PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 51, 7 December 1909, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2. legislatTvT COUNCIL. The Legislative Council n\ct in tho afternoon. LOCAL BILLS PASSED. The Wanganui" Roman Catholic Laud Bill, Roman Catholic Archbishop Kmpowermg Bill and Tokomaru I'reezing oito Bill wore read the third time and oasscd. HOSPITALS BILL. - Tho and Charitable Aid Bill was committed.

. At clause 8, lixing the number of members of a board at not loss than ■;-ight or more than J-wonty, exclusive ot any members appointed by the Governor in pursuance of section 22 of thfe Act, the Attorney-General (Dr J. G. i'iudlay) moved to strike out tho words irom "exclusive," tho motion being carried. Considerable discussion occurred on section I'2, dealing witli the method of election, a number of members opposing the main principle of the clause—the popular franchise. The Attorney-General declared that it was the pivotal clause of the whole Hill and if it went the Bill would have to go too. The clause was adopted by 2i to 11.

Addition was made, on the motion of the Hon. W. C. Smith (Hawke's Bay), debarring a paid officer under any contributory local authority within a hospital district from being elected to the board.

Tlw committee adjourned until the evening. The Council in the evening resumed the discussion of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill in committee. Considerable discussion occurred over section 1 of clause 55, giving a board power to sell or exchange any land vested in it other than land held in trust for any special purpose. ■ The Hon. J. E. Jenkmson (Canterbury) moved to eliminate the words "permitting tile sale of land." The Attorney-General explained that certain lands might Ik: unsuitable for lease and the section had been inserted at the request of the conference of hospitals and charitable institutions. The amendment was rejected. Clause 57, "A board may borrow upon security for building and other purposes," was amended by the omission if sub-clause 2 and the "substitution of i sub-clause that a board may borrow by way of bank overdraft for ordinary recurrent expenditure to the extent of the total amount of contributions payable to the board by Contributory local •luthorities during the year and then unpaid, with the estimated amount receivable by the board during that year \v way of subsidy.

At clause 72, providing that a board may make an agreement for special 'erms as to the maintenance in a hospital of members of friendly societies, the Attorney-General moved that tho f erm "children" should mean children under eighteen years of age instead of sixteen in the Bill.

After a long discussion the clause was ■lostponed, The Attorney-General moved to Mnend clause 128 so as to limit the 'ours of employment of uncertificated mrees to 50 per week in hospitals of >ver 100 beds.

The amendment was carried and the 3ill reported with amendments.

The Council rose at 11.55 p.m

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met ill he afternoon. THIRD READING.

The McLean Institute Bill was read he third time. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT. "

The report of the committee on the

■and Laws Amendment Bill was nousrht down. It recommended that lie Bill be allowed to proceed, with itnendments as attached. The Chairman of the Committee noved that the report lie on the table. Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) remarked that if, as had been laid, the Bill had been shorn of all its ,'reehold clauses in committee, things had come to a pretty pass. The Liberal I'arty was practically a coalition party, md its policy was only maintained by a ombination of votes on both sides. Mr Taylor proceeded to denounce the Aiding away of private members' rights, >nd the reticence on the land question 'liown by the Prime Minister. Memht.s were being treated with absolute, ■ontempt with regard to contemplated

•-'gislation and the personnel of the ''abinet. Ten days ago only the Almighty and the Prime Minister knew what the land policy was. The Dominion should at least have had two months to understand the position. The nen who were holding out for the froeiold were influenced by selfishness bcrotten of well-doing founded on tho ■itate. The leasehold was the only sysL em under which the poor man could ')Tcm? a fanner. The whole of the 'iiberal principles on the land question, which were absolutely sound, were b-e----ng sacrificed to the exigencies of party warfare. He hoped the Bill would meet ■vith such a protest from tho House wd country that the Government would 1 k: forced to give the people six months to consider it.

Mr W. H. Herries (Tauranga) moved as an amendment- that the minutes of the committee's proceedings lie on the table and be printed.

