LATER.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3935, 9 August 1881, Page 2

LATER.

Wellington, This day. Mr Moss at great length discusssed the financial position of the colony, contending that the paltry reduction—lo per cent, from the salaries of civil servants —could do little good, and the only real good which could be done was to make a radical change in the whole system of Government by localising it.

Mr Saunders thought that as the reduction made last year had acted so well saving the colony a great deal of money without impairing the efficiency of the Service it should be maintained. He suppported the amendment.

Mr Turnbull also supported it. The House divided oa the motion to go into Supply :—Ayes 27 : Atkin-on, Bain, Beetham, Brandon, Bryce, Bunny, Colbeck, DeLatour, Gisborne, Hall, Hamlin, Hirst, Johnston, Levin, MoCaughan, McLean, Richardson, Rollestou, Seymour, shanks, Sheehan, Stevens, Sutton, Te Wheoro, Tomoana, Trimble, Whyte. Noes 22: Audrews, Ballancc, Barron, Bastings, J. T. Fisher, Fultou, Gibbs, Jones, Lundon, Maoandrew, Montgomery, Murray, Ormond, Pyke, Saunders, Shepherd, Shrimski, Swanson, Thompson, Tole, and Wright. Pairs :—Ayes : Dick, Mason, Whitaker, Fox, Oliver, Kelly, Allwright. Noes: Moss, Harris, Turnbull, Wallis, J. B. Fisher, Speight, Reeves. —Amendment negatived, and the House went into Supply. The remainder of Postal and Telegraph estimates were passed. On clause 2, the Colonial Secretary's Department, the vote of £433 15s, salary for confidential clerk to the Premier, Mr Turnbull moved a reduction of ten per cent., saying he intended do so on every item.

g|Measrs Sheehan, Maeandrew, Montgomery, Brown, and others said this officer was greatly underpaid rather than the reverse. \ i

- A long discussion ensued, many members blaming the Government for not accepting Mr Thompson's proposal as a general one, instead of forcing a fight over each salary.

Ultimately the Government stated that if the supporters of the general redaction wished to test the feeling of the House again on the question, they could do so on any future occasion of going into Supply, by bringing down Mr Thompson's motion again, and if it was passed it would apply to the, Tvhole; estimates, whether the items had been voted or not previously. On this understanding, the opposition to the items ceased, and the following votes were 1 passed :—Colonial Secretary's Office, £1775; messengers and office keepers, £8543. - ;/ Progress was reported, and the House ruse at 1,30,