PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2285, 14 July 1880, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

LGKISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, July 13. The Hon. J. T. Peacock called attention to the fact that a notice of motion which he had given, proposing that Councillors this year should not take the honorarium, had been telegraphed to the Northern and Southern newspapers by the Press Association in such a form as to convey a meaning the exact opposite of his own. In consequence he had been subjected to some severe comments by the Press. He was glad to say, however, that the reporters had been good enough in a letter to explain the cause of the error, but he thought it necessary to make this statement to the Council. The Hon G. M. Waterhouse moved for a return of all employed under the Education Act. He alluded to the great charge upon the colony for education, and said that the children of the country were being educated above their station, and were all bent upon getting miserable clerkships, Ac., in preference to becoming useful settlers. Colonel Whitmore and the Hon W. H. Reynolds reiterated Mr Waterhouse’s remarks, and said the teacher’s were far too highly paid, and were not to be subjected to the same reduction as the Civil Service. Teachers of too high attainments were also ' employed to teach infants rudiments. The Hon. H. K. Taiaroa’s motion that the draining of Lake Ellesmere should not be proceeded with unless the Natives were compensated for loss of fishing rights was negatived by 13 votes to 7.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Hon. J. Bryce laid on the table the report o£ the Commission on Native reserves. The Hon. J. Hall said that the 10 per cent reductions would be made to apply to salaries under the Permanent Account and Pensions Act, but that no distinction would be made between pensions drawn by absentees and those drawn by residents. The reduction, however would not be made to apply to Judges, whose salaries were fixed by law and unalterable during their tenure of office. In reply to Mr Andrews Mr Oliver stated that the Commissioner of Railways would be located in the place where he had the most important duties to discharge in the interests of the department generally. At the present tipe it appears Dunedin required his attention in that way. Replying to Mr Richardson, Mr Oliver said Government had no intention to remove the passenger station at Timaru from its present site between Strathallan and George streets. EXrKXDITUUK OF THK LATH OOVKUNMKXT. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Ballancc drew attention to a paper laid on the table, purporting to show that the late Government expended a sum of £11,230,529 during their two years of office. He took exception to that statement. The total expenditure during the given period was, he contended. only £3,072,009. In considering the question as to whether or not that was extravagant expenditure, he had to remind them of the tact that their predecessors in office had spent during a similar period as much as £4,404531. Major Atkinson said that the charge he had made against the late Minister for Public Works was that he spent money without knowing anything about it. What he wanted to bring home to the people of Xew Zealand was that they had spent a sum of £11,000,000. It did not matter what it was spent for ; it had passed the Treasury, and that amount of the people’s money was spent. The motion for going into Committee of Supply 'was then put and carried. THK KSTI.MATKS. On the vote Electoral Department, £3OBO, Mr Turnbull moved its reduction by £IOOO. The amendment was negatived. A further amendment that it be reduced by £250 was agreed to. Audit Office, £8450, The Hon T. Dick proposed that this vote be sent for consideration to the Public Accounts Committee. The vote was withdrawn, on the understanding that it would be brought up at some future time. On the vote —Government Statistic Department. £13,910, Mr Dick moved that it be reduced to £OOO. Mr Adams moved—“ That the item Registrars of Marriages be struck out, and the duties delegated to Resident Magistrates.” The amendment was negatived. Yote, Geological and Meteorological Department, £3050. Mr Dick said they proposed to abolish the expenses of weather reports and storm signals, amounting to £IO7O. Mr Reader "Wood said that with the exception of the meteorological reports, all the rest was scientific nonsense. He proposed the reduction of the vote by £2OOO. The vote as printed was agreed to. Yote, New Zealand Institution, £SOO. An amendment tor striking out the vote was carried on a division by 30 to 23. Yote Agent-General, £4OOO. The vote was withdrawn!. The vote Charitable Institutions £25,000, w r as put. and carried. The vote Lunatic Asylums £36,547 15s, was reduced by £1741.

Printing and stationery, £24,552 10s. The vote was reduced by £2300 and passed. Yolo sheep and cattle, £13,000 was passed, Vote miscellancoys services, £30,0670 10s lid was reduced by £2500. The item introduction of salmon and white fish ova, £BOO, was omitted, Item—Compilation of Maori history £4,500. A motion to strike it out was lost on division by 25 to 10. Mr Whitaker moved its reduction by £4OO and the discussion proceeded until progress was reported. At an earlier period a vote of £4OOO for the Melbourne Exhibition was agreed to, Mr Dick stating that Dr Hector had received strict injunctions not to exceed it. The House rose at 2.45 a.m.