PARLIAMENT

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 47, 23 November 1909, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18,

The House of Representatives met in the afternoon. After formal business the remainder of the sitting was occupied in discussing answers to questions. LIGHTING A REEF. At the evening sitting Mr J. Graham (Nelson), referring to the steamer Takapuna having grazed Walker's Reef in Queen- Charlotte Sound, asked whether anything would be done to prevent the light at Jackson's Head being extinguished so frequently as it has been of late, and to provide better lighting arrangements. The Hon. G. Fowlds said the matter would be brought before the Minister for Marine (Hon. J. A. Millar), who was absent from home at the time. HOSPITALS BILL.

The House went into committee on the Hospitals Bill. Mr E. Newman (Manawatu) moved an amendment to clause 39, sub-clause 1 (which provides that the Minister may subsidise moneys received by a board), to the effect that the Minister, in making such subsidies, should not be entitled to take into consideration money left to hospitals by way of bequest when arriving at a decision as to whether a board had sufficient funds to carry out its- administration. After considerable discussion the Minister declined to accept the proviso, which was defeated on the voices.

On the motion of the Hon. G. Fowlds, as per notice, clause 71 was amended to extend and apply to contracts entered into between a ooard in respect to relief work granted any person by sanatoria. At the Minister's instance clause 01, providing for hospitals being transferred to another local authority in cases where boundaries are altered, was superseded by another which allcws the Governor to combine two or more local authorities to constitute one board for a district.

A new clause, 71b, providing that a board may make arrangements with friendly societies in respect of maintenance of members or relatives of members of the said societies was included in the Bill.

A new clause, 127 a, was added. It provides that members of every old board and trustees of every separate institution under the Act of 1908 who are in office at the passing of this Act shall continue to hold offioe until the commencement of the Act.

Mr J. B. Hine (Stratford) moved to insert a clause providing for a maximum working week of 56 hours for nurses.

Several members spoke in support, but it was pointed out that no provision was made for cases of emergency. On the Minister's suggestion Mr Hine agreed to amend the clause to read "Except in case of emergency the hours of nurses and probationers should not exceed 56 hours per week." The clause wastthen agreed to. On the first schedule Mr J. Stallworthy (Kaipara) moved to delete Whangarei, Hobson and Otamatea from the North Hospital district with a view to making these a separate district.

The Hon. G. Fowlds explained that he would take up the attitude of dividing on every similar motion with a view to getting at the opinion of the House in regard to the subdivision oi districts. He considered Mr Stallworthy's motion a reasonable one. After discussion the amendment was agreed to on the voices. Mr H. Poland (Ohinemuri) moved to exclude the Borough of Waihi from the Thames hospital district. Hie Hon. G. Fowlds could not accept the amendment, which was carried on a division.

On the motion of Mr C. Hall (Waipawa) Wairoa and Hawke's Bay were constituted separate districts fromWaipawa. Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea) moved that the Taranaki district should be altered to comprise parts of the Egmont county north of Arawata road instead of Clifton; Taranaki and Egmont. On a division the amendment was defeated.

Mr J. Duncan (Wairau) moved that clause 18 be struck out, and a new clause added making Picton and Wairau separate hospital districts, which was agreed to. On the motion of Mr J. Graham (Nelson) the Murchison country was included in the Nelson district. Mr T. H. Davey (Christchurch East) moved that Ashburton form part of the North Canterbury hospital district. Messrs C. A. C. Hardy (Selwyn), and W. Nosworthy (Ashburton) opposed the amendment on the ground that the Ashburton people wanted a separate district. The amendment was negatived on the voices.

Mr J. Colvin (Buller) moved that the Charleston and Denniston hospitals be added to the second schedule, and on division the amendment was carried.

In committee the House agreed to the report, of the select committee, which recommemnded the striking out of subsection C, clause 39, and the substitution of a sliding scale of subsidies, based on levies on the rateable value per head of population. After midnight Mr Nosworthy moved to strike out the third schedule and insert in lieu thereof the following: That a definite share of the endowment l>e vested in Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the income of such share to be applied to the maintenance of indigent persons of a class which ha.s hitherto furnished inmates to the old men's home. Considerable discussion ensued. On the suggestion of Mr Massey th? amendment was withdrawn, the Minister promising to draft a clause to meet the case.

On the motion of Sir William Steward a new clause was added to ensure that Waimate Hospital be continued. The Bill was reported with amendments and the House rose at 1.20 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19. The House of Representatives met in the afternoon. OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. The Petitions Committee recommended that the Government institute inquiry into claims of old soldiers. The Prime Minister said the Government proposed'to set up an authority in each district to enable each case to be reported on by magistrates and have them settled next sessien. Replying to Mr W. T. Jennings, the Prime Minister said he would consider the granting of war medals to old soldiers entitled to them. MONDAY SITTINGS, ft is fa&di th*t on tad after Mtn*

day, November 29, the Hou&g meet oil Mondays for Government business.

LIGHTING JACKSON'S HEAD

The Hon. G. Fowlds stated that the new lighting apparatus will bo installed at Jackson's Head.

