PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 314, 29 September 1908, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

PUBLIC WORKS DEBATE. STRONG OPPOSITION CRITICISM. MONEYS'. VOTED AND EXPENDED. 1 SPEECHES BY MINISTERS. HEAVY TRAFFIC'BILL. i The Legislative) Council yesterday, in committee,on the Police Offences Amendment Bill,' adopted, with amendments, the now clauses dealing with institutions for inebriates 'and institutions for fallen women. The Heavy Traffic Bill, after some severo criticism,: passed . its second, reading, and •was referred to the Agricultural and Stock Committee. . Tho Amendment Bill, , the Hamilton Domains Bill, and the Counties Amendment Bill , were put through their remaining stages, and a very little progress was made with the Farriers Bill. ; The, House in 1 the. aftomoon. on the motion to go into Committee of Supply to deal with the Estimates, discussed tho Publio Works Statement.'. Mr. Massey led off with 8 vigorous criticism, of tho general public works policy of tho Government, making a chief point of tho difference between the 6um voted by the Department for roads and bridges • last, year, -and the sum actually spent. The Minister for Education (tho Hon. G. Fowlds) replied to this and later on the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. HallJones (Minister- for Public Works), who spoke a little before midnight. The majority of tlie speeches of, members wero practically on the saino jlines,. following well-beaten paths. - THE COUNCIL. SOCIAL REFORM PROPOSALS. INSTITUTIONS FOR FALLEN YfOMEN. In the, Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, The Polico QlFcnces Amendment Bill was further .' considered in Committee. > Tho : ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. Dr. Findlay) explained tho proposed new clauses dealing with habitual drunkards and fallen women. I The Hon: J. RIGG, speaking on Clause 15, suggested that some portion of the proceeds or t>.e labour of tho women in the institutions concerned should bo handed to-them. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, while expressing sympathy with the object of the suggestion, feared' that .such a provision might interfere with the taking of women by the institutions, or 'tho establishment of new ones...'' • ; _ ■ The. Hon.. J. RiGG said the matter was important because the labour of strong young women like somo of the inmates would bo highly profitable to the institution. It was important-to place no temptation beforo the founders to conduct such an institution for gain. The'reform of tho offenders ,should be" the sole object.. f Duty of. tha State. The Hon. G. JONES, while not thinking that there was any great-danger , of homes for,fallen-women being carried on for.-gain, held 'that' Mr. Rigg's point constituted a reason for the State alone'conducting such institutions. ~ Tho Hon. W. BEEHAN said complaints had been made that the inmat-eB of the Salvation Army's fHbmerifor: atoa„ ; lsland were paid riothing.for. their t work. The'reply was that the produce.' Wfts'not 'sold but consumed at other Army establishments. He,,thought that tha men should, however, reocive~somp-remuneration. /. .....

The'point raised by Mr. Rigg Was deferred' antil a later stage. Period of Detention. . On. th<} piotion of . tho Attorney-General, Clause 16; was amended to make the maximum period of detention twelve months instead of twice the maximum term of imprisonment for'the offence of. which'the inmate has been convicted. . v. . The MINISTER,, replying to other members, .said the question of contributions by the State to institutions for fallen women could be dealt with when tho Bill was again before tho Lower House. ; , ' The amendment as to period of detention was adopted. / Remuneration for Work. The' ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved to amond Clause 19 so as to enable the governing authority of an institution, subject to Ministerial assent, to make by-laws providing for the remuneration; if any, of tho inmates. The Uon. J. 13. JISNKINSON mentioned that .there should be 110 remuneration. The promoters would have quite enough responsibility and trouble without any such extra burden being thrown upon them. .; . Tim Hon. J- RIGG said all work should be .paid for, otherwise there might bo a disgraceful system. of sweating. The- amendment was agreod to, and the now clauses wore added to tho Bill, whioh wa3 tlicu reported.' Habitual Drunkards. Speaking ointlio third reading, The Hon. G. JONES alluded to the failure of the Waitati Home for Inebriates. Thorn was., now no State institution for habitual drunkards, and ho considered that this responsibility should not lit! .jmvato individuals. Ho also advocated' the distribution by the Government of posters setting forth tho ovilp of alcoholism. After further discussion the Bill was read a .third 'time and- passed. ''[ARBITRATION, BILL. . The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, Bill was received from the House of Representatives, and road a first time. The second reading was:sot down for to-day. HEAVY. TRAFFIC BILL. UNFAVOURABLY RECEIVED. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. Dr. Findlay), in moving the second reading of the Heavy-Traffic-Bill, said local bodies had had great diffioultv in protecting their roads against damage from heavy traffic. Their bylaws ou tho subject had in somo cases been declared by the Supreme Court to be ultra vires. They had, therefore, asked tho Gov-* eminent to put them in a better position. Henco, Part. II of the Bill was in the nature of; a'model by-law.' The Bill also dealt witli the case .of vehicles'used for heavy traffic'in sovornl districts. At present tho local authority of eaoli district charged fees. There was a danger of people being driven out of business by such multiplied imposts. Under tho Bill, an owner of vehicles would bo ablo to have a proper license fee fixed and apportioned among tho various local bodies. Sovoro Criticism. Tho Hon. J. E. JENKINSON (Wellington) . said lie was surprised, that such a long Bill ' had.', been introduced so late in tho session. He thought it should be referred to a committee. 1 Tho Hon. J. ANSTEY (Canterbury) oritioi.wl the Bill rather severely. He said that the average farm dray, loaded, weighed ."'J tons, and it -would therefore come under the Bill, as the definition of heavy trailic included any.-veliiele weighing or without its load n|ore than a ton and a half to each pair of Wheels. Now* the 'local bodies did not want to interfere with ordinary farm traffic. They only""wishod to""bo ablo to deal with traction engines, . wool wagons, and the like. "One'and a half'tons 1" exclaimed Mr. Anstey. 'i-Wliy you'can get that into a buggy sometimes." -Dillicntty might ariso in the caso of adjoining local bodies not all adopting the Act,-' and lie thought tho provisions, though permissive, might be worked very harshly owing to tho local bodies being enabled to charge higher lees thau those

