PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2317, 7 September 1881, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[Br Telegraph.] [EBON: THE SPECIAL COBEBSPOHBinfT [OV TUB- “ PRESS.”] WELLINGTON, September 6. Just at the conclusion of Mr Saunders' speech last night, when ho was speaking on the subject of the unemployed, and saying he believed there never was a time when a sober, hard-working man could not earn his living is Now Zealand, the crowd in the strangers’ gallery groaned and hissed, and one called out an abusive epithet. The Speaker was engaged in conversation with a member at the moment, and did not seem to have quite heard what took place, but Mr Turnbull drew his attention to it; and suggested that the galleries should bo cleared. Mr Barron supported Mr Turnbull. The Speaker said he had it in his discretion toorder strangers to withdraw, and he should instantly do so if any further demonstration occurred Mr Lundon, speaking shortly afterwards. said Mr Saunders would have said more than ho did, but there was a ring in the strangers’ gallery that stopped him The Speaker ordered him to apologise for using these words, which he immediately did. There is a strong feeling that these theatrical evening performances, with “ crowded houses,” ou_ j ht to ba put a stop to, because freedom of debate is impossible when a member is liable to bowled down by the strangers’ gallery. The Ministers declining to reply to Sir Q. Grey’s speech, the question of the third reading was put and carried by a majority of twenty-nine, namely, forty-eight against nineteen—a mncb larger majority than had been anticipated. The opponents of the Bill had given out that they numbered thirtythree, but with pairs they had only twenty-four. On the motion, “ That the Bill do pass,” Mr Seddon proposed an amendment that it should not come forward till after the next general election, but the Speaker ruled it out of order, because the same amendment had previously been negatived in committee. Mr Seddon then spoke to the motion, and immediately there was a stampede of members, only a bore quorum remaining. All the Nelson members spoke at some length by way of making a final protest against the Bill. Mr Turnbull spoke shortly, and intimated that after the passing of the Bill he should go into opposition again, but should not take part in any motion against tho Government that might be attempted by the aid of the Nelson men. It was early morning before the Premier got a chance to reply; then, however, though greatly exhausted, he made an admirable speech, full of good sense and high feeling, in which he justified the action of the Government in pushing the Bill through at all hazards, and in spite of all obstacles. He explained the probable effect of its provisions, and did his best to remove misapprehension and allay ill-feeling regarding it. His speech was loudly cheered on. all sides. The question that the Bill do now pass was then put, and carried by 33 against A Mr Sheehan made some remarks, which were unintelligible, his voice failing him, probably from over fatigue. On the title of the Bill being put, Mr Seddon moved the omission of the word representation, with tho view to inserting tho word mia-representation. The Speaker said it was making a burlesque of the proceedings, and refused to entertain the motion. The title was then carried by the same majority, and the House adjourned at a quarter-past four this morning. There was no afternoon sitting today. This evening a variety of miscellaneous Government business is to be gone on with, and morning sittings will be begun to-morrow for the faster despatch of business. [from: the own correspondent of the “ PRESS.”] The New Plymouth Harbor Commission Bill has been circulated. It provides, inter alia, that the Governor in Council shall appoint a Commission for the purpose of this Act. A blank is left for the names of the Commissioners to be nominated by the House. The Bill gives all requisite power to the Commissioners, as indicated by the Premier in his statement oa. the subject, and provides that, after the passing of the Act, all real and personal property belonging to the New Plymouth Harbor Board shall vest in the Governor, as also all powers now exercisable by the Board, the Governor to have power to fill any vacancy arising in the Commission.

