A WEEK'S PROGRAMME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 692, 17 December 1909, Page 8

A WEEK'S PROGRAMME.

;i^|MIHtINEJQ;ay MINISTER,

;..; •; i;f ?m(yS!sCOBEI OP"^NEW/M^STOES.- ; ; ;;;;•i;;' Vi'o '^^.Priitte'Minister■'inade:a.statement .to the J';-; ; ; ; Hpnse| : of 1- Representatives yesterday, ias to 'the; ;.. ':^,bußin<^';\wWch;.;W/intendedJto • put /through - H;;'itbJa/sessioh; ; ; ;H©;6aid' be'libpeS.'that, 'with-the ■/■:;/;co-pperatibii;;of'memb«OT, ; be able; A):.:; to/baringTth'o - 'sossioiiV to • a termination' on'. Thure-; only; two'Bills;of /those -Lb lx£i;i'.-. ; .'v teided .;.tt;!paM".tfiat , :Wd''''take'"any-.'tune ..we're = Lan<l:; : Bill/and; the Defence Bill. -Ji'A'.'.With ;■' regard f to- tho' ;,rrii>'m&t.'.wbuld:b6 made>to,a;clauso on/which condiscussion, had taken ; place, '. respectinE •,.';v-};:p^i^.';j^^ ;;;-'© d»nld;-;accept'tie-liabilities-and not the.ass'ets ;_/s';Ccfithe ?volunteer v corps; V; He '.proposed; to in-''v'-4: trodnce legislation to let Hhe companies retain -;\| • ttoir'iexistuig! liabilities' and also their ■ existing jfC; assets. A/In^/that; way, they, would bo -able .to ;;'i)£tebp:-i,their.':' drill-sheas ; - and/ any; 'Jroporty. or /.v*/ i moMy,they/;liad,Vin;their.-possesion. ■' 'Ho ox- % H./pedted i that,'.;; with; ; tais ■';■ amendment,; the /Bill. s;;;!f^ , m>uldVrcceive;.very , .littlo.opposition, and they ['-■'.'; should .-bo ableito got'it on/the Statute Book >'"':;this i .'6eSsion; l-::i:,/i\:-/. u ; ;--; ,- ■■■.. '..;.;.

O/A;- ';-^:Custotns' D utiesjatitl: Stamps Amendments. |fr;;W;&T^ ; ; : to .make .one at- ■ ':■■ ;-.'' -i teration -to - this \ Bill, which ho 1 would explain r/iCjlaier/jTheie yas : ;als6 the, Stamp ;Dutie«Bill :: ; Vy^:which::dealt;.with::!th.9''.tax -6n.;bank note"and ;%..!;duties;:inz regard/;tq vrace clubs. ;-;That. /Bill. s'j.^vS*er^''lie^gone':oii'.'Tritlii' , '''Hb Swished to explain /;;:;: Withal; Mho ..3iU;that;;liad'\ been circulated ..was j-; j , feimt-the'cbinjieted one,: 'a '/fact' which he had' ii./'iVßbt; _at ;the;;timci; .Ho had ; thought it. "/;:;i;;::.*as;tte^^ K,v. ;;.jp^ed^'to-bring down "a'-ncobss&y'altbration'to: %;■■■; ''iproade.for//what:;tho/Government intended-to M?.'£jußJsrfte House;to/give"offect.to.'' /'; ■!ptWS% rs V P'.'.^'* ■'.•--'•;'■ ■■ ;: .- ! ■J-Z^^ ■ and ; also a i ff : S^l-WVorißrß'; ; .Compensation';for. Accidents Bill, 4 : o { t;;;;S lopefclanse./.;Tho ■ latter.dealt;with the oliminafrom. the', list of dis-;■;.;-f'/'^eases.ttat /were now;included.in;tho Act with rt:;c.;-6ißgaid■•.to -'Bill-was■ necessary, in '•^T.';: i 'jße. : 'i^reM\ , ; ; taken' ;the,' responsibility v;-:"?^'°f;P l '^'^',tt clause ;;-;.,y/tbat /hadf'to';.,be.;rem6v l ed.;j,'•. ;;.■;>;■: ;Si;£^^ :: :^oWi.K/ v it:g'olng;to'-.the: Labour Bills ,; .'■■..; ifiv;;4,k'Ehe Prime^'llinistef.-replied'-that' as the ; Bi!l '¥Mj ■ -of ;:only /.oho; clause, -he -.thonght .this--not;necessary..; ~/ ..'.:-;;.' ;

