PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3603, 14 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Per Pbess Association.)

HOUSE OF, REPRESENTATIVES

Wellington, Tuesday.

The house met at 2.30 to-day.

In replying to questions it was stated that Government bad made no provision for the wives and children of the native prisoners, and did not believe they were in destitute circumstances.

Gorertiment would take steps to recover from the Westport colliery the expenses the colony was put to in consequence of the company through their mine manager refusing to employ miners brought to the colony at his request.

The main road through Te Puke block, Tauranga, would be taken in hand at once.

The reduction of 10 per cent, would include the salaries under the permanent Act, with the exception of judges and also pensions. The South Island Railway Commissioner would be located in tb« place where he had the most important duties to discharge and where he could look after the interest of his department. The itakaia Gorge bridge would be proceeded with at once.

On the motion for going into Committee of Supply. Mrßallance took exception to the statement laid on the table showing that a late Governmenthadspeotasum of £11,238,527 during its term of office. He said it improperly included expenditure under the Permanent Act, interest on loans, and other expenditure, absolutely beyond the control of any administration, together with these portions of the land fold which, before that fund was delocalised, was paid over to the local bodies. These different charges represented £4,322,457, and if tMkt^were deducted it would be found that tue expenditure had been made on a much more economical principle than the expenditure of their predecessors.

Mr Moss complained that it was unjust that no provision should be.made' for extending the franchise to leaseholders. The Hon. J. Hall said that; if Mr Moss thought the law on the subject was a hardship he ought to bring down a distinct resolution on the subject. Government did not propose to make any alteration.

Mr Macandrew said they were indebted to Mr Ballance for having corrected a very erroneous impression produced by the statement made by the Treasurer re the expenditure of tbe late Government. Major Atkinson said that all that he aimed at was to show to the colony that

eleven millions odd pounds had passed out of the public treasury under the late Administration. It did not matter under what Act it was disbursed; it was spent; and that was all he aimed at showing in making the statement. He was justified in assuming that members were cognisant of the fact that it included expenditure under Permanent Act. What was most to be reprobated was that the late Government had allowed tbe colony to drift into a critical state, with liabilities becoming due, and no adequate provision made fpr liquidation. „ The motion for going into Committee of Supply was carried. Vote—electoral, £3680.

A motion for its reduction by £1000 was put and negatived. A motion fora reduction of £400 was put. Division — Ayes, 29; noes, 29. The Speaker's casting vote went with the noes. A further amendment that it be reduced by £250 was agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30.