PARLIAMENT'S TASK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 619, 23 September 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT'S TASK.

■ PROGRAMME FOR NEXT SESSION. f';■■■:':■; SOME ■ INTENDED BILLS. ' '■j .When Parliament meets again on October' 7 it should, be for! a busy' session. There are a number of important, measures which might have been Acts by this date if Parliament ,had hot been suspended three months ago to please Sir Joseph Ward. >' There ars other measures the for: which has been realised during .the interim, and there .is' the. routine business of: Departmental reports, returns, estimates', and other matters to he dealt with'. The Acting-Prime 'Minister (the Hon. J. Carroll).has stated that, with the object of enabling members'to complete their task in time to return to' their homes by Christmas, the Estimates' and all.'the usual' Government re-turns-will be in; readiness-as soon as Parliament opens.- Even then the. task' will be a formidable one; and'members' 1 will have to keep jWoll to business if all, the Bills which have .been - promised—or . threatened—are 'to become'law. in the ten'weeks''session. ' Native Land ..Bill's. . •The Eon. James Carroll intends to introduce Bills dealing with the Native, land,' and making necessary- amendments to give better facilities and secure a more inexpensive method of perfecting- titles,. and tho elimination of the provision in' respect, to alienation. It is proposed to take this work away from the Conrt altogether.'.and.give control to the Land Board. A'Native Land Eating Bill will also; be' in : trbduced, by which, lands contiguous ,to the townshipsiwill become rateable lands. 'Beyond that the area .which ; should bo. productive will also .be rated. ■ The. only exemption will-be lands that.it is impossible to bring-into-pro-_fitable':occupation.. .'.'-. '. ; Mr./Carroll also expects to amend or extend the operation .of tho Advances to Settlers Act, so that it'will also apply,'to Maoris.' The Maori, it is now admitted, should be put on the same footing as his pakeha neighbour, and encouraged to vie with him or ; exceed, him. .-In an official statement, Sir. Carroll recently explained that ; wh'at he thought tho Natiies would like, was that the-rating and taxing of their lands should- he - made -gradually by instalments, so .as to accustom /them to bear the- fresh, burdens which they : would have to carry.; In this way certain electorates .might be declared districts liable to.rates arid taxes; A: Government and a local officer could be ap-pointed-to-define such districts, : representing theinterosts of both sides without.prejudice to either. :As,those, districts.became defined and declared they .would'become rateable, and as progress went on other ' districts 'could bo brought- in; -so'that in .the -'process-of -■ time they would have completed the taxation of-the balance, of the. Native lands.. He believed that properly adjusted and explained to the -Maori himself,.'it wonld act as a stimulus to him, and be the.needful spur to consider his individual .family or .tribal possessions,-and do hisbest 'fbv the welfare, of both sides. , ■■'.-■■ ': ; :; ; '■■;.'' : ';'',''' : '".VDo'ath.'Duties. .' ; ■■ '■'.A: Death Bill has : .been-drafted for consideration 'by Parliament. It is. prbpos?(| that.-.-the ' taxation\on. the -smaller estates" in .r.h'o.shar-o'.of, depth duties should,be reduced,, whilst.'that on- larger' estates .should--be >inorefised.. [Provision will. also be made _to -prevent evasions' ' Which at. 'present', deprive the .State of,-' duty. ,' -". ■'.- ''. ./ '.- ' "'• ,V,.' 'Hospitals'and Charitable Aid,. ■')■'.'' A.'Hosnital and Charitable Aid Bill- is .to be presented by the-Hon.G. IWJds, Minister for Public Health;. A'.Bill hits been introduced on several- oceasiohs,' I .but-the 'new -Bill'will be modified'.' in'-.several directions, - as' the result of- the conference last' year,, '.between ■ representatives from .'different hospital tihd. charitable aid', boards' of the" Dominion..' Not- all -.the recommphdations.'of.'the .'conference"will, however,' be incorporated, in'the new Bill."' :;'•;'./-'■.'