PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2170, 28 August 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tlie House met at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Four weeks’ leave of absence was granted to Mr. Rhodes on the ground ,of ill-hoalth. Four days’ leave ot Njsenco was granted to Mr. Baumo private business. HOME. t . 1 the Logis- ’ >N.ey Training J>, to on the

- ..... EXPENSES. . gave notice of a question ..rfi'ing if a certain District Court -"-jnelgo received 31s 6d per day travelling allowance whether he travelled or not, in addition to a railway pass for himself and wife. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Arising out ol a report by the. M to Z petitions committee concerning tho petition of Mr. Mclntosh, late general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, for payment for services as auditor during tho time ho held tho position of general manager, a lon~ discussion ensued. The committee recommended that the petition lio on tho table. Mr. Ait-ken said be desired to place on record his views regarding the petition. Ho had listened to the evidence and Considered that Mr. McIntosh had made 'out his case. He did not hear any ovidenco in rebuttal and was unaware as to whether any had been called or not. Mr. Duncan said Air. Mclntosh was not justified in his petition. He was claiming for payment as auditor of the Bank of Now Zealand during the . period lie was in receipt of a salary as general manager. Mr. Rutherford said he had occupied the position of chairman of the committee during the absence of Mr. Buddo, and had heard no evidence to justify Air. Alclntosli’s petition. The petitioner had occupied the position of auditor at £1750 a year anil subsequently accepted the position of general manager at a salary of £2OOO a year, which was eventually increased to £2250. . During the time he was malinger his salary was paid monthly yet ho never made a complaint during that time that he was not being paid the audit salary, and it was not until after ho had retired from the bank altogether that this demand for dual salary was made. Air. James Allen said the Government nominees on tho board of directors were responsible for Air. AlcIntosh’s retirement. The Premier said ho would not have referred to the matter but for the fact that the member for Bruce •was seeking to make political capital out of the subject. As far as his knowledge of Air. Atclntosh went it was only right to say that he had no fault to find with tho manner in which he performed his duties as auditor. Ho was entitled to tho fullest acknowledgment of his services in that direction. They must all recognise that he did most excellent work. He thought when Air. AlcIntosh decided to accept the position of general manager of the bank that ho was making a mistake and he thought so still, but the Government did not do anything to oppose his assuming tho higher paid .office of general manager. From the time he took over that office he ceased to bo responsible directly to the Government as auditor and he was not responsible to the Government as general manager. Tho work of auditor was carried out by another officer. An attempt had been made to place the responsibility for Air. Alclntosh’s retirement on the Government’s shoulders by asserting that lie was driven from his position by the Government. He could only say in reply to this that the decision of the directors was unanimous and the

Government had nothing to do with his retirement. He might say that Air. Alclntosh’s retirement was not owing to any mistake he might have made nor to his lack of ability or that ho had done anything wrong. He had made no bad debts or losses. Proceeding the Premier stated that the friction between Air.' Alclntosh and the directors had nothing to do with the Government. In conclusion he stated that Air. Alclntosh admitted that lie would not have mado the claim had the directors of the bank treated him differently when he retired.

_ Air.’ Alassey said Air. Alclntosh resigned his position as general manager owing to pressure brought to bear by the Government nominees on the board of directors. Air. Laurenson said that when applications were made by high salaried officials the compensation granted was out of proportion to the services rendered, whereas if a mail earning 7s a day petitioned little was heard of it.

Air. Buddo, in reply, said the House had nothing to do with Air. Alclntosh’s appointment. The Colonial Treasurer had the matter thrust upon him in having to approve of tho auditor general. Air. Alclntosh’s reputation as a banker had in no way suffered through tho inquiry. He moved that the petition lie on the table.

Tho motion was agreed to and the House adjourned at 5.30. Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. TRAVELLING EXPENSES. Air. Alassev said he desired to remind tho Premier of the statement made to the House last week, that the Government would arrange for an inquiry into the circumstances in connection with the Customs Expert and travelling allowances. He suggested that the inquiry should tako the form of a Parliamentary committee. Ho himself would like tho opportunity of examining the matter. Rumor stated that other officers wore drawing travelling allowances whether travelling or not. The Premier said lie proposed to refer this matter to a Parliamentary Committee upon the question of Air. Shannon. He hoped to he able to announce' to the House in the course of a day or two who the committeo would bo. IMPREST SUPPLY.

