PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2294, 24 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Eui day, July 23. Replying to Colonel Whitmore, Mr Whitaker said the Government were considering what to do concerning the Maori disturbance at Hawkes Bay, but no decision hail yet been come to. Replying to Mr Waterhouse, Mr Whitaker said Government was in no way responsible, and had nothing to do with the liabilities incurred by the Wanganui Education Board. On the motion for the committal of the Maori Prisoners Bill, Messrs Mantell and "Wood expressed strong opposition to the principle. Mr Buckley thought it -idlra vires.

Sir F. D. Bell and Colonel Whitmore spoke in support of the Bill. Captain Eraser thought Government ought to liberate a dozen of the prisoners, who wore old and decrepid, for the climate of Dunedin would soon kill them. They should be taken back to their homes whether they were willing or not. Colonel Brett thought we were showing great pusillanimity in the matter in being afraid of a few Maoris. If Col. Roberts was instructed, he could go through the country and deal with the whole 30,000 Maoris. He blushed for his flag, waved a thousand years, that we should be acting so cowardly.

Mr Scotland thought the Bill was brought in in the interests of West Coast settlers, who would always want this sort of legislation, even if there were only a dozen old women there.

Mr "Whitaker thought if there were old women, then Mr Scotland had better go and keep them company. Mr Williamson thought the passing of the Bill was imperative The Bill was then passed throng!) Committee.

Captain Fraser proposed an amendment that the operation of the Bill should cease on October 31, and Colonel Whitmore another amendment that the prisoners should he tried before their discharge. Both wore rejected. On a motion for the third reading, Mr Waterhouse proposed a resolution that the Council had only passed the Bill to meet an emergency, and that, if the existing law was insulllciont for all wants, the Government amend this resolution.

This wasjrojccte-d after some discussion, and the third reading was carried by 2-1 votes to 4. The District Courts Act was read a third time. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill was read a third time. The Council adjourned at o p.m. HOUSE OF X F PEE SEN TATI YE S. Mr J. B. Fisher gave notice that he would ask if the MTlouald who was appointed Land Purchase Commissioner is the same who was convicted of shooting two mail coach horses at Palmerston some time ago.

Ministers in reply lo questions said the Government recognised the sclfsacriilcc made by the minors employed recovering the bodies of Ihe men killed in the Government sludge channel at Xumara, hut thought it would be an insult to offer them payment for their services. Government would oppose as unnecessary (he proposal to print a supplementary Hansard in Maori of the speeches of the native members, sxmmv. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Seymour said he understood the Legislative Vote would he brought on. He desired to state that the proposed increase in the salary of the Chairman of C mmittccs had been placed upon the Estimates without his knowledge, and he wished not only to say he would not accept it if voted, but ho would cheerfully submit to any further reduction the circumstances of the colony might require.

The motion was carried. Vote, miscellaneous item, £-150, compilation of Maori history. Air Whitaker moved that it be reduced £4OO. Air Gisborne said that what the Committee wanted was some finality, and that no more than a fixed sum would be required for the completion. Year after year for the last fifteen years they had been asked to vote sums for the Maori lexicon, and seemingly these demands would never come to an end.

Mr Hall said it was quite impossible to postpone the work. It must either go on or drop altogether. Mr Dick said the Government recognised the importance of some finality, and with that view he would agree that the sum be made £3OO, on the understanding that a bonus would bo given on the completion of the work to the satisfaction of the House.

The vote, as reduced, was put and carried. The vote, as reduced from £30,670 10s lid to £28,201 os lid, was then put and carried. Class I, Legislative Department, was brought on for consideration. Mr Hall said that in view of the fact of the 20 per cent reduction proposed on Ministers’ salaries, he thought members should do something. He would move it in proper order. Sir G. O’Korkc said he would justify his proposal to increase the salary of the Chairman of Commitees by £IOO. Last year members had received two sessions’ honorarium, while for the first of tho two sessions the Chairman of Committees had only been paid £3O instead of £2lO. Members were not Civil servants and they should not be subjected to a reduction of honorarium. Mr Eulton said they could not stay there and cut the salaries of others down, and not reduce themselves. He would go further, and move that the honorarium be reduced to £l5O. That was sufficient to pay all reasonable expenses in respect of their attendance in Parliament.

