HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4400, 1 June 1882, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, Mat 31. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OF QTTHSTIONS. Mr Sbddon gave notice he would ask if Government intended to introduce the penny poetal system. , Mr Hamlik gave notice to bblc if, considering that the election» of Franklin North and Wakanui were rendered inoperative by the derelictions of the officers of Government, the Government would be prepared to defray the election and Court expenses of the unseated candidates. HOUR OP BISING. Mr Wynn-Williams brought up the report of the Standing Orders Committee on the motion recommending that the House always adjourn not later than 12 30 a.m. It recommended that the motion should not be given effect to. QUESTIONS. Mr Bbddon asked whether or cot Government would, during the present session, introduce any measure dealing partially or wholly with the following questions which detri* mentally affect goldmining in the Colony: — (i.) Pollution of Btreams in the vicinity of gold workings. (2.) The depositing of Bludge and tailings on Crown land and in rivers and creeks. (3) The sale of land in proclaimed gold fields' districts to be subject for all time to the condition that no compensation shall be claimed for damages caused through searching for gold or gold working. (4.) Biparian rights which at present, in various parts of the Colony, prevent the working of well-known payable auriferous lands ? The Hon W. Bollbston said the questions were of great importance, and bad received consideration at the hands of Government. A Bill would bp brought down providing for the resumption of land found to be auriferous. That Bill eimply meant to deal with the land already taken up in the past. During the last two years no land had been'alienated without the reservation. Ho saw no reason why these lands should not be taken in the *nme way.es land required under the Public Works Act. The proposals Government intended to bring in would, however, deal with the whole matter in a manner fair to the land-owner without being unfair to the mining interest. Beplying to-Mr Seddon, ..Major Atkinson said that until he made his linancial Statement he was not prepared to disclose the intentions of Government as to the abolition of the duty on Colonial beer. Bepljing to Mr Joyce, The Hon W./Johnston said that the fencing of unff need railway lines was a large question, involving a sum of not lees than £200,000. The subject was under the consideration of Government, and when the Public Works Statement was brought down he would state what Government proposed doing. Beplying to'Slr J. 0. Brown, The Hon W. BoiiB3TON said, the Government would make proposal) to the House for the resumption of nominated immigration. Beplying to Mr Shrimski, The flon W. Johnston said ballastmen on railway lines were only required to work eight hours per day, and not twelve hours. They were paid & per day, wot. and dry. As applications for employment were numerous, Government saw no necessity for increasing the rate. Beplying to Mr Barron, Major Atzihson said that the endowment of hospitals and charitable institutions with waste lands, similar to the proposals introduced into the House in July, 1880, by Mr Stevenß, was a subject whioh.would be dealt with in the Financial Statement. Beplying to MrLevestam, Major Atkinson said the 10 per cent rednction would be refunded to > employees on :the Government steamers. Beplying to Mr M'Donald, The Hon T. Dice said Government did not think the time had arrived when a sitting of the Supreme Court was required for Gisborne. Seplying to Major Ta Wheoro, Mr Beycb said it would be injudicious to state the intentions of Government as to the granting of a free pardon to Te Eooti and Purukutu, now residing in the Waikato territory, as it had not yet been proved in.a Court of law that they were criminals. Beplying to Mr Tawhai, Major Atkinson said the public debt of the Colony was £27,680,000, which, divided amongst the population, including Maoris, represented £50 per head. Both races contributed towards the payment, but as the Maori was-taxed lighter than the European, #20 former j>aid the least. Beplying to Sir G. Grey, The Hon W. Johnston said complaints having .been made about the state of the road from Tauranga to Botorua, additional men had been placed upon it for the ropaire thereof. Beplying to Mr Wynn-WiSiams, The Hon J. Bsyck said that there was an equal number cf police in Christohurch in proportion to other parts of the Colony. What ha apprehended was wanted was more efficient means for the detection of erhnc, and that would be attended to. Replying to Mr Hutchison, Major Ateinson said that spirits in one and two-gallon bottles or jars to be bonded afforded greater facilities for smuggling than when contained in cases of twelve bottles. That woa the experience of other countrios, and the principle had bean adopted in thiß Colony. Under these circumstances, they did not consider any alteration of the practice to be necessary. Eeplying to Mr George, The flon J. Brtcs said he had received no notice of trey attempt having been made Ly Natives on the West Ooaat to re-commence fencing 'ho confiscated lands. NEW BILIB. The following Bills were introduced and raad a first timo :—To amend " The Dog Begialration Act, 1880," (Mr Steward) j To amend "The Resident Magistrates' Act, 1867,"T0 amend "The Debtors* and Creditors' Act, 1867," (Mr Holmes) ; To amend "The Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881," (Mr Steward) ; The Westland Educational District Subdivision (Mr Seddon); Hofcitiba High School (Mr FitzGerald) ; To amend I" The Contractor^ Debts Act, 1871," To Pro

