PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 3633, 18 August 1880, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pbb Pbbsb Association.)

HOUSE OF BEPEEBENTATIVBB.

Afternoon Sitting. r Wbmil»»tpi(, Tuesday. \\ The Home met at 2.30. . ■'■ •■■:. -111'8T0^iX,...,-,.'-;.^,;," ■■;■; : In replying to a question put, it was stated there was no power to recover at law the Beer Tax simply as a resolution passed in Committee of Supply, and as the tax still rested on a resolution of that kind, it could not be enforced. So soon as the Bill passed, however, it became' retrospective, coveringthe period from the time tho resolution was passed to when Government had the bill; but, as the tar would be enforced, brewers refusing to pay it just now Would hare the penalties enforced against them, so that by refusing, as some had done, they did •it at their own peril, vs ■ '-■:.■* -v.: -;;-vir :;- ;■ One-third of the amount last year voted for the maintenance of public domains would be placed on the, supplementary estimates. : '':-^-^% ■•■■Vp:- .■ ■••■■; Armstrong, locomotive engineer, of the South Island railways, had got notice that his services would be dispensedUwith. The reason was, it had been ascertained, he was not a trained engineer," but a carpehter, and. it was on that account he had got notice of dismissal. . ...;.''; : / - v - I Government had already leased sections of the reclaimed land at Nelson, and when' .the railway was completed they, would be able to seewhat war beat'^^^neiwith:: the remainder. ;.-\;>■'«.?■ * \: .''•:':.-^''V:>■';■ ■/.,.' "^ -\

ALLOCATION OF CHABITABLE AID. : Government would bo far at it> conld, ' prevent indigent persons in one part of tl>e colony becoming chargeable upon another part, but were not responsible for a family in that state forwarded by the Hinemoa from Tafanaki to Lyttelton. ■ \:'--- :J ■•■ '-■-■ ETJUCATIOS SBBDUOTIOMS; s\j ' The reduction in the educktion Tote would take place from the Ist of the present month, as in the other branches of Ch • public service, and the boards had been asked and had consented to cooperate with the Government accordingly. Provision will be made in the Supplementary Es|i mates to cover the- amount already paid to the Board; for the past; four months. No special provision had been made for keeping up teachers' salaries to the old rate, until notice had been given of the reduction! \ tux sxariakssiSQ staff. ;

In accordance with the reoommenda* tions of the Civil Service Commission, the engineering staff had, been, reduced, and further reductions werejnot contemplated. . .•••. .•■/■• ■•.'.:.i'-t-V.M/Xr'i ■:v'/, 1 -.,' r vV:; PUBLIC WOKKB BILL. The Public Works Bill wai introduced and read a first time, and the second; reading ordered for Friday; l S *K ;

* ',-';,;;; 'iMt FINANCES OF THE COLONY. On the motion for reporting the resolutions of Committee of Supply, Sir Geo. Grey moved their postponement until the Revenue Bills bad been discussed. He apprehended that when these bills bad; been discussed it wou:d be shown that the finances of the ooltfriy were not so: depressed as had been made out, and that there would be enough to justify them in increasing their public works proposals. ■ Hon. J. Hall opposed the amendment, contending that the financial state of the colony bad' been fully ascertained, and that no amount of further investigation would tend to improve matters. The motion for reporting the resolutions was carried.

Mr Masters drew attention to the vote for the Greymouth-Nelson line—£7o,soo' from which £21,000 had been struck off the previous evening in his absence.; Government promised to consider whether or not the reduction was likely to interrupt the work, and if so they would give facilities for its reconsideration by the House. Other members made similar complaints. j

The House adjourned at 5.30,