GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 326, 11 August 1898, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr Seddon read the Financial State ment. Captain Russell asked when the debate m the Statement would take place. Mr Seddon said any sixth for.m school hoy could have compiled the figures from the parliamentary records, and he did not see what good could result from procrastination. Mr Rolleston asked when the land and agricultural reports would be presented and referred to the disadvantage members would be under in discussing finance as there was no indication of how the money was to be spent, Mr J. McKenzie said the land and agricultural reports had been ready for some time but were not printed owing to the rush of work in the printlug office. The money voted was to be spent ou roads, bridges and other public works. Mr Seddon said as soon as the Government's financial proposals were agreed to by the House the men who had been engaged in constructing trucks and waggons prior to the expiry of the appropriation would be re-engaged. The debate was set dowu for Thursday. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. The Hon. Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers' Bill. After debate the motion was carried by 57 to 9. 51CNICIPAL FRANCHISE. The amendments made in Hie Municipal Franchise Reform Bill were agreed to after a short debate, aud the third reading was agreed to, and the Bill passed. SHEARERS. The amendments made in the Shearers' Accommodation Bill were agreed to, and the third reading was agreed to, and the Bill passed. The House adjourned at 11.15 p.m. WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LIGHT LOCOMOTIVES. McLean's Light Locomotives Bill was referred back to the Private Bills Committee, with instructions to alter it in the direction of providing for the issue of licenses by the Uovernor-in-Council. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to question stated that there were twelve locomotive engines under construction in the colony ; but the cost of construction in the colony as compared with the cost to import was in some ciscs 150 per cent. more. That casual labourers on the railwayswere insured against accident, the premiums being one and a-half per cent, of the gross amount of the casual wages paid during the year. That it would be a very difficult matter to provide that carcases of frozen mutton should be marked showing the district in which they had been fattened. That £9900 was not much above the amount paid as salaries and travelling expenses to the President, manager, assistant manacer, auditor and directors of the Bank of New Zealand. That it was most undesirable to make the payment required for Old Age Pensions a charge ou any particular class, as it would led to ili-feeling ou those who paid it. RETURN WANTED. Mr Taylor moved for a return showing since 1870 the nomiual amount of each public loan, the actual amount received by the treasury, the cost of raising, and who received the difference between the nominal and actual amount. Mr Seddon said the return would be costly, and he questioned whether its value would be proportionate to its cost. Hon. McKenzie said the cost of the return would be sufficient to make several milts of public roads. Capt. Russell hoped the return would be granted, as it would probably showthat more interest had been paid as compared with the amount raised during the past 28 years. Mr Ward also hoped the return would be granted. He pointed out that the benefit derived from the investment of loans had to be taken as an offset to the statement that more had been paid in interest than had been raised. Mr Hall-Jones said the return, in addition to being expensive, would be useless. Mr Smith said there had been many accusations of political corruption and jobbery in connection with public loans, and the return would be both useful aud instructive. Mr Taylor thought that when the colony borrowed it shou d get twenty shillings in hard cash for every one pound bond issued. The motion was agreed to. AUDIT MATTERS. Mr Seddon moved that the correspondence betweeu the Audit Department and the Treasury with reference to the refusal of the Audit Office to pass three issue requisitions, under Section 53 of the Public Revenue Act, be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. He quoted the opinion of the late AuditorCcneral to the effect that the Audit Office had no legal right to refuse to pass issue requisitions. The correspondence dealt with the refusal of the Audit Office to pass issue requisitions in connection with an imprest of £83,000 asked for on June 28th. It was not accurate that the greater portion of this amount was required for payments after June 30th, as only £II,OOO was to be spent after that date. Mr Montgomery contended that the law providing that no money could be granted for services after 30th June was intended to provide that Parliament be called together at a certain time, aud to evade it was a serious matter. Hon. J. McKenzie said it would be better for members of the Public Accounts Committee not to express opinions ou a subject which was to be referred to them. Mr Pirani argued that the Premier's view of the matter was erroneous, and he pointed out that the principle involved was whether or not the duties of the Auditor-General should be superceded by Order inCouncil. Capt. Russell asked if Mr Seddon would agree to the substitution of Mr Buchanan in place of Mr James Allen on the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Seddon said he could not consider the matter. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7-30. WATER SUPPLY BILL. The Water Supply Bill was read a third time and passed. PROVISION I'OR RELATIVES. Mr McNab moved the second reading of the Testators' Family Provision out ot Estates Bill, which provides for the estate of deceased persons being liable for the support and maintenance of wife, husband or children. The Bill was still under discussion when tiie telegraph ollice closed at midnight.