PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1208, 17 August 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOUSE. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. RACING COMMISSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Guardians Trust and Executors' Company Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. Three days' leave of absence were granted to Sir. Ross (Pahiatua) on account of illness in his family. Six Days' lcavo of absence were granted Sir. A. W. Hogg (Slasterton) on account of his own illnc-s. The following Bills wore read a first ».ime:—Ross Borough Council Vesting and Empowering Bill; J'apakaio Water Race District Bill. The ACTING-PRLME MINISTER (Sir James Carroll) moved that the report of the Racing Commission be laid upon tho tabic. Sir. SIASSEY suggested that consideration of this paper should l>e deferred until next sitting day. It dealt with questions of considerable Importance and interest, which should bo discussed. Sir James CARROLL eventually agreed that opportunity to discuss tho report should bo given to-day. QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS. REPLIES DISCUSSED. Ministers' printed replies to questions were in circulation, and were discuked for tho usual two hours. The Hon. J. A. .MILLAR (Slinistcr for Railways) stated, in reply to Sir. Anderson: "The practice of charging imported hardwood timber rate and a halt has been in operation on the New Zealand railways tor very many years. It was adopted for tho purpose of protecting tbo New Zealand timber industry, and fostering the sawmilling industry'in. this country. In addition to hardwood timber there'are importations' of ptnos from America and Norway. The rate on these timbers is likewiso rate and a half. Tho Government has no jurisdiction over tho wharves at the principal ports of entry for oversea shipping, and it cannot, therefore, adopt the suggestion to increase the wharfage charges on such timber. 1 am of opinion that the practice of charging imported timbers a. higher rate than the local limbers conveyed n the. railways is defensible and justifiable in the interests of our own industries, and regret that I cannot comply with the request to reduce the freight on imported timbers."

Mr. ANDERSON (Mataura) said that as things -stood country settlers and local todies were penalised. The timber industry might bo protected by imposing a duty on imported hardwood, as it entered the Dominion. That done, it should be railed at the same, rates as local timber.

Mr. PEAKCE (Patea) endorsed the view that the present rate on imported hardwood penalised country local bodies. This railage charge was most unfair to backblocks settlera. Afforestation, Mr. HANAN asked the Acting-Premier to cause an increased vote for tho purpose of afforestation to be placed on tho Estimates this year. Sir Jas. CARROLL 1 replied that a vigorous policy was being already pursued, •and a great extension of tree-planting operations was contemplated. If further funds were required for this purposo Parliament would be, asked to appropriate them. • '

Mr. G. M. THOMSON (Dnnodin) declared that employees of the Stale Forestry Department, although they were good nurserymen, had not sufficient knowledge of forestry. Any planting that was at (lie present timo being carried out was a mcro trifle compared to what was being destroyed. The forest wealth, of New Zealand was much greater in proportion than that of •Australia. Tho : wlio)o l .Cpmmonw.paUli probably coutaifled only five tiims "as much forest as New Zealand, but in New Zealand nothing was being dono to develop forestry on proper lines, whereas in Australia largo sums were. si>ent in promoting this end. Mr. SCOTT (Tuapeka) said ho thought the timo had come now when the Government should obtain tlie services of an afforestation, expert from abroad. Railway Anomalies. Mr. Jas. ALLEN (Bruce) asked that farmers taking sheep to saleyards by rail should l)e allowed to travel at excursion fares. Mr. MASSEY said this was a fair and reasonable thing to ask. Tho concession asked for was granted in other countries, "it was granted by railway companies in Great Britain and America." Tho Hon. R. M'Kenzie: "Why not treat miners in the same way?" Mr. Massey: "I never heard of miners taking sheep to market!" Mr. M'Kenzie: "They take coal." The Hon. J. A. Millar interjected that farracrs'iat present had tho concession in some cases (where large numbers of sheep were being transported). They wanted it always. Mr. Massey said that was so, mid added that there appeared to bo a tendency on the part of the Railway Department to penalise country people who desired to travel to market. For instance, in his own district, the fare from Papakura to Auckland, a distance of twenty miles, was Is. 10d., whereas the faro from Drury to Auckland, a distance of 22 miles, was 3s. lOd. It meant that people in the country district were being charged double the rates imposed in tho suburban district. The Lot of tho Veteran. Sir A. GUINNESS mentioned the matter of old soldiers' claims, lie asked the Acting-Primo Minister when the report of tho Commission appointed to examiuo into these claims would be laid before tho House. Sir James CARROLL replied that the reports upon the claims of old soldiers, heard by tho several stipendiary magistrates, are now being compiled and it is hoped to have them ready at an early dato when the Government will consider tho recommendations and how best to give them effect. Mr. W. F. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) remarked that last year after much pressure had been brought to bear on the Government; a distinct promise, had been extracted that something would bo done. Up to the present time absolutely nothing had been done. They were told that the Tcports of the stipendiary magistrates .upon tho claims were being compiled. "It seems to me," said Mr. Massey. "that the Government are simply waiting for these old men to die and ! that their claims upon the State will be met in this way. I am ashamed to think that these old men should have been treated so badly." It seemed to him that even now Parliament should take this thing in hand. He had a letter from a man who had served for eleven vears in the British foTces in New Zealand and possessed the war medal. Absolutely notaing had born done for this man and no doubt many others were in the same position. Personally, he was prepared to vote 10s. a week to everv one of these men so long as he lived.' Mr. A. E. GLOVER. (Auckland Central) and other members emphasised the claims ot tho veterans. AN AUCKLAND BILL. The Auckland Grammar Schobl Site,'. Bill (the Hon. G. Fowlds! was j„rr<. duced by Governor's Message, and ron,-' a first time. DAYLIGHT SAVING. MR. SIDEi'S BILL. Mr. T. K. STDEY (Cavcrsham) moved tho second reading of the New Zealand Mean Time Bill, better known as tlio Daylight Saving Bill. He explained that the proposal was thai; at 2 a.m. on tho last Sunday in September all the clocks in New Zealand should bo advanced Ono hour, and that should bo maintained until the last Sunday in .March, when tliev would be put back from 3 a.m. to 2 a m He pointed to the advantages as to health mid industry, and added that it would facilitate military training. Tho idea of daylight-saving had lived down ridicule and was being increasingly supported in England and Australia. A committee of that. House, after takiug evidence representing many different, interests, had unanimously reported in favour of (ho