Kino Country Licenses. J?%- Pxu 9? '^^t? 1 . continuing, said' that i Km i 9? nn , trj Lleen scJ Bill, which to". also part of the programme, would abolish (Riolosalo hcemses m tho KmgCountrv Twelve a!l o ,i n i c V al , d « Iven to 'nose who iliad obtained these licenses When tho Gov■emment was dealing with licensing legislation which would probably bo dono next wesson, this district would bo dealt with on &*^ mi ll r l ° ot K, dlstncts in tho country in giving the people the ught to voto at local ff"!-.. UWXBS *? & R™ l alteration 'F* ?, fc * a « "Presented had taken placo it was that tho people of the SOns: Country should Wo tho right to vote jg™e matters under tho focal option T. E. Taylor: Aro the Maoris to vote, JCho Prime Mrwsteri I will discuss thowholo (Batter when wo are dealing with it. (Sating, Old Aoo Pensions, and Superannualion. Sf Pr &?, Mlnis t or said his pro■SrfuT mcl,ldcd a J BIU t° aoblish pony and \S lU ttf "»** tho altcrsbons ho hadfuidicated"in regard to old age ponsmas. Thoro would also be an amending ?ki m. TCg^d tO . superannuation, whTch Jif fhS^tZ 0 d any objection from * ho regarded this matter as one that SSJ'? *? H li P a w k would deal with the funds for the &?^ h fL? f Public Se ">«>. and the te JS&fr and ? ful^ s Department, ±™* *onld be no material alterations, but romo alterations wero necessary to meet tho caso ot popple who were suffering' lnlasticb havmg compl.ed w,th tho ?aw ,„ tamo. In regard to the Pohco Department it Genoral.avil Service and bring that DoSPSS' de / lt TOS not Arable that a iM r °""» as the Police Department should have a aoparato fund to them|Dhrcs. It was only a matter of t lm o Sn tho separate fund would break down by inladcgnacy of numbers. ' < 7

S;'f :'::!':■''■-; ; ifal?^ l 'VSir', Joseph:''.' Ward ■ J^?SB^ * universities:. "^S d xV . s 4'' on - 1118 am owit. of -super-' , amiratipn-that,;wouMsbo:irecei ved;;by anyone. conhnudus .deman'ds "for ■ ex- % tensjpn:vof;itto:::sOT)erannuati(inf .scheme,:'• tho to : ; P ut ;^'foot; down,/ "ofva' weightier ■ '&lE contemplated to; in-' 'fivfe^^/^ ll^ ;Tvere;invaluablo for men W.jecopt; of;| foderato salaries,r'atid 'care' ■Vfeg^.- i .2 , *-'/'*-:'P T eHoad:.what he -believed'to :• J?epple:liko university.pro-: : ; :J B°9!l.«salories,Vshould''vbe ■''Sr&iu* 9 ;S*9H a tß ! ;prpvision.for their.wives ''^i^T'^^ l^^' 6 ? P ft^l institutions, ne:.-exceptod'-fr6m-;th'B 'scheme !