The Imprest Supply Bill was brought down by Governor’s message for tho amount of £666,000. On the motion to go into Committee of Ways and Aleans, Air. Massey said a number of ■items in the tariff had been reduced since the first proposals were introduced, the Customs officers had refused to give a rebate on articles which had already been paid, and he understood that instructions had been given to all Customs officers to refuse a rebate. Tho Premier said Customs officers woro acting in a perfectly proper manner, as no rebates could be given until Parliament granted power to do so. Tho House then went into commit-

X toe. Mr. Herries urged that a vigorous policy of r(lading should ho adopted in tlie northern districts. Mr. Wilford advocated that allowances paid to railway servants should be .included in salaries. Mr. Massey said that the policy of paving allowances to these servants ■was very unsatisfactory, as the men felt that it could bo taken from them any year, and, further, it had its ad-- -- verse loaning on pensions, and in 10gard to payment of overtime. Ho pressed for amendment in tho Advances to Settlors Act in the direction ot expediting the granting of title to purchasers for cash. The Premier said the position ot the Public Works Fund was perfectly satisfactory, and all that was required was provided for the works of the Public Works Department. It was, he said, very amusing to hear mem-h'-rs speaking about tlio Railway Depa :;::u*nt. Ho could not think that members had listened to what ’lie had previously said on the matter. 1 he amendments to th c railway classification scheme would tako two or three davs in discussion. To imagine that tho nocessary amendments could be effected by a clause of the Imprest Supply Bill was too funny for words. As lie had already stated, the Government intended to bring down an amendment to tho classification schemo. Proceeding, he referred to the del a vs which had occurred, and asked members to support him in getting on with business, Otherwise they would have

to go on until Christmas, and then adjourn and return after the Now teal Replying to Air. Hornes, lie stated that no undue delay was made in paying for public works. Referring to demands for roads and bridges, he said the number ot these that bail been made was outrageous, and the Minister of Public V orks could not meet the excessive demands that were pouring in, and if members continued in their demands all ho could say was that they would be grievously disappointed. In reply to Air. Alassey, ho said he was only too ready to seo the work of the Advances to Settlers Department carried out to tho fullest extent possible. . . » Afr. Alnssev said if tho Premier intended to infer that, a policy of obstruction had been adopted by the Opposition lie took tho opportunity to deny it. He contended that the present Opposition was most reasonable. They had over faced the Treasury benches. Where ,he asked, wore the policy measures. The Tanll Bill had not been considered item bv item, although Parliament had been in session for two months. He characterised tho Puro Food Bill as discreditable to tho man who drafted it and the Executive who placed it before Parliament. Ho was quite prepared to stuv till Christmas, but he considered the Premier to be as ready to leave tlu' Parliamentary Buildings at tho close of th c session as any other member. The Premier referred to the delav that had occurred ill debating the Consolidated Estimates, particularly tit,. Cook Islands section, which occupied four hours, mainly of Opposition members’ remarks, and at tho same sitting only two other classes were di-.posed of by 4 o’clock in tho morning. He disclaimed any responsibility for delay in regard to the Land and Assessment Bills.

THE TARIFF BILL. Tho Tariff Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. The message was referred to the committee of tho House nntl agreed to. On the House resuming Air. Herries complained that tho Government had broken faith with tho House in regard to resolutions in depriving members of two opportunities of discussing resolutions. In fact, lie raided, members bad been jockeyed out of their rights by the Premier. Air. Alillar contended that neither he nor any member of tho Government had been guilty or would be guilty of “jockeying” the rights of any. member of the House. Ho contended that every item could he fully discussed in committee. Air. Janies Allen admitted that every opportunity would be available to discuss items in committee. Tho Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all stages. After considerable discussion as to procedure had taken place tho Bill was lead the first timo and set down for its second reading to-morrow. COMAIITTEE OF SUPPLY. Tho House then went into Committeo of Supply. The first class taken was \ T nluation Department, total vote £33,592. Air. Horries urged that valuers should bo paid better salaries as the beat men were leaving the service. Mr. AlcNab said increases had been granted and he realised that the number and remuneration would have to be increased along with their responsibility. He hoped to be able to do away with the anomalies that at present existed.