PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 10 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington/ July 9. In the Legislative Council to-day, Captain Fraser gave notice to ask what steps the Government intended to take re the overseer at Kumara mine, through whose neglect eight children had been rendered homeless. On the motion for the third reading of the Native Succession Bill, Mr. Reynolds moved that it be thrown out, but the proposition was negatived. The third'reading was carried. Mr. Whitaker moved the second reading of the Election Petition Bill, explaining that it proposed to initiate reforms which had been carried.in England. . Mr. WaterhoUse expressed fear that a new tribunal in so small a country, would not be above party feeling. Mr. Wilson thought one Judge to try the petitions better than two. On the motion of Sir IV D. Bell, who said he should have several points to argue in the matter, the debate was adjourned to Tuesday, > On the motion for the second reading of the Pharmacy Bill, Messrs. Waterhouse, Pollen, and Fraser argued that it proposed to create monopoly—an objection in a young country—and numerous defects in the measure were pointed out. Ultimately the second reading was carried, and the Bill referred to a Select Committee. , ■ A large part of the sitting was occupied in Committee on the Native Reserves Bill and the Wellington facing Club Bill. Much : opposition was shown to inany i clauses of both Bills, and the former- only i partly got through. | The Council rose at 5.20.

In the House of Representatives today, : Sir G. Grey presented a petition fyom 900 electors at the Thames, setting forth that they view with alarm the decision of the Couimitfcea re the Christohurch election, and praying that the finding that Sir Gr. Grey had not been elected for the saat be expunged from the records of the House. Mr. Barron gave notice to move on Wednesday that in view: of the serious loss and inconvenience the premature withdrawal of• the certain to cause to local bodies which have made financial arrangements depending on the continuance of those subsidies as fixed by statute; the Government be requested to make provision for the payment of such subsidies until the year 1881, in accordance with the Financial Arrangements Act, 1876. Replying to Mr. Andrews, Mr. Bryce said the Government had not gent'to England for Volunteer uniforms. They had merely sent for an estimate of cost. Judging from what the Wellington Corps had paid, it was believed the English prices would be 50 per cent, below the colonial. Replying to Mr. Jones, Mr. Hall said that certain telegrams between the AgentsGeneral and the Government had been laicl before the Public Accounts Committee, and, on the recommendation of that body, were not included in the correspondence published. Replying to Mr. Moorhouse, Mr. Hall said that no instructions had been forwarded to S;r Julius Vogel to. represent New Zealand at meetings held in London t.Q- consider the question of Imperial unity. On the motion of Mr. Stevens, the Public Health Act Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. On the motion of Mr. Hall, it was agreed that the House should sit at g.gQ on Monday. The House then went into Committee of Supply. Mr. Hall explained that the Government understood that the resolution of the member for Cheviot would -bind them to make a reduction of ten per cent, on all salaries and wages, and that it would be provided for in the Appropriation Aqt. While approving the rule generally, there were certain exceptional qqseas in vfhich would not bie. right to apply the reduction, and the Gov'ei-nment'would take the responsibility of .excepting. As to wages, the Government found that no injustice would be done in applying the resolution, as in most cases the wages paid by the Government were, higher than those paid by private iemployers. Replying to a question of Mr. Gisborne's, Mr. Hall said the reduction meant ten per cent, on salaries and also a further reduction consequent qpoj} the consolidation of offices.