scheduled. Tho maximum should bo fixed. In rogard to the apportionment of license fees between local bodies, ho considered that tho provision was clumsy, and tho end in view could bo effected by mutual agreement with a reference to tho magistrate if agreeniont was not arrived at. Absurd. Some .of the clauses struck liim as absurd, for instance, it appeared that every vehicle down to » wheelbarrow must oe licensed and numbered. Then every rchiclo must, keep otl tho loft sitlo of tho road, even when not passing another vehiclo. Tha olauso providing that a vehicle standing on n road between sunset and sunrise should be lighted was not required. There was no need for ordinary farm drays to bo liconseG and pay a fee which might be £10, more or loss, as tho local body decided. Mr. Anstey also criticised somo of tho details of the? schedules. Tho maximum load for two-wheeled vehicles with 2} inch tires was 1J tons, but that was about half what was usually car. ried.' Ho would liko to see a Bill passed to remove tho present hardships, bur if this Bill was to bo passed it would requiro to be shorn of many excrescences. Tho Hon. J. MARSHALL (Westland) took a similar view of tho Bill. Tho Hon. C. LOUISSON (Canterbury) thought the Bill was largely unnecessary. Other objectors. . Tho Hon. It. A. LOUGHNAN (Wellington) said the Bill seemed to go back to tho barbarous days of tho turnpike. Hon. Mr M'Cardle: Tho fairest things on earth. Tho Hon. T. KELLY (Taranaki) said not a single local body in Taranak' would adopt tho Bill as it stood. The Hon. A. BALDEY (Otago) said tho Bill should bo circulated among tho local bodies before being proceeded with. If passed as it stood, -it would arouse a howl of indignation throughout the country. Tho Hon. G. JONES (Otago) said tho opinions of people carrying on heavy traffic for hire should be asked for as well as those |of the local bodies. Ho hopod tho Attorney* General would see that tlip Bill was not acceptable to the Council, arid would bo content to pass only Clause 5 (apportionment of license fees). • The Hon. J. BAPJI (Canterbury) hoped that Clause 5, at any rate, would bo passed. The Minister's Reply. Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL, in reply, said that the Bill was evidently tho subject of misapprehension. Mombcrs had had very littlo time to study it. .He pointed out that the local authorities need not adopt the whole or any portion of Part 11, but only as much as they thought fit. . The Bill, under the name of tho Model By-laws Bill, was submitted to t.hc local bodies two years ago. Tho principal by-laws of local bodies were taken, - and a selection of them was made and .put into tho form of legislative clauses. He had no wish to force the Bill on the | Council, and would move to have it referred to the appropriate committee. Tho Bill was read a. second time -and referred to the Stock Committco. HARBOURS AMENDMENT BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. Dr. Findlay)'then moved tho second reading of tho Harbours Amondinent Bill. He said that the forco of certain definitions had been unintentionally altered by tho Statutes Consolidation Commission, and tho main purpose of tho Bill was to rectify thp error.