.;':..': Workers,' Hom.pv,'-. ..An -amendment: to- tho -Workers'.Hbmes.'Ac.V is..prop.os,ed with' tho-object, of, providing, more advantageous .conditions., for . the''purchase.' o'i;the' houses -by.'tenants.. .There is at present provision in-the:Act'f6r the sale of'the nomes; but'' the- conditions- are ■ such' .tho.t a - man 'has t.o. pay.- nearly; do.iiblO: the' value -of. house.-and ■ laud before they.become, his ."property.., 'Consc'juuhtly-.- the: opportunity provided , by, -.the' Act is hot.-taken'advantage' of,- 'and,''representations have' been madft.on. all. sides ..that n 'more equitable: scheirje.Uh.ould-bo devised.. The. "Hon. J. . A; will-bring down an..amending'. Act 'that.' .will ■ provide f for ".tho .purchase of /the homes by tenants by payments of-small ins'tal-. me'nts, or oh the -building society principle by which capital-arid interest- are paid- off in .tho. ■forjn'of : rent.-';This amendment.will,:it is con--1 tended,:, niake tho'purchasing clause a. reality. The. .procefds. of.-homes that, are sold -will, be expended'.in 'the erection of- additional' ones'.' '■,'■-::!'.:':-.,:•;.:< : Unemployment.,, ,'■ .' .- ;. It 'is 'possible that Parliament will be: asked. ,to N consider; the of the. Government providing: land! near the centres, for ocpupatiori'by; casual workers.' 'For'a'long time' • pre^Buvo.'.'has-been'.brought'to bear the 'Government,': 'particularly, by' Ghristchurch -members,' to", bring'forward a, scheme of; tho kind.''A'Bill will probably also bo introduced ,tq bring'into operation a'scheme,of,insurance ! against, unemployment, which will be 'first oper-, atbd'.as an experiment ih" trades where the supply 'of; work, though' fluctuating,-is not' of suph a!ca'snal nature as wharf-lumping. •

/m ':;./' Harbour Bills.. : i l ' ■The Hon. J.' A.' Millar (Minister for', Marine) '■ 'intends to. bririg.'do'wn two Harbo.ur Bills'.- One, ■ and will con- : tain rbariy :'aniendmohts-, suggested;' by', the; con-' fere'n'ce/'of. harbour, board representatives, and /also other', amendments which' have been found . n.ocessa'.ry. .Th,e other' Bill, will/'deal'with, the constitution . of Harbour ; Boards.. .It'.is.' pro-; ; :posed' to riiut'e them elective,, with a maximum' of two Government nominees, and it is hoped tb.'makothe bbards more.workable,; and to.re ; m6ve : sbme of,.their cumber'somohess.' ,■ The franchise for. har'ho.nr:'.bosrd v elcctibhsy will 'be on. the county .basis!, in'counties and .'on the same .basis., as' borough..councils in/' For l • purposes of .'economy,; it'is 'also to, hold the harbbur.bia'rd-electibhs: atltho 'same . time as those for county:and borough councils. 'A'clause,'will. be, ; in'sert*d-,in tnb' Harbour., Bill compelling'the; harbour boards, to provide, am-: balance.-stretcher's,' and ' also , to get medicalassistance, as promptly; as possible, in ■• cases ■:• of accident. •,'"■■'■ ; .': : ■''•'•.■;■-'': •■'••■'- ;;'•:'>•: .Compensation Bill. ..;,..•" ■ 'An amendment to the-Workers'' Compensation 'for Accidents-'Act'will, be brought down by the Hon.-J; A. Millar.' The Bill will- provide, inter, alia; forthe;serving'of "a notice, on therepre-' .sehtative's of '■ a ship.registered, a.t Home;in'case„ 'of an■ accident-'inNew' Zealand:wafers,' 1 and .the 'detention.' of .the -vessel- till -'. arrangements. .are.'• agreedr'.to."tor; meeting, the.'cla'im ,to;.'com--.pohsatibn: ■-Provision will kl6p'be made; in-this Bill "to" meet the ..difficulties which larbsa'/las.t' year as to -the medical- examination' of workmen} • a'nd,."asv,to.'the';disease; Thb Prime. Minister has stated that: provision I .Will 'be 'made: for; more closely .'following the rexenf English legislation-in'this.matter, .and,iuli opportunity 'given, .to those, interested, to deal ■'with the' proposed ; amendmentsbeforei^they-118-. comb,law. '; , ■';.;• '■"■'.'.-■:: -.": ''.'-"".': ■ ; ..'■;•.".; - • Wblllngtpn Milk Supply. - The 'Wellington .City. .Milk- ,will be -introduced' on behalf of the City, Council to empower the corporation to eetabbshia milt station for. treating. and' distributing the- : milk supply of .:tbe city; to buy and «1T nulk. and dairy produce' and to' manufacture butter;- to. provide- cool. storage", and. to./aot generally.