PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4194, 29 August 1874, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, August 28. The Hon.- the Speaker took the chan- at half-past two. petition. The report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Henare Matua recommended that the petitioner should be informed that it would he considered next session. CALIFORNIAN MAIL SERVICE. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE asked, without notice, to he informed what steps had been taken to supply the hiatus consequent on the breakdown of the Californian mail service. They were aware that steps had been taken by the Government of New South Wales for a temporary service iu the expectation that arrangements might be made for a permanent service. He should like to. know whether the Government were co-operating with the New South Wales Government; whether steps had been taken or were contemplated during the recess, or whether the Colony was to depend solely on the Suez service. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN replied that what he knew of the matter was this : A proposi tiou had been made of a very imperfect and unsatisfactory character for the maintenance of a temporary service. The breakdown was so sudden that there had been no time for anything else than telegraph communication, which was of an - uncertain character. The Government had been invited to concur with the New South Wales Government in the establishment of a temporary service, hut the arrangements proposed originally were so imperfect that it was better this Government should stand aside for the present, and allow the complication between the contractors to clear itself. It was the intention of the Government, at the earliest opportunity, to make arrangements for a permanent service. In the meantime care would be taken, that no interruption of postal communication should take place, and arrangements would be made for the transmission of mails by Suez. There was a disposition on the part of the Government to co-operate with the Government of New South Wales, by. establishing communication, if possible, on reasonable terms ; and if in the meantime a provisional service could • be maintained pending the establishment of a permanent one, it would be done. THE APPROPRIATION BILL.

On the third reading of this Bill being moved, The Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL hoped the Government would see their way to place the officers of the Council in . the same position as regarded salary as the officers of the other branch of the Legislature. He was sure they had as much responsibility, and did their work as efficiently as elsewhere. On looking over the Appropriation Act, it appeared that the officers of the Council, from the Chairman of Committees to the Assistant Clerk, were placed in regard to remuneration in a position inferior to that of the officers of the other branch of the Legislature ; and he did not think such should be the case. He hoped the Government would assure the Council that it would, this session, place the officers of the Council in exactly the same position as the officers of the other House.

The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE endorsed Mr. Campbell’s remarks, and trusted the Colonial Secretary would give some assurance on the subject that would he satisfactory to hon. members.

The Hon. Dr. POLLEN observed, in reference to the desire that had been expressed with regard to the position of the officers of the Council, that he would remind hon. gentlemen that, when the Select Committee reported, he pledged the concurrence of the Government, qualified by a condition that in apportioning the emoluments of the several officers should be regulated by their length of service. With that reservation, he repeated that it was the desire of the Government to meet the wishes of the Council.

The Hon. the SPEAKER remarked that if he allowed the matter to pass over without any observation from himself, he might subject himself to the suspicion of not having done his duty towards the officers of the Council He proceeded to read some correspondence .that had passed between- himself and the Colonial Secretary on the subject. On July 3, immediately after his arrival in Wellington, he wrote :—“ I have more than once felt that an increase, under existing circumstances, was called for, hut I hesitated to disturb the Estimates unless both Houses were included.” On July 23 he wrote :—“ I hope when the Estimates are under the .consideration of the Government, the Government will do me the favor to press the claims in question.” On August 23, the Colonial Secretary replied ; “ Before that communication was received, the Estimates for the general departments had been settled and printed ; and after consideration of the request preferred by you. Ministers not being satisfied that the claims of the individual officers of the House of Representatives for advances of salary on account of long service were to be recommended, and those of the Legislative Council were of equal force, felt themselves obliged, not without hesitation, to decline for the present session, at least, to aoceed to your solicitation.” Ever since his arrival in Wellington he had zealously urged this matter on the attention of the Government, and that he had not been successful was not owing to any want of interest on his part. The Hon. Mr. CAMPBELL wished to know if there were not any funds out of which the salaries could be increased this year. The Hon. Mr. WATERHOUSE thought the Council should be satisfied with the assurance of the Colonial Secretary. , THE OTAGO ADVANCES BILL. The second reading of this Bill was agreed to after a short discussion, and it and the Appropriation Bill then passed.