YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S SITTING. The House met at 1 30.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1259, 24 July 1880, Page 3

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON'S SITTING. The House met at 1 30.

Mr Itchardson presented a petition against the retention of the bottle licensing system. Mr J. B. Fisher gave notice that he would ask if Mr Alexander McDonald, appointed as a native land purchase agent, had been convicted of shooting two mail coach horses at Palmerston. Mr Lundon gave notice that he would ask if the Government had considered the policy of imposing a tax on coal. In replying to a question, it was stated that the case of McMinn v. Kirkbridge, tried in the Court, Marton, had not been taken notice of by the Government, as no formal report had been received on the subject. The Government recognised the sacrifice made by miners in the employment of recovering the bodies of men accidently killed in a Government sludge channel, Kumara, but thought it would be an insult to offer them payment for their services. The Government were not disposed to reduce the fee charged for naturalisation of foreigners. Tlte Government would oppose any proposal to print supplementary Hanmrd dt speeches delivered by native members in the Maori language. Mr Moorehouse gave notice that he would bring in at the earliest possible date a motion for the second readiug of the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Bill, transmitted from %he Upper House. The Treasury Bills were read a (second time. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Seymour said the proposal to add £200 to the salary of the Chairman of Committees had been made without his consent, and not only was he prepared to forego it, but also to have the regular salary reduced in accordance with the general policy of reduction.

In Committee of Supply, the debate was resumed on the item £450, miscellaneous vote for compilation of Maori history. After discussion, the Government agreed to the vote bting reduced to £300, on the understanding that a bonus w onld be granted at the discretion of the House for early completion of works, class 1, Legislative Department, when concluded. Mr Hall said that in view of the 20 per cent, reduction made in the Ministerial salaries, the Government proposed a similar reduction in the members' honorariums. Mr O'Rorke said he would justify the proposed increase to Chan man of Committees. The two sessions held last year gave members in the shape of honorarium considerably more than had been paid to the Chairman of Committees as salary. I That was not fair, considering the work he had to do ; and the increase was proposed to recoup him for that loss. He dissented from the Premier's proposal to reduce the amount of the honorariums, stating that between their case and that of the Civil Service there was no comparison. Mr Fulton said they would be establishing a bad precedent if the House were to reduce Civil servants' salaries and not reduce the honorariums. At the proper time he would move that the amount be reduced to £120, and the vote to the Legislative Council to £1620. The item Chairman of Committees £100inaddition to permanent salary £300, was struck out on the understanding that the amount would be payable on the Supplementary Estimates as a bonus to make last year's salary equal to honorarium ; £o0 to Chairman Public Petitions Committee was struck out ; item of £100 to clerk, in addition to permanent salary of £500, was debated at length, and struck out on a division by 39 to 30. The House adjourned at 5.30.