Mr. Hall moved the vote postal department, General Post Office., L4OOO. Mr. Wood, compared the estimate with the appropriation made some years ago, and pointed out that, in 1870 (ten years ago), the sum appropriated was L 424,148, and now it was close qn millions. The population ten years ago-was 250,000, now it did not exceed 450,000 ; so that the very large increase sought was not justified-' by the increase of population. Moreover, inter-communication was much more'complete and frequent than it was ten years ago. He moved that the vote be: reduced LSOO. Mr. L|afiq,ndrg\y gafd the Gj:oyernir ( ent, not having seen its way to take back the Estimates and make the reductions suggested, the best way was for them to frame the Estimates in a lump and leave the Government to make the reductions according to, their own ideas. Mr. Seddon demurred to that, con-, tending that the Estimates were a mass of inequalities. Tfc was better that these should be considered Jn dptajl. Mr. Moss sa'icj f-hat the proposal to reduce 10 per cent, from every salary, large and small, was simply a thing that could not be done. Dr. Wallis said that, after the resolution of the House to reduce salaries 10 per cent., now they were told that the , Government would just make these ductions as they thotf'ght fit, Mr. Hall said what the Government ■proposed was to deduct the sum "of ten per cent, from the salaries as voted. It was only in exceptional cases that the Government would exercise discretion. In some cases jthey would deduct more than ten per cent., in' others lessi, By.,that means the Government would be enabled to remedy afty inequalities plight be discovered. • Two appropriation f!or 1870 and 1880 hajd been contrasted. Now, as ' showing the'rate at which the business of the Postal Department had increased, it had been stated that in 1870 the number of letters was something over two millions. . Now they had increased to considerably, oyer seven. They had ascertained that the' work of the Department could not be conducted with hands. " Mr. Lundon characterised the .proposal of Mr. Macandrew as rubbiafi, and, on

being challenged by the Speaker, he inquired if he was not allowed to speak the truth. They were there to inquire into these appropriations, and not to vote them in a lump as had been proposed by Mr. Macandrew. Dr. Wallis said they were sent there for the purpose of looking after the financial affairs of the Colony. It was their bounden duty to go into the Estimates in detail. Mr. Ireland was of opinion that the proposal of the member for Port Chalmers should be followed—that it should be left with the Government to make the reductions decided upon. Mr. Macandrew said they might go on discussing item by item if they chose, but he could tell them from experience that their labor would be in vain. The Estimates would come out of the Committee as they had gone in. Mr. Snepperd said the House having agreed to a scale of reductions, he did not see what more they could do. Mr. Hall said that last sitting a test vote was taken as to salaries under L2OO. That having been done, the matter, was left in the hands of the Government, who loyally carried out the wishes of the HouSe. Major Atkinson said as soon as the Estimates were passed he would be prepared to say how much would be saved. The House, having confirmed the principle, ought to leave the Government to carry it out. Mr. Saunders considered the persistent conduct of the member for Hokitika in imputing dishonest motives to the Government most unparliamentary. No' man with a due sense of personal respect would be disposed to occupy a seat in the Government liable to.be assailed in the manner Mr. Seddon had been guilty of. Mr. Seddon complained that Mr. Saunders had done him an injustice, and attempted to coerce him in the discharge of: his duty to his constituents. What he '-contended'for was that the civil service was too strong for the Government, and that the proposed reduction would not be made upon their salaries. The motion for reduction of the item by LSOO was then put and lost on the voices. ■ Mr. George then moved that it be reduced by the sum of L 250,, which represented the reduction resolved on by the House. On a division, the ayes were 25, and the noes 33. The reduction was consequently lost. Mr.; Seddon moved that the amount be reduced by L2OO, which was lost on the voices. It was then put and carried. The item chief offices and sub-offices was then put—L-43,429, Mr. Hall moved that the sum be reduced I4QQ, which was agreed to. On the vote, conveyances of mails by sea L 63,521, Mr. Hall moved that it be | reduced to L 60,523 by omitting Nelson to Hokitika service, and not renewing the intercolonial contract. Mr. Seddon said that this was another experiment, and, as usual, was first attempted at the expense of the West Coast. What was proposed was to knock off the West Coast service, which would be a great hardship. Under the circumstances, he would divide the House on the proposed reduction. Mr. J. B. Fisher was also astonished that the only saving should be at the expense of the West Coast. He would ask the House not to vote for this saving, Mr. Hail