SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 147, 8 November 1912, Page 5

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.

PASS UNALTERED. By Telegraphs-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. On resuming at 2.30 ! p.m; the House went into committee on the Estimates. Working Railways Department, £B46:' Mr. Poland moved a reduction by £1 on the ground that the compassionate allowance of £SO to Adam Phillip was insufficient. This was defeated by 32 to 20. ' On the Supreme Court vote Sir J, G. Ward moved a reduction of £1 in order to ascertain from the AttorneyGeneral what method he is following in selecting lawyers as King's Counsel. He asked whether these appointments were to be bestowed only on Auckland and Wellington lawyers. Wellington al- ; ready had a considerably preponderating number of King's counsel, as compared with other centres. Mr. Isitt said that Mr. C. B. Morrison was ;\ prominent and enthusiastic Reform supporter, and such appoint- ' ments as this gave rise to the cry of "Spoils to tne victors." Mr. Herdman said that lawyers desirous of this distinction must apply for it, and if worthy of it they were appointed. There had been no application from outside the four centres. Mr. Morison's work on company law was practically the standard work, and he was recognised as an authority on n* tive matters. Sir Joseph Ward said lhat this, was the first he had heard that lawyers have

to apply for this distinction. The previous lot of appointments included promi. nent supporters of the then Opposition, such as Mr. Bell. Mr. Davey said it was strange there were now seven King's counsel in Wellington and only one in Christchurch. Mr. Statham said it was recognised in Dunedin that the strongest bar in the Dominion was that of Wellington. Sir Joseph urged that the Appeal Court should sit in each of the four centres in turn. The item was passed unaltered. In the Cook Island's vote of £BIO Messrs. Escott and Mine protested against keeping the secretary of the department in Wellington at £OOO per annum and to a controversy over the medical officer in the group. Dr. Pomare replied that the natives of the Cook Islands were better looked after than any other natives in the Pacific. Dr. Newman asked whether the Government were taking steps to appoint a resident Commissioner. Dr. Pomare said that the matter would be gone fully into during the recess. f Mr. Massey added that appointments would probably be made within a very short period. Mr. Laurenson expressed his appreciation of the granting of an annuity of £l5O per annum to Lady Steward. On the defence vote, Mr. Escott asked the Minister to guarantee not to exceed the estimate. He thought the defence scheme was costing the country more than it ought to. It would' have been cheaper to follow out the Australian scheme. ' . . Mr.> Allen said that the Australian scheme was costing more than Lord Kitchener's estimate. The cost of equipment was very heavy this year. On the Land and Survey Department vote, Mr. Buchanan considered that the valuers' salaries were inadequate. Mr. Massey replied that he was trying to get the best men available, and would provide adequate salaries. In. the State Forests branch, Mr. G. M. Thompson asked whether the appoint.ment of a State Forester would be made. Mr. Massey replied that during the recess a commission would be appointed to go into the whole matter. The whole estimates passed without alteration.