Tho Hon. J. E. JENKINSON- (Wellington) objected to Section 6, which provides that reclamations may in certain cases be authorised by the Governor in Council. Ho recalled tho outcry against a proposal somo years ago to reclaim Oriental Bay, and argued that no such work should -be taken in hand without a special -Afct of Parliament. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL siiif tho section was intended to facilitate the. Acclamation -of useless mud-flats. The Govefnor in Council might be fairly trusted to see that the power- was - not wrongly- exorcised.' The second reading was agreed to, and-the 1 Council at 5-p.m. adjourned urttil 8 p.m. intdwt surf.! wuiM . BILLS PASSED. : Tho Hamilton I3ilJ, which coil, •rorts certain domain -reserves into municipal endowments, was road a second time on the motion of the Attorney-General, and was subsequently put through Committco without amondment. The Harbours Amendment Bill went through Committee without' amendment. Tho Counties Amendment Bill was recommitted, and machinery and drafting amendments were mado. „,f|The abovo three Bills wero then -:read a third time and .passed.- <■: FARRIERS BILL. Tho. Farriers Bill-was further considered in Committee. Tho opponents of the Bill caused a good deal of disoussion on the short titlo, which was, however, ovontually passed. Progress was then reported, and the Council rose at 9.30 p.m.

THE HOUSE. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. CRITICISED AND DEFENDED. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The debate on the Public Works Statement was opened on tho motion to go into Committee of Supply. Mr.' W. F. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) said tho most important announcement in the Public Workß Statement was that of the completion of the North Island Main Trunk Line. It was a matter for congratulation after all the delays 'that 1 had taken place. The railway would bo a tremendous success. Tho Opposition had always iiu tho past strenuously supported the route of the lino, and were glad that those members of the Government who had opposed it had now changed their minds. Money Not Spent. Tho difference in tho votes of last year on road 3: and bridges and the amounts expended claimed attention. 611 tho Gis-borne-Rotorna line last year £20,000 was voted, and only £9248 was expended, The Minister: What about the liabilities? Mr. Massey: Oh! tho old story about liabilities! He went 011 to cite other similar oxamplos. If tho Government did not iotond to spend the money what was tho good of asking for it P Disappointment and annoyance were caused. Iteplying to an interjection from Mr. Barber lie said that tliero was nothing in tho Statement that they had to provide up to Juno SO, because in the, oaso of tho Midland and North Island Main Trunk- railways they were over expended at March 31. As a matter of fact the Public .Works Act made provision to tide over the interim between March and June. Last year undor the heading "ordinary loans" £42.3,000 was voted. At the end of the year only £2-10,000 had been expended—leaving a 'balancß of £177,000. Yet 111 previous years tho vote had frequently been exhausted. On tourist roads last year £29,000 was voted, and £17,000 expended.: on roads to 'gold-fields £-12,000 voted, awl £35,000 expended. In the three classes the amount voted exceeded the sum expended by £103,000 —nearly £200,000 worth of disappointment and discouragement to tho settler! And this, said Mr. Masse,y, in face of the Government's profession of anxiety for tho backblocks settlor! . , ', Tho BaokblooKs. Tho ordinary road vote last year was £423,785, and tho vote this year was £253,000, or £170,179 less than last year, excluding the backblock voto. To get at the amount by which they really exceed the voto of last year for baekbloqks roads they must deduct the 5170,170 shown above from tho spccial £250,000 vote this year. A sum of £79,121 was left, and this amount represented tho extent by which the Government proposed to exceed the vote of last year—not £250,000. The proiniso of £250,000 addir tional for the back blocks must thereforo be taken with a big grain of salt! Tho £250,000 vote was to hoodwink Iho electors, who were unacquainted with the position, and it increased the public works expenditure, It was a pieoo of thimblerigging. (Oh! oh!) Yet they all know the hardship the settlors wore suffering and lio