denied that the West Coast was the ; only service proposed to be reduced, and pointed out a number of others connected with the East Coast. He assured the House that the reductions had been made in good faith. Mr. Macandrew agreed in the proposal for reduction. • Mr. Pitt said the reduction aimed a severe blow to settlement, and as such it should not be agreed to. What he thought ought to be attacked was such an item as that of intercolonial service, LSOOO. On an amendment to withdraw, and that the items be taken up separately, Mr. Hall moved that the item of the vote Interprovincial Service, reduced by L9OO, Nelson to Westport, Mr. Seddon spoke against the withdrawal of the West Coast mail service, and on a division the ayes were 44 and the noes 15. The amendment for the reduction was carried. Item, Blind Bay Service, L 240. Mr. Seddon moved that it be struck out. Mr. Hursthouse said this was the only means of communication for a resident population of 1000. Mr. Gibbs also spoke against the proposal for having the vote struck out. The amendment was withdrawn. Item, Intercolonial Service, LSOOO, reduced by L 1998. Item, Mail Agents and Travelling Allowance. Replying to Mr, Sneddon, Mr. Hall stated that two mail agents were employed each way. They were usually officers of the postal department requiring a holiday, ' A motion that the item be reduced by L2SQ was put and lost on the voices. General vote, as reduced, was put and carried. Vote, Conveyance of Inland Mails, L 32,375. Vote be reduced LlqQCt, Mr. Hall stating that as contracts fall in, they hoped to save LSSOQ a year. The coach between Napier and Tauranga would be dispensed with. Vote, Carriage of Mails, by- railways, L±3,Ym ' Mr. Hall proposed to reduce the vote by L 12,500. The reduction was agreed to. •Mr. Hall, in introducing the Telegraph Department Estimates, said he was glad to say the revenue was recovering—that was, there were indications of improvement generally, He quoted from the report showing particulars of what had been done during the year. The duplex system had been introduced to a large extent, and a very great saving had been effected during the year. The department had taken over the railway telegraphs, thereby effecting a saving of L 2700 a year. There were eighty-four statioqs that d}d not pay expenses, the total lo.as being LSBQQ. He enumerated the offices whioh did not pay. The loss divided among the messages was in these offices 5d on each message sent or received.. The guarantee system did not meet the difficulty or work satisfactorily. The first year .it was paid, the second there was grumbling, and the third year nothing was-got at.all. What they proposed was to add an extra 6d to to and from these offices. T-ljey had either, to do that or" olose them altogether. Another economy proposed was, in making these dismissals, to do so irrespective of' length of service, simply retaining the most competent men. Many of those dismissed would be entitled to compensation. The savings would be L 3400, but against that they would have L9QQ to pay ag They also proposed t'o dispense with one of the inspectors in the North Island, They proposed also to effect a saving on the cable, subsidy, to the extent of 6d a message! The late Government had entered into a contract with the other Australian. Colonies regarding the duplication, of .the; Port Darwin cable. That contract was < subject to the confirmation of Parliament, :'but he considered the so inequitable tQ New Zealand that although in fulfilment of the promise givdn by the ' previous Government ho would submit the resolution to the House, giving,"it an; opportunity , of , confirming the contract, he could not advocate that course being; adopted. Some L6OOO a year would be, saved by not , agreeing, t<} ; the termg,; \}3e concluded by proposing the vote L10Q,271105. ; . n ; jV; Mr-' Moss said .that ip dispensing .with of officers under the. wouiw-

stances referred io by tha-JPremiOT,'the usual thing was to comtaence with the 'V latest taken on. It was hardly fair to attach the slur of incompetence to those who were discharged. Mr. Seddon said that in other countries this was considered to be work specially adapted;for females. They.had not been a success in the' past here, but he;thought that was not sufficient to discourage them from persevering further than they had gone. - ' On the motion of Mr. Hall, the vote was passed, less a sum of L 3704. The remainder *of the telegraph vote was passed. ,• . - Colonial Secretary's Department—Vote, Colonial Secretary's office, L 2005. Passed. Vote, Messenger and Office Keeper's Department—ltem, Messengers, L 1823. Mr. Wood proposed a reduction of L4OO, which on a division was lost. A further amendment that the vote be reduced LlO9 10s was put and carried, and the vote as reduced was passed. Vote, Electoral Department, L 3680. After discussion, Mr. George moved the reduction of the vote by L 250, that amountrepresenting increases proposed to registrars of electors, who were already paidl for other duties. After discussion, Mr. George asked leavo to withdraw his amendment. The discussion 'was interrupted, and the ' House rose at 12.30.