PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14244, 15 December 1909, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

SOME COMMITTEE REPORT*. THE RAILWAY SOCIETIES. INCIDENTS OP THE SITTING. [bt telegraph.—special correspondent.] Wellington, Wednesday morning. In the House yesterday afternoon there was a lengthy discussion on a report of a Select Committee in regard to the request of the Railway Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Society for official recognition. The amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Shipping and Seamen Bill were agreed to. The- House then went into commitee on the Internal Defence Bill. Numerous amendments were proposed, with a division on each, but the Bill remained unaltered. The progress made was slow, and at one o'clock only 23 of the 103 clauses of the Bill had been dealt, with. In the Legislative Council a number of local Bills were read a second time.

RAILWAY GRIEVANCES. DRIVERS AND FIREMEN'S SOCIETY. [BY telegraph.---press ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday. In the House this afternoon Mr. Hogan, chairman of the Railways Committee, reporting on 74 petitions, praying that official recognition be granted to enginedrivers and firemen, said the committee had no recommendation to make. This conclusion was arrived at after consideration of the facts, which showed that firemen and. cleaners had been equally well represented by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, which had given due prominence to their interests, that firemen and drivers could obtain all reforms they demanded by reforming existing organisations, and that it was desirable that, in making representations to the Minister in connection with the railway service, one society should represent the men.

Mr. Taylor (Christehurcb) said the enginedrivers and firemen had not received the attention from the existing society which they were entitled to, and consequently they were asking for a separate organisation. Mr. Millar had said that when the membership attained a thousand lie would concede the demand. At the present time the Engine-drivers' Society had a membership of 1100 out of a total of 1400 engaged in that branch of the, service. This fact

in itself showed there musKbe good ground for the claims of the men. \ Mr. Luke could not agree With the remarks of Mr. Taylor. The interests of the general public had to be considered as well as those of the men. \ Mr, Malcolm moved, "That the report be referred back to the committee for further consideration." He held that recognition of the new society would make for harmony in the service. Mr. McLaren said the disintegration of industrial unions was an unwise policy. Mr. Massey supported the amendment. The men wore the best judges of their own interest*. During the past few years, in the railway service generally, wages had increased by- 20 per cent., but the drivers and firemen had only obtained a 5 per cent. increase. Their work was arduous, and called for higher wages than other sections of the service. He hoped the Minister would allow the drivers to form their own association. Mr. Buick suggested that the report and evidence taken by the committee be printed for the use of members. Mr. Duncan admitted the arduous nature of drivers' work, but was not sure that a separate organisation would help them to realise their wishes. j ~ Mr. Poole said it was difficult to» deal with the report, seeing that the Minister for Railways had promised to give the men another chance of voting on the question whether they would come under the operation of the Arbitration Act. Mr. Buchanan supported the amendment. Mr. Russell held that employees in State Departments should come under the scope of the Arbitration Act. Mr. Millar said he had endeavoured to keep clear of one side or another in the dispute. The Amalgamated • Society had done good work for railway servants. Under the Arbitration Bill, to be brought down, the men would have an opportunity of coming under the Act. He had no doubt that if the new society were recognised further secession from the original body would be made. On no occasion had the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants approached him without referring to matters affecting drivers. He denied that drivers in Australia were paid higher wages than those in the Dominion, except in a few special cases. He was not taking the report of the committee as final, and would prefer the matter to stand over. He believed tho drivers could obtain separate representation without splitting up the society. He asked Mr. Malcolm to withdraw his amendment, on the understanding that the committee's report was not final. Mr. Malcolm agreed to withdraw- his amendment on the understanding that the Minister give the matter full consideration. Mr. Ell approved of the course adootcd. Mr. Baume said the debate was an illustration of the time that could be occupied by the House in discussing the conditions of labour in State Departments. The remedy for this was to bring the employees of the State under the scope of the Arbitration Act. Mr. Wilford said the whole cause of the trouble was the inadequacy of the wages of engine-drivers. Mr. Hogan, in reply, said he was glad Mr. Malcolm's amendment had been withdrawn, as no good could have come of it. The committee had made exhaustive inquiries, and called evidence on botn sides, which was printed for the benefit of those members of the committee who had not been present at all the meetings. The engine-drivers could obtain representation on the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and other sections of the service could obtain the same right, but this would not interfere with the integrity of £he society, which would be still the sole body, representing the whole of the men in the service. He*iioped the claims of the drivers for increased wages would be given favourable consideration. The motion was then put and carried. THE NEW DEATH DUTIES. PASSED THE COUNCIL. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, replying to Mr. S. Thome George, who asked what amount of estate dutv under the Death Duties Act, now before the Council, is payable on an estate, the taxable balance of which amounts to over £140.000, the Attorney-General said the question as put was misleading, as the amount of death duties under the Death Duties Act included not only estate duty, but succession duty, and in some cases gift duty. As regards estate duty only, which did not depend on relationship at all. as succession duty did, the amount of duty pavable on the estate mentioned would be £21,000 3s. The Death Duties Bill was put through its final stages.

