PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3893, 22 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21.

The Hon tlie Speaker took the ohair at 2.30. CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES. Tbe Premier, in reply to Mr Buckland uaid ib was not intended to place a sum on the Supplementary Estimates for the payment of the chairmen of the various committees. NEW BILL. j The Lyttelton Harbor Board Land Bill waß introduced by the Premier, and read a first time. THE PUBLIC TRUSTEE. A letter was received from the Publio Trustee to the Premier saying that he had not yet been put upon his defence, and that he claimed a full enquiry before Pa rliament before being subjected to dismissal from a publio " office." The Premier then moved a resolu-

tiou removing Mr Hamerton from his office as Publio Trustee, whioh be did, he said, with considerable regret, seoing that lie had held that office for a great many years, during whioh no previous charge had been made against him. Without making any reflections on Mr Hamerton's character, he was of opinion that it would be detrimental to the Publio Trußt Office. Every opportunity had been given him to vindicate his conduct, both during and after the enquiry ; the Public Accounts Committee had reoommended his removal, and it was upon that report that he moved thia resolution,

Captain Russell said that in order to test the opinion of the Bouse as to the legality of removing the Publio Trustee he would move an atrendment, " That no distinot charges have been formulated against him, and as no evidence on oath has been taken by this House or any Committee of this House as to the management of the Public Trust Office, this House is of opinion that his removal would be irregular and unconstitutional." The Premier said he could not accept the amendment, on the ground that there was a special olause in the Publio Trustee Act, which in no way appertained to a judge of the Higher Court. The debate on the.question was adjourned till Tuesday.

PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. "The Premier moved the second reading of this Bill. They had, he said, for many years had h'oncrariums, which did not fully describe what it meant. It really meant payment of members, and this Bill was intended to put it on that footing. In Victoria and New South Wales members received £BOO a year, and it was admitted by all leading statesmen that they ought to give a fair remuneration for members services. He, too, was of that opinion, and he therefore offered na apology for bringing forward this Bill. A fair remuneration was a sum whioh would enable a man to maintain himself independently, because his duties did not end with the session, but were continuous. They thought that Ll5O was sufficient for Legislative Councillors, because they ought to inolude a proportion of labour members, and L 240 was a fair remuneration for members of the Lower {louse who Lad to live during a portion of the year in Welliugtory They proposed that the payment should be monthly, in order to prevent the scandal that arose out of separate payment for two sessions. The House ought to be united on the question, but the Government would leave it to the Committee as to the amount to be paid.

After considerable discussion the second reading wt.B carried by 83 to 22.