quoted tho caso of a young man who had boon drowned whilo crossing a river_ trying to find his way towards Tatimnrrinui. Mr. Massey also read other instances of inconvenience inland from Te Kuiti, and tho high prioo of articles of food from tho excessive freights. Whilo tho presont system obtained they would hare nothing better. Better Systom Wanted. Mr. Massey went on to ask what control had members over the expenditure of tho votes for roads and bridges—£6oo,ooo ? Their constituents sent them there to look after their interests financially as well as otherwise, yet it was impossible, for Parliament had handed orcr tho control of the furse to the Ministers for the time being, nst-ead of being a Legislative Assembly, Parliament was nothing less than a huge, unwieldy road board. Members of Parliament had not as good a position as members of a road board, because the former did not know how the money was going to be expended. He said Sir Julius Vogol, 35 years ago, at tho inauguration of tho system, had seen the dangers ahead if votes should get mixed tip with politics. Tho proposal of that clear-sighted politician had been a board of works. Mr. ] Massey also suggested that instead of doing a lot of detail work in conncction with tho roads and bridges they should improve the status of tho local bodies; give thorn .an assured finauco and enable thom to do the work. Railways. As to. railway works, lie said the districts which had been held back in view of tho .desired completion of tho North Island Main Trunk, should now be considered. Some of the important branches should be undertaken. Ho hoped tho Minister for Public Works, before giving lip his portfolio—ho understood ho was not holdihg it . much longer—would_ make provision for the line in his own constituency. A Southorn Momber. Mr. RUTHERFORD facetiously referred to Auckland as having got tho' balaneo of tho money this year. He intended to Hansardise tho .Publio Works Statement to ■ let his constituents know how the money had been disposed of. Auckland had this year received a total of £235,000, Wellington £65,830, Wanganui £45,854, 'Ilawke's Bay £45,964, Taranaki £52,849, or a total for the Island of £403,971, exclusivo of goldfields' vote. Tho total for the South Jslaml was £149,011, and yet tho Leader of the Opposition was asking for more for tho North Island. Mr. Massey: Oh, no! You misunderstood mo, Mr. Rutherford made further comparisons, and interspersed his remarks with amusing references. He worked tho value of a Canterbury member out at £700, and of a Taranaki member at £13,000. (Laughter.) Canterbury members, however, had been largely satisfied to legislate. A Mlrilstar. The HON. G. FOWLDS (Minister for Education) said that tha comparative figures just supplied were interesting, but it must not bo forgotten that hujr.o !Uiiis tisd been voted in tho South Island in tho past, while the North Island had remained undeveloped. Auckland also had one-quarter the population and area of the whole Dominion. Replying to Mr..Massey, he said it was impossible to extend the money voted by March 31. Mr. Massey's argument was *11 very well for tho hustings, but was of little value with men who understood the position. As to the £250,000 additional vote, the Opposition Leader.'s remarks might have been forcible if the i;oto had been for one year, but it was for four years. Last year scarcity of labour had prevented the full expenditure of the votes March 81. He would not be surprised'if tho Opposition Loader took credit, before tho elcctionß, for having secured th? additional expenditure this year.V He could not agree with the suggestions of Mr. Massey regarding a board of works, etc., but h6 hoped as time went on a system would evolve that would ■ largely relievo the House of deciding matters of the kind referred to. As to branch railways, it must.bq romembere'd that a . large sum was still required this year for the ■ North r Island Main Trunk railway.. -! The Nsw Loan. . Mr,. HERRIES. (Bay of. Plenty) was. not going to pursue tho parochial line of argument, but if Auckland, aB the Ministor said, stood one-fourth in importance, in relation to tho rest of the Dominion it should receive .that proportion of appropriation. (Laughter.). Tho Minister for Financo should give them somo indication as to how the new loan was to bo raised. Last ycai £200,000 was borrowed from the Post Office at 3 per cent, and tho rest of the loan at 4 per cent. It was not fair that a lower rato of interest should be paid to the Post Office than to other Sources. He went on to show that £200,000 specially transferred from tho Savings (Bank for the Wellington and Auckland 'Post Offices should not ba included in tho total amount this year available for "waysvmd means," since only £16,000 was down for expenditure on those buildings, and the balance could not be devoted for other purposes. This should be a separate account. As to.railways he hopec. the full amount voted would bo expended on 1 the Gisborne-Rotorua railway. The work, however,' should be started, from both ends. Ho complained that a good proportion of the rates for roads went in salaries to the higher oificials connected with tho work Ho also made sarcastic reference to tho methods of road construction and the way the money allocated was eaten up Mr. BUDDO (liaiapoi) defended tho Government against the attacks of tho Opposition.

