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PARLIAMENT.
? —
[FBOM OUIi SI'KCI.iL KEPOSTKB3.J j
[dy electeic TELEGRAPH, j
HOUSE OF_ASSEMBLY.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7.
The SPEAKER (Mr N. J. Brawn) took
the chair at 7 30 o'clock.
NOTICES OF MO HON AND QUESTION.
Mr FOWLER, on Thursday, to aek the
Premier when It ia the intention of the
Government to introduce a bi 1 to provide
for the elections 10 the Federal Parlia
ment ?
Mr GAFFNEY, on Wednesday, to ask the
Premier if it ia true that the inspector of
machinery (Mr Ross) is away on Bix months' I
leave of abBecc^, and that no provision is
made for a temporary inspector to examine
engineers, and, if bo, why?
Mr URQUHART, on Friday, to move that
in the opinion of this House it ie the duty
of the Government to make provision thin
session for a reduction of members in the
local Parliament cDnsequent uponthe estab
lishment of a Federal Parliament ; also on
Wednesday, to ask the Minister of Lands if
Edward Mulcahy complied with the Mineral
Lands Act before occupatien by him of a
residence area in or about the town of
Zeehan in or about the year 1890 ; also, on
Friday, to move for leave to bring in a bill
to provide for the establishment of courts
of arbitration and boards of conciliation.
Mr BRADLEY, on Friday, to move for
the appropriation of £500 to be expended
in establishing a 8tate nursery for the culti
vation of pine plants euch as the Biltic,
Scotch latch, and other quick-growing pines
for planting on Crown lands suitable to their
growth, as well as for the distribution to
tettlers wishing to plant. - v
THE LEYEN HARBOR.
Sir EDWARD BRADDON asked the
Treasurer whether the Ltven Marine Board
had made any request or forwarded aay
proposal to the preBcnt Government for the
improvement of the Leven haTbsr t
The TREASURER (Mr Bird), in reply,
said the Leven Marine Board had made a
proposal to the Government lor the expendi
ture of £18,000 on the improvement of the
Leven harhor. £12,000 of this sum was
asked as a direct grant of public meney, aud :
£6000 bb a loan to the Marioe Board.
Sir EDWARD BRADDON : What has
been done 1
The TREASURER made no reply.
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION.
On the motion of the TREASURER the
Supplementary Appropriation B;H,18?9-1900,
waB read a second time, aud passed through
all stages without amendment.
* GOVERNOR'S SALARY BILL.
The PREMIER moved the second readingt
and pointed out that the approach of
federation would bring about a new epoch
in the history of Australia. Under the new
order of things the Governors of the StateB
would not forfeit much of their power.
Under the existing arrangements the Chief
Justice, during the absence of the Governor,
acted, yet he did not think that it would be
well for the Chief Justice to be permanently
appointed Governor of the colony. (Bear,
hear.) The Federal Executive had no power
to make an appointment. He did not
think it would be well that a retired
Governor Bhould be allowed to take a place
in the House. (Heaj, hear,) To elect the
Governor by popular vote would not be
likely to afford satisfaction. He thought
that the Governor in fulure should
be a Derson nominated by *fce Queen.
In other words, that no check in the
nomination and appointment of Governor
Bhonld.be made. (Hear, hear.) By this
means they would obtain the services of
men who were removed frem local politics
.and locU differences. He had the authority
of Lord Gormanston to Bay that the salary
was inadequate, bo much bo that he had on
an average to draw npon hiB private income
to the extent of £600 a year. He thought
£3000 would be a reasonable amount.
Sir EDWARD BRADDON : It can't be
done under that amount.
The PREMIER said he did not think they
could obtain the BerviceB of a suitable man
to uphold the dignity of ier MajsBty for a
lesser Bam. (Hear, hear.) He moved the
second reading.