;a ; ;fS|:|o' s q ; ti!eri.-BilU. : to ■v' : teSi enaWe-ihe, .Goyerhmentr vto'-obtain' ''^.'W™^r^ ; ;ln■'conncction':;with;6ther adjust-- .:;.. toents that r were being 'made,: and:it,sho'uld ;not'; ,:-, opppation/.There were also the Magfa: S '•':f t SS .v°nrt?;Amen'dmeht Bill.'Ref drmatory -In- :;>•: Zealand'Sdoiety- of -Aci' think :there would S:^- ; - ( :y'jS^?^;^;'3illnaudrMasterton- : Trust' '{Ai r -If:-', is'ia' :"'C; W-' ■ ;,wwd ;;take.'-. a' /.very: ; ' much.-, longer W:-( t S^i?9 a *"'''!>;■ possible; to" give :the ■ necessary' >:^^m:^^ ; to"put; it;on;,the;Statute Book vl£..they, i got::through;'a]l.tho'busiS?'fig|: ; -: n e knight meet; a ,;'•;;««!»: .than'.insual.-'next" year.' ftlf < they ?wv."?i?9t vnamed" it ;^g!Bf«;!P6;^e»ary;-to;:;meet:-after' Christmas; '^iiftj^ o4 • t H'^ se; toJassist ;hira;ih .avoiding :;V;!*f^rf':pqssftle.^-:,;;-}y;;-',;!-;.- :';s-,;-.',';.';:<:■'': f^.; |;f Bettei-rrient: : s^'; ; t ''Bill ■; was' being':held;,:(yW.;^an»,: hoped; the' Govi ;.,;i;;to^t v -wo^l':be';able' : tb;-govinto: : the -whole ;; i ¥^Wstter, ; -,wrth : th*'-'pbjeot;-:of! , proTiuUng--a-.'bettot «■': "WShenjO'than that.proposed',in'the'Bill.- It was forward a measure that would ; ; y;,',t»^y«ry/ k yalnable employers, *& SS-: ■ le S >nfltr7 i ;a <' a whole'r'Thebetterment .■; ; ;,:3dl-paidalso-be-held;over. ,This Billishould •;. ; 'iv' , vri ; : ; M 6m " waa.';not ;an !'easy :■ one'; to "solve: -It'was' >;v:aocesary; to.vproyideV that ■in itho; case'- of- the ;;,'';v.TOnstrnction;of:railways-that...would 'not-nav 1 X;A ■:■ P*. ;obligation3 - shoiild ■ not ■ be,;.y : ;,on.:distnct3 T -:that,,ought'-to;be He •i;-.-r-W-w^;;}M»^g'bver.-tai.-nflil 'session'legisla-.- ;..: v;Wn-W; wo.;regulatip"n':of. race: meetings and ~;:;s.*lterabons'to:the' Gaming' Act.'' - ,' ~:■■: Will, ; the^*bobkies'Vlive?•!■ i;;;>;wMr. the-totalisator? -.:>'' '--■■' : ' J;?;'-; Sir. Joseph Ward that, an 1 opportunity' S' - - i :fe^ ; .- ;^TCn V^ :sc^ settle - both the •.;>y^ ; :Opotonakers. and; tho ■■ totalisator, when 'the Bill SA;-;£. a ™ l^-'PPmialld/gaUoway^races;was:before; ;■; the Gaming Bill ;; v>':tter©.had. from. : all over the coun--number, of \ race --'days;'•/•: . ■-

.'/,''. .had* intended to introduce ,;.?: legiaUxfaon -this_>session;' to,', enable'' the Moiklo ,%,;<aise,to-bo,finaUy..dißposed,of..: (A'member- Oh' ■:-.•'.; -'; no!).; \The -Mnio , Minister; said 'that in his :■;;•;• oprman '.something required■'• to; be 'done," and : ;r ■next.- session; the introduce ; '!".-legislation-for.tho ; final'settlement of what he ;•;>.: Tecogiused : : wa9 'a very,; difficult • matter".■: He present to indicate'the -He.'thought f that' .■.;■• V-those-members 'who''were opposed,to anything Y\".being .done'.must!'rocogniso in. view of. the .;;..'.commission,'.'of, judges■ and:,the -action of C the '..-•: •. House in-regard to - the commission,. that some--V:--.:'.-thing/still required ;to;bo;done.;sA Local ■! ,j. . ernment.'Bill would -he set down' next session. .^.(Tkughter.).^ :,,- ; : would ;--he ..brought: down:: next 'Monday; 'The '■':s:< section ."of '■ itie : ; : .postal estimates dealing:: with X: : - ocean-.mail.'.services' -would .betthe'first part- ,': ;>,.of 'the .Estimates itobeconsidered in themorn-,.;>;-'ing,:;' and >an opportunity- - would ■ho given, : ' of; v:,'. i'dianksing it;-!ili'-the morning ho/wonld';make. ftvSa/.statement;to,.tlw; Housey,in 'regard tovthov;;;position; of : -5theso;,services.v.,; Tuesday;■;morning: '''.;; would '■ be/set -/apart; for.'. consideration -'of-'; tho ;;;;;/^SsJj|r^; ; Cx|aimi^

morning for tho; report of "the Polico Commission, concerning which a: statement would be luadoby him to the House. . L9d.1l Bills, would bo;;brought.m> on, Wednesday' morning, the Supplementary Estimates'would be introduced on Wednesday, and ho hoped that tho House would bo. able, to. finish - on Thursday. ~ '"' Of Over-riding Importance. : Tho only two : Bills which ho would call of over-riding importance w-oro tho. Nativo and Doionee, Bills. ;■ The majority of tho others wereof small importance, though it was'essential .that they should'.-be put mvtho Statutei' BoeSlc'if - it 1, was. possible this • session. If thd'Honso choso to co-operate it did not np.poav to/him/that,there would be the slightest difficulty in putting through tho wholb ,of the .business he had indicated by Thursday. The Native Land Bill had-boon very carefully drafted, and had received great attention-from ; the Natiyo. Affairs Committee. This measuro consolidated the wholo of the, Native landlegislation in bno -Bill, and if they succeeded in doing nothing, olse .this session the passing of. that Bill would",bo a fine record in regard ti Native-affairs.?; A great many of-the clauses in tho Bill wcrV simply consolidating. If. this Bill and the ./Defence Bill wore put through, the rest of tho road would bo comparatively smooth. If they vcould , not get through tho business they must recogniso with him that it might' 1)0 necessary, to meet after Christmas. .