Lika Hungry Dogs. ~ Mr. A. W. HOGG (Mastorton) regretted this annual clamouring, "liki hungry mastiffs after a bone" He personally did not*grow] at what his district got Mr. Bollard: You nevor havi- occasion. (Laughter.) Mr. Hogg generally praised the administration cf tho ltoads Department A Baokbiooker. Mr. JENNINGS (Egmont) was satisfied with the Statement. As to his own electorate, ho represented threo separate land districts in. tho baokblocks, but since tho Estimates were, out ho had received only one telegram asking for a small additional vote. Mr. Stallworthy: You aro a lucky man. . Mr. Jennings: That is a good answer to somo of the criticisms of somo members. (Hear, hear.) Proceeding he said he had received thirty telegrams declaring that if the Government did not carry out its promise of ten years ago to .construct tho StratfordOngarue railway it would be guilty of a bad breach of faith. Mr. J. ALLEN quoted figures on the samo linos as his Palmerston speech, and also said wo were increasing our public works expenditure by two millions every 21 years. This was mostly on borrowed monoy, and tho timo would come when tho results of this would be felt. Railway Votes. AS to railways votes, some wore under-ex-pended and others were over-rated, and why was not the mandate of Parliament, which had voted these sums, carried out? It was ignoring the will pf Parliament. The expenditure oil tho purchase of Native lands had been decreasing, and why, in view of the demand for land, should that be? The tourist voto was increasing, and tho Department was getting out of hand. In tho last two years 07 per cent, of tho money rated for railways had been spent, roads and bridges 64 per cent., public buildings 83 per cent., tourist and health resorts 110 per cent., roads to goldfiolds 37 per cent., telegraph and telephone extension 120 per cent., land improvements 30 per cent. Tjic "liabilities" were included in lliesa amounts. Some Departments, it would be seen, could bo over-extended, but the most urgent, roads and bridges, was lpw down in the scale of perccntago of expenditure. Why was it that the roads and bridges "voto" since 1901-02 should bo decreasing, wliilo tho tourist vote should bo stoadilv increasing? Tho allccod voting of £250,000 extra for backblocks' roads and bridges was a farce, and a deception of the people on the ovo of an olection. Irrigation that had been promised Central Otago three years ago lmd not been carried out, and Only a small sum had been voted tliis year. The Primo Minister. The PRIME MINISTER declared that irrigation work was proceeding in Central Otago. To take away tho possibility of inkt'opre-

sentation in tho matter of under-expended votes, he proposed to ask tho Government next year to make a change in tho general system. Ho would probably ask that tho financial year-bo from December to December. (Hear, hear.) Tho local bodies, with whom tho expenditure lay, would tlieh havo completed their disbursements by the end of the year. Tho Prime Minister went on to givo the actual expenditure during the past year, loss the railway appropriations. 11l Auckland the sum (in round figures) was £325.000; Tara'nakij £78,784; Hawkc's Bay, £63,000; Wellington, £J 60,000; Nelson, £52,000; Marlborough, £12,000; Westland, £<8,000; Canterbury, £85,000; Otago and Southland, £156,000. Auckland's Share. Tho expenditure in tho Auckland district, therefore, was incomparably greater than in any other district, and these figures ho gave to show that the development of the Auckland district was not . being neglected. Tha total vote for and bridges this year was in all £675,000, and in addition somo £50,000 upon tho Supplementary Estimates— £725,000 altogether. He asked: Was not this a roply to the criticism that tho vote this year was not an increase? Inoonsistont?. Tho Opposition had put their heads together f.or ono to decry expenditure on this Department and another on that Department, then for someone else to ask for increased votes. It was all very well for tho member for Bruce to Bay he (the Prime Minister) was living on borrowed money and the future, but why did he come and ask for large votes for his own district, including public buildings? (Ohl oh!) As to tho tourist vote, this expenditure was inseparably connected with the development of ' the country, and the tourist roads • constructed wero for general use. Mr. Herries had criticised the method of transference of. £200,00 from tho Savings Bank: the £200,000 could not be kept in a separate account,, and it was absurd to suggest that it might be used for anything elso hut the erection of po;t offices. Tills Year's Loan. Ho did not propose to tell chc Houso how the loan this year was proposed to be raised. It would not be right to do so. "But everything regarding our finance is most satisfactory." (Hear, hear.) There was nothing as far as the finances of tho country were 3oncerned in tho matter of loans to cause tho slightest uneasiness, The Premier could not accept Mr. Massey's suggestion for a Board of Works. It would mean large expense and the enlargement of tho local hotly election franchise Mr. W. ERASER (Wakatipu) among other things, complained of-.the poor progress made with tho irrigation works in Central Otago. The Govern niont would not do the nork and would not' allow others to do it. Mr. Frasor abo dealt with matters of financo. Dr; CHAI'PLE (Tuapoka) said there wore back blocks in Otago as well as in Auckland. The former, however, were peopled by pioneers, who wero ontitled to consideration beforo new-comers. Mr. Poole: They havo been living on tho fat of the land for conturies. Tho Hon. C. H. MILLS (Wairau) advocated tho completion of tho Main Trunk lines. Ho could not undorstand the things written about tho S«uth Island Main Trunk in the papers. A member: Put tho "gag" on them. The debate was then carried oil by Messrs. Hanan (Invercarjill) and T. K. Sidcy (Caversham). •