; vide for the Protection of Telegrams from i beyond the Colobj of New Zealand (Mr i Feldwiok); To amend " The Corrupt PraoI tides Prevention Act, 1881," and Alienation ) of Life Assurance Policies (Major Atkinson) ; r Licensing Act Amendment (Hon T. Dick/) , BETUBNS. The following motions' were ad opted -j— i Mr Macahdbbw—JFor a return -showing 5 the respective amounts -contributed by each > Provincial district to the Colonial revenue from Customs, Stamps, Land, Beer and Pro- • perty taxes, and territorial revenue for the i financial year ending March 31,1882. [ Mr Hutchison—-For a return of the num- ; ber of Grown grante issued to Natives on the ; West Coftßt during the last throe years, with ; names of grantees and specifying tho number i of these grants in whioh tho inalienability of l title has been removed by Government. Mr Hutchisok—For a return of sums . paid to Ministers for travelling expanses, or i any other purposes in excess of salary for the > financial year ended March 31 last. '■ Mr Hutchison—For returnß of leases l waiticg for validation under clause :18 of l " The vf eat Coast Settlement Reserves Act, . 1881," settingforth the names of lessors and ; lesßeea. ; Mr Bathgatb—That the contract entered ; into between His Excellency the' Governor | and the Company formed for'the construei tion of the Wellington and Manawatu raili way, whioh has been laid before the House, i be forthwith printed and circulated, i Mr Wbstox—For returns allowing disi missals from and new appointments to the i Civil Servipe, made during the twelve months 1 ending April 30. i rBOCEBDIKGS OP TBH -PBTITIONS , ■coaraiarrßH. [ Mr Hutchison moved—"That the meeti inga of the Publio Peti ions Committee bo i open to the public, and its proceedings cum- ' marieed by the Clerk and printed as a supplement to the periodical issues •of 'Sansard.. [ Further, that in all cases where the recomi mendationa of the Committee shall be ; approved by the House, such approval shall ' be taken as an instruction to Government to carry these recommendations into practical effect without loss of time." , After discussion, tho motion «was withdrawn. EIGHT HOTTBfI iBIEL. MrM. W« Gbbbn moved the second reading of the "Eight Hours Bill." He pointed out that it was s subject which had engaged a good deal of attention 'in other Colonies. This question had been mooted in Dunedin, and produced one of the largest meetings ever held in that place. He instanced the case of the New Zealand Bailway engine drivers to show that there was an urgent necessity for a restriction similar to that imposed by the Bill. He knew, of his own • knowledge, that these men were ■ sometimes I required to work 20 hours aday, and by that means their energies were • bound to be exhausted, while serious accidents were likely I to arise. It might be that the next ■ day the driver waa relieved from the extra'labour, ' but still the fact remained that for the time '. being the property, of the State and the lives of the publio were placed in : imminent danger. The case of the Postmen on the arrival of the English .mail was n*xt referred to. Iheso men had to work extra hours, aggravated by tho faot that they received no 1 extra pay. Merchants' and bank clerks were ! next referred to as instances of theabuae the' ' Bill was intended to reform. Mr Bbackbn seconded and supported the motion. He argued that the .passing of the Bill would aid in elevating the working classes and developing their moral and \ physical capacities. It would give an aaeuranco to those classes that their interests were being cared for at 'the 'hands of the • Legislature. Colonel Tbimble wished to 'know what 1 specific good was to be gained by the Bill. | It enabled the employer and employee to \ arrange for an extension of the hours of ' labour, and in that way the latter would be j as much in the hands of the former a 9 ever. He would oppose the Bill us a useless in- ' cumbrance of the Statute Book. Mr Baeron supported the Bill, and contended that if it did no other goed it would ' authoritatively define the hours ■of labour in the same way as they defined the weight of | the 41b loaf. Mr Holmes supported the Bill, as it would \ assert" the principle of extra work being remunerated by extra pay. He admitted that in Committee amendments might 'be [ required. ' Mr Fsbotts thought that the Bill was a mere bit of sentimentality. It would do no harm however, and as it would neither do 1 good nor harm he would be prepared 'tovote for it. Mr Shepha^bdexpressed a similar.opinion. He would be prepared to support the motion. 1 Tho debate was interrupted by the .6.30 p.m. adjournment. , , , , i , . , ; ', , \ ' ■ ' . , ; , ! ■ ! [ , , , ; : [ ', , ' , [ L , ( L | '