HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2834, 11 September 1890, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(by telegraph.— press association). WEDNESDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Monk gave uoticu to move that in the

opinion of the House the practice of granting compensation for loss of office is being abused, and that in future no such compensation be allowed without the authority of Parliament being first obtained. Dr. Newman gavn notice to ask the Government whether they will during the recess pay the balance necessary for forming a National Park at Ruapehu and Tongnriro. Mr Goldie gave notice to move on going into Committee of Supply that in the opinion of this House the Government is deserving of grave censure tor having in defiance of the clear and repeated v>tes of the House, reinstated in the supplementary estimates, items dealt with in committee of supply. In answer to questions put by Mr Humphreys, Captain Russell said the Government had noticed the cablegram published in tho colonial newspapers, stating that the war office had iisued regulations prohibiting the purchase of frozen beef for the army, and they intend to cable to the Agent-General and obtain further information regarding this matter. He need scarcely say that the Government would use every effort in order to ensure that frozen meat from New Zealand would obtain a fair chance of getting universal consumption in Great Britain. Replying to Dr. Newman, Capt. Russell said he should be glad to recommend all claims to grants of land for military services, of those who worn prevented from completing their service by blindness or other bodily misfortune. Mr Ballance called the attention of the Government to what he regarded as a want-of-confidence motion proposed by Mr Goldie, and contended that according to the usual constitutional practice no other business should be proceeded with until that was disposed of. He might Bay he quite agreed with the terms of the motion proposed by Mr Goldie, and he considered the Government were deserving of censure for putting votes that were struck off in Committee of Supply on tho Supplementary Estimates. Mr Mitchelson replied that the Government did not intend to go on with the Supplementary Estimates until the resolutions already arrived at by the Committee had been reported to the House,. When they came to that question the House would be duly informed of what attitude the Government would adopt. In regard to items now appearing on the Supplementary Estimates, Mr Ballance would like to know whether the Government intended to bring down items which had beon struck out in the Committee of Supply. Mr Mitchelson eaid ho did not propose to press them on the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Ballance then enquired whether he intended to withdraw the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Mitchelson reported that the Government did not intend to move the items set down on the Supplementary Estimates as having been struck out.

Mr BiUlance at once asked whether it was proposed to move the items in any other form. Mr Mitchelson said the proper constitutional course for the Government to take up, would be, when the resolutions were reported from the Committee of Supply to move that certain items be recommitted for further consideration, it was the intention of the Government to ask the House to reconsider the Audit votes because the Department could not be conducted if £950 were struck out, then if that sum were reinstated the Department would still be imperfectly provided for. Mr Ballance enquired whether the acting Premier wished to drop all other items which have been restored, Mr Mitchelson said the Government would take the first item struck out. The salary of the Secretary to the Cabinet and obtain the decision of the House upon that, in the event of the House refusing to reconsider that item, the Government would take that us its ruling on all other items. Mr Seddon thought that meant Judge Edwards' salary. Mr Mitchelson replied in the negative, and said that it had nothing to do with the general estimates. Mr Ballance urged on the Government the necessity of bringing up resolutions from the Committee of Supply without delay. Mr Mitohelson replied that he would state the decision of the Government at 7.30 p.m. Mr Richardson moved the second reading of the Auckland Roman Catholic Reserves Bill, but as several members protested against a Bill being brought forward at this late stage of the session, and in direct opposition to the agreement entered into between Mr Bryce and Mr Ballance as to the number of Bills to be brought forward this session, the Ministers agreed to the debate being adjourned. Tho House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Mitchelson asked the indulgence of the House, in order to make a short statement as to the intentions of the Government wifh respect to the Supplementary Estimates. The Government did not intend to make any change in the proceedurein business, but they would undertake to have the resolutions reported from Committee of Supply, to-morrow, in order that the House should be afforded an opportunity of reconsidering the first ite'n. He might say that several members were of opinion that some of the officers whose salaries were lately reduced, had been most unjustly treated, and the Government therefore would ask the Howe to reconsider the first vote. It was pr«p<«ed to restore it, and if the House objected to that item the Government would accept it as an indication that the others should not be moved.

Mr Ballunce asked whether the first item would govern all the other ones. Mr Mitcheloon replied thnt it would except in the case of tho Audit which the Government considered should bo specially dealt with. They were of opinion that unless that vote was restored it would be bf.tter to abolish the Audit Department Altogether. Mr 13alhir.ee desired to call attention to the statement in the evening papers to the effect that four men had been dismissed from the railway service in Christchurcb. He said the Railway Commissioners owed an allegiance to the House and the legislature, and that being so he felt justified in askinx that the Government should obtain full information as to the cause of the dismissal of those men, and that they should place it on the table of the House. It was the duty of tho Government ho contended to inform the House ss oarly us possible of the whole of the circumstances. Mr Mitoholson Baid the Government had received no communication at all on tho matter, but he liad noticed the report in evening papers and had taken steps to enquire as to the reason for the dismissal of the men. Ax soon as he received the information, he should lay it before the House. The Native Land Laws Amendment Bill waa considered in Committee at great length. (Left Sitting.)