-aa/a dealer,.'in milk •and.butter.-.: ... - . ', ■ ~ ■ ":"' i; ■ ■'•;)■■' '. : "' ' v Bankruptcy. V-;•■■;■*.-', ~";;; ■Thei Government has^lSeen. piessed--by,th» different'- Chambers of, Commerce; arid .merohantß generally to reviaw / portions. of : the .bankruptcy low; afid\Sir Joseph Ward.stated in his speech at Ip.vercargill. that the.,,Government'was'■considering''''many: suggestions' which.-had •' been, made,' It'was'stated to be under contemplation as to whether..tbe Public.Trustee'and hi6;officers -throughout;' the. country should.-', not ,be utilised: as official;; assignees. '.''A,-Bill .for,; the improvement of.the present bankruptcy system has been promised by' Sir. Joseph Ward: - :' Friendly Societies. . ,\ ~'',,.'. Important'amendments on. the iFriendly. Societies Act'will be introduced, ' iaborporatirig suob provisions of the-.lmperial Abts of 1696 and 1908 as are applicable to New Zealand. New provisions .will also bo, included -for improving ■. the financial soundness of the 'sobietiesj. slightly altering theclasseeof the.' societies to be registered; restoring the provisions of the Act of 1882 ns to specially authorised societies;, providing that friendly' societies may' include among their, objects the guarantcb ■~ of the fidelity of their servants and- officers'; providing more extensive-powers of investments; protecting inoricy payaolc by a friendly soolcty to a member, or on the death of a" member* against oreditors in the samo manner oe life insurance ■policies, bnd extending the provisions as to: the settlement .of, disputes by arbitration: in accbrdance'with the'.English .Acts. ... . ...- '•'■,-.■"•■"■' Companies Act. ;' .An- amehdmeht • of-.the : Companies . Act is probable, to bring-onr"law into line with the Imperial Companies Act, 1906. In this: direction provision 'will be mnde.ullowing the reissue, of .debentures, which have been hypothe--1 cited, an important matter,, in view- of.-ttie deloiflion'oftlie English Courts that'all', debenture*

so reissued are invalid; invalidating debentures issued as security for a past debt within four- months- of- liquidation, so putting companies in the same position as private traders under tho Bankruptcy Act; providing . that companies which do not issue a prospectus on their formation shall file wifji the registrar a statement-in lieu of prospectus; and making better, provision for tho-registration of all securities given by companies. Other Legislation. A Bill. dealing with the important subject of national defence has been'promised by the Government' • New legislation will probably' be introduced to prevent false trade descriptions being given. Amendments will te made in tho Education Act "to" remove the '. doubt which arose as' to the rato of payment: of teachers' salaries under the legislation of last year; ' . An amending Bill to the Municipal , Corporations .Act, :containing, recommendations made from time to time, is almost certain to bo-.brought down. . Legislation will bo introduced defining the main'roads of the Dominion in order that they, may be taken over "by the. Government, and provision will also be made for all, other roads to be maintained' by the local, authorities. " . ' ... A Bill was forecasted'in the Prime Minister's Invercargill speech,-to. allow tree-planting reserves on which prison labour is to be used to i be removed from the' Crown- Forests Eeserves Act, and to.be treated' similarly' to. Crown lands reserves. Provision was also to be made for .the preservation of Crown forests. Further amendments of law will bo made in the Destitute Persons Act, the Habitual Drunkards Act, the Police Act, and the administration reform in the Public - Service.■An amendment'of the law. in respect of indeterminate sentences' will be required in view of Dr. .Findlay's new scheme of prison reform. ' teSislation, will probably be introduced for making provision for the.completing and equipment of railway lines in various portions of the Dominion whero the people express their willingness' to guarantee against financial loss. ~The ■' Hon. J. A.' Millar will'''bring down amendments to the Factories Act limiting the hours of niale workers in laundry.