PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2508, 7 August 1888, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) MONDAY. The House met at 2.30 p-«'-On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr O'Connor moved as an amendment that in the opinion ot tie House no further appointments should be made to the Legislative Council until the Legislature shall have had an opportunity of determining upon any alteration to be made in the direction of limiting the number, altering the mode of appointment, or filing the term for which such appointment shall bo valid. He said he had moved the ro-iolutinn without any consultation with the Government, and he hoped the House, would support it. Mr Hodgkinson said if he thought the resolution would effect any reform in the manner of making appointments to the Council, he should support it, but he did not think it was ac all likely to do so. Sir,l. Hall said he had frequently advocated a change in the mode of making these appointments, but lie thought a largo question like this should not be brought forward without notice, and he tho'-efore could not sU Me!^ fc L,ve s tam, Vemd and Samuels opposed the amendment. Sir IT. Atkinson considered tnat a more inopportune time for brinsins forward a rMoluUmi of this kind could not be cli.wsn. The Government had already declared they were not going to make any further appointments. The question must bo discussed by the House nJxt session, and it would then have to be decided whether the number of the Legislative Council should be limited, or whether th.; two Houses shonld be merged together on the Norwegian plan. He submitted that at this time of the session it was most undesirable to open up a large question of this kind. Mr O'Connor said after the Premier's explanation he should ask for leave to withdraw his amendment, but leave was refused and Sir H. Atkinson in reply to questions by Messrs Kerr and Ward said he did not intend to make any further appointments to the Council this year unless by direction of the House. Of course it might be absolutely necessary to do so in order to carry on tlie Government, but hedidnot anticipate any contingency of that kind arising. The motion for going into Supply was then carried on the voices, and the amendment was lost. The estimates were then further considered. Colonial Secretary's Department, £10(),130, Item Lunatic Asylums, £ll,4!)l!.' Mr Oldie moved to reduce this vote by £100, as ho considered the whole vote teemed witl. extravagance. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was withdrawn, and the vote passed. Miscellaneous, £10,715. A lengthy discussion ensued on the vote of £300 for compilation of Maori History, and at the Hon. Mr Hislop's suggestion, the vote was reduced by £5, upon his promising to enquire iuto the matter. Considerable discussion was caused by the vote of £2G(ii), a contribution towards the expenses of the protectorate over Now 'lion. Mr Hislop said the late Government liad agreed with tho Home Government to pay the contribution for three years for this purpose, and suggested that the vote be reduced by £5, and the Government would undertake not to make any further payment after this year without instruction'from the House. Mr Peacock moved that the vote be reduced by £5.

Agreed to. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. Considerable discussion took place on the item of £75, as compensation to Mr Brent. It appeared that Brent was a teacher at the Dunedin High School, and came out under a life agreement to the Provincial Government. The High School Board had refused to pay the full salary, and the difference had to be made up by the colony. Several members vigorously denounced the item, which they insisted the Board was bound to pay. The Board having succeeded to the school's endowments, they contended it took over the liabilities. Mr Fulton and the Colonial Secretary said the Board could not afford it, and under Brent's agreement the colony must payOn the motion of Mr Fish the item was struck out by 38 to 23. The remainder of the vote then paßsed. Class one, Legislative Departments, £100 was .struck of the Clerk of the Legislative Council, and £50 off the clerk-assistant. The motion to strike out the salary of the second clerk-assistant, £200, was lost by 3(i to 31, and two attempts to reduce the amount failed. When the estimates for the House of Representatives came on, Sir M. O'Rorke took charge of them, and explained that he intended to suggest the same reductions as had appeared on the Government Estimates," with the exception that he proposed to retain both Maori interpreters. He accordingly moved the reductions, of which notice had been g,iven. An attempt was made to retain the Serjeant-at-Arms' salary at £A"jo, but it was lost by 34 to 31. Mr Marchant moved to strike the Reader £150 out altogether. Lost on the voicos. Mr Pish moved to dispense with the services of an interpreter. Lost by 35 to 1!) Record Clerk £250 waR retained by 30 to 21. Mr Fish moved to reduce contingencies £850 by £158. Carried by 35 to 22. Assistant Librarian's salary was retained at £250 instead of £225 as proposed to be reduced. Passages of members £000. Mr Monk thought in these hard times members o'.'ght to pay for their own passages and moved to strike the item out, but after much opposition withdrew it. (Left Sitting.)