HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1105, 26 June 1882, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Speaker resumed his seat in the House of Representatives at 4 o'clock yesterday, after members had an opportunity of witnessing the departure of the Governor.

Leave was granted to M. H. Green to introduce a Bill to extend the law relating to licensing hawkers and pedlars which was read a first time.

The Minister of Public Works moved the appointment of a Select Committee to report upon the propriety of giving consent of Government to reference of Brogden's claims under the provisions of the Government Contractor Arbitration Act, to sit with any Committee that might be appointed by the Legislative Council for similar purposes, and report within a month.

The motion was then agreed to.

On resuming the sitting, Atkinson moved that the Speaker leave the chair to enable the House go in Committee of Supply, thereupon Dargaville and Montgomery rose simultaneously — Montgomery gave way. Dargaville remarked the course he was about to take. He was acting on his own individual motion, and not as a mouthpiece or exponent of the Opposition, or any section of the Opposition. What he wished to do was to offer some remark on the Financial Statement. In doing so, he was not animated by any spirit of hostility. His criticism would be entirely of a friendly nature, and he hoped it would be accepted as such. It had been rumored that some proposal involving a want of confidence motion would be submitted that evening— if that were the intention of the Opposition, or any section of that party, he was entirely independent of it, and in his present attitude innocent of it. The hon. member thereupon proceeded to adversely criticise the figures set forth in the Financial Statement. After making careful enquiry he had arrived at the conclusion that the Sinking Fund referred to by the Colonial Treasurer did not exist. He admitted that the debt of the country had been reduced by occasional payments from £29, 000,000 to £27,000,000, or thereabouts, but contended that this reduction was caused by the actual expenditure of monies, which the Financial Statement would leave the casual reader to conclude was in existence as a separate fund. He trusted that when the Treasurer brought down another Statement, he would be more honest, and state the truth. His present Statement had deluded him (Dargaville), and he also ventured to say had also deluded and snared other members, and the public creditor.

Montgomery briefly followed. He urged the Government to bring down the Public Works Statement and Loan Bill without further delay. By doing so thoy would be consulting the wishes, not only of their own supporters, but also the country, and certainly they would be only doing justice to the Opposition. Seddon next spoke, and gave the debate a new turn. He said he rose from altogether different motives to those which had actuated Dargaville. In pursuance of the notice he had previously given, he now desired to move a motion relative to the payment of members question. The motion he had to move was this :—

"That in the opini-m of this House, it

is right and expadiont, tint nnmbors of the House of Representative.? should be compensated for expenses incurrad, and time devoted to LogUlativo duties, and that such payments should be fixed by statute, and secondly, that an addres? be presented to the Governor, requesting him to recommend for appropriation, a sum not exceeding £25,800, to be used from the consolidated revenue, payable after every session for the purpose of the Bill to effect that object." He advanced various reasons in support of the motion.

Fish seconded the motion, contending that the sum now paid was not sufficient, and it was desirable that the amount be fixed by statute.

The Native Minister said the Government had not thought it necessary to bring down a Bill of the kind indicated, but this need not mean that they were opposed to payment of members, indeed, in voting the present honorarium they had conceded a principle, and the Government Would act iv the direction which they believed to be the desire ofthe House. There were, doubtless, difficulties in the way, as for example, the question of the amount to be paid to the other chamber, but these could be left to tho House.

The motion was also supported by M. W. Green, Captain M'Kenzie, and Hursthouse.

Connolly regretted the motion did not go a little further, and called upon the Government to bring down the Bill. Grey said it was necessary a law should be passed on this subject at once, and the Government must prepare the measure.

Hall hoped that the present session would not be allowed to pass until the question been settled by law. The resolution was then agreed to, after which the Colonial Treasurer moved that the House go into Committee of Supply immediately, and this was carried without discussion.

The consideration of the Estimates was resumed. The vote for L 3,500 for Agent-General's department was passed without amendment. The next vote related to Charitalb Aid, etc

Montgomerie hoped that as this was a large subject an hour later progress would be reported To this proposal Government objected, upon which George moved that progress be reported. Upon this a debate took place, lasting for fifteen minutes, during which th© Colonial Treasurer said the Government was quite willing to abide by the decision of Committee voices. The noes were declared to have it and a division was called for, which resulted in the motion been negati/ed by 40 to 18.

The Committee proceeded to vote £40,000 for Charitable aid. It was moved that this be struck out until Government proposals, regarding this subject, be brought forward, but the Treasurer asked that the vote be agreed to as a matter of form, and it was then passed. In connection with the vote of £41,165 for unatic Asylums some discussion arose on them. £1,000 for Inspector of Lunatic Asylums and Hospitals, the Colonial Secretary stated Government were anxious to secure the services of a thoroughly competent man to fill this office. Last year £800 was voted, but a suitable man was unobtainable at that salary, and the Agent-Gen-eral had telegraphed out to know if he could offer a higher figure, to which the Government had replied "not till Parliament meets. " George moved that the item be struck out

Fish said that he observed that in addition to this £1000 it was proposed to vote £30, £40, and £50 to ••local Inspectors," In centres of population these, he believed, would be money utterly wasted, and he thought visiting Justices should be required to act in this capacity. These sums were merely intended as a solatium for the friends of the heads of departments.

At 20 minutes past 1 Sheehan moved that progress be reported.

The Colonial Treasurer hoped the Committee would pass the vote for the Lunatic Asylum, after which Govern ment would agree to the proposition to show that there was no necessity to go outside the Colony for a Chief Inspector.

Connolly remarked that if the present medical officers were competent for their duties there was surely one among them fit to be promoted to the position.

Green bore testimony to qualification of the resident medical inspector at Dunedin, whom he considered eligible for the offica

The Colonial Secretary remarked that the officers they had at present were excellent men for the position they occupied, but there not among them such a man as he hoped to get for the post of Chief Inspector.

The item of LIOOO was eventually passed and the total vote agreed to, after which progress was reported and House adjourned at 2*5 a.m.