Mr D. McLaren (Wellington East) sunnorted the amendment-

Mr W. F. Massey (Leader of the On- ! position) said his party believed in the ! freehold and also in giving the freehold I tenure to leaseholders when able to pay for the fee simple. In nineteen cases nut of twenty country lands became valuable, not on account of public expenditure but owing to the energy and labor of the settlers. Sir J. G. Ward said it was extraordinary that the leaseholders were ready to grasp at any straw in order to prove sinister designs asrainst the Government. He re wiled the hull-dogging made by Mr Taylor and Mr McLaren, and denied the Ormosition's statement that he drove his followers. Sir Joseph inserted that every measure introduced hv tho Government had been before the people and every opportunity had given to discuss them. The Prime Minister, continuing, a sired how irranv leaseholders recognised the position of land tenure. For the last thirty yars it, had been one of- endeavoring to hold on to a nortion of the Crown lands. Critics of the Government proposals did not fealise. the position. The great majority of the leaseholders on Crown lands had turned Tight round in favor of the freehold, thousrh they cou'd never have got on the land but for the leasehold system financed hy the State.

Tho will of the majority of the people I must prevail. Leaseholders lost sight of the fact that under the Land Bill the freehold was only, granted under conditions that conserved the right of the State to share in the increased value of !land. IMPREST SUPPLY. In the House in the evening the Imv'st" Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. • The Prime Minister, replying to Mr Massev. said the Naval Defence Bill would be circulated to-morrow and a summary of the proceedings of tho Imperial Defence* Conference would be plaoed before the House in a day, or two.- and ako that opportunities would bo given the House to discuss, the reports of the Timber and Police Commissions. , . . The Hon. J. A. Millar, replying to Messrs Hordman and Herries, said the railways could be made to show equally good returns with those of New South Wales if the fares were increased to those of the level of tho latter State, which paid much lower wages than tho Dominion. . Sir Joseph Ward, answering Mr Herries, denied that tiiero had been delay in the work of the session. Nineteen Bills had been circulated. If the railway charges for sheep were increased to the amount of those of New South Wales, slieep-fanners would have to pay an extra £90,000 a year over the present charges. Mr Herdman's remarks on the State mine trouble, said Sir Joseph, were unwarranted and calculated to cause trouble instead of allaying it. The Bill was road a third time and passed. DEFENCE BILL, Tho Defence Bill was introduced by j Governor's message, and the House rose l at 1 a.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Legislative Council met in the afternoon.

The Imprest Supply Bill was put through ail stages. Leave of absence for the remainder of tiie session was granted to the Hon. J. Holmes (Westlaud) on account of ill-health.

It was agreed that the Council sit on Monday afternoon next. HOSPITALS BILL.

The Committee of tho Whole on the Hospitals and Cnaritable Institutions Bill was resumed at postponed clause i2, providing that boards may make agreements lor special terms as to tne maintenance in hospitals of members of friendly societies. The Hon. W. E. Collins (Wellington) took strong exception to the clause, which he said should not have been introduced into the Bill. He pointed out that the medical profession had not had tho opportunity of considering the clause, which was one that was likely to disorganise an institution. The Hon. J. R. Sinclair (Otago) agreed that the clause ought not be retained.

The Hon. 0. Samuel (Taranaki) objected to friendly societies or any other body being treated exceptionally under this Bill.

The Hon. G. J. Smith (Canterbury) thought if friendly societies wanted special advantages the question ought to be dealt with in a separate Bill, not in a general measure of this kind. The Hon. J. B. Callan (Otago) said there was not the slightest necessity for invoking legislation in favor of friendly societies.

The Hon. J. McGowan (Auckland) hoped the Council would not destroy a good Bill by introducing such a clause as this one into it. Tho clause would mean the foisting of friendly societies' chronic cases on to hospitals and charitable institutions.

