GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 209, 13 November 1897, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY. bSTI.MATES. Elkctokal Department, £4050. Capt. Russell objected to the Government sending canvassers round to enrol electors. As a protest, Mr Taylor moved that the item, expense of printing rolls, etc., be reduced by £2OOO. This was, after debate, negatived by 33 to 20. House allowance : Hon. J. Carroll, £IOO. . Mr Montgomery moved to strike this item out. The Opposition objected to the attempt to provide salary for a Minister in excess of the legal number. Mr Seddon said this second attack on Mr Carroll showed that there was something more than the constitutional aspect of the matter concerned. Capt. Russell called attention to the item £578, Premiers' Conference at Hobart. He considered the amount enormous, but he would refrain from discussing it till details were before the House. Mr Hall-Jones defended the vote and said it was necessary to keep in toacli with the other colonies. Mr Smith moved that the item be reduced by £2lB : he thought £BOO ample for the Premier's expenses. Mr J. McKenzie said it would not be dignified for the Premier to give particulars. Mr Taylor could not believe the amount had been expended, and asserted that at least £250 went to the Premier's private banking account. Captain Russell said the position was a difficult one. The item could not be reduced by £2OO, but the Minister in charge of the estimates was not _ treating the Government well in not giving an idea of how the expenses had been incurred. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said after MiTaylor's speech members would agree that it was better that the Premier should not be present during the debate. He had never heard anything like it, and he called upon members supporting the Government not to take any part in the debate. The amount included the expenses not only of the Premier, but also of his secretaries and cost of cabling. He pointed out, that no particulars hail been given of the expenses of the delegate to the Federation Conference. Mr Smith said he was willing to withdraw his motion if complete details were given. The Minister for Lands said ho had given his word, and if Mr Smith did not like to take it he could vote as he liked. Mr Seddon said delicacy, which from what he had been told had not been appreciated, had caused him to be absent from the Chamber. Referring to MiTaylor's remarks, he said a more inaccurate statement had never been made, and there was not the slightest foundation for it. Therefore, in justice to himself and also to the Liberal party, he was bound to come back to the Chamber and deny the charge. Some mistake had evidently occurred, for he learned that what the House wanted was details similar to those given respecting the Federation Conference delegates. His personal expenses had been £2ll. His secretaries expenses had been £6O, cabling had cost £6O and passages £SO. The remainder was for minor services.

As Mr Seddon was leaving the Chamber, Mr Taylor said he withdrew, without any qualification, the suggestion he had made, but contended that the refusal of the details of expenditure was an extenuating circumstance. Mr Scddou said he accepted the withdrawal of the suggestion. Several members : It was a deliberate accusation. Mr Smith then asked leave to withdraw his motion. A lengthy discussion arose, in the course of which Captain Russell said the matter would not be satisfactorily settled until a full return of expenses was laid on the table.

Mr Taylor contended that had he not made his extreme statement the House would not have got the details of the Premier's expenditure. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said the Treasury would furnish a detailed account of the amount, drawn by the Premier for the Hobart Conference.

Mr Smith then withdrew his motion. Introduction of Rocky Mountain sheep, £3OO.

.Several members objected to this vote as the sheep would not thrive in the colony. The Hob. Mr McKenzie said it was intended to put the sheep on the West Coast ranges.

Premier's expenses to London, £1750. Mr Smith moved the vote of £l7oo for the Premier's expenses to London be reduced by £SOO. Mr Seddon said that before he left tor London it was understood that no expenses would be allowed by the colony except those which were legitimately incurred. He hoped the House would not blame him for taking up the position that he should represent the colony in a dignified manner, and in such a way as would not reflect on it. He had thought £IOOO would pay his expenses Home and back, but he found he had under-esti-mated the cost. He was prepared to givedetails of the expenses incurred during his visit to the Old Country, and if any man doubted them he was willing to produce his bank books. He detailed the various expenses he had incurred, and said they totalled £1970. He had paid his daughters' expenses himself. His colleagues, after careful consideration, thought £1750 was a fair and reasonable amount to vote him for his expenses.

Mr Scobie McKenzie thought the Premier had been viciously extravagant Mr Seddon retorted that if it had not been for the great hospitality of the British nation his expenses would have been at least £IOOO more than they were, and he should in future refuse to put himself or his party in a position of this kind, which had been exceedingly painful to him. Captain Russell -said that as the Premier had now furnished to the House the items ot expenses incurred during his visit to the old country, he (Captain Russell) would offer no further opposition to the vote.

Mr Smith withdrew his amendment, and said he had only moved the reduction profornw. The vote of £1750 was then passed without reduction, and the total vote for miscellaneous services also passed without alteration.

THURSDAY. SUNIIBY BILLS. The Wages Protection Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Land and Income Assessment Bill was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Sunday labour in Mines Prevention Bill was read a third time and passed through its final stages. The explosives Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. SESSIONAL CIIMMITTKKS. The House then proceeded to set up the Sessional Committees. The Leader of the Opposition urged that the members composing these committees should be chosen by a committee of selection, as in the House of Commons.

The Premier said this was a departure from the previous claim of the Opposition, who had wanted the right to nominate members from their side of the House.

A lengthy discussion followed. Mr Holland moved the adjournment of the debate, and further discussion en sued, the Opposition speakers contending that tlieic was not a Miiylc i;oiumittee proposed to ho set up lo which objection could not he made, and (hat

Government were not desirous of doing business.

Mr Scililon eaiil lie would postpone the debatable committees in order that those to which there was no objection might be set up. Shortly after n. id night the motion for adjournment of the debate was agreed to on the voices. The House adjourned at 12.5.