Mr. G. SI. THOMSON (Duncdin North) said it was nbt of muck use to bring forward general 'statements about tho physical, menial, and moral welfare of fho community in support of (he Hill. It was impossible to giiu n minute of time, and there were many objections to be urged in opposition to Hie pnSpo.sed innovation. Ho would like, for instance, to hear what tho milkmen of the community had (o say about it, and what pressmen thought about, it. It had been said that tho Hill would bo of great benefit to athletes, but they were perfectly free at present tx> obtain this benefit by gelling up early in. tho morning. A. number of wcH-'infoj'mcd scientific men were distinctly opposed to tho proposal. As to people who desired to get; up, let (hem got up. 110 would lw inclined to support tho Mill if it wcro proposed to try daylight-saving for a vear. Mr. F. M. 11. FtSHER (Wellington Central) said the logic of the last speaker would carry them back into the Stono Age. It was ridiculous for Mr. Thomson to assort that becauro he had been ablo to become an accomplished atW.eto under the present arrangement as to time, that, the same thing could be done now. Mv.' Fisher quoted the report of a Committee of the House of Commons, setting out the advantages to bo gained by the institution of daylight saving. It had been urged by the manager of the Press Association "that an alteration of one hour would mean that certain cables would appear in tho evening instead of in tho morning papers, but in his private capacity iie had declared himself favourable to tho Bill. The benefits to bo gained by daylight saving included a longer period of recreation for workers, and probably a diminution of defective eyesight. Farmers at present worked by daylight instead of by the clock. , ~- ~ Sir. C. 11. POOLE (Auckland West) said ho did not know why Sir. Thomson, was in such a pessimistic mood. We were a progressive people, and could not livo in the past. The country had to loso and everything to gain by placing this short measure upon tho Statute-book; even though it were of an experimental nature. ~,. Sir. J. A. HANAN (Invorcargill) sur* ported the second reading of the Bill. It tended to iuduoo.o high standard of eiticicnev in affairs physical, mental, and moral. Tho objection to tho Bill was that it was new, but doubts were traitors, and it was strango how, in the past, men hold up their bauds in horror .at tiro approach of reform. If the Dill was not to go through, tho Government , might give it a trial in tho case of then own. . . replying, said it was of no w> to tempt daylight saving piecemeal. It mi st t* the whole country or nothing at all. He dealt in detail with objections that had been raised to tho passage of tbo bill.. As to tho milkmen, they were a very small part of tho community. The time bad now arrived when (he measure should be. given a trial. . The second reading was earned on the V °Thc' House then discussed the Gaming Amendment Bill (reported in anotlntf column) and rose at 12.45 a.m.