HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2966, 17 August 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON.

Friday.

The House met at 2.30 to-day. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. Mr Pyke presented a petition from the Catholics of Otago and Southland praying that their schools may be placed on the same footing as other schools: CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLOHIES. ■ Mr Fox gave notice to ask that His Excellency be requested to place in the hands of the House all correspondence between His Excellency and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. CHINESE IMMIGRATION. Mr Keeves gave notice to more that the House is of opinion that, in view of a probable influx of Chinese from the neighbouring colonies, legislation is called for. . "RAILWAY PASSES. , . Mr Pyke gave notics to move for a return of the number of free_ railway passes issued.

INBCBIFTION OF STOCK ACT.

Mr McLean asked who were the agents appointed under Inscription of Stock Act? If the agency had been offered to Sir Julius Vogel, and if not, why not? The Premier said the agents appointed were Messrs Larnach, Julian, Sergeant, and Omanny. About the same time Sir J. Vogel had intimated that he would probably resign the Agent-Gen* ralship, and as the Government knew that he was thinking of entering into something else, the agency was not offered to him. 80UTHEBN BAILWAT. „

Mr Pyke asked if the Government would cause a survey to be made of the line from the Clyde to Cromwell arid Lake Wanaka, in continuation of the Ota go Central Railway via Strath Taieri. The- Hon., Mr Macandrew Baid the question would be answered in the Public WorJcs Statement. DOMAINS OF CANTEBBTTEY. Mr Bo wen asked how the amount voted last year for the. domains of Canterbury had been expended; also whether the whole sum appropriated under the vote had been distributed for the improvement and maintenance of domains.

The Hon. Mr Stout replied.that the whole sum .voted had been paid to the local governing bodies. He laid on the table a return •howing the distribution of the vote. In reply to further questions by Mr Bow«n, he added that the Government had no information as to whether the money had been properly expended by the bodies to whom it was distributed, but if Mr Bowen would put the question in a more definite shape, he would answer it. THE KAIPABA WHABF. Mr Bowen asked whether the attention of the Minister for Public Works had been drawn to the injury done to the Kaipara embankment by the groin above the railway bridge; also whether he would have the injury repaired. The Hon. Mr Macandrew replied that several surveys had been held and the engineers were unanimously of opinion that it was not the groin, but the protective works undertaken by local bodies which had caused the.mischief. FIBHEBIES BILL. In replying toMr Feldwick the Hon. Mr Macandrew said that in the Fisheries Bill to be introduced by the Government would be found clauses protecting the seal fisheries on the coasts of New Zealand.

BE-OBGANISING THE VOLTJNTEEB FOBCES. •In reply to Mr Feldwick the Hon. J. Ballance stated the Government were taking steps to re-organise the volunteer forces, and would lay particulars before the House in a few days. '

CORRESPONDENCE WITH CfiOWN AGENTB, &C.

The Hon. J. Ballance, in reply to Mr McLean, promised to lay on the table all unpublished correspondence and instructions between the Government and the Crown Agents, Loan Agents, and the Agent-General. # THE BLECTOEA.Ii BOLLS. In feply to Mr Bo wen, a return was promised of the number of electors registered in the several electoral districts on the new rolls for the year. JILLS BEAD A FIBST TIME. The Excise Duty on Beer; Customs Tariff Act Amendment: Preservation of Fisheries ; Bluff Harbor Board Amendment; and Duly of Joint Stock Companies Bills. . sib w. mabtin's pension. • JL good deal of objection was taken to the introduction of a bill for increasing the annuity of Sir William Martin from £333 to £500, but the bill was read a first time, after a division, the votes being 42 against seven. Protests were then made by Mr McLean and Mr Swanson against the practice of giving pensions. It was. said this, being an exceptional case, should be treated exceptionally, but the House o^lght to set its face against establishing such a dangerous precedent. If they did this for Sir William Martin, they would be sure to see several others following in his wake. IMPBEST SUPPLY, &C.

A second Imprest Supply Billfor another two hundred and fifty thousand was read a second time. ,; . * The Hon. J. Ballanoeexplained that the Treasury had only^thirty thousand left, and in another day or so there would be no funds at the Bank. 'The House will go into Committee of Supply on the estimates at 7.30. A considerable portion of the afternoon was occupied ovev the question of how a petition praying for relief or a specific sum of money should be introduced.

EVENING SITTING.

•Friday.The House of Representatives'resumed at 7.30. . • . The Itnprest Supply Bill was passed without amendment. • THE ESTIMATES; The House then went iuto Committee iip^n the estimates, Objection was taken to the following addition to the salaries made on recommendation of the Speaker, viz. :— Addition to Speaker's salary, £200; addition salary Chairman Committees, £100'; addition Clerk to Parliament's salary, £100; also" to a new salary, Clerk of Writs, £100.

The Hon. J. Ballance quoted statistics co show that all the above officers received smaller salaries than similar officers in any of the Australian Colonies.

Mr Swanson and Mr Rees asked that a fixed salary be decided upon at once for all these officials, and stop the bringing down of these annual additions, as if they were accidents.

Mr Sannders-opposed the increases as unjissfcifiaH* expenditure, and if no one elso did it he would divide thX House upon every item. He moved; Ltfat they be struck out. ; ■■„...-,.n

Mr Swanson vehemently demanded that the House should reject all the items, and compel the Government to bring down a bill fixing the salaries once for all, and let them prevent such offensive and unseemly discussions for the future. After nearly two .hours' discussion, a division was called by Mr Saunders, and the additions were retained by 54 against 17. ' "' ■■:-- i-'-'. ■-*-: . ."■ ■.. The item Clerk of Wtiis t , £100; wai struck out on the voices. ■'"•-. - '>-■-'? :i Sergeant-at-Arms, £250. Mr Swanuon moved, that it be struck out. Item retained. . „-..'..'■ Reader, £150 Mr Bees moved that it be reduced to what it was last year, £160. . Item agreed to. The House is still in Committee. I ' Later. . -

' . This day. ' . The House continued on the estimates till one o'clock this morning; there being a great deal of discussion with regard to expenses of members and Bellamy's. There were several divisions but ultimately the remainder of the legislative vote was passed without altering.