PARLIAMENT

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 50, 3 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30. TTio House of Representatives met in the afternoon. ;, MORNING SITTINGS. ,' The Prime Minister gave notice to ' v move that on and after Saturday, De- \ cember 4, the House sit pn Saturday [■■ from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. i Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) ; asked the Prime Minister if he would : make arrangements as soon as possible. ;' for the House meeting during the morning three days a week, to be set apart for committee work. The suggestion was made to apply to the remainder of the session with a view to ?. facilitating public business. A short discussion ensued, in which / varied opinions as to the advantages or. otherwise of the adoption of the suggestion were expressed, Mr James Allen (Bruce) hoping that members would request the morning for gofng through Bills, when their heads wero clear. o The Prime Minister said he approved of a reasonable course, though' any proposal to change the hoiirs of sitting would meet with opposition. He complained that members on the Opposition sido had adopted obstructive tactics, and wasted time discussing Bills put before tbe House. If the suggestion of Mr Thomson were carried it would be possible for the work of the session to be further obstructed by futile discussion. He was willing to have a morning meeting for good, three days a week, without fixing an hour for rising. He objected to the exhaustion process, but members were themselves to blame and not the Government. REPRIEVE OF ROBERTS. Replying to Mr Laurenson as to why Roberts, the Christchurch murderer, had been reprieved, the Prime Minister said the Government were unanimous in making the recommendation after considering the judge's report, the, medical evidence and the recommen-! dation of the jury before the petition ! came before it. The jury considered i that while Roberts was not insane he i was a degenerate and not morally re- ; sponsible, having inherited defective mentality and furtfifr debased himself j bv intemperate habits, i 'Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) urged that this was another instance oi the neees- i sity of a new definition of insanity, : and suggested that the Prime Minister co-operate with the Attorney-General in framing a new definition of insanity i to meet such cases. DEATH DUTIES BILL. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Death Duties Bill,' , which he said confirmed the two principler'of estate duty and legacy duty. Death duties were recognised to" be the fairest and most equitable of taxes, being imposed on people who did not earn the wealth taxed. The Bill pro-, vided for a graduated scale of duties, and was framed with the object of the distribution of wealth before rather ton after death. Many estates had duties by gifts during life, but the Bill prevented this. It was gener-' ally recognised that increased death ! duties were necessary, just and equit- j able. j -Mr James Allen (Bruce) admitted i the justice of the Bill, but criticised ' several features, including the distinc-' tion drawn between a Maori husband and wife. He thought that exemption ' I from legacy duty might be raised from' £SOO to £IOOO. In regard to death; duties the position of a widow might ! be that her estate might pay dutv ! when passing to her, and again at her I death, which might happen shortly j after. Several other objections were ■ raised by Mr Allen.' ' , -Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) said it was; impossible to frame taxation on gilts ' that could not be evaded. Marriage | settlements made by deed had to pay | duty, but evasions could be made by i cash amounts. ' | Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland East) : expressed satisfaction with the Bill, j winch had taken a course he had long i urged upon the Government. He would j like to see the Prime Minister take into consideration the increasing oi graduation from the point at which it I stopped, which was his chief objection j to tho Bill. j Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington j North) did not object to the principle' of the Bill, but he did object to the in- j creased taxation, which iiad been ren- < dercd necessary by the gross extrava- ! gimce of the Government within the ' past few years. | Mr G. Laurenson (Lyttelton) said the increased taxation was largely duo to increased prosperity, enabling expenditure in the direction of developing the public services. Mr W. H. Herries (Tauranga) said the Bill would have the heartv support or tho House. The details of the Bill, however, required attention to ensure justice. The Prime Minister, in the course of his reply, said there was not sufficient inducement in the Bill to make it north while for people having removable property to leave the Dominion in order to escape taxation. He could not agree with Mr Allen's'suggestions that exemption in legacies should be raised from £SOO to £IOOO, nor that the husband should be placed on the same level as the wife in case of death duties; nor to the suggestion that marriage settlement exemption should extend to gifts from father to daughter as a wedding gift. The second reading was agreed to. