PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 106, 20 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Prisons Amendment Bill and the Marriage Amendment Bill were passed, and the Hawkc's Bay Rivers Amendment Bill was put through the committee stages. The Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wellington, Yesterday. THE PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. ' After midnight, consideration in committee of the Public Service Bill was continued. Mr. Laurenson declaimed against the action of the Minister in bringing down amendments during the evening, practically putting the whole of the public service under the rule of an autocrat. Mr. Forbes believed there would bo such a storm of objections to the Bill that the Government would drop it altogether. Several members endorsed Mr. Laurenson's objections to the Minister bringing down at the last moment a long series of amendments, and it was urged that an opportunity should be given to those who objected to the Bill to give evidence before the Select Committee.

Mr. Massey said that so long as the Post and Telegraph service was under the control of the Minister, the officers of that department would be subject to Ministerial influence. He indicated that while he did not believe in legislation by exhaustion, business would "have to be done if they sat till Christmas. At 1.15 the first three clauses passed, and the House rose. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. Mr. Herdman laid on the table a statement from the Public Trustee, rebutting the imputations made by the Civil Service Commission on the management of the Public Trust Office. Messrs. Forbes and Witty asked the Minister to see that the utmost publicity was given to the statement. Mr. Witty thought that the Trustee was discharging his duties thoroughly. Sir J. G. Ward quoted from the report the recommendation of the Commission that an Inspector of Realisation should be appointed. He agreed with the suggestion, but could not concur with the Commission's finding, without seeing the evidence upon which they based their contentions.

Mr. Statham stated tliat lie had heard a Judge in Chambers remark that the more wills the Public Trust Office prepared for its clients, the better would it be for the legal profession. Mr. Hcrdman, replying, said that' a new Bill would be introduced this session to clothe Public Trust Offices in Dunedin, Christchurch, and probably Auckland, with greater authority and power than they at present possess. With regard to an Inspector of Securities he had found that at present there was no proper system of inspection, and he suggested that two proper inspectors should be appointed. The business of (he Public Trust Office was growing to such an extent that the constitution of it would have to be altered. He thought some men with business training should be appointed to assist the Trustee, and he intended submitting the matter to Cabinet. BARMAIDS' REGISTRATION ACT. The Barmaids' Registration Bill (Massey) was read for the first time. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. The House went into committee on the Public Service Bill. Mr. Davey moved an amendment excluding the Post and Telegraph officers from the operation of the Bill. Mr. Wilford moved a prior amendment, excluding officers of the Defence Forces from the operation of the Bill. Mr. Hcrdman said that his impression .was that he had told a deputation that he could not see his way to exclude the Post and Telegraph Department from the operation of the Bill. Mr. Wilford assured the Minister that the officers of that Department were unanimous in their desire to be excluded. The Minister: That is not so. Mr. Wilford said that the Minister would shortly receive a letter bearing out his (Mr. Wilford's) statement. The Minister declared, with emphasis,, that there had been no attempt, on his part, to bring pressure to bear on the Post and Telegraph Department. He did not propose to exclude that Department from the Bill. If it was excluded the Bill would be. dropped. The Government was promoting the Bill in the interests of the public, and not in the interests of a few members of certain departments. He had made concessions in tlif Bill to members of that Department, and beyond that be did not propose to go. The House adjourned.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The evening debate in committee on the Public Service resumed. At clause 4, exempting the police and defence forces, and certain other officers, several members entered protests against the inclusion of the Post and Telegraph Department in the operation of the Bill. Mr. Fisher said that the commissioners would probably save the country something like £300,000. Mr. Laurenson said that the employment of three autocrats at Ministerial salaries to administer 450 people, was iniquitous. Mr. Massey said that the Government were going to take the responsibility for passing the Bill, which lie believed went in the right direction. He had received a telegram, stating that the Bill was generally acceptable to officers of the Post and Telegraph Department. It was almost demanded by the great bulk of the public servants. Whatever happened, they were going to put the Bill through. Mr. Rhodes said that the Post and Telegraph classification was the one on which the Bill was based. He was convinced that the Department would benefit by the measure. Mr. Davevs' amendment was negatived by 30 to 20. The Minister moved an amendment, providing that the Act shall not apply to any officer, or elas* of officers, to whom or to \vhich_ on the recommendation of the Commissioner, for special reasons, the Governor declares that the Act shall not apply. Mr. McKeiizic moved as an amendment that the House should decide which class of officer should come under the Act.