The Minister Replies to Critics. Tho Hon. W. HALL-JONES, replying soon after. 11 .p.m., said that tho feature of tho debate' seemed to be, not that too much was to bo spent, but tlmfc members wished tho expenditure, to bo increased in many directions. He thought, howevor, that members would-recognise that a prudent course was being mapped out. Non-expenditure of votes had been tho ehicf subjcct of members', complaints, yet a former Government had: £118,002 votod in 1380-90, and spent only £70,989. Tho cost of railway construction was loss than £8000 a mile, and this was - very creditable, considering tho stylo of the work, the heavy rails, wide cuttings, concrete culverts, and station conveniences. The country was much of it rugged, and it was impossiblo to make railways for £2000 a milo in New Zealand. Yot it would bo cruel to keep tho settlers isolated on account of tho cost of railway building. A syndicate could be floated in England to tako up the railways for fir more than they cost. A member: It would be bad for tho people. Tho Minister: Yes. It would be a wicked thing to 'do. _ In regard to votes being underspent, he said that many men left the railway .works, or would not go to them, because they preferred jobs 'nearer to civilisation. Another reason why some votes were not all spent was that the surveys wero not completed. He defended the overspending of the Ngahere-Blackball railway vote on the ground that the line would pay immediately on completion. Nobody would object to the North Island Main Trunk vote being overspent, and tho overspending of the Midland voto was due to the large tunnel to bo built. They should remember that they wore dealing with estinntes, and that no business man could say exactly what his requirements wero for a year. . Clhor speakers wovo Messrs. Flatman (Goraldine), Alison CWaitemiita), Slander (Marsden), Gray (Christchurch Norths T. Mackenzie (Waikouaiti), M'Pherson (Mount Ida) Ngata, and Heke. Tito Hon. J. Carroll announced that a sum of £30,000 was to bo spent under tho Loans to Local Bodies Act in tho survey of Native lands. Tho Hon. J. M'Cowan then replied to various criticisms. In Committee. Tho House then went into Committee to discuss tho Estimates. Tho Opposition made a strong protest at continuing at that lato hour (2,20 a.m.), and a motion to report progress by Mr. Herrios was lost by 17 to Mr. MASSEY said the Opposition had the position in their own hands. They h<ul only to leave the Chamber to rcduce the number below a quorum, but they refused to do thf.t, The PRIME MINISTER said a sufficient number Of members would have been present, only he understood they had been told no division would bo callod for until tho first item of the Estimates was passed. After a brief discussion tho first itom was agreed to, and. tho Houso roso at 2.40 a.m.

NEWS AND NOTES. A WELLINGTON CITY MEASURE. The. Wollington City Empowering Bill (to confer additional powers on the corporation, mid to extend the drainage system in tho late borough of Melrose to recently-included districts of to districts to be included) was reported to the House from soloet committee .yesterday. Clause 6 of Part 11' of the Bill has been struck out. The clause directs that a special rate for drainage in Melrose bo leviable in other parts of tlio city. Another clause has boon substituted as follows:— I ''The lands described in tho Orders-in-Councit published in the Gaisetto on March 21, 1907, October 3, 1907, April 9, 1008 (being the parts of tho boroughs or Karori and Onslow), shall bo suhjcot to tho special rate of Id. in the £ mado by the Wollington City Council on Jnnuarv IG, 1903, and notified in the GnzetU on January 30, 1908; for tho purpose of proTiding interest, sinking fund, and other charges on n spcciul loan of £100,000 authorised by a poll on October 0, 1907, of tho ratepayers of tho Melrose. district, any lands being piirt of the of Onslow and lying south of tho Karon Stream wliioh at any timo hereafter one included in tho city of Wellington shall, as from tho date of tho gusset!ins; rtf the order-in-council, making such inclusion be subject to the said spc" ei»l rate." The schedules are struck out of tho Bill. Thus amended the committee recommended that tho Hill be allowed to proceed.

