PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 28 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27. , (Press Association.—By Telegraph). HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 27. The House met at 2.30. Four weeks' leave of absence was granted to Mr Rhodes, on the grounds of ill-health. Four days' leave of u£>scnee was granted to Mr Baume on urgent private business. The amendment made in the Legislative Council to the Costley Training Institute Bill was agreed to on the voices. Mr Gray gave notice of a question asking if a certain District Court Judge received 31s 6d per day travelling allowance whether he travelled or not, in addition to a railway pass for himself and wife. • ' '

Arising out of a report by the M to Z Petitions Committee concerning the petition of Mr Mcintosh, late general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, for payment for services as auditor during the time he held the position of general manager, a long discussion ensued. The Committee recommended that tho petition lie on the table. Mr Aitkcn said he desired to place on ft»cord his views regarding the petition. He had listened to the evidence, and considered that Mr Mcintosh had made out his case. He did not hear evidence in rebuttal, and was unaware as to whether any had been called or not. The Hon. Mr Duncan said Mr Mcintosh was not justified in his petition. He was claiming for payment as audi-

tor of the Bank of New Zealand during the period he was in receipt of a salary as general manager. Mr Kutherford said he had occupied the position of chairman of the Committee during the absence of Mr Buddo, and he had heard no evidence to justify jir Mcintosh's petition. Petitioner had occupied the position of auditor at £1750 a year, and subsequently accepted the position as general manager at a salary of £2OOO a year, which was eventually increased to £2250. During the time lie was manager, his salary was paid monthly, yet he never made complaint during that time that te was not being paid auditor's salary, and it was not until after he had retired from the Bank altogether that this demand for dual

salary was made. Mr Jas. Allen said the Government nominees on the Board of Directors were responsible for Mr Mcintosh's retire-

ment. ■•■] -iH-.il The Premier said he would not have referred to the matter but for the fact that the member for Bruce was seeking to make political capital out of the subject. As far as his knowledge of Mr Mcintosh went, it was only right to say that he had no fault to find with the manner in which he had performed his duties as auditor He was entitled to the fullest acknowledgement of his services in that direction. Thjy must all recognise that he did most excellent work. He thought, when Mr Mcintosh decided to accept the position of general manager of the Bank that he was making a mistake and he thought so still, but the Government did not do anything to oppose his assuming the higher-paid office of general manager. From the time he took over that office he ceased to be responsible to the Government as general manager. The work of auditor was earned by another officer. An attempt had teen made to place the responsibility of Mr Mcintosh's retirement on the Government's shoulders, by asserting that he was driven from his position by the Government. He could only say in reply to that, the decision of the directors was unanimous. The Government had nothing to do with his /ctirenient. He might say thai Mr Mcintosh's retirement was not owing to any mistake ho might have made nor to bis lack of ability, or that he had dono anything wrong. He had made no bad debts or losses. the Premier stated that the friction between Mr Mcintosh and the directors had nothing to do with the Government. In conclusion, he stated that Mr Mcintosh admitted that he would not have mado the claim had the directors of the Bank treated him differently when he retired. Mr Massey said.Mir Mcintosh resigned his position as general manager owing to prcßaure being brought t6. bear by the Government nominees on" the Board of Directors.

Mr Laurenson said that when applications were made by high salaried officials, the compensation granted was out of proportion to services rendered, whereas if a man earning 7s a day petitioned, little was heard of it.

Mr Buddo, in reply, said the House had notliing to do with Mr Mcintosh's appointment The Colonial Treasurer had the matter thrust upon him in having to approve of the Auditor-Gen-eral. Mr Mcintosh's reputation as a banker had in no way suffered through the inquiry. He moved that the petition lie on the table.

The motion was agreed to, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

The House resumed at 7.30.

Mr Massey said lie desired to remind the Premier of the statement made to the House last week that the Government would arrange for an inquiry into | the circumstances connected with the ! Customs expert and travelling allowances, lie suggested that the enquiry should take the form of a Parliamentary committee. He himself would like the opportunity of examining the expert. Rumor stated that other officers were drawing travelling allowances whether travelling or not. The Premier said he proposed to v r>;fer this matter to a Parliamentary committee. He hoped to be able to announce to the House in the course of a day or two who the committee would be. AN IMPIIIiST SUPPLY BILL.