>V-. :.■ ;: VIEWS OF MEMBERS. ;, :, ■■!>& VERT LENGTHY PEOGKAMME." . 'Mr.Massey said that in so far as thb. Opposition members were concerned there would bo,-no .obstruction or. unnecessary, delay so long as they were not asked to do : anything iinreasonable. Ho howover pointed' out that tho Prime ■: Minister .had; outlined -. a - very lengthy programme. In his opinion it would be absolutely, impossible' to _ deal with it properly in the; timci at' their disposal. In regard : to. the Native 'legislation r ' he. was very ' anxions' ; to seo'it passed, and'lie believed tho present Bill wasra- step., forward, . though ho -should ;.yory. much' -havo 'preferred if it had .also dealt, with Native, townships, and Nativo rating. Tho Bill, howovor,;-was a very important one, and he objected/to its being hurried in the maiiner suggested', by, tlio Prime .Minister. In regard 1 to tho'Defence Bill,/he wos a. strong advocate of compulsory training/ and he hoped the Bill ! would'reach the;!Statnto; ; Bobk.; The 'Customs!! .and' Stamp Duties Bills :-were-, both'; highly, contentious measures and there was very strong opposition; to them. Indeed' he'doubted whe_ther they should become law this session.', Mr. Massey; then read the.lohg list of -other Bills ■that; thb'.Prime Minister, had expressed-his intention, of proceeding -with, and .the other business that had to be done, and stated emphatically that it, could not bb. doiio/justice ,to /between- now .and -next Thursday. ; .'Such a lengthy list .would, take at least .one -month to' put through. In regard to. dropping the Land -Bill, the. conclusion he had como to, .was that the /Government wore not at all sincere .when they, submitted that .Bill to Parliament.:. Ho bolioyed now. 'that, they never had any. intention. of. going on- ,with it • -. Sir Joseph Ward: Thafs not correct, r, ■.'','".• Sir.'. Slassby'.:';"VVoll thafs my opinion, .and tho Eight Hon. 1 gentleman can take it for. what : ifS-TVOrtb.'■:":■',-,. '"■-■■■."..";■:-•-' ■;;'•;.,,.;-.,.■■. ; '' In .regard ;tp. tho proposed Mcikle Bill Mr. Massby.: suggested' that the- two Judges ■ who formed the: Boyal, Commission •oh the case should be asked to (fix tho amount of compensation that-sh'iiild ! -he awarded; Thero was, ha said; in ;conclusion, almost enough work in the. Prime Minister's programme for one ■whole'session. He believed that, they should gi',-along,,Cjuht'.y. jind : steadily and that -there should be' nd'atttinpt to rush work -through and pass hasty, arfd ill-considered legislation. By Tuesday or Wednesday next, they should b'3 in apposition tr make up ..their, minds as ti .'whether they. : should come back aud finish their work ;aftor Christmas or- allow the Bills they" could "riot pass, to. ..stand byor till next sbssipni-X :.;.; : .';.'";':- 1 ;/!', .- .':'•.'■■:;; ,' .. ; r", >' ■ Mr.'-Davey. (Chiistohuich iEast)i said: ho. regretted.; that the Harbour, Board Bill was, not coming ,doyra Ihis' session'. Care would;,,have :to'be;.taken.'.with the legislation,affecting pony , and 'galloway''races,: or.tho saine people .would be ablo'..to'race'these animals as horses:..'

;;;Rumbur;and:the Land Bill. '.■ r ;-Mr.vUoss'(Paliiatuaj asked"whether ;it''was a^fact,'as had been'Tiunoufed,' that.the'drop-! ping^of, tho;Land Bill, was the price : 'of' the recent ■ • quiescence 'of . certain members 'of ' the leasehold 'party.v, ' ;■' f,'. , •'■;' '■:■■'.■:'•'. ."•■■ ..'Sir 'Joseph' Ward: X should like, at .once to give-ivthat;.an;.absolute,,contradiction. i'J have i sjjclt u-'stumour,, and; if. it,'.has -been current -it : is untrue.' I have no arrangement [of any: kind., in .regard to the Bill with either freeholders "or leaseholders.' (Hear, hear.) If .anybody has:;said. ( that this has been done, it has. been' without'authority'..' -.If'.'b'no' : Hundred-] ■thouiandtli. part of'the rumours; that, aro circulated- about, tho ,Government'■ were- true; .we would -liavo' ho- Government; at -all, as they would' 1 -probably-' go ,: .and • hang- 'themselves. (Laughterl);V'^w-:^;/;'.-/•.■ < ••' v:-V/-' ■•.' y Mr. .Hogan (Wanganui), said that, ;as oho of .thq 'io''had. never heard' 'until that;. afternoon.'. of. .the proposal 3 to. drop.. tho Land 8i11..N0 such .understanding asi'that roi,ported ;tb ■ have ..-been made with tho' leasom'ado or oven hinted at. (Hear, ■hisar.);..-.'..■'::■--;■;"■",'.-.■.■."'... , : , '"'-'-"

