HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8690, 16 October 1913, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, October 15, The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Footboards Question.

A long discussion took place concerning tramcars with footboards. The question arose over the bringing up of a resolution by the Hon. W. Fraser to set up a committee to go into the matter of preventing a recurrence of the lamentable accidents occurring to conductors on tramways. Mr T. H. Davey objected to delay in the matter^ and contended that the setting up of a committee would hold up any alteration in the. present deplorable state of affairs, which allows men to be maimed and killed week after week.

Sir Joseph Ward failed to see why th© House should, delay in that most vi.tal- : matter. He moved an' amendment to the effect that the House was of opinion that human life was of greater importance than the convenience of the Wellington City Council, and that immediate steps should be taken to prevent loss of human life. The Hon. W. Fraser said thealteratioris to cars could not be carried out at once. If that were attempted, it would mean dislocation of the services, and the throwing out of employment of many men would follow.

Several members advocated the passing of legislation giving the Government power to refuse to license, or allow to run, any , cars which were dangerous to those having to work them. ..-.■•

f Mr T. H. Davey asked if the Wei-1 lington City. Council had kept faith with the Minister about a year ago ? The Hon. W. Fraser: "No; they did not." - Mr Davey. "They never will." The Hon. Mr Fraser: "We will make them."

. Mr Davey: "Well, once would be good enough for me." I The Hon. Mr Fraser said that there was no power to refuse to allow cars to run. Mr Davey: "We can do anything." The Hon" Mr Fraser asked leave to withdraw his resolution. He said he would prepare a Bill providing that no cars shall be allowed to run on New Zealand lines which endangered the lives of those working them. Three months after the- passing of such Act he would further insist on so many cars being converted each month. After further discussion, the motion was talked out. "

Answers to Questions. In reply to questions, Ministers said:—

That the matter of members of the Public Service or their wives engaging in business had been considered by the Public Service Commissioners. It did not appear possible to make regulations prohibiting wives engaging in any business without inflictng injustice inmany cases. : That in recommending Sir William Hall-Jones to the Legislative Council the Government had departed from the practice in force since 1891 of ignoring high public service in the selection of members to serve in that branch of the Legislature. That there were no funds' specially raised for the assistance of injured j jockeys, therefore there was no pro- j posal before the Racing Conference to divert those funds.

That the introduction of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill had been delayed because more urgent business had to be dealt with.

That in the matter of the drift of the population between Australia and New Zealand for the last five months of 1912 there was a gain to New Zealand of 2963, and for the past 12 months of 2052. For the months of August and September this year there was also a gain to New Zealand of 560. That when the question of agricultural education was under review/the government would consider the advisability of setting aside a permanent endowment for agricultural colleges to be erected in both Islands.

That the Public Service Commissioners had not been able to discover by whom, or by what means, the conbents of the Public Trust Office report was divulged to the " New Zealand Times."

That the Government does not propose to introduce legislation this session for the purpose of allowing the names of unregistered nurses being admitted to the nurses' register.

! That it was not intended to alter the [ law affecting the election of county ! council representatives to harboinboards this year. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Defence Conference. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Prime Minister if the Government had received 1 any information concerning the suggested abandonment of the Imperial Defence Conference.

The Hon. W. F. Massey replied that the Government had received no communication from the Imperial Government on the matter.

River Boards. The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of the River Boards Act Amendment Bill, which provides for the alteration and abolition of districts on a petition signed by not less than onefourth of the ratepayers. In the event of no Board being elected in a river district, the Governor may appoint sufficient members'to constitute a Board. 1 Rates may be levied on a graduated j scale according to a classification of land, which classification is- to be compulsory. Sections 88 and 93 of the Amendment Act of 1910 are repealed. Sir Joseph Ward objected to the alteration of boundaries or the abolition of a district on a minority of votes. This was local government by Order-in-Gouncil.

Mr WiJford said the proposal to abolish a district on a petition of onefourth of the ratepayers was a serious matter., and he proposed to move an amendment making the proportion twothirds.

Mr Russell said the introduction of these amending measures was a proof

of the chaotic condition'into which local government had fallen. Mr Ell followed in the same strain, contending that the time for the abolition of many small bodies and amalgamation of others had arrived. A Local Bodies Department should be established and placed in charge of a Minister who was-a- member of the Lower House. The. Hon. A. L. Herdman, in reply, said the age of miracles had passed and on top of all the important measures which* the Government had introduced it was impossible for it to tackle the large Question of local government The matter" was not, however, lost sight of, and the present Government would one day introduce a measure which would deal more effectively with the whole question than any other Bill ever brought before the House. The Bill was read a second time. .Water Supply.

The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of the Water Supply Bill, amending the Act of 1908, providj ing for tho compulsory classification of [lands liable for rates and for the recovery of rates in the same manner as ordinary rates. Mr Witty said that with the exception of 'the latter provision there was nothing new or worth putting into The Hon. D. Buddo said the alterations ware trifling and.were scarcely an improvement. The Bill was read a second time. Drainage. The Hon. W. F. Massey moved' the. second reading of the Rangitaiki Drainage Act Amendment Bill, which, he said, merely provided that the money required for "the drainage operations should be raised direct by the Minister instead of by the superintendent of the State. Guaranteed Loans Department. The Bill was read a second time. Gounties. i ! The Hon. A. L. Herdman. moved the second reading. of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, which embodied suggestions made from time to time by the Counties Conference.

Mr Russell said he would move to ■introduce several amendments to the Bill in committee.

After some discussion on technicalities, the Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, The House rose at 11.55 p.m.