The Hon. A. Baldey (Southland) considered the clause exceedingly unfair to doctors. More than a third of members of friendly societies in hospital paid nothing at present. They were unable to pay, and this clause would 'procure payment for such patients. If the clause enabled arrangements to bo mado between friendly societies and a board to pay something for every member in hospitals surely that was a good bargain. I he Hon. J. R. Sinclair (Qlago)said so far from being a good bargain for hospitals it would be the very worst that could be made. It put the whole thing down on a money basis, which was contrary to the spirit of the Act The Hon, J. T. Paul (Otago) could see no wrong in looking, at the financial side of the arrangement. The clause would benefit the poorer classes. The Hon. W. E. Collins, to test the quest ion, moved to delete the opening words of the clause. "

On division, after further discussion, the clause was lost by 18 to 13. A new clause was inserted on the xiiotion of the Attorney-General (Dr J. G. Findlay) providing for the union of hospital districts.

Ihe Bill was reported with amendread the third time and passed I'Qe Council then rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met in the afternoon.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL,

The Friendly Societies Bill, introduced by was read a first time.

SATURDAY SITTINGS

The Prime Minister moved that on and after Saturday, December 4, the House sit on Saturdays from 10 a.m. tfll I p.m. for tiie consideration of orders of the day only, local Bills to take precedence, and thereafter Government Hills, lhis was agreed to. THE LAND QUESTION. The House resumed tho interrupted debate on the question that the report of the Lands Committee do lie on' the table.

Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) entered a plea for the freehold on behalf of pioneer settlers.

Mr A. W Hogg (Masterton) upheld the leasehold and denounced the Government's supineness on the land question.

THE DEFENCE BILL,

In the House >n the evening the second reading of the Defence Bill was carried pro forma on the motion of the Prime Minister, and" the Bill was referred to a select committee. THE ESTIMATES.

The House 'went into Committee of Supply. A motion by Mr Jas, Allen (Bruce) to reduce the item, £llOO for extra clerks and reporters, was lost. Mr J. Hanan (Invercargill) moved to reduce £2208, library salaries, by £1 as aw indication that were «xoewre

for the work done, . -The Priijie Minister give details of the library and the work don© by the stall: as warrant for the expenditure. (Several members bore testimony to the value of the library and the assistance they had received from the staff. The motion was negatived. Mr W. F. Massey (.Leader of the Opposition) moved to strike out the item, financial adviser to Government in London £4OO.

Alter considerable discussion touching largely on the Hon. W. P. lleeves (late High Commissioner) the motion was put and carried by 35 votes to 25. On the item £4OO, Commissioner of Taxes and Valuer-General, Mr A. R. Wright (Wellington South) moved to reduce tho amount by £1 as an indication that the Government should inform the House as to the position in rogard to the Commissioner of Taxes, against whom charges had been madfc.

Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington North) supported the amendment and asked for general particulars of the cases

The House was left sitting at midnight.

After 2 a.m. the debate on tho Valuation Department proceeded. Replying to Mr Okoy (Tarauaki) the Prime Minister said that the amount saved by retrenchment was £303,603. The vote was passed without further challenge. Tho vote for the Post and Telegraph Department was passed with the exception of £07,700, class 111., for the conveyance of mails by sea, which was postponed. On the public buildings vote Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said that a very serious mistake had been made in not rebuilding the portion of the old Parliament Buildings burned down. Ho hoped that this year this would he done.

Sir Joseph Ward said that if tho old buildingg had been rebuilt they would probably have cost thrice what was to bo expended owing to the necessity for providing accommodation for members.

Mr Massev said the fire was not accidental and the Prime Minister had been talking nonsense. If the contract had been piished on for the additions to. the buildings they would have been ready for the following session. The rote was passed. HOSPITALS BILL.

At 3.20 a.m. the Hospitals Bill was brought down from the Legislative Council with amendments, which the Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister for Health) moved should bo agreed to. Several members strongly opposed the deletion of clause 72.

Mr I< owlds said the House would have an opportunity to consider the matter again when the Friendly Societies Bill was before the House.

On the motion of Mr Massey the House, adjourned at 3.35 a.m.