Vote, Legislative Council, £USO._ Mr Murray moved that the item, Chairman of Committees (in addition to permanent salary of TOGO), £IOO, be struck out.

Ayes, ,‘35 ; nocs, 35. The chairman gave his casting vote with the noes so as to leave the item for further consideration. A motion that it be reduced TDD was carried, the Premier promising that a bonus would be placed on the supplementary estimates to compensate for any loss last session. Item, £SO, Chairman of Public Petitions Committee. Mr Andrews moved that it be struck out.

Carried. Item, £IOO, Cleric —in addition to permanent salary, £IOO.

Mr Andrews moved that it be struck out. He contended that £4OO was was quite sufficient for the week.

Mr Swanson contended that £4OO was quite sufficient for four months work.

Major Atkinson and Mr Bowen opposed the reduction.

After further discussion the question was put that the item be struck out. Ayes, 39 ; noes, 39. It was accordingly struck out.

Item, £350, Clerk’s Assistant,

Mr Andrews proposed a reduction of £SO, and pointed out the office only involved four mouths’ work.

Replying to Mr Richardson, it was stated that the 10 per cent, reduction did not apply to these salaries. Mr Hall opposed the reductions, stating that the duties of these officers were most onerous.

The question for reducing was put — Ayes, 38 ; noes, 34. Reduced to £3OO.

Item £2OO, second clex’k, assistant. Mr Andrews moved that it be reduced £2O.

Mr Macandrew moved that it be struck olf.

Mr Hall protested against this mode of striking out items. The motion for reducing the item b} r £2O was carried.

Item £l5O, extra clerk, clerical assistance, and interpreter, £2OO. _ Passed. Vote, House of Representatives. Item, Mr Speaker (addition ro permanent salary, £G00), £2OO. Mr Saunders moved that the item £2OO be omitted. Agreed to. Item, Chairman of Committee (addition to permanent salary £400), £2OO. The motion that the £2OO be omitted was agreed to. Item, Chairman of Public Petitions Committee, £IOO. A motion that the item be struck out was carried.

The items, Chairman of Native Affairs Committee £L'O, and Chairman of Wastc Lands Committee £IOO were struck out.

Item, Cleric of Parliament (additional to permanent salary, £G00), £IOO. Mr Hall said that this was in reality no addition, but the amount he had been actually receiving for the last seven years. Mr Saunders moved that the item be struck out. The item was carried.

Item, clerk’s assistant (additional to permanent salary £100) £IOO. Mr Seddou said that after the last vote, he did not think the Government was sincere in its profession about retrenchment.

Mr Peeves said that the Government had proposed a 10 per cent reduction, and having neglected to make any reduction on the last item, he did not belivc in the sincerity of their professions.

The House divided and the item was carried as printed, on the division of 22 to 54.

Item, second clerk, assistant, £4OO,

Mr George said this officer was engaged the whole year round. The item, as printed was passed. Item, Sergeant-at-Anns. £250. Mr George moved that the item be reduced to £SO. They could get a member of the armed constabulary to do the work very well for that amount,

Mr Turnbull proposed to omit the item altogether.

The House divided on the question that the item be omitted altogether. Ayes, 22 ; Noes, 43. The item was passed. Item, passages of members, £llsO. Item, reduced bv £250.

Horn, expenses of members of both Houses. £21,5(55. Mr Hall moved a reduction of 20 per cent. Mr Murray moved that the reducbe £IO,OOO. Mr M‘Caughan moved that the reduction be 20 per cent, and Legislative Councillors 50 per cent. The motion for reduction by £IO,OOO was put : Ayes, 15 ; noos, 50. The motion for the reduction of 20 per cent was put: Ayes, 55 ; noes, 30. Mr J. T. Fisher moved that the amount be reduced 10 per cent. Mr Allwright moved that it be reduced 15 per cent. Mr Hall supported the proposal for a 15 per cent reduction. The House divided on the proposal to reduce the vote by 15 per cent. Ayes, 33, noes, 37. Mr Fisher moved that the amount ho reduced by 10 per cent —Ayes,49, noes, 20. The House then adjourned.