THE LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER. MORE ALTERATIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. The House Committee reported to-day that it, had passed the following resolutions:—(l) "That the seating accommodation and the lighting of the House are so defective that this committee recommends to the Government that they be remodelled on the plan of the old Chamber which was destroyed by fire." (2) "That the Government be requested to have a sketch plan of

the proposed alterations prepared forthwith arid submitted to the committee for consideration."* (3) "That this committee also recommends that accommodation for the Hansard staff be provided on the floor of the House, .as in the session of 1908." It has already been indicated that further alterations to the already much rearranged building are contemplated, and this, of course, will mean a considerable additional expense.

THE LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT DETENTION OF DEGENERATES. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Amendment Bill, which, he explained, provides for a period of detention beyond the age of 21 where, in the opinion of the Minister, an inmate of a school is morally degenerate or is otherwise not, in the public interest, a fit person to be free from control. On the receipt of application from the manager of the school (on direction of the Minister) to the magistrate the latter might if satisfied extend the period of detention of an inmate for four years from the time he reaches 21 years of age. Amendments of the principal Act were also proposed providing that the magistrate might make an order up to 10s instead of 8s as at present for the maintenance of a child committed to the industrial school.

Messrs. McGowan, Jcnkinson, and Samuel took exception to the detention provision, which they said was an infringement of the liberty of the subject. Mr. Samuel asked that at least 24 hours might be given to enable members to consider the provisions of the Bill.

Mr. Luke hoped the Bill would pass. Mr. Callan generally approved of the Bill, but thought power should be given to remove degonerates to lunatic asylums. Mr. Anstey complained that a Bill of such importance should be brought down at such a late period of the session, when there was no time to properly consider it. The Minister, in reply to those who objected to the Bill on the ground of interference with the liberty of the subject, said the objections were too fanciful. There was the liberty of the community and the life and health of the community to be considered. The object of the Bill was to extend moral treatment beyond the age of 21. The second reading was agreed to. A number of local Bills from the House were read a second time, and the Council adjourned.

POLITICAL NOTES. TEACHERS' PETITIONS. [BY TELEGIUI'H.— CO-RESPONDENT.] Wellington-, Tuesday. Two petitions in connection with the Teachers' Superannuation Act were reported upon by the Education Committee of the House to-day. The petitioners were Ellen Astley and Mary Lovatt, both of whom represented that they had been teachers under the Auckland Education Board (the former for 18 years and the latter for 31 years), but that, through ignorance of the terms of the Teachers' Superannuation Act, they missed the opportunity of being included in its benefits. They therefore asked to be put. on the footing of original members. The committee have referred both petitions to the Government for favourable consideration. This recommendation will be of interest to many other teachers in the Dominion, who are in a similar position in regard to superannuation.

AUCKLAND PETITIONS. A petition was recently presented to the House on behalf of Patrick Madigan, of Auckland, who stated that he had married a widow named Mrs. Noyer, who subsequently became insane, and was committed to the Auckland Mental Hosnital. At the time of her marriage to petitioner she had a boy living with ner, whom he believed wan her child by her first marriage. Petitioner had since discovered that the boy, who had been committed to a home, was the illegitimate child of another woman, and had been adopted by his wife. He therefore asked to be relieved from contributing to the child's maintenance. The Education Committee, in reporting upon the petition to-day, recommended that the Education Department should cause such inquiries to be made as would enable the committee to judge of the truth of the allegations of the petitioner. The Mines Committee reported to-day on the petition of James Hosie, who asked for a reward for the discovery of gold, alleged to have been made by him at Waihi and Karangahake. The committee has no recommendation to make.

APPLAUSE IN THE GALLERIES. This evening, when Mr. Poole was speaking, an occupant of a seat in the strangers' gallery signified his approval of a certain remark by applauding in the form of a hearty hand-clap. The Chairman of Committees (Mr. Wilford) promptly intervened by saying, If there is any more unseemly conduct from the visitors I will have the galleries immediately cleared." The rebuke had the desired effect. THE KAWHIA RAILWAY. Mr. Jennings has, given notice to ask the Minister for Public Works whether he will have a trial survey made, as promised by his predecessor, Mr. Hall-Jones, of the line between Kawhia and a junction with the Auckland Main Trunk line. TAXING RACING CLUBS. As would be seen from the summary of the Stamp Duty Act Amendment Bill telegraphed last night the proposed amendment of the law referred only to an increased tax on the totalisator investments. It is understood, however, that the Prime Minister will in a day or two bring down another Bill to tax the revenue of racing clubs, such as is received for admission and for tho eale of privileges. STATE GUARANTEED ADVANCES. It is likely that a Bill will be brought down to nullify the effect of Mr. Sidey's amendment of the State Guaranteed Advances Bill regarding the vesting of unguaranteed local loans in commissioners. ' JOTTINGS. The Naval Defence Bill was put through its final in the Legislative Council this afternoon. t The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Shipping and Seamen Bill were agreed to by the House of Representatives yesterday.