Sir EDWARD BBADDON said to a cer
tain extent he concurred with what had
fallen from the Premier. He gave the pre
sent Chief Jnstice credit for the way in
which he had carried out the dpties, but it
must be borne in mind that the Chief
Justice was appointed for life, and it
woald be unwise to make him Governor for
life. To appoint the Governor of the day
by popular vote would b« a great mistake,
therefore the last courae waa the true one,
namely, that the Governor Bhouia db ap
pointed, bb heretofore*, by the British Go
vernment, and Bhould be, bo far as local
matters were concerned, wholly independent
of the Governor-General. (Hear, hear.) He
waB aware that there were thOBe in the
community who considered that the local
Governor Bhould be Bomething after the
,Btyle of & town clerk. (Laughter.) To his
mind £3000, as Buggested-by the Premier,
was totally inadequate to enable a qualified
man to keep up the dignity of the position.
He had the assurance of the late Sir
Bobert Hamilton that the duties could not
be carried out for less than £4000 a year.
He (Sir Edward) contended that the Go
vernor in fntore would be called upon
to entertain more extensively than for
merly. (Hear, hear.) The officers of
the fleet and others would have to be enter
tained, to say nothing of vieit* from the
Governor-General, which they had a right
to expect. To reduce the amount would be.
false economy— (hear, hear)— because he
hoped to see the colonieB progress under
their local Governors. He would like the
Premier to consider whether the amount
could not be increased to £4000 a year.
(Hear, hear,)
Mr IJpOLLNODGH expressed his as
toniehmeht to hear Buch a rigid economist
aB Sir Edward Braddon suggesting Increased
expenditure. (Laughter.) In the early
daya of the colony there was no doubt a
necessity for procuring the BerriceB of
English gentlemen well veraed in all that
was newest and ^eat, but he thought they
had reached that Btage when they could
very well dispense with their swaddling
clothes. 4 (Laughter.) He held with the
leader of the Opposition that if they were
to compel the Governor to reside at Govern
ment Houbb, with all its costly surround
ings, they might just as well have a man
from England, and he did not think the
position could be kept up for £3000 a year.
On the contrary, the amount would have to
be increased. His idea was that the future
Governor shonld not be compelled to reside
at Government House. They would have
the Governor-General, a General of the :
defence forces, the Admiral, and other
notable personBgeB visiting the colony, all
of whom would have to be entertained,
which could not be done by the local
Governor at anything mnch less than £6000
or £7000 a year.
Mr HARTNOLL Baid it was accepted by
a very large section of the community that
the selection of the Governor ahould rest
with the home authorities. (Hear, hear.)
He had always held that the Amount Bet
down in the estimates for the -Oovernor'a
Balary was wholly inadequate for tha pur
pose. In former dayB the Governors were
provided with a residence at a place not
very well known to the people of the south,
but well known in the north. He referred
to LaunceBton. The residence had, however,
been Bold and the proceedB added to the
general revenue. Personally he wonld pre
fer to see the salary increased to £4000
rather than decreased. Touching the ques
tion of the Administrator, he contended that
it was unfair to allow him to draw only one
half of the salary set down for the Gover
nor. (Hear, hear.)
Mr EVANS held that if the Chief Justice
could, aB Administrator, discharge the
duties of the Governor for a few months
satisfactorily, he eaw no reason why he
could not do bo for a greater period. He Baw
no reflson why the Administrator skould not
receive full pay.
The PREMIER : He need not occupy
Government House.
Mr EVANS : Just bo ; but he must enter
tain.
Mr GUE8D0N hoped that the position of
the Governor would be fully considered, and
suggested that the home Government be
asked to stay their hand in appointing the
local governor up to the end of 1901.
Mr LYNE considered the position waa
rather anomalous. At the same time he
thought they had better accept the position
and retrench. He thought it would be far
better to appoint the Chief Justice as Go
vernor and leave Government House for the
UBS of visitors of rank and position. There
was a time ^yhen tha Governors of the day
were in the habit of going through the j
colony, thereby making themselves popular. I
He hoDed the bill aa it stood would not I
piss.