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY. Tho Labour Bills Committee of tho Legislative Council ha.i mado somo amendments to tho luAßoetioa of Maoklnoiy

Hill. The clauso dealing with lifts is raado subject to n proviso that the Minister may, on a report from an inspector of machinery, declare that any particular class of lift does not requiro an attendant. A uow clause provides that if tho cylinder of a steam engine has been bored out or renewed at any time or »n,v alteration has been made in the diameter of the cylinder, the inspector must be notified. In Clauso 8, which provides that an engine and its boilers must in certain circumstances ho in charge of separate persons, words have been inserted to require the person in charge of the boilers to be tho holder of a certificate of not less than second-class. An addition to Clauso 11 provides that u'hero two or more steamengines are working side by side, and aro driving a mutual shaft by means of bolting or gearing, the class of engine-driver required must bo determined with reference to tho combined circular inch area of tho cylinders. HARBOURS AMENDMENT BILL. Tho Harbours Act Amendment Bill, which passed its second reading in tho Council yesterday, rectifies doiinitions, the effect of which was' inadvertently altered by tho Statutes Revision Commission. It also provides that pilotago exemption certificates under section G8 of tho principal Act shall apply only to colonial trading and home (i.e., Now Zealand) tradeships. Section 4 is in substitution for Section 75 of the principal Act) and provides that a ship whoso owner or master holds a pilotago exemption certificate may obtain a pilotage rates exemption certificate after entering the port in respect of which the former certificato was issued, and paying one full rate of pilotago in and out and tho inward rate payable on entry. Pilotago rates aro to ba paid to tho Harbour Board where there is one, and in othor cases 'to the Collector of Customs. Section 5 empowors the Governor to grant occupation leases of lands between high and low wa.ter mark, belonging to the Crown, and on which at high water spring tides tho dopth of water is less than fivo feet. Tho period of such a lease must not exceed 21 years, and the leaso may contain a provision authorising the lessee to reclaim tho land. Section 6 empowors any local authority to reclaim tidal lands with tJio permission of the Governor-in-Council. Tho last clause givos harbour boards power to Control harbour traffic on regatta days.

"This is probably the last time I shall] speak iu this House," said the Hon. C. H. Mills last evening. Mr. Wilford suggests by a question on the Order l'aper that the Government should appoint two qualified officers, not in the employ of the Government (one to be a military man and tho other an expert in accountancy), to inquiro into and report upon all bona lido outstanding claims of ollieers, non-commissioned officers, anil troopers who served in the soveral contingents in South Africa, and who arc claiming arrears of pay, field-allowances, or war gratuities. "Tho Government are doing a lot of disagreeable work. They are borrowing well." -Mr. Hogg. Mr. Field will ask the Ministei for Education, ''Whether it is true, as reported at the last meeting of Wellington Codege Governors, that, under special arrangement with the Education Department apart nlkogether from the general question whothei or not the Governors proposed to adopt the freeplace system, tho Governors admitted to the Girls' College, and are still giving instruction to, a number oi free-place scholars, and whether the Department now refuse t-o pay tho capitation (about £9 per head) on such free-place scholars on tho grounu that tho Governors have not adopted) and for the purpose of coercing them to.'adopt, tho freeplace systom, thus giving rise to the characterisation of the Department's action as a repudiation and a breach of faith, and thus apparently forcing the Gnvornors into tho position of discontinuing imparting instruction to the free-placo scholars in question; nnd whether , tho • Minister .will); without,' further delay) have this important and unpleasant question settled onco and for all on lines satisfactory to tho Govornment, tho Governors, and ..the free-placo pupils ?"

Tho Hauraki Plains Bill, introduced into the Houso yesterday, has as its object the making of provision for the settlement of the Ilauraki Plains on which the Piako swamp drainage works are now being carried cut. It provides that out of money authorised to bo borrowed under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, the Minister for Finance may apply for the purpose of the Act, whether in the same or in different financial years, sums not exceeding £80,000. Tho Hon. Mr. Carncross asked the Attor-ney-General in tho Council yosterday afternoon whether .legislation will bo proposed this session offering facilities to lotal bodies to borrow monoy for tho purpose of erecting gasworks, Tho Hon. Dr. Findlay said the question opened up a subject of great difficulty. Tho Government was considering tho giving of further borrowing powers to jocal bodios, hut no legislation on the subject would be introduced this session. Tho Speaker df tho House of Representatives .announced yesterday that tho session had now arrived at that stage when'new business should be taken after 12.30 a..m. Mr. Hogg (of tho Government): "They arc Aunt Sallies to be pelted by tho Opposition with backblocks'. mud." (Laughter.)