The following important return of loan expenditure in the various provincial districts from the beginning of the public works policy, also the revenue derived from such districts to March. 31st, iSSt, was presented to Parliament to-day by the Premier. (Note —Liabilities at that date are included in the expenditure.) Auckland, £2,600,510; Hawke’s Bay, .£817,325; Nelson, £904,030: Marlborough, £287,206; Canterbury, £3,008,533 ; Westland, £811,004; Otago, £4,714,864; total, £16,448,438. Comparing the above with the respective contributions to revenue (exclusive of land sales) the following districts have had expenditure in excess of their proportion : Taranaki, £213,772; Wellington, £739,770; Hawke’s Bay, £184,055; Nelson, £87,080; Westland, £366,654. The following districts have had less than their proportion:—Auckland, £49,500; Marlborough, £16,384; Canterbury, £1,474 689 ; Otago, £51,658. In the above return the revenues from railways and property tax have been approximately allocated to the respective districts. A report from the Agent-General (Sir F. D. Bell) was laid on the table to night, showing the proposed alterations and redactions in the Agent-General’s department. Sir F. Bell reports that when he took charge the staff comprised three clerks and a messenger, costing £534 10a annually. The office is costly and inconvenient, being in two separate sets, held under lease at a rent of £450. with a farther charge of £3l 4s for & care taker. The Agent-General proposes to sub-let part as soon as possible, and so save about £IOO a year. If immigration were stopped one clerk conld be spared at once, but there is still a large amount of clerical work to be done. There is not work for both audit officer and accountant, the two costing £7OO a year. Sir F. Bell suggests that the audit of the department’s accounts could be done equally well by some eminent English accountant, as in the case of the Queensland agency, while the countersigning of the Agent-General’s cheques could be dene by the secretary, if he were appointed an officer of the audit department, whereby one salary would be saved altogether. The following is an estimate of the expenditure for the current year:— (X) Fixed by the Government (or for which the Government are already liable) —Agent Genera], £1250 ; secretary, £600; accountant, £3OO ; rent, £4OO ; caretaker, £3l ; total, £2581. (2) Expenditure controlled by Agent General— Clerks (subject to reduction of one), £SOB ; messenger, postage, stationery and contingencies, £250 ; total, £758, or in all £3339, of which £250 will soon be saved in rent and by the discharge of one clerk. These figures are less by £750 than the smallest of any colonial Government office in London, and greatly less than the largest. If the Government take a vote for £3500, it may be assumed that the expenditure will be within that vote.

A return was presented this evening showing (1) the number of teachers employed in Normal or training schools of colony, viz ,13 on 31st July, with aggregate salaries of £3459. (2) Number of pupils during the same period, 32 males, 83 females, total 115. (3) Amount of money paid on account of individual students of training schools during the three years ended December 31st, 1880, £2720. (.4) Number of students known to be engaged as public school teachers on June 30th, 74 males, 89 females, total 163; number of pupil teachers trained in normal schools, 27 males, 61 females, total 88. The following is the present state of the Order Paper:—9l Bills in various stages, viz., 51 which have not yet passed the second reading, 30 not yet through committee, 3 for report, 2 for third reading, 3 for consideration of amendments by the Legislative Council. Then there are 6 other Orders of the Day and 22 notices of motion ; 363 petitions have been presented this session, and 187 papers laid on the table. Members are now jubilant at the apparent prospect of the early close of the session ; some even are so sanguine as to name Tuesday week as the date of the prorogation, but the general opinion seems to be that the session will not terminate much before the end of the month. There is an enormous quantity of business still to be got through, and even allowing for a wholesale slaughter of bills, there is a good deal which it is absolutely essential to deal with. Groat pressure is being brought to bear to secure the passing of the Railways Construction Bill, but somewhat gloomy apprehensions are entertained that it it gets into committee it will get improved and improved until it is improved off the earth. A great many amendments in the Bill have been suggested, but it is possible that there will not be time to deal fully with them, and that this will lead some members, who feel strongly on the necessity of certain alterations, to oppose the Bill unless these are carried out. However, it is premature as yet to offer any conjecture regarding the fate of the measure. The Government have decided to adopt all tha suggestions made on the second reading of the Railway Construction Bill, with a view to rendering it more workable. These amendments include an optional rating clause. It is now asserted that the rumour of an impending scene which drew such an immense crowd to the House Inst night was deliberately circulated by certain Opposition members m the hope of precipitating an event which they professed to predict. However, it did not come off, and at present everything seems calm and peaceful.