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN BILL. In the evening the Hon. J. A. Millar moved tho second reading of the ShinP'lis and Seamen Act Amendment Bill, which ho explained embodied most of the recommendations adopted at the Imperial Maritime Conference. Mr W. H. Horrios (Tauranga) hoped the provisions of the Bill would be made to apply to steamers and launches run «ii lakes by the Tourist and Railway iJcnartments. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) congratulated the Government upon the provi- i sum which grants power to the Gover"or to appoint inspectors to inspect w ool, flax, tow and skins before shipment. « Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West) was gratified to know that many of the disabilities under which seafaring men labored would be removed by the Bill. - Mr P. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Centra]}, referring to the loss of the Duco. said he hoped the Minister would see ; that provision was inserted in the Bill jo prevent cargo being snipped after I inspection, thereby endangering the 'i hves of the crew. Messrs A. E. Glover and J. P. Luke : wrnsidered the Bill an excellent measure, I. Replying to Mr D. Mcfcaraa, tlw

ting the Bill to any select committee, as he had sent copies to the owners and seamen's unions, who had expressed j a favorable opinion thereon. He would j accept reasonable amendments in com- | mittos. 1 The Bill was read the second time. LAN!) Mil SETTLEMENT BILL. Alter 2:-.:; i. the final clauses of the 0 j .:;\d ; . octtlement Bill were passed " aiK. . .■ Bill was reported without f amende..— The House rose at 2.30 a.m. 1 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. a TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. The Council met in the afternoon. - REGISTRATION OF BONDS. y Further discussion took place on the following motion by the Hon. E. C. J. 1 Stephens (.Canterbury) "That in the 3 opinion of the Council it is expedient 3 that facilities be given for registration 3 in the name of the holder of any bonds 3 of the New Zealand Government which 51 are payable to bearer, and if local bodies i in New Zealand are not empowered to establish a similar system of registra--1 tion of any of their bonds payable to ■ bearer, tho necessary power should be '■> aiven them." Dr J. G. Findlay (Attorney-General) 1 replied at considerable length. He p said no general desire had been cxpross- '< ed to alter the present system, which i had been in force for forty years. Any 1 j alteration would destroy a feature oi 1 the uresent system—viz., the negotiabi- • litv of such documents. • On division the motion was lost by > i 25 to seven. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met in the afternoon. DEATH DUTIES*BILL. The Death Duties Bill was committed. Mr F. E. Baunio (Auckland East; criticised JShe imposition of duty oii small estates, and said increased taxa-, i tion should come from large estates, j Mr D. McLaren (.Wellington East; ! endorsed Mr Baunie's view. j Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea) said the 1 House was .trying to drive capital awa-i : instead of encouraging it to stay. j Mr J. Stall worthy (.Kaipara) depre- ; cated raising the question of the pool ! man versus the rich. i Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington ! North) asked how the trustees of a large estate payjng a duty, say o> £411.000, were to raise the money. H< : suggested that a scheme be devised enabling a man to pay sums of money to the Public Trustee during his lifetime by way of death duty on his estate. Mr - Baume said the bulk of the re- ' venue would be raised out of estates between £IOOO and £IO,OOO, which was 1 not iust. Sir J. G. Wardj in reply, said that out of 1568 estates paying duty last year 957 paid on estates under £IOOO. The relief given to such estates uudei the new proposals would bo considerable. The duties were designed to produce £IOO,OOO a year, and if the larger estates wero taxstJ-Htere heavily it might result in capital being withdrawn from 1 industries. j ' Mr James Allen (Britoe), referring t<. ! the estate duties, said the Prime Minisj ter was right in saying that if the rate ; of taxation were too iiigh on large es- ' tates it might have the result of dis- < turbing capital, but Mr Baume was cor- : rect in saying that the smaller estates ' were unfairly taxed on the succession ' duty. ' On the motion of Sir J. G. Ward the ! following new sub-clause was added to ! clause 12 : (2) The estate duty payable : on any estate shall not exceed the I amount by which the final balance oi : that estate exceeds the sum of £SOO j and the estate duty payable on any ' estate the whole of which has been by 1 the will of the deceased left absolutely ' and beneficially to his widow shall not [ exceed the amount by which the -final | balance of that estate exceeds £SOOO. On clause 41, which exempts ante- • nuptial marriage settlements, Mr Jas. j Allen moved to extend the same to inj elude gilts made by parents of parties I to a marriage. I The amendment was negatived by 3V I to '22. I On clause 13 Mr Allen moved to dei lcte £SOO from the clause, which exempts a gift of a less value than the j sum named from duty. I On division the amendment was lost ! I>y 38 to 19. ! On clause G7, which grants power to I the Commission'.'