PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3612, 24 July 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wemington, Friday. The House met at 2.30.

Mr Richardson presented a petition against the retention of the bottle licensing system. Mr J. B. Fisher gave notice that he would ask if the Alexander McDonald appointed a Native Land Purchase Agent had been convicted of shooting two mail coach horses at Falmerston.

Mr Lundon gave notice that he would ask if the Government had considered the" policy of imposing a tax on coal. In replying to a question, it was stated that the case of M'Minn v. Kirkbride, tried in the Court at Marton, had not been taken notice of by Government, as no formal report had been received on the subject.

Government recognised the sacrifice made by miners employed recovering the bodies of the men accidently killed in a Government sludge channel at Kumara, but thought it would be an insult to offer them payment for their services.

Government was not disposed to reduce the fee charged for the naturalisation of foreigners.

Government would oppose any proposal to print a supplementary Hansard of speeches delivered by native members in the Maori language. Mr Moorhouse gave notice that he would bring in at the earliest possible date a motion for the second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Bill transmitted from the Upper House. The Treasury Bills Bill was read a 2nd time. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, ' Mr Seymour said a proposal to add £2CD to the salary of Chairman of Committees had been made without his concent, and not only was he prepared to forego, but also to have the regular salary reduced in accordance with the general policy of reduction. In Committee of Supply the debate was resumed on the item £450, miscellaneous vote for the compilation of a Maori history. After discussion Goyernment agreed to the vote being reduced to £300, on the understanding that a bonus would be granted at the discretion of the House, for the early compilation of the works. , .........,.'- Class I—Legislative'department concluded.

The Hon. J. Hall said that in view of the 20 per cent, reduction made in Ministerial salaries, Government proposed a similar reduction in members' honorariums.

Mr O'Eorke (Speaker) said he would justify the proposed increase to the Chairman of Committees. The two sessions held last year gave members hi the shape of honorarium considerably more than had been paid to the Chairman of Committees as salary. That was not fair, considering the work be had to do, and the increase was proposed to recoup him for that loss. He dissented from the Premier's proposal to reduce the amount of the honorarium, stating that hei believed in their case; and that of the civil service there was no comparison. " Mr Fulton said it would be establish' ing a bad precedent for the House to reduce the civil servants' salaries and not reduce the honorarium. At the proper time he would move that the amount be reduced to £150; Vote — Legislative Council, £1620. Item—Chairman of Committee (addition to permanent salary, £300), £100; struck out on the understanding that the amount would be placed on the supplementary estimates as a bonus to make last year's salary equal to the honorarium. £50, Chairman of Public' Petitions Committee—struck out. Item, £IGO, Clerk (addition to permanent salary, £500). This was debated at length, and struck out on a division of 39 to 30. | The House adjourned at 5.30. j Last Nigbt's Sitting. ; THE ESTIMATES. Legislative Council Estimates resumed —Items, clerk's assistant, £350, reduced to £300, on a division of 38 to 34. Item clerks £203; reduced by £20. Estimates of House of .Representatives —The following items were struck out:— Addition to Speaker's salary, £200; ad* dition to Chairman of Committee's salary, £200; Chairman of Petitions' Committee, £100; Chairman Ni&ive Affairs Com* mittee, £100; Chairmo Waste Land Committee, £100. A motion to strike out the clerk of Parliament's addition to salary (£100) was lost by 41 to 29. A further motion to reduce the item by £70 was lost by 39 to 35. A reduction of £50 waß then moved, and lost by 12 to 31. The item as printed was then passed, as was also the item £ICO addition to permanent salary of second clerk assistant, on a division of 54 to 22. . This day. The consideration of the Estimates was continued. The item Sergeant-at-Arms, £250, was reduced by £100 on a division by 36 to 24. On the Members' Honorarinm, Mr Murray moved a reduction equal to 20 per cent, on the House, and the total reduction of the Council's honorarium, but it was rejected on a division by 28 to 15. Mr McCaughan moved a reduction equal to 20 per cent, all round, but that was rejected by 39 to 35. Mr Allwright then moved a reduction of 15 par cent., but that was also rejected by 37 to 33. Mr J. T. Fisher then moved a reduction of 10 per cent., and that was carried by/49 to 20. The vote, as reduced, was then passed, and the House rose at 1.55.