THE BUDGET DEBATE. The House went into Committee ot Supply. ivir Wt F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said the i'rimo Minister had not stated what system was being followed in the matter of retrenchment, and We hoped every information would be forthcoming as to what had already been done, tie urged amendment ol the Crown Suits Act to enable the State departments to be sued like private individuals.

The Prime Minister replied that the retrenchment scheme was not yet complete and it was impossible to give all the details of the retrenchment scheme. Referring to the Crown Suits Act ; the Prime Minister said the _ tendency to multiply suits against State departments must bo guarded against. Juries were generally m favor of individuals as against the State, and if the way were opened to these suits the country would Have to pay a heavy cost. The Government had 110 intention to make any material alteration in the Act in the way of allowing departments to be sued by individuals without permission of the Crown.

Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington North) contended that when the Government entered into business and competed against individuals they should be put upon the same level as the latter. Referring to the proposed alteration of the superannuation scheme, Mr Herdman said Civil Servants ought to have be?n consulted before such a radical amendment was made. Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland East) was of tho same opinion as Mr Herdman on the Crown Suils Act. It would be an infamous thing that if a man were injured while working for State department the Government wero not to be held liable. The Prime Minister, in reply, said if the demand were acceded to all sorts of absurd law suits would be brought against the State. Mr Massey, continuing the discussion, urged that the Prime Minister's arguments were weak. If juries were biassed in favor of .the individual as against the State actions could be decided by the judge. To debar such suits was an act of tyranny such as no tree people should submit to. Numerous petitions were received by Parliament from people, due to the fact that ! petitioners could not obtain justice in i court of law. ! Messrs W. H. Field, J. Hanan and. R. A. Wright expressed disappointment at the Government's attitude regarding the Crown Suits Act. THE ESTIMATES. In the evening the House went into consideration oi Class L of the Estimates: —Legislative Departments: Salaries and other charges, £1350. « Mr Massey moved tiie reduction of the vote by £5 as an indication that the Crown suits law should be amended to allow persons or firms to recover compensation against the State in cases of injury for which State departments were responsible. Messrs Luke and McLaren reverted to the case of Barton, tho Wellington tram-driver, who though injured for life by the State Coal Depot's motor I had received no compensation. | "Messrs Fisher and Poole supported the amendment. The Prime Minister replied that the responsibility lay with the Council to compensate Barton. The Government always paid compensation to workers injured in its employ. The Council should have paid compensation to Barton, and then taken action against the Government. Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland East) having supported the amendment the Hon. R. McKenzie said no member could cite a case in which any person had an equitable claim against the Government without receiving conip 'iisation. To open the door to blackmailers would be a mistake. Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Central) held that the Government ought to be liable for compensation in such a case as Barton's. The case was barred in the Supreme Court under the Crown Suits Act. The Prime Minister said the result of the adoption of the amendment would bo the closing of the State coal yards. If every man employed therein could bring an action against the State, then the State yards would be handicapped as against private coal yards. On the amendment being put it was lest by 29 to 25. The following is the division list:— Noes: Messrs Arnold, Buxton, Carroll, Clark (teller), Colvin, Craigie, Davev, Dillon, Ell, Fowlds, ~ Graham, Kail, Hogan (teller), Hogg, Jennings, Laurenson, R. McKenzie, T. Mackenzie. Ngata, Parata, Poole', Peed. Ross, Seddon, Smith, Stallworthy, Rangitiroa, Witty and Sir J. G. Ward. Ayes: Messrs Andersen, Baume, Buick, Dive, Field, Fisher, Fraser, Guthrie, Hardy (teller), Herries, Hine, Lang, Luke (teller), McLaren, Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Newman, Nosworthy, Pearce, Phillips, Scott, T. E. Taylor, G. Thomson, Wright. Mr Fisher then moved that the item £'1695, House of Representatives, be reduced by £4 as an 'indication that Constitutional principles should not be violated as they were in connection with the payment to the Chief Justice over and above his salary for his services in revising tho statutes. > Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington North) supported the amendment. He said that the administration of justice should be preserved from any possibility of dependence on political parties. Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland East) was opnosed to the appointment of a political chief to tho bench. Appointments _ should be made automatically according to seniority on the bench. Mr Massey drew attention to the British and New Zealand law, which prohibited increment of salaries of judges. The Chief Justice had been unwise to accent payment for his services on the Native Land Commission, but the -Government was more, blameable than Sir Robert Stout. The Prime Minister defended the, appointment of the Chief Justice to the Native Land Commission because of his petition and knowledge of native legislation. The amendment was lost by 30 to 23. Tho Prime Minister made a statement showing the amount of saving effected by the retrenchment scheme. He said the Estimates showed a decrease of £62,402 compared with last year. In the working of railways there was an increase of £23.102, but there were 212 extra miles of railways. Mr Massev said the Prime Minister had supplied more information that night than during the session, but still more was required, and he suggested

that when 1 each class of Estimates was being considered _ the number of men retrenched therein and the amount saved should bo stated.

The House was left sitting at midnight.