!' to assess the duty | under the Act on property other than I land in such a manner as lie thinks lit, ■■ Air Alien objected to the enormous powers given the Commissioner, which might be. used arbitrarially. He moved that the clause be amended so as to render the Commissioner's assessment .subject to the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. i*j House rose at 5.30 p.m. In the evening, in committee on the Death Duties Bill, at clause 79, section 5, providing for exemption from succession duty on native property not exceeding £2OO in value, Mr W. H. Herries (.Tauranga) moved to increase the amount to £-100, but the amendment was negatived by 43 to 19. ~ Mr A. 11. Wright (Wellington South) moved a new clause to the effect that no duty shall be chargeable on moneys payable under life insurance left by a husband to his wife not over £IOOO. The Prime Minister pointed out that already the widow was exempted up to £SOOO from estate duty. Mr W. F. Massey (header of the Opixisition) said clause 12, dealing with an estate left to a widow had apparently been misunderstood by the committee, who were of opinion that a widow would be exempt up to £SOOO, whereas the clause provided that the exemption be only applied to the balance of the estate over £SOOO when the whole estate was left absolutely to the widow. The Prime Minister agreed to rc- -■ commit the Bill later on, with a view to remedying clause 12, and Mr Wright withdrew his amendment. Mr F. E. Baume moved that the first • schedule be amended so that all estates ■ between £SOO and £IOOO be exempted ■ from estate dutv, bringing the law into . line with that of New South Wales. The Prime Minister said if the amendment were carried he would have to ask i the committee to increase the rates on • larger estates so as to provide tho rei venue to be raised by means of the Bill. Mr Baume's amendment was lost by ■ 44 to 26, and the Bill was reported wiht , amendments. | SHIPPING AND SEAMEN BILL. In the House on the "Shipping and > Seamen Act Amendment Bill, replying to questions, , > The Hon. J. A. Millar said oil launches plying for hire or engaged in competitive pursuits would bo required to j carry aa engineer, but would te exempt

if used only for private purposes if not over 50 tons. • When clause. 28 was (reached the Minister moved a .new sub-clause: "If a ship does not exceed six tons register and carries passengers or freight for hire she shall carry one duly certificated man." That, the Minister explained, icilt it quite open as to whether the man with the certificate should be the master or engineer. The clause was carried. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1. Tho Legislative Council met in the afternoon, LOCAL BILLS. The Wanganui - Raman Catholic Lands Bill was read a third time ami passed. lno standing Orders were suspended for the rest oi the session to unable local Bills to be passed through all stages at one sitting. A RETURN REFUSED. The Hon. C. H. Wigram (Canteroury) moved for a return showing details of all revenue from passenger and goods traffic, rent of sidings, and all other sources on Aucklauu-Unohunga, Christchurch-Lyttolton, Dunedin-Port Chalmers, and Invereargill-Bluir railways, and details of expenditure thereon. ~~ , Tho Attorney-General (Dr J. G. Fiudiay) opposed the riiotion on the ground of' the great expense, as it would involve the scrutiny of millions of \yaybills. " The motion was rejected. Tho following Local Bills wero put through all stages :—Ellesmero Domain 3oard Empowering, Borough of South Dunedin Empowering Amendment, Waimairi County, Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment. HOSPITALS BILL. Ihe Attorney-General moved the ,ecoud reading of the Hospitals and charitable institutions Bill, received .rom the House, explaining at length ts provisions. lno Hon. J. E. Jenkinson (Canter--jury) welcomed the Bill, but indicated .uat it would be necessary to effect a .lumber of amendments which should je introduced in committee. The debate was adjourned to 7.30, tnd the Council rose. i'ho Council resumed in tho eyeniig, when the debate on the Hospitals nut Charitable institutions Bill was outiuued by the Hon. J. E. Jenkin.:)ii, who dealt largely with the trailing and hours of nurses. He said the -ystem of training should be practical, .tnd the hours of nurses, especially or ' robationers, should be reduced. Tho Hon. 0. Samuel (Taranaki) expressed approval of bringing hospitals tnd charitable institutions under one ■oiitrol, and said the Government had tcted wisely in framing the Bill in that lirection. He did approve of the pro- , osed provision for the election of •-cards, but thought representatives of .ospital and charitable aid boards ■liould be elected, as at present, by ocal bodies. Mr Samuel proceeded to :et out a number of committee objections to the provisions of the Bill. . The Hon. C M- Luke (Wellington) lid not consider the Bill contained any voposals for more equitable represeuation than was provided under the xisting law. Some men whose assist- / nice would be very valuable would prAably not be willing to contest an eleclon, as would be necessary if the new ..