PARLIAMENT.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1274, 23 July 1883, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, July 20. An interesting discussion took place in the' House yesterday afternoon regarding the practice of granting licenses for the discovery of new goldfields. It was brought about in the first place by a question asked by MiKelly, who wished to know whether the Government were prepared to place a sum on the Estimates for the discovery of payable goldfields in the North Island. In reply, the Minister of Mines said it would not be expedient to do so. Later on Mr Petrie asked the same Minister if the bonus of _£500 for the discovery of new goldfields promised to the Provincial District of Canterbury would be extended to all other parts of New Zealand. Mr Bolleston replied in the negative, but promised that the Government would be prepared with any special cases that might arise, as they had done in the case of Canterbury. Mr Seddon thought the answer was unsatisfactory, and moved the adjournment of the House, in order that the question might be debated. Mr Bolleston thereupon explained that the Government had consented to vote £500 for Canterbury, in consequence of a numerously signed letter from the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, who urged the Government to do this in order that all doubts as to the existence of a goldfield in Canterbury might be set at rest. Petrie, FitzGerald, Kelly and other goldfields members expressed their dissatisfaction with the course adopted by the Government, who were urged in the interest of the developement of the gold mining industry to reconsider their decision not to extend the offer of a reward to all parts of the Colony. After the subject had been exhausted Mr Seddon obtained leave to withdraw his motion for the adjournment of the House, and Mr Kelly intimated his intention to ask the Government on a future clay to state the special circumstances which had induced them to offer a special reward to Canterbury and not to other parts of the Colony. The first order of the day in the House yesterday afternoon was Committee of Supply. The Treasurer was about to move that the Speaker leave the Chair in

order that the House go into Supply, ' when Sir George Grey rose and referring to an interceptory motion of which he had given notice, " That in the opiuion of the House a Land Tax should be imposed on land within the Colony," said he found there was a desire on the part of several members to know the time at which the discussion on his motion was to take place, in order that they might be present to take part in it. He proposed that the leader of the House should name some day and hour when the motion would come on. The Treasurer would be prepared to meet the gentlemen at any time. Sir George Grey then named Thursday next, and the motion for going into Supply was carried without opposition. The consideration of the Estimate j was resumed at clause 2nd : — Colonial Secretary's Department, vote .3450, , Premier's office, was passed as presented. In regard to the printed vote of £1,895 — Colonial Secretary's office, considerable discussion ensued. A question arose as to whether the items in the Department could be reduced, The Colonial Secretary replied in the negative and reminded the Committee of a paragraph in the Financial Statement, in which the Treasurer announced his intention of asking the House to appoint a Committee with a view of reorganising the civil service. As the civil service was organised at present they could not see their way to reduce any of the salaries. The Treasurer remarked that if fresh organisation were authorised by the House, and the salaries of Departments fixed and determined a-new the reorganisation might enable us to have a much cheaper service than we had at the present time, although a well paid one. Under the present organisation the Government could not reduce the Estimates lower than they had done already, unless they reduced salaries to starvation point. He hoped that if the House took up this question of reorganisation in a spirit which he was satisfied they would do, great good would come out of it. Swanson pointed out that it was useless to expect, the Government to reduce the salaries of their officers. Parliament must accept the responsibility of doing that, by sending the Estimates back to the Government. (A voice "do it.") Very well, he was agreeable, if the Committee were " game " to do it. (Cheers). He moved that the Chairman report progress. (Cheers). Barron concurred in the sentiment that only the House could efiect reduction in the Estimates. He urged Swanson to carry his motion out to the end, when he would find that the Opposition members would vote with him to a man, and he hoped also that those who supported the Government would also vote with him, and not be deterred by party considerations. After a long and hot debate, in which several speakers took part, the question was put that the House report progress, but the motion was lost by a majority of 9, after which the consideration of the Estimates was resumed.