Parliamentary.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 108, 28 September 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

On Thursday evening in the House the items of expenses connected with the Royal visit were discussed. Mr Massey moved to omit the Item, " grant to Ministers and their secretaries in reimbursements of expenses incurred by them, including Ll5O for ordinary travelling allowance, L 350." The motion was lost by 86 votes to 19 votes. At the item, "reviews and massing troops and cadets at various centres, with freights, passages and incidental expenses connected therewith, L 20,000." • Mr Pirani condemned the bungling that had occurred in connection with the transport of troops at the time of the Royal visit, and complained that some of the volunteers had not yet been paid the allowance promised them. Mr Tanner spoke strongly in condemnation of the administration of the Defence Department, aaying that it was the worst managed and most scandalously extravagant Department in the colony. The British War Office was a fool to it.

The Premier said that as to payment of the m«n, be had only to day received vouchers for Otago, which should have been in weeks ago. If his officers did not sharpen up in these matters he would have to look for a fresh lot. The men should not have been kept out of their money so long. As to the Christchurch review, general satisfaction had been expressed at its management. As to the Newtown camp affair, it was sub judice, as the evidence of the Committee of Enquiry had been forwarded to the officers concerned, and they had been asked to report on it. He considered, however, that Newtown Park should never have been selected as a site for a camp.'' The catering for the camp had not jet been paid for. Mr Willis thought that it was extremely unjust to attempt to put all the blame for the Newtown Park muddle on the shoulders of the officer in charge of the camp, Lieutenant - Colonel Sommerville. He believed that when the proper time oame that officer would be able to completely ,vindica£e himself. The head of the Defense Department should bear the blame.

Mr Symes defended Colonel Somrnerville, and pointed out that bis repeated suggestions to the officers in command of the district had been ignored. Sir J. G. Ward said that the whole cost of the Foya.l Commissioners and their expenses was L 467. Chief Commissioner Holmes received LIOO a month for three months and a half. Mr G. W. Smith considered that the Christchurch review reflected great credit on the Defence Minister. Some exception had been taken to the cost of it, but surely if the thing was worth doing at all it was worth doing well. From what he had seen in connection with the review, he thought the House ought to congratulate itself that She cost was not L 40.000. Mr Pirani moved to reduce the item by L 5, as indicating the disapproval of the House at arrangements made by the Government and their officers in connection with the review and massing of troops and non-payment of troops. Sir J. G. Ward hoped that members would discuss defence matters in their proper place, namely, when the Defence Department estimates came on.

Mr Collins said that the Christchurch review itself was well worth the expenditure. Mr Wilford contended that the evidence taken by the Newtown Park Enquiry Committee showed that if Colonel Sommerviile's suggestions had been acted on by the Defence Department, the whole trouble would have been avoided. Mr Pirani's motion was negatived by 88 votes to 18 votes, and the item passed unaltered. On the item "Miscellaneous Entertainments, ' including Commissioners' salaries and expenses, also expenses of invited guests from Australia and Press representatives, L 12,168." ' r Mr Collins moved a redaction ot LIOOO. He held that the expenditure on Commissioners' salaries was wicked # Sic J. G. Ward gave details of the vote, which included railway fares and freights tothe demonstration at' Rotorua, L87O0; steamer fare and freights, L 08 4; food, camp attendance, etc,, L 2571; medals for school children, L 1167; Parliamentary reception, inoludingiunohes and dinners, 1*1848; kiaemato-

graphs, L 40 0; presentation to the Duke and Duchess, L 68 6; cost of souvenir cards, LIOSO. The motion for reduction was negatived on tbe voices. The remaining items of the vote of L 50,000 in connection with the Royal visit passed without amendment. On the item " Expenses, Royal Commission on Federation," i Mc Thomas Mcl£en2ie moved A reduction of £5, as- an expression of the opinion of the House as to the inadequacy of the representation of small farmers on that Commission. Mr Fisher said that the Premier had previously given a clear indication that he was opposed to Federation, and the expenditure on the Commission was deliberately useless. * ~., Mr Massey declared that tbe Commissioners had been, appointed because they were opposed to Federation. Mr Pirani said that it was one of the most useless, wastes of public money the Govarnment had been guilty of. The Premier, promised that another opportunity would be afforded the House of discussing the Federation question. He defended the personnel of the Commission, and said that whatever might happen in the futura New Zealand at the present time was not ripe to seriously consider the change in the constitution which wou'd be involved by joining the Federation. Ha considered that the amount expended on the Commission was money well spent.