PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 274, 28 December 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, December 24. In the House this afternoon, when the vote on the Supplementary Jlsti mates,' £4OO salary of the financial adviser to the Government in Loudon came up for consideration, Mr. Masscy expressed surprise and indignation that Sir Joseph Ward should have placed this vote on the supplementary estimates' after it had been voted out by the House when the Estimates were under consideration. He accused the Premier of using the Governor for party purposes, and said the action of the Premier was highly improper, and placed the House in an awkward position. Sir Joseph Ward denied that he inn! used tin; Governor for party purposes. It was necessary that the vote should lie made, and he had taken the con otitnlional course in putting it on the Supplementary Estimates for reconsideration. Had he paid the salary to the Financial Adviser he should have been accused of making a surreptitious pay- ' ment,

Mr. Masscy then moved to reduce the vote by ,£399, and lie asked the chairman if he could call for 398 divisions on the motions to reduce the vote by £399 downwards'.

The chairman said the position was that Mr. Masscy could divide the House in tlio way suggested. Mr. Massey said he would do so. In the discussion which followed, Mr. Wright said a common jury could not be asked to reconsider its verdict, yet the Government which was' above the law was asked to reconsider its vote. Mr. Uogan contended that the matter rested with the House. It was for the majority of members to say if the Prime Minister's action was right or wrong. Mr. Herdman said Sir Joseph Ward's principle was to get the 00 members who had voted against the amount to change theii' opinions. Tlic Premier had no regard for principle in regard to the conduct of public outness. He suggested as a way out of the difficulty that the amount owing the Financial Adviser at present be paid, plus six months' salary in lieu of notice, the vote on the ■Estimates to be reduced accordingly,

On a division, the motion for reduction was lost by 27 to 18. Jlr. Allen moved the reduction of the vote by £398. This was lost on a division by 27 to 18. Jlr. Masscy then moved the reduction by £397. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply to Mr. Guthrie, said he was doing the right and proper thing. He would sit till tlie day of judgment if necessary to carry the vote. Those who opposed the vote put thcmselveß in the position of being party to a breach of faith with the ex-High Commissioner. Mr. Allen said the whole trouble was that the opposition to the vote was an indication that the office should be abolished. If tlie Premier gave that assurance, that was' all he wanted. Those who voted for tlie retention of tlie vote voted for the continuance of this office. The motion was lost on a division by 26 votes to 19.

Mr. Dive then moved reduction by £398..

Mr. Massey suggested that progress be reported. He objected to Hie vote being reinserted when smii a small number of members were present, many ot whom desired to get home for Christmas.

Sir Joseph Ward said he was not responsible for members who were away. He had carried out the constitutional practice, and under these circumstances he could not see his way to agree to Mr. Massey's suggestion. When the time came, he would move the necessary adjournment over the holidays, but desired to get rid of as many of 309 divisions as possible. The Financial Adviser had to receive six months' notice, and he would be quite prepared when that elapsed to give the House an opportunity to say whether the oiriee should be continued. I Mr. Massey said he had no doubt that I in a full House the vote would not have been carried. He was quite agreeable to pay the Hon. W. P. Iteeves all he had earned, and to vote the necessary amount, but he could not agree to the reinstatement of the whole vote simply to please the Premier. Mr. Davoy said he was satisfied with Sir Joseph Ward's statement, and suggested a compromise on the lines laid down by the Premier. Mr, Herries suggested that the vote be reduced by £1 as an indication of the promise made by the Premier to allow the House a chance next year to abolish the office if it so des'ired.

Sir Joseph Ward further explained what he was prepared to do, and recapitulated the position with regard to the vote. If the present stonewall continued he would move after a while to ask the House to adjourn over the holidays' and come back thereafter to conclude business. He was not responsible for the present position in the House. He would in June next give the House opportunity to reconsider the matter.

The discussion was continued till 5.30, when the House adjourned till 7.30.