Was brought down by Governor's Mesage for £OOO,OOO. On the motion to go into Committee of ways and means, Air Massey slid the number of itunis in the tariff had been reduced since the first proposals were introduced, but the Customs ollicers had refused to give a rebate on articles which had already bean paid, and he undei stood instructions had been given to all Customs officers to refuse rebates. The Premier said the Customs- officers were acting in, perfectly proper manner, ai< no rebates could be given until Parliament granted power to do so. , ;

The House then went into eotaivittee.

Mr Herries urged that a vigorous poicy of reading should be adopted in the lorthern districts. | Mr Wilford advocated that allowances paid to railway servants should be ini eluded in salaries.

I Mr Massey pressed for an amendment to the Advances to Settlers Act in the direction of expediting the granting of a title to purchasers for cash. The Premier said the position of the Public Works Fund was perfectly satisfactory, and all that was required was

provided for the works of the Public Works Department. It was, he said, very amusing to hear members speaking about the Railway Department He could not think that members had list-

ened to what he had previously said on the matter. The amendments to ! the railway classification scheme would take two or three days in discussion. To imagine that the necessary amendments could be effected by a clause of the Imprest Supply Bill was too funny for words. As he had already stated, ho Government intended to bring down n amendment to the classification

eliemc. Proceeding, he referred to the delays which had occurred, and asked members to support him in getting on with the business, otherwise they would have to go oh till Christmas, and then adjourn, and return after the New Year. ! Replying to Mr Herries, he stated thai, no undue delay was made in paying for public works. Kef erring to the demands for roads and bridges, he said a number of these that had been made was outrageous, and the Minister for Public Works could not meet the excessive demands that were pouring in, and if members continued in their demands, all he could say was that they wouldbe grievously disappointed. In reply to Mr Massey, he said he was only too ready to see the work of the Advances to Settlers Department carried out to I ho fullest extent possible.

Mr Massey said the Premier intended to infer that a policy of obstruction had. been adopted by the Opposition. He took the opportunity to deny it He contended that the present Opposition was the most reasonable that ever faced the Treasury benches. Where, he asked, were the policy measures? The Tariff Bill had not been considered Item by item, although Parliament had been in session two months. He characterised the Pure Food Bill as discreditable to the man who drafted it, and the executive who placed it before Parliament. He was quite prepared to stay till Christmas, but he considered the Premier would be as mHi t« ssh« Bwlia-

Jment Buildings at the close of tlie session as any other number.

I The Premier referred to the delay that iliad occurred in debating the Consolidat-

Ed Estimates, particularly the Cook Islands section, which occupied four hours, mainly of Opposition members' remarks, and at the same sitting only two otliw classes disposed of by fa<)? o'clock in the morning. He disclaimed any responsibility for the delay in regard to )lio Land and Assessment Bills. THE TARIFF BILL.

The Tariff Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The Message was referred to a committee of the. House and agreed to. On the House resuming, Mr Berths complained that liie Govermn'"i h . had broker, faith with the House in regard to trie resolutions, in depriving lreuibei t of two opportunities of discussion of the -esolutions in full. He added that .nem-

bers had been jockeyed out of their liights by the Premier and Minister for Customs.

Mr Millar contended that neither he nor any member of the Government had been guilty., r.r would be guilty, of "joekeying" the rights of any member of the House He contended that every item could be fully discussed in committee.

Mr Jas. Allen admitted that every opportunity would be available to discuss the items in committee.

'Die Imprest Bill was put through all stages. After further discussion as to proceedure had taken place, the Bill was read a first time and set down for its second reading to-morrow. ESTIMATES.

The House then went into Committee of Supply. The first class taken was the Valuation Department, total vote £33,592. Mr Hemes urged that valuers should be paid better salaries, as the best men were leaving the service. Mr' McNab said increases had been granted, and he realised that the number and remuneration would have to be increased along with their responsibilities. He hoped to be able to do away with anomalies that at present existed.

(Left Sitting.)