PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 131, 4 October 1895, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington. Tuesday. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Bill was read a first time. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Customs Excise Duties Bill. Mr Beynolds objected to the Bill, which, he said, was not based on any principle whatever, and appeared to him to be a conglomeration of illconsidered ideas. Mr Pharazyn felt quite sure that the average man would not consider the new tariff as either just or expedient, and it would go far to destroy the Government and the so-called Liberal Party, who were responsible for it.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.

RECIPROCITY. Mr Ward gave notice to introduce the Customs Duties Reciprocity Bill, MR WARD AND TELEGRAMS. In reply to Mr Earnshaw, Mr Ward denied that it was a standing instruction in the Telegraph Department that aIJ telegrams passing between himself (Mr Ward) and his firm in Invercargill were given precedence on the wires, and said this denial was borne out by the officers in charge at Invercargill and Wellington. Mr Ward said the flatter affected the Secretary of the Telegraph Department, and asked Mr Earnshaw to give op the name of his informant, but he declined to do so. UNIMPORTANT QUESTIONS. The sitting was devoted to answering questions, none of which were of much importance, and the adjournment of the House, being moved the debate was carried on until midnight. SUPREME COURT BENCH. Captain Russell complained of the delay in filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court Benoh, and said it was becoming almost a public scandal. Mr Seddon said he could not make a definite statement on this matter, until he received the return he had asked for from the Chief Justice, relative to distribution of work among the Judges in the different districts of the colony.

PUBLIC WOEKS STATEMENT. ,In reply to Captain Eussell, Mr Seddon said he could not bring down the Public Works Statement till the departmental estimates were passed, as till those were disposed of the Government would not know how much money would be at their disposal for public works.

THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the estimates. Audit office, £5895 Mr G. J. Smith moved this vote be reduced by £l, as a protest against the total vote being increased from £5861 to £5865. Several members protested against any increases being made in the estimates. Mr G. W. Eussell said the Audit Department was at present the most ineffectively administered, and some change was necessary. Mr Seddon agreed with the statement, and said that whilst he had every respect for the Auditor-General he was convinced that thorough reorganisation of the Audit Department was necessary, as it was at present in a very unsatisfactory position. He thought the system of audit should be brought under one department. After a lengthy discussion Mr Ward said his opinion was that the Audit Department at present was undermanned. Sir E. Stout regretted that any reduction had been moved in the Audit Department. Mr McLachlan moved, " That all salaries over £2OO be reduced by 5 per cent, and over £4OO by 71 per cent." This was lost on the voices. Mr McLachlan moved to reduce the item, £2OO for one clerk, by £2O. Lost by 51 to 2. Mr G. J. Smith then withdrew bis amendment to reduce the total vote by £l, and moved instead, " That the item 'contingencies,' Audit Department, £250 be reduced by £l." Mr Ward pointed out that this item was £lO5 less than last year. 'The amendment was lost by 31 to 24. J

In Committee of Supply, the Audit vote passed without alteration. Registrar - General's Department, £6725 ; and Census of 1896 and Agricultural Statistics, £3OOO. Captain Eussell asked how it was that this item appeared on the Esli- , mates, when the Government had announced their intention of not taking the census next year. He urged that the census should be taken in order to secure the proper representation of the people in Parliament. Mr Ward said that no doubt the amount of this vote was more than was required, and he would not object to it being reduced. A vote, however, was required for the collection of agricultural statistics. As for the census, every ten years was, in his opinion, quite sufficient for taking it. Mr Seddon said the cost of taking the census last year, viz., £20,000, would be much better spent on roads and bridges. Dr Newman and Mr E. M. Smith contended a great injustice would be done to the North Island, which had increased greatly in population, if the census was not taken next year. Captain Russell said it was essential it should be taken before the next general election. After further discussion the vote was carried without alteration. The Agent-General's Department, £1350, Mr Buchanan thought the time had come when the Government should tell the House what they proposed to do with respect to the Agent-General-ship, and whether Sir Westby Perci-

val was to continue in office or not. Mr Ward said that after a Cabinet meeting, the Government would be in a position to make a statement on the matter. Sir R. Stout moved to reduce the Agent-General's salary of £1250 by £IOO. This was lost on the voices, and the vote was carried unaltered. Printing and Stationery £25,356. Mr Buddo objected to any increases in salaries, and he moved, '* That a reduction of £ll7 be made in the total vote." Mr Cadman defended the vote, and said the Government Printer started with a salary of £4OO, whereas the late Government Printer received £SOO. After considerable discussion, in which many members spoke of the good work done by the Government Printing Office, Mr McLachlan moved to reduce the salary of the Government Printer f£44o) by £2O. This was lost by 50 to 6. Mr Buddo withdrew his amendment and the total vote possed. RESIDENCE ON CROWN LANDS. Mr Pirani asked the Minister of Lands if he will consider tbe advisability of extending the period of compulsory residence on Crown leaseholds, so that men in permanent employment may be enabled to thoroughly improve their sections before being compelled to reside upon them. At present, Mr Pirani explained, the law allowed a person to take up land four years before being compelled to reside on it. Now that all the land easy of access by road or rail was taken up, it was impossible for persons going into the bush land remaining to earn a living off it in four years. If, however, further time was allowed before residence was made compulsory, men in permanent employment would be able to carve out for themselves a home by means of their .trade earnings. The Minister of Lauds thought the limit of four year 3 was quite enough, and Land Boards had full power to extend the period in special cases, and would no doubt do so in such a case as suggested by Mr Pirani.

A Bill to amerd the Advances to Settlers Act was introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives.

In answer to Mr McLachlan, the Minister of Railways stated that it was customary to grant His Excellency the Governor and suite and the wives of Ministers free passes upon the railways of the colony. Mr McLachlan thought members' wives were quite as much entitled to free passes as the wives of Ministers.

The Postmaster-General says the reports of the postmaster at Taupo of the recent earthquake disturbances at that place were in no way exaggerated; in fact they had been described as exceedingly mild.