PARLIAMENTARY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1105, 25 July 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[per united press association.]

WELLINGTON.

This Day. In the House of Representatives yesterday, the Loan Bill, and Main Trunk North Island Railway Bill were received by message from the Government. On a motion for going into Supply, Mr Smith moved an amendment that as the 10 per cent reduction made for the purpose of temporary retrenchment in the salaries of Civil servants, has been restored, in the opinion of the House the same advantages should be extended to plate layers, and all other wages men engaged by the Government on railways and other public works; they having received a similar reduction in their wages which has not yet been restored. He said a deputation had asked the Minister for Public Works to raise the scale wages 6d per day, and consideration had been promised, that, when the Minister afterwards stated in the House that the Government did not see their way to grant this request, he thought the men fairly entitled to the increase asked, and, unless it was granted, the Government would not be able to keep good, trustworthy men in the service. Mr Shepherd seconded the motion. The Minister of Public Works said the Government could not accept the amendment. It was really a vote of censure on the Government, expressing the opinion that the Government would not deal fairly with its servants, unless under pressure from the House. If the House thought so, they should turn the Government out. The Government would not admit having details of administration dictated by the House, He would not go into the merits of the case at all. The Government had considered them but a fact uf motion. He would not state the decision arrived at.

Moss, Duncan, Weston, and Capt. McKenzie considered the men entitled to the increase asked for, and regretted the action taken by the Government. The case should have been dealt with on its merits. Hall denies that a uniform reduction of 10 per cent, had been made. Wages had only been equalised, and by the scale adopted men were now receiving the same as in 1879. Wages had risen since, and he believed the men were entitled to the increase asked, but the amendment was premature, and should be withdrawn, and the matter left to the Government.

Sir G. Grey said the question was one of justice. He hoped the House would not be frightened at the attitude of the Government.

Macandrew supported the amendment on its merits.

Atkinson sympathised with the men concerned, but thought the Government could not accept the amendment in any other way than they had done. Montgomery said motions of this kind were accepted in the House of Commons, and the Government had accepted Saunders’s motion to make reductions.

Fish said the Government, in attempting to burke the discussion, were acting in a manner calculated to disgust independent members. The Government was a broadcloth one, having no sympathy with working men, and no desire to do its servants justice, except under pressure. Mr Seddon and Mr, M. W. Green supported the amendment. Mr Evans Brown sympathised with the men, but thought the matter should be left to the Government.

Ivess, Joyce, Levestam, and Holmes, supported the amendment. Mr Sutton understood the Government intended to raise the wages, and it should be left to them.

Sheehan, Bracken, Harris, Hutchinson, and Barron, supported the amendment, and condemned the course taken by the Government.