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FEDERAL PARLIAMENT.
MR. BARTON'S PRIVATE BEORETARY.
-to~ErouE, Wednesday -The Senate met,.at 2 30
this afternoon, nod the President, with several
Stenators, proceeded to the Exeontive Connoll Ohbam
ber, and prtoesented the Address in Reply to the
Governor-Genoral. Senator M'Gregor gave notice
of his intention to move that in purchasing land for
the purposes of the nlte of the capital the Govern
moent bshould give not more than 10 per cent. above
the taxation values.
Senator Higgs gave notice that he would submit
a motion declaring that no member should be ap
pointed to a place of profit ncder the Orown until
12 months after he ceased to be a member of the
Legeislature.
The debate on the second reading of the Postal
and Telegraph Bill weas resumed.
On the whole the ariticism was favourable to the
bill, although severat BSenators announced their in
tention of seeking to amend a number of clauses in
oommittee. At 9.20 p.m. Senator Dawson moved
that the debate be adjourned. This was'oagreed to
and the resumption of the debate made an order of
the day for Thursday.
The Speaker tool the chair in the House of Re.
presentattves, and, anoompanied by the offlcials and
a number of members, went to the Exeontive Coon
ail ChObamber and presented the Address in Reply to
the tovernor-General. Among the questions on
the busines paper was one by Mr. Cameron, who
challenged the validity of the oath taken by mem
bers. Mr. Barton nassured him that the oath had
been properly administered, but Mr Camoron in
sistod upon being re-sworn, and this wao done,
amid a good deal of comment by the members.
Conlsideration of the estimates was then resumed
in committee. There was nearly a full House, and
the keenest interest was taken by members, who
criticised every item. In view of thb temper of
the House, as ebown by the votew on the salary f
the President of the Boenate, the Treasurer moved
the reduction of the salary of the Speaker by £400,
making it, exolusive of the Parliamentary allow
anoe, £1100 The votes for the 'Parliamentary
debatet, library, refreshmont-roam, nod Federal
Executive went through without serious attempt
atalteration. An effortto reduoo the salary of the
private enorotary to the Vice-President from £400
to £250 was defeated on division by 41 votes to 17.
Sub division No. 1, providing for the administrative
salaries in the department of the Minister of
External Afflairs, provoked considerable discussion,
ezooxp'ion being taken to the salary of A460 per
annum for the private seoretary to the Premier
The criticism of appointments drew froth Mr
Barton a deolaration that he had nhver appointed
roelatives to the publio service. He had never booeen
influeonced by friendship in making dppointmente,
but he would say that, other things being equal, the
appointment of a friend gave him grdater pleasueere
than the appointment of a person unknown to him
He stated with some emphasis th'Bt the work
devolving upon him rendered the appointment of
a private seoretary neoussary, and withrout the
assistance of ensuob an officer he did not khow how
he was going to carry on his duties. The debate
then centred round the appointment of the
seoretary to the Department pf 'External
Affairs, and Mr. Watson moved a reduction of
£4 on the ground that Mr Huntlahould not have
been appointed. Dr, Onrty Salmon -and Mesers.
Issaes and Higgins complained that they had been
placed in a false position by the precipitanoy
of the Government in making the appoint
ment, and held that temporary otrangoement
should have been made until the Publio Service
Board had decided what officers were required. Mr.
Bruoe Smith held that diseussion as to the qualifi
cations of Mr. Hunt was quite irrelevant He,
however, informed the House that Mr. Hunt was a
man of great ability, and bheI services Were cheap at
£800 a year. Sir George Turner said the Pablio
Service Bill provided for any difloulty that might
arise in the case of oeioera who were not required.
Several members expressed dissatisfaction at the
position of affairs, and Mr. Conoroy asked if the
Government regarded the amendmento as a.vote of
censeure. Sir William M'Millan, as acting leader of
the Opposition, disagreed with the. terms of the
amendment. Sir George Turner made a guarded
eltatement reegarding the position of thoe GCo)vern
ment, and after debate had gone on foranother
hour Mr Barton demanded the confidence of the
House He plainly indicated that he regarded the
amendment as a vote of aensure, and that if it were
carried he had no doubt as to the tourse he would
pursue
After this announcement members were anxious
to come to a division. Mr. M'Lean'and Mr.
Conroy, who oppOEed the Government, and Mrr.
Harper, who supported it, spoke to ain aeoacompany
ing chorus of ""Divide." At 10 15 pm. the
division was taken and the amendment lost by 42
votes to 18 The vote for the administrative sub
division was then agreed to. After a lengthy dist
ceussion the remaioing votes were agreed to. The
Stainding Orders were auspended, and the Supply
-Bill, based on the estimates as agreed to, was
introduced and passed throughl all its stages, and
sent to the Senato foe its assent,
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