WELLINGTON NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 209, 13 November 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[KHOJI OUR OWN ORRKSrONDEST]. Wellington, November 3 THE ESTIMATES.

THE lightning speed at which the estimates, which are ically tho most important functions of Parliament, have been galloped through at a single silting, has undergone a wholesome change, and last nisrht made it clear to Premier Seddon that the days of bluster and shuffling are over, and that he must answer questions put to him. Last night one salary took from 7.30 till 10.30 to get over, but tho time was well spent. The item was smnll enough in all conscience, and was tho vote for the chief Parliamentary messenger £l7O per annum, but there was a great constitutional principle involved in it, which was very thoroughly thrashed out. From 1862 until 1893 the appointment of all parliamentary officers, messengers and even charwomen rested with the Speaker of the House. Mr Seddon had so many friends in search of easy jobs that he made up his mind to grab the patronage of these minor gifts. With his swamping majority in tho [louse ho passed a new Act removing the power frem the Spoaker and vesting it in the Cabinet, i.e., the Premier; but there was a proviso in it to tho effect that promotion should go by seniority. So far, so good. The j-ear after an ex-Hokitika publican, and boon companion of Mr Seddon's, felt that the invigorating breezes of the Empire City would suit him better than the damp West Coast, and he accepted a casual messengership as a step towards higher honours in public life. The seniority clause in the Act affected five other messengers, two of whom dated back to 1879, and the others to ISB4. and so on. But Dan Lynch being an intimate friend wanted a permanent job, and why should a little thing like an Act of Parliament stand in the way of obliging him. So he was pitchforked over the heads of the other five old servants, and became a recognised Parliamentary officer with a special vote on the estimates.

This was what lod to a discussion on the propriety of the Cabinet interfering in any way with officers who are specially paid for duties appertaining to the whole of the members, without reference to party. Especially does it affect the Hansard reporters, for it was shown that Ministers obtain special advantages in respect to tho Hansard proofs. And ic became pretty clear before the matter was threshed out that Premier Seddon himself was about tired of the patronage, and for good and sufficient reasons. For one opening for a casual messenger when Parliament is in session there are a score and perhaps two of applicants. The successful ones are gratified and swear by the Governruent, but the other fellows are, as a rule, just as much disappointed, and when told they can be accommodated with a job on some up country road as a reward for their loyalty they usually give way to brutal remarks, and some of them even go so far as to wobble in their allegiance. Some have even recanted anel joinerl the enemy. And it is somewhat curious to find that the successful applicants are mainly adherents of the Church of Rome. Mr Tom Taylor was explicit on * His point lost night, and said be knew of a clergyman who recently boasted of having found billets for no less than 32 of his flock. Finally, after a deal of beating about the bush, Mr Seddon gave a half-hearted promise that he would, during the present session, give members an opportunity of reviewing tho position and of returning to the ohl system of having Parliamentary officers appointed by (lie recognised head of Parliament itself and so remove them from the suspicion of being tainted by party feeling. The Premier finds that a meek and lowly spirit pays best now, and that is a very great gain indeed. HIS OWN LITTLE BILL. When Class 1.. Legislative Department, had been disposed of towards 3 a.m., Class 11., Colonial Secretary's Department, which contains three ominous items, was funked. Those are the £IOOO for Mr Larnach and staff's expenses to Queensland, Mr Seddon's trip to Australia, £5lB, and his alleged expenses Home, £ 17*30. Thoy were left over till another opportunity, and as there is a great deal of talk in the lobbies as to the £l7jo, it is as well for readers of this paper to know what is thought of the matter by members. There are a few of the Opposition readers who aro disposed to take a generous view and who say, " We sent him Home with a free hand and thought £IOOO would cover the cost, but it would bo bid taste to ask the Premier of the colon} to furnish vouchers for every item of his expenses." But there is another aspect. Parliament is the trustee of the people's taxes, and sentiment has no right to intervene in such a barefaced attempt to loot the Treasury. Whatever halo surrounds tho visit it is duo to the contingent and tho Bisley team. They numbered (SO men and cost £3OOO. The Premier demands more than half that sum for himself, and he was fed and housed and carriagod at the expense of John Bull. It was stated in a cablegram that tho expenses of the 11 Premier at tho Hotel Cecil was £7OOO, but that very much minimise 1 the actual cost to the British nation. Tho House of Commons eslimates put down the charge for entertaining Colonial delegates and other visitors, such as India Princes, and so on, at £BO,OOO. One can hardly imagine in a country like New Zealand, where 12s per day is about as high life as ono can enjoy at a hotel, what a good time Premiers had who took all they could get. A story is going the rouuds just now, vouchod for by a recent arrival from London, of one of our Premier's family going shopping in ono of the Royal Carriages with the scarlet fluukeys. After pricing articles of all descriptions and remarking they were " too dear," tho shopwalker popped out and asked one of tho footmen " which of tho Princesses that was " —" Princess be d —el " replied Jeames, " that one of the bloomin' Colonials," and the shopwalker returned and gave a cabalistic sign which altered the demeanour of the counter-jumper's forth will). There is also a rumour to the effect that the £1750 does not include all that hits been paid. A epiestion will be asked about this which will come tis a surprise to (hose who still pin their faith on the greatness of the Premier. Moreover, it must bo remembered that the extra session, which cost £1(300, was entirely tho outcome of tho Premier's refusal to allow Ptn-liament to meet in the ordinary way, and his private secretary's expenses are not included in (he £f7j(). So that tho cost of sending this one man home is actually more than that of the whole of the contingent and the Bisley team together.

Then there is the £olß for the Australian trip, which was not authorised, and added to this are the expenses of those who accompanied him. When one comes to compare these with the timo when three delegates from this colony were sent over to the Postal Conference in Sir H. Atkinson's time, and they were absent two months, and the whole cost, including printing £3OO, was about £SOO, of which Captain Russell drew £22, one is led to wonder wherein lies the difference between an alleged Tory and a professed Liberal. Then again Mr Seddon, a year or so ago, made much capital out of a trip taken by several members into the interior of the North Island, which lasted 14 days, and cost £-110, mostly for transit. He has dropped this subject of late and is probably sorry that it got into print like many other foolish and ungenerous things he has sail. Anyhow his cupidity has caused a great deal of eointnent in the colony and people are now estimating our Premier's character by his impudent endeavour to grow rich rapidly at the country's expense. This is nothing new in a Democracy. Plato pointed it all out a couple of thousand years ago, and drew a portrait of an ancient Greek demogogue which exactly fits our Privy Councillor.