PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2501, 21 July 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILFRIDAY. The Speaker took his seat at 2.30. The Attorney-General in answer t» Sir G. Whitiuore, said that so far as the Education Department was aware there were no children attending State schools below five years of age, nor had the Act been contravened. Several Bills were passed through various stages. The doliato on the totalisatur question was continued, and disposed of by Hou. Mr Swanson moving the previous question, both motion and amendment being thrown out. The Council rose at 4.20. OF REPRESENTATIVES. / FRIDAY. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions it was stated that the contract for the Midland railway had not yet been signed and was awaiting a few slight amendments, but the Government would take care Hiat no unnecessary delay took place in signing the contract. That it was clear from the Customs Duties Bill that the primage duty of one per cent, should be charged on the net invoice price of goods plus ten percent. Sir H. Atkinson mwved that the Houso do forthwith rosolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider tho following resolution That this House is of the opinion that the Government should be responsible for the legislative estimates. Agreed to, and tho Houso went into committee. Sir H. Atkinson said it appeared to the Government that this was the most convenient way of dealing with this matter, and he contended that no undue power Would bo given to tho Government by putting the salaries of those officers under their control, and that no possible harm could coine of it. Ho wished the question to be considered altogether apart from party feelings. Mr Downie Stewart opposed tho motion at some length and moved as an amendment that the Houso and Speaker should continue responsible for Legislative estimates. Mr Barron supported the motion, and quoted from evidence given before, tho select committee, by Major Campbell, present Clerk of Parliaments, in which he read letters from Sir Erskine May, to the effect that tho Legislative ofheers of the Imperial Parliament, were under the control of the Government. Sir M. O'Rorko said Sir Erskine May had never published that letter. He warmly opposed the motion. He suspected the reason of tho Premier's -.notion was because of the pensions to which two officers of the House were entitled. He appealed to tile House to keep this matter under its present control. Tho present movement was, he folt, unconstitutional and unwarrantable. Mr O'Connor strongly supported tho motion. Tho Premier said ho had heard tho Speaker's remarks with extreme regret, for they amounted to a distinct charge of corruption aßaiust tho Government. His whole object was to sccvu'o tho services of the Legislative ofheers during the time the Houso was not sitting. At present they drew high salaries, and did nothing for many months of the year. He believed his proposals were reasonable and in accordance with the wishes of the House, if not, they had only to say so. Mr Downie Stewart implored tho House not to infringe the great principle which had ruled it so long by taking the control of these officers out of the Speaker's hand. Mr Biillance thought the proceedings of Mr O'Connor's Committee proved that these salaries should not be put under the control of the Government In effect the House would be parting with its undoubted privileges. Hou. Mr Hislop condemned the tono of Mr Bailance's remarks. He seemed to think the Government wero not fit to bo entrusted with the payment of these ofheers. How could tha Speaker bo more competent to fill up these offices than the Government with all their facilities for getting information ? Mr Walker attacked Mr Hislop, whose spei-ch he considered a most unwarrantable agnressiou on tho member for Wangranui. "The debate was interrupted at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Peacock continued the debate, and said it was a glaring anoinoly that the Government should bring down estimates they weie not responsible for, and hoped the House would agree to the resolution. Mr Moss spoke in favour of the Speaker's view. Sir G. Grey said all his symathies were with the Ministry on this occasion, and entered into an exhaustive criticism of the Civil Service at large. The Premier quoted from correspondence in 18G8 between the Sneaker and Mr Stafford to show it was then tho practice for the Government to control all legislative estimates. The present system did not como into vogue for years afterwards. Sir M. O'Korke quoted a letter of Sir David Monro's, in which he expressed most decided opposition to having the control of tile Legislative oflicers taken from liiin. The Premier said that was tha year before tho passage ho had quoted. Mr Reeves, (St. Albans), defended the attitude of the Speaker, but he did not see why the House should not reduce tho estimates prepared by the Sneaker. Hon. Mr Fergus said there was no question of Civil Service in it at all, it was simply who should have control of the funds devoted to the purpose. Sir J. Hall did not see any change was needed. Mr Scobie McKenzie said his sympathies went with tho Speaker, but when it came to a question of one man against the Cabinet he unhesitatingly preferred the responsibility should devolve on tho latter. Messrs Mentieth, Hutchinson and Dr. Hodgkinson supported the Speaker's claim. Messrs Fish and Whyte took the Government side. Mr Taiwhanga thought tho Speaker should bo upheld, and Mr Fitchettsaid the resolution really amounted to a vote of want of confidence in the Speaker. Mr Fulton was of opinion it would do the. officers (themselves) good to bo made really Civil servants. Messrs Duncan and Turnbull agreed with Sir John Hall, Mr O'Cullaghan thought there was nothing to fear in leaving them as hitherto, in tho Speaker's hands. Air Cowan supported the resolution. Mr Lavastan warmly opposed the resolution. Mr O'Connor objected to the way in which he had been attacked throughout the debate as chairman of the committee, which, in ISSU, investigated the salaries of the Legislative Department, Tho Houso divided on Mr Stewart's amendment, which was carried by 30 to 25 and tho motion as amended, was agreed to. The Premier said tho Government, after this vote, would refer the Legislative estimates to the Speakers of the two Houses. They would now consider themselves absolved from all responsibility for the Legislative estimates. Mr Fish said the House had deliberately taken out of its own hands the control over these salaries, which tho Speaker could now increase at his own pleasure. The hon. gentleman proceeded, amid considerable interruptian to make a personal explanation of his joining the Government party. After some remarks from Mr Kerr, in reply to Mr Fish, the House adjourned at 1L. 1 ")").