HEAVY TRAFFIC. A GOVERNMENT BILL. The Heavy Traffic Bill, which was read a second time in tho Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, is intended to enable local authorities to protect the roads under thoir control by' regulating certain classes of traffic. '.'Heavy traffic" is defined to include vehioles weighing With or without load moro than one and a half tons to each wheel, vohicles drawn by bullocks and the transportation of any vohicles from May to September inclusive, which require, with or without load, moro than sis animals to draw them. The major portion of tho Bill resembles a sot of model by-laws, which any local authority controlling roads may adopt either altogbther or partially for tho licensing and controlling of heavy traffic. In oaso of Government roads, tho Minister will havo the powers of a local authority. Clause 6 is of spooial importance. It provides that if a vehicle for heavy traffic is to bo used in two or more districts, the licenso is to be issued by the Governor and a magistrate shall apportion the licenso fees among the local authorities concerned. Tho penalty for an offence under tho Act is a fino jiot exceeding £20, and if the offence has been' a continuing one a flue not exceeding £6 a day. Tho adoptive clauscs, which aro grouped together as Part IT of the Bill, provide that tho owner of a vehicle, boforo using samo for heavy traffic, shall apply to the looal authority for a license, giving tho weight and description of tho vohielo, tho road on which it is to bo used, and the weight intended to carry. The local authority is entitled to consider whether tho road, bridges, and culvcrts to which the application relates aro sufficiently strong to stand tho traffic, and grant the license subject to such conditions as it thinks reasonable. It may, for instance, grant tho licenso snbjeot to its being suspended in wot weather, or being limited to certain months in the year. If thought fit, security for likely damage to roads may bo donmndod by the local authority. Local authorities are entitled to charge certnin fees and issue licenses for a fixed term, or for a fixed sum for each timo tho vehielo uses tho road. Every vehicle used for heavy traffic mußt be licensed, and drivers must havo tho licunsos in their immediate personal possession. Particulars as to name of owner, license number, etc., must bo printed on the vehicle. The license i 3 subject to the right of tho local authority, to prohibit traffic by any veliicle or class 1 of vehicle over any road, or limit the weight to bo carried, from April to October inclusive, but the holder of the license is entitled to a refund of a proportionate part of the license fee, TVi Lsflue of lioonso does uot relievo the

licenseo for liability for damage to : roads. Drivers arc t-o avoid driving in ruts in a road, Bullocks are not bo bo used for heavy traffic work durihg Slay, June, July, August, and September without permission of tho local authority. The driver of any vehicle, whethei engaged in heavy trallic or not, mast cause it |to travel on the left-hand side of tho road. Thero aro also clauses dealing with the carrying of lights, and precautions against injury 1o bridges. ■ The adoptive clauses also comprise provisions dealing with traction engines License fees ar« scheduled as follows:-— Two-wheeled voliicles, tyres. 2Jin. wido and under 3in., £10 yearly; same, 3in. wide and under 4in. ( £7 10s.; same, 4in. tyres and not Exceeding sin., £0 yearly; same, having tyres exceeding sin. ; £5; four-wheeled vehicles, tyres 2J Jin. wide and under 3in., £20 ychrly; same, 3in. wide and under 4in., £15; same, with tyres 4in. wide and under 6in., £10. Tho local authority may, however, fix either lower or higher fees than the above. Unless specially authorised by tho local authority, tho maximum load to be carried on vehicles whether plying foi hiro or not shall bo as follows:— Four-wheeled vehicles. • Maximum Width Tyres. load. . 21 inches 3 tons 3 inches 81 tons 31 inches ... ... 4 tons 4 ii,chos ... ... 4J tons 4-5 ii.ches 5 tons ; 5 inches 55 tons 5£ inches 6 tons 6 inches ' 61 tons 61 ii.ches 7 tons 7 inches 7} tons ' 8 inches ... ... .. 81 tons -. 9 inches 0J tens . i Two-wheeled vehicle? ' : • 2} inches ... ... 11 tons' ' 3 inches ... ... lj| tons. ■■ 31 inches ' ... - ... 2 tons " 4- kches ... ... 2J tons 41 inches ... : ... 21 tons ■ 5 inches ... ... 2iJ tons 51 inchea ... ... 3 tons 6 inches ... 3} tons No vchiclo having tyres less than 21inshall carry any greater, load than • half a ton; ■no four-wheeled vehicle other thpn a traction engine shall carry anj greater load than 9} tons; no. two-wheeJH vohiclo shall carry any greater load than .3J tons ; and no traction or other engine shall, to'gctlicr with load, water, and _ fuel, " weigh more than 15 tons unless specially authorised.