GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 397, 20 September 1875, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Electric Telegraph.] (From a correspondent of the Press,') HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, September 17. The House resumed at 7,30. ABOLITION BILL. . In committee on the Abolition Bill, o» clause 13, compensation to officers whose are dispensed with, Mr Harrison enquired whether those Provincial Government officers who would be taken over after abolition would, in being brought under the provisions of the Civil Service Act, be credited with the amount of service they had done under Provincial Governments. Sir G. Grey, Messrs Fitzherbert, Reid, Cuthbertson, and others urged the justness of placing the whole of the officers on the same footing. The Treasurer paid Provincial Government officers a compliment for exceedingly good and faithful service they had done the provinces and the colony, He suggested that

on a future occasion the House should consider whether the Provincial Officers taken over should be credited with their past service in ranking on the civil list. He was rather inclined to agree with that view, but he should not like to entertain the matter suddenly and without due consideration. Sir George Grey remarked that if an act of justice was to be done let it be done at once. Wherefore he recommended that the clause should be postponed, with a view of giving effect to the opinions of the Treasurer and other hon gentlemen on the subject. , The Treasurer pointed out that under the Civil Service Act all officers taken over would be placed on exactly the same footing as the civil servants of the colony. The words “ within one year,” in the first line of the clause were struck out. In the fourth line, after the words “ are dispensed with,” Mr Harrison moved the insertion of the words “ or if he elect to leave such employment,” which wa« opposed by Messrs Reid and Luckie, as offering a premium to men to leave the service. The amendment was negatived on the voices. . . , Mr McLean moved the excision of all the words after “ dispensed with,” in the last line of the clause, and the insertion in lieu thereof of the following:—“Shall not be entitled to more than twelve months’ salary in all.” He considered the civil servants proposed to be dealt with were being treated too liberally. Civil servants were better paid than those in merchants’ offices ; the latter only receiving a month’s notice or pay. Mr Hunter charged the member for Waikouaiti with making a very rash assertion, Civil servants did not get anything like what was paid to clerks in merchants’ offices. Mr O’Neill considered the civil servants of the colony were the poorest paid of any civil servants in the Southern Hemisphere. He proposed as an amendment, which was negatived, that the words “ three months’ notice” be struck out. Mr Wood moved as a further amendment, “ Provided always that no member of the Provincial Executive Council shall be entitled to any compensation for loss of office ;’ but on the Treasurer pointing out that the Bill covered that amendment, it was withdrawn. Mr Shepherd and Mr Stout strongly opposed giving provincial servants taken over by the colony pensions ; and the firstmentioned moved as a proviso, “ Provided always that no provincial officer taken over shall be entitled to the superannuation allowance under the Civil Service Act, 1867.” The Treasurer said if this amendment was withdrawn, he would undertake to ask the House this session to give its opinion upon the subject. After further discussion, the Government agreed to allow the member for Dunstan to bring down a new clause on the subject, with a view of raising a discussion thereon. The amendment was withdrawn. On clause 14, license fees, &c, under provincial laws to be paid to Municipalities and Road Boards, Mr Montgomery inquired if it was intended to pay over to Municipalities, &c, this year the fees and fines accruing within their boundaries, and the Treasurer replied in the negative. The provincial appropriations included those revenues, and they could not be fairly taken away, therefore the clause would not be operative until the Act came into force. Mr Shepherd proposed several amendments, most of them of a minor character, the principal one being that the words publicans’ licenses or other licenses for the sale or making of fermentad or spirituous liquor,” be struck out. These amendments were all negatived. The Government accepted the proposition of Mr Wood to strike out the words, “ the public account and separate accounts shall be kept thereof, and the same shall be paid over ” so that this part of the clause now reads —That revenues mentioned shall be paid to Municipalities and Road Boards direct: On the second paragraph of the clause providing that moneys arising from fines for scabby sheep are to be paid to Municipalities and Road Boards there was considerable discussion, butthe clause passed as printed, with the exception of the addition of a proviso moved by Mr Fyke to the effect that all fees and penalties resulting from breaches of bye-laws of Road Boards or Shire Councils should be paid to the bodies whose bye-laws were infringed. Progress was then reported, and leave obtained to sit again. At 1 a.m. the House adjourned till Tuesday.