•roposals were adopted. He contended hat the proposed regulation of the •.out's of nurses (56 a week) would be aost unsatisfactory in some hospitals, t was impossible for a nurse to leave i patient on the ringing of a bell. A ast-iron rule was impossible in , the iiatter of nurses' hours. The Hon. J. Anstey (Canterbury) idversely criticised the provisions for ho election of representatives to .oards. There was a departure froih he true principles of representation it the system of election proposed, .hich would not result in the return if the best men. Some of the provi.ions wero really absurd. The weakicsses of the Bill were in the centralisaion it provided for, and that it lei'L lie subsidy entirely at the sweet will f ihe .Minister, who preached an asured linance. The Hon. (i. Jones (Otago) approved !' the clause restricting the hours of arses' work to 56, holding that an ■ight-hour day was long enough. , the Hon W. Bcchan (Auckland) gave ;ein-ral approval to the "Bill, but ill,-, liiuso relating to friendly societies • mid hm'o to bo amended. ihe Hon. W. E. Collins (Wellington) ■eartily approved of the principle oi iie Bill. In the smaller hospitals it .as unreasonable to suppose that the ours of nurses could be rigidly fixed, ■rui'lii they could bo regulated in large nstitutions. l"he lions. J. Marshall (Westbnd) uid H. A. Lnughnan (Wellington) geu■rallv approved of the Bill. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) ap--roved of the principle of the Bill, but t was so important that reference to a elect committee was essential. The second reading was carried on i.he voices, and the Council adjourned at 12.5 a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. , The House o. Representatives met in the afternoon. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated— That tho necessary apparatus for giving efficient and permanent light at Jackson's Head, Cook Strait, has been procured, and will be erected on the beacon as soon as the strong • winds | prevailing at the present time are over. That the Minister of Railways has IHiwer tinder the Act to review tho decisions of the Railway Appeal Board, and to exercise the right of veto in cases where the circumstances warrant \ it, and ho cannot see his way to adopt the suggestion that before exercising the veto he should notify the party interested and give him the right of appearing before the Minister to state reasons for or against the veto. That no instructions have been given for a reduction of tho wages of cooperative workmen employed on the State Coal railway extension or elsewhere. That there viould be no legislation this session prohibiting the sale of c¥atf or seed infected with noxious weed seed, but session it is proposed to deal with the purity and quality of seeds bought or sold. % ■ PETITIONS, Tbe Mines Committee, reporjking on various petitions regarding the charges of rent for the utilisation of water power, recommended that tbe request that piwer'to grant licenses be vested in. the Warden be referred to the Govtrumeat for &««i4fr»tioa*

! Mr Taylor urged that if water power I were disposed of by lease, the Govern- ,| maut should reserve the right of re- ! sumption. He strongly urged tlie Minister to remain firm in his attitude. Mr W, F. Masse/' (Leader of the Opposition) moved as an anieiidnient tlnib water power conditions under "i'ho Public Works Amendment Aot, 1908," gazetted on June 4, 1909, be referred to tlie Goldlields Committee for consideration, with a view to amendment. He had no objection to the •State's rights being protected *in connection with tlie water power of' the 'Dominion. The matter w<is one not merely of local, but of great colonial, importance. The Hon, 11. McKenzio (Minister I for Mines), replying to Mr Masse;?, j said at the present time tlie charge per I annum per horse-power was lis; forniorjly it had been £l. The syndicate applying for a 'water power right on the West Coast had taken up 800 acres of land, which they were holding.' The Land A:.t should bo anienobd so as to prevent speculators holding land without using. He was not prepared to sacrifice the most valuable asset in the country—an asset that ho ucheved would ultimately bo more valuable ilnm railways—to ■ a syndicate of London capitalists. Mr Massey's amendment was lost by 43 to 22, and it was resolved that tlie report be laid on the table. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. In the evening the Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Hill was further considered in committee. On the motion "of the Hon. J. A. Millar, a new sub-clause 6 was added to clause 42, milking the term "owner" include the eharterer to whom ii ship demised, also Lo delete the last twr lines of clause 45, which provided that in assessing; tlie horse-power account should be taken of the power of the auxiliary engines which were developed by steam taken from tlie main boilers. Clause 49 was amended by substituting 20 tons for 15 in the provisions regulating vessels built in New Zealand. A division was taken on a motion that clause 49 be passed, several members objecting to it as unnecessary, and resulted in its retention by four votes. Clause 50 was amended so as to make it applicable to intercolonial and for-eign-going ships in regard to shipment of wool, flax, tow, skins, or other combustible goods, also to provide £2OO a: a line for a breach of the regulations in place of £SO. The Minister, at the instance of the Marine Engineers' Society, sr-cured the insertion of an amendment providing that those who have been turning, fittinji, or erecting machinery in work shops for five years shall b-p qualified for third engineers 1 certificates. Til,' Kill pasesd through committee sta»'o and was reported. DESIGNATION OF DISTRICTS. The House went into committee on the Designation of Districts Amendmeii! Bill, which was passed through committee and reported. - The Hour:' rose at 1.20 a.m.