. In the railway service one_ officer drew £l, three or four drew 15s, and the remainder of the railway officers drew allowances according to published rates.

FIRE BRIGADES. Arising out of the Premier’s reply to a question put by Mr. Aitken that it was proposed to bring down the Fire Brigades Act Amendment Bill, Mr. Aitken said the House had been in session since June 27 and the Bill was not yet circulated. He contended that in the case of a conflagration, which might cause considerable damage in any of the towns of the col- ‘ ony owing to the lack of appliances or men, the responsibility must rest with the Government as Boards were ■not able to borrow money in order to pay firemen’s wages or for appliances and he could not understand how some of the Boards were managing in this respect. He urged that the Bill should be circulated without further delay. . The Otaki and Porirua Empowering Bills were read a second time. THE TARIFF.

The House then went into committee on the Tariff Bill. At class 12, manufacturers of metal, Mr. Gray moved that cartridges, shot 10 to 12 bore, be reduced from 2s 6d to Is 6d per hundred. Ho said that the increased duty would only benefit the Colonial Ammunition Co., whereas it would be penalising farmers and others who had to attend to the destruction of birds, etc. Mr. Millar, opposing the amendment, said there were half a dozen other manufacturers who would start under the duty. He hoped that the Colonial Ammunition Co. undertook to keep in the colony sufficient ammunition for the requirements of the defence forces. Mr. Wilford said he would back the Colonial Ammunition Co.’s cartridges against any other cartridge. Mr. Fisher said the Colonial Company was supplying excellent ammunition, but was only working half time and perhaps the effect of the tariff might be to keep the factory going full time. Mr. Poole hoped members would see their way clear to stand by the Minister. Mr. Millar said that last year 5,651,000 shot cartridges were imported and 10.1.40.000 ball cartridges. He thought the whole of the latter should be manufactured in the colony. The House adjourned at 5.30.

The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. Buddo said that the dub~ on spouting cartridges should be reduced, and suggested that the Government should subsidise the Colonial Ammunition Co. , , Mr. Izard suggested that the duty on cartridges should he ad valorem. (Mr. Burch’v. in supporting the amendment. pointed out that the Colonial Co. J 6 factory was in a position that it could be shelled from a warship, and contended that the proper place for the factory, which was relied on to. supply ammunition for defence, should be somewhat in the interior. Mr. Hogg, whilst supporting the Minister, thought the duty would interfere with the business of persons dealing in sporting requisites, as it would decrease the demand for cartridges. Ho suggested that the remission should ho given in regard to cartridge eases. (Mr. Gray said that the duty on cheaper cartridges amounted to 10 per cent, and higher-priced cartridges 25 per cent. He considered that the industry should be a.blo to progress with,that protection, and if not he suggested that the Government should takp over the factory. ■Ho hoped the Minister would meet (the public in the matter. Left sitting.