Mr BURKE hoped the future Governor
would be appointed by the British Govern
ment. He 'waa actuated in doing so because
of his past experience, in support of which
he referred to the past Governors from the
time of Sir John Franklin to the present
d*y. It was all very well for the Chief
Justice to ondert&ke 1 be dniies of the Go
vernor for a short, time but i.e ciu'd cot
support the proposal t hat he Bhould couiinue
to hold the p silion At the ti.ne 1)-?
considered :hat during ike lime the Chief
JuBtice bi ld 1 },e p inion he sh. u ' l r^ceiv ;
the full ra'.e of Fi; |ktv He r's 1 advocatr.l
keeping up H.t- n.lar - o' Govt -r; or, iu such
B'i ex'cnr as wou enr^b c tt e occupant of
tbe office to maintain the dignity of ihe
position
Mr BURBURY ihonpbt the Gin f Jcs'ice
BbauM rt:Crive ha f salary whi'e be he d ihe
position of Administrator, but he did not
think he should be appointed permanently
to the position.
The second reading wsb agreed to on the
voiccs.
In committee. — Clause 3 — Governor's
Mr HaRTNOLL moved that the wordB
' travelling expenses of the Governor' be
erased, so ss to provide for the Governor
being paid his travelling expend over the
colony.
Mr ARCHER thought members were
advocating an increased expenditure which
the finances of the colony did not warrant.
Members were not consistent in their argu
ments. When federation waB taken up one
of the inducements held out to the House
and country at larpe waB that it would be
the means of reducing the expenditure of
the Government, and now they were going
in for an all-round increase of expenditure.
Sir EDWARD BRADDON said he would
eupport Mr Hartnoll's amendment, and
when they reached the schedule be would
move the postponement of the amendment.
EVANS thought the Administrator
should draw the full salary and hold office
for, Bay, nine months.
Mr N. J. BROWN' pointed out it web j
quite a mistake to Buppose that the Btatus of
the 6; ate Governor would be reduced under
federation. State Governors wouid have very
important functions to perform, and he
trusted the House would make such pro
vision an would enable the Governor to carry
out his duties and functions in a becoming
manner.
Mr GAFFNGY supported the amend
ment. because he thought the salary should
be adequate to enable the Governor to fill
the position in a fitting manner.
The PREMIER pointed out that Lord
Gormanston was on leave of absence, and
would be so until about the middle of
October, and would draw half the salary,
the remainder going to the Administraior of
the Government, who was not compelled to
fake up hiB residence at Government Hohss.
That waB a matter for his own decision. He
paw no objection to the Governor receiving
travelling expenses while touring in the
colony, but this would not include a fishing
trip to the Great Lake.
Mr HARTNOLL still contended that the
Governor should be allowed travelling ex
penees while on official dutieB. He thought
there were sufficient gentlemen of means in
the colony ready and willing to entertain
the Governor.
Mr FOWLER held that the amount fbr
travelling expenses should be limited in the
bill, and confined to expenses incurred
while on official duties. He eupported the
amendmBnt.
Mr GUESDON pointed out that it was
only proposed to strike out the words
11 travelling expenses of the Governor' for
the purpose of having them included in the
Bchedule. The amendment waa agreed to,
aud tbe clause postponed.
Progress waB reported, with leave given
to Bit again to-morrow.
A DEFERRED MOTION.
Mr SADLER moved that the following
b2 the select committee to inquire into the
circumstances under which the application
of Thomas Nichols for forfeiture of leases
waB made : The Minister of Lands, Sir
Edward Braddon, Messrs. Hartnoll, Gaffney,
Bird, Hall, and the mover.
A somewhat acrimcinioufl and irregular
discussion ensued betweem the Minister of
Lands, Mr Sadler, and Mr Hartnoll, with
the rtault that the matter was deferred till
to-morrow.
ADJOURNMENT.
At 11*5 the HouBe adjourned till 4 o'clock
to-aorrow.
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