HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2963, 14 August 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTJBIENOON SITTING. Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 to-day. THE BEEE TAX. 3£r Shrimski gave notice to move that the tax on beer be increased from threehalfpence to threepence. SIB JUUTTS TOGEL. Mr McLean gave notice to ask, if the appointment of agent under Inscription of Stock Act had been offered to Sir Julius Vogel; and if not, why it had not been ? OTAGO LOCAL BODIES. Mr McLean also gave notice to ask why a certain sum of money mentioned in the Financial Statement bad not been paid to the Otago local bodies under the Financial Arrangements Act.

MABBIAGE DECEABEB WIFE'S BIBTEE BILL

Mr Hodgkinson gave notice to. ask to introduce a Marriage with Deceased Wife's Sister Bill. THE COUNTIES ACT. Mr Saunders gave notice to move that the Counties Act be repealed. PUBLIC WOBKB STATEMENT. In reply to Mr JEtolleston, the Hon. Mr Macandrew said be might give the Public Works (Statement next week.

COMPLETION OF TH%BOUTHERN BAILWAY. Mr Williams asked if the Government intended to give members an opportunity of visiting the South on the occasion of the opening of the railway from Christchurch to Otago. The Premier said they! would offer no objection, and in formed those desirous of witnessing the ceremony that if they- left on Thursday they could see all that was to be seen, and be back in time for Tuesday's sitting. ;

SCHOOL LIBBABIEB. In reply to Mr O'Rorke, the Hon. Mr Ballanee said the Government would consider the advisability of placing a sum on the supplementary estates for the establishment of school libraries. MINI NO ACCIDENTS. ' A retnrnrwas; promisedof th& number of accidents, fatal or otherwise, which have occurred during the past three years in-mining operations in the colony. -,' MALVEBN COAL.

The Government promised to lay on the table the report of the Christchurch Resident Engineer upon.the use of Maivern coal on the Canterbury railways.

; i I BILL'S BEAD A FIBST TIME. : Onehunga Grammar School Bill; South Borough (Dunedin) Reserve Bill; Napier Swamp Nuisance Act Amendment Bill. THE GOVERNMENT POLICY. On the motion for going into pommittee of Supply, Major Atkinson asked when the Government would draft their bills giving effect to their financial arrangements, as it would be advisable to have all necessary information before them in order to discuss the Government policy. Ihe Hon. J. Ballance said the bills embodying Government proposals were in course of preparation, and it was proposed to take their second reeding on Tuesday next, when, the Government would be prepared to invite a debate upon their whole policy, at any rate they would make such arrangements, either before or after the delivery of the Public Works Statement, as would best suit the convenience of the Opposition. THE ESTIMATES IN COMMITTEE.

The House went into Committee on the estimates. The first item was-' Liabilities 1877-8, £114,440.

Major Atkinson asked for some par* ticulars regarding certain expenditure in excess of what had been voted last year, especially in regard to certain native expenditure. 'A good deal of discussion, took place between Major Atkinson, Mr Stout, and Mr McLean.

Mr Stout and Mr Ballance contended that the information required consisted of a great many details, and they considered it unreasonable to expect the Treasurer to carry in his head all the details relating to each item.

Mr McLean said if they were unable to furnish the information they ought to postpone the item until such time as the Native Minister was present to answer. Mr Ballance was prepared to postpone the item, but Mr O'Korke said it could not be done. .

Major Atkinson said they were prepared to sanction the vote, expecting the Government would subsequently furnish the information asked for.—ltem .passed.

Legislative Departments, £39,597. Some discussion ensued on the new office of Usher-£250.

The Hon. J. Ballance explained that it was customary to place on the estimates the sum recommended by the Speaker, and that in this instance it was considered by tie Speaker that as the Lower House had a Sergeant-at-Arms, the Upper House was very much in want of a similar officer, in conformity with the usage of the House of Lords. It was usual for the Government to accept such a recommendation. Mr McLean said they had better dispense with the Sergeant-at-Arms, in order to dispense with the Usher. Mr Bees thought it would bo wiser to dispense with the office 0/ Usher. Mr Swcnson moved that the item be struck out.

Mr Fitzherbert defended the appointment, on the ground that it was just as necessary as a Sergeant-at-Arms, and if they wished to economise in that direction they should begin at home. Mr Bolleston suggested that the matter

sliould be referred to a Select Committee of both Houses;

Mr Fitzhcrbert said it was the proper practice cf Governments to bring down any item the Speaker of their' House deemed it necessary to place on the estimates, and they ought not to be blamed f,or so doing. He thought it did not necessarily follow they approved of what the Speakers might recommend.

Mr Bowen hoped the Committee would assert its right to freely discuss any proposal of the kind emanating from'either | speaker, without being considered to be | wanting in respect to those officers of the j House. He feared that the appointmentwas nolhing more nor less than the creation of a sinecure. *

Mr Fitzherbert said that a committee of the other House had passed under, their review last session the position of the officers of the Council, and came to the conclusion that the officer referred to was necessary. A division was called for on the item Usher £240,-which was struck out by 40 against 23.

Exception was taken by Mr Kees and Mr Swanson to the addition to the salaries of t- peakers, £203, Chairman of Committees and Clerks of Parliament, £100 each; and also to.a new office of Clerk of Writs, £100.

Mr Fitzherbert said that the office of Clerk of ,the Writs should be jealously looked upon by the House, and the holder of it should be one who should be amenable to the House whether harm had not already been done from the fact uf the Clerk of the Writs, being solely a Government officer.

Mr Stout strongly opposed the view taken by the Sp aker, and argued that the officer should be under the control of the Government in the same way as the Returning Officers and Registration Officers, and other purely executive appointments, and if the appointment was to be made by the Governor on the recommendation of the Speaker, he understood the Speaker to say then that it made matters worse as the Governor had no* right to accept any advice except that of their Ministers. He moved that the item be erased. The debate was interrupted by 5.30.