Several members expressed a (hops that the Local • Goyetmneat Bill would he circulated, 'during the.recess.'' ; ! .. ; ' ~ Taylor- (Christ'churoh.'; North) ■suggested that the Defence Bill should be'held oyer, .till nest session,' in order that: the : country,obuldiully, discuss it' in the meantime. Ho suggested that tho Local Government. Bill and the. Nationals-Annuities Bill should' be circu-. lafced a''few..'weeks'before ;the beginning of 'next session. ;;;,He did not see that any good could 'oonio)'o'f' : giving .half, a day to tho discussion of-tho Timber CtonmissionVroport. ; .' ;' :,Mr..>Allen '(Bruce) .hoped that the : Defence ■Bill;would be.put tnrongh this session! Hedenied'that the Opposition was stonewalling .the :8i11.;'.r.: ■-;. ; v..- ;6,v':. ■;■' ■■■>,■■ ..••;.'• : .'.-Mr.-; MTJareh (Wellington East) expressed disappointment that 'the proposed amendment of \thoVArbitratiori-iAct'was not being proceeded with. : v ; lf\they,:;.ano.ved' parties to;, an -award .to\'contraot„.the'mselves'out of that aw.ard 'they '.would- the root of the Arbitration sye-' teibv:->: : .;v ; ..'i.-,--''.''- ■■"! V- .•..'■'•:- :

The 'Police Commission,' ■ \\\'( ' Mr."Arnold (Dunedin Central) .thought! that the ! ;G6veinment;shbidd ; makOfe. statement, in regard: to tho force. as'.soon(as- possible. He .'hoped that the reorganisation of the head officaVstail yquld: bo brought, about prior to tho appointment'of anew, commissioner. •'•.'• . ,:Mr.,:>Bhodos.c(Ellesmere) hoped that the, GovornmehtlwoulaVgo'--, on with tho Defence Bill this.'year:'-'.'.''''''''■'■'.-'';■■ ':'■'■■.':::. :-.--' •.■'•.'-, /■:..; Mr. Hogg -.'(Mqsterton) was glad that .the Land .Bill.- was to be dropped for this session, and ho hoped that;the Defence Bill would also be'heldovor.:■: ;..'>..-•'. • ■', '■ : Mr; Anderson; (Mataiira),:said . ho',regretted, that, iho Mpikle'.:. case ivas going to'.bo- again dragged up; ■; Parliament .had last' 'year expressed its-'opinion on the.subject,with no-:un-cortain.sounu.-and he saw no reason'why the subjeot should:bo brought up again.' -.•:•;■■ .Mr Davey (Christchurch East) thought that an opportunity .''should; given for; considering tho'repo.vt on:-the Addington Workshop's. :- : , •Mr.; Poland (Ohinemuri): Say Sunday after-' noon!. (Laughter.) ; ..: .... Mr.': Davey: My convictions would not allowthat.; . ;','-:■ -;. . ■' ■•.'.•.■. - ;,";/ , ■■• .In'-, referring to the racing . question, ho; said that-many members-would be pleased to get-an opportunity to vote on tho qnestion ; of totalisaors and bookmakers. He-was in favour of.tho totalisator,; but not of the bookmakers. ■ i -.-.,- ■■■; '■. Prime Minister Replies. : Sir Joseph : Ward, said that he could not make a promise to circulate tho National Annuities and Local Government Bills during the : recess,; owing to tho'time that would be necessary for a;'Ml consideration of such Bills by Ministers, :■■ to. say nothing of tho time that would,,be,'necessary -for',,tho:drafting of these .Bills; He would,,make.a>statement.before the end of the session in regard to the'police force and the timber -question/ and he hoped, that no discussion; in 'regard/toi-either.of these matters would v be;hecessary: •: ,; : •''■ ..';.-. : : . .