ANOTHER GOVERNMENT REVERSE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12386, 6 December 1909, Page 5

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT REVERSE.

WELLINGTON, November 3. An item of £400 a year, a.<* payment to tho "financial adviser" to the Government in London, which appears on tho Estimates, led to an interesting discussion and division this evening, tho result being the item, was struck out by an adverse vote moved by the Leader of the Opposition. When the item cams up, Mr Massey asked for information concerning the position, and wished to know whether it was a. new office.

The Prime Minister said that the office had been rendered necessary by tho retirement of Sir Walter Kennaway. It had previously been held he paid by the late Sir Pen rose Julian and alsr> by the late Sir Julius Vogel.

Mr Ma-ssev said that ths office had not been filled for some years. He was strongly of opinion, he said, that this office had been created for Mr Reoves and he would test the feeling of the House by moving to strike out the item. He did not think they needed a financial adviser in addition to their banking advisers.

The Prime Minister said that the services rendered by Mr Reeves were very important and the payment of £400 wa<? a mere bagatelle.

Mr Russell said that when Mr.Reeves retired from the service of New Zealand, ho did so to take up a highly paid position. He had been well paid for his services t-> the Dominion, and unless iho Prime Minister could satisfy the House that the expenditure of this £400 wa.* necessary, he must voto for the amendment. Tho Prime Minister said that the fexpenditure was finite necessary. The Government would not pay £400 to Mr Rerves' for nothing to oblige the late Hi"-h Commissioner, and he did not think that Mr Reeves would take money that he had not earned. Mr" Massey's amendment, which was supported by several members of the Government Party, was carried by 3o vc,t~3 to 25. ....... The following is the division list.:— 4 vies (35).—Allen. Anderson, Arnold, Buchanan, Buick, Clark, Davey. Dive, J. Duncan, Fisher. Glover. Hanan, Hardy, Herdman, Herries, Hine, Hogg, .fenriincs, Lang, Luke, McLaren, Mander Massey, Newman. Nosworthy. Okev, Pearoe, Phillips. Poole. Russell Scott. G. M. Thomson, J. C Thomson. Witty. Wright. Noes (25).—Brown, Buddo. Carroll, Colvin, Ell, Field, Forbes, Fowlds, Hall, 1 Hogan, Laurenson, Lawry, McDonald, !R, McKenzie. T. Mackenzie, Millar, ■ Poilnnd. Reed. Ross. Seddon, Sidey, Smith, Stalworth, Te Rangihiroa, Ward.