PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 61, 6 December 1918, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

REPATRIATION -BILL HELD UP THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES women eligible to sit in ;■'.,, parliament: 1 THE COUNCIL AND SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING i Tke Legislative, Council met.at 11 a.m. 1 yesterday. 1 A message was received from the Lower House, slnting.thflt with the exception ! of the clause relnLiiijf to rent restriction, .! the. House agreed to the amendments I made by the Council to the War LegislaI tioirand Statute Law Amendment Bill. ' I SIR FRANCIS BELL, Lender of'the 'Council, moved that the amendment 'be insisted upon. The. effect :.of the .!amendment was. to protect 'dependants i of soldiers from being ejected from pos- ] session of their tenancies by reason of ; the landlord having. sold or otherwisej -wanting the. premises. iThe. Bill .was ■deemed to be effectual regarding existing ! tenancies,: but it was suggested that I ,in .' the future no landlord would let a house ,to a, soldier's wife, widow, oi 1 - to a soldier. For the purpose of preventing. such, people being left in the street, the amendment was inserted in order [to al-low-then; to contract themselves out.of A the- provisions of the Hill . ' ■■■. The motion .wa:. agreed to. .. - \ Sir Francis Bel!, Sir John Sinclair, and:the Hon. W. Earnshaw were Appointed to* I draw up -reasons'for insisting: oil. the. tnmemlnient, and to.confer with the;niank lagers of the Lower House oil tho mat-? ter. .'..'' • P'OST AND TELEGRAPH BILL./ TII9 Post and Telegraph Department' Bill was received from the/Lower House/,■•and read a first and second time. .. . ... j . When the Bill had reached' the, committee stage objection was raised'by Kir Waller Buchanan, the Hon. G. J. Garland, Hon. T. MacGibbbn, and Hon.' (.!. ,31. Thomson tij : the passage'of the' ,Bill being hurried. They contended . that members were not acquainted with j the conditions of the Bill, as they'had not had time to consider it. v. '■ Tho Hon. W. Earnshaw said.tho Bill was only evident of the.'promise of the ,Government to.better the conditions of the employees in the.Post and Telegraph service.' i Sir Francis Bell trusted Ihiit opposition would'not be raised to tho Bill ] going .through. , He said the -proposals had received thorough consideration; and he could see no objection to the Bill : being passed; .-...'■■ Tlio Bill, was reported from committee; 'without amendment, read a third time, .■ and passed. LICENSING AMENDMENT BILL, . . O'CLOCK CLOSING, ! • 'When the Licensing Amendment. Bill Was committed, a question was asked, by' the Hon. To'Heuheir Tiikino as- to whether Maoris would havo a right to vote \ at any licensing poll. i The Lender of the Council replied in tho negative, stating that the Maoris had •' , no grievance un, the point, as they had never voted at a- licensing poll in the. paot. ;• V

-, Consideration of clauses,-23 to 55 wa3 postponed, Sir Francis Bell explaining that the committee of the Council which had met-'objectors, to the comperisaticn .clauses hud accepted a. number of amendments .which had to be printed. [ Clause 62, relating, to offences, with, /inspect' to the manufacture, inipprtaition, or iale of liquor while National |l'rohlbrtion was, in *'orce, was also postponed.. i The ■ other clauses of the Bill were to'withoiit amendment, and.pro'gress was : reported. Six O'clock Closing, . When the Council ■ met in ■ the afternoon, Sir. Francis Bell dealt with, (Jib question of .six., o'clock, closing. : Ho: said tile amendment "which ho proposed to. move was intended to. give the Lower. House-a further chance of;.considering 'tho'.question. The amendment,proposed 'that the hours laid .down. ir> the Sale'pf Liquor Restriction Act should, remain in force until June'3o, 1020, when- the, issue would bo placed before the electors at the general' election.. " It appeared to -liim'tbat another- opportunity should, be given to the Lower floiise to-, reconbider its decision as to 6 o'clock closing.. : On the motion that clauso 2, passed jby the Lower House, providing for (i 'o'clock closing remaining the law of tho iland, should stand as part of the Bill, ,Sir Francis Bell moved as an amend' anent tnat the following be added:— ', "(2) Tho said Sale ot Liquor Hestrie : tion Act, 1917, shall remain in force untii June 30,"|920. i . ; > ,"(3) If tho determination at the.special ;]icensng poll is in favour of national icohtinuance, then at the next general licensing, poll there i-hiill. be, submitted !l>y separate ballot paper, for. the deter-, •urination of the electors in each licensing ■district the question whether the hours of closing prescribed by the said Sale of jLiquor Restriction Act, 1917, shall con- ■ jtinue.' Such separate ballot paper-shall 'be in such form as may be prescribed;

and ail the provisions of any Act relating to the taking of the licensing .poll- - shalL apply iu respect] to tho biking'of the poll' on the said special question. "(•1) If tho determination of the electors is in favour of tho i continuance of the said hours of closing prescribed by the said Act, then the said Sale of Liquor .Restriction Act, 11)17, shall continue in "force'after the said June'3o, 1020, in the same manner as if sub.-seetioris 2 to s'of this section ; had- not been enacted. "(5) If the determination of tho electors on the sajd special, question is-'against the continuance of the hours of closing prescribed by the said Act, then tho said Act shell 'cease to have any ■ forco and effect on June 30,: 1920." The Hon; ,T, Barr said that 'no provision- h:id been mado in tho Hill to meet the''wishes'of that-section of the community which disagreed with the two other parties, to-placate whom the Bill had been brought down: Six o'clock closing had beem-in operation for some time, and bad "been proved to be a great success. They had been told that Ihe present was not the time to moke six o'clock closingHhe permanent law of the land; but they were considering a. Licensing Bill', and'was it not the time to bring down legislation on the matter:-' He wanted to. be able toretafn six o'cloci: closing. ' ■' j Council Should State Its Opinion; ■ The Hon. Sir William .Fall-Jones dis-agreed-'with the course taken, in suggesting the addition of the amendment to clause 2. It was'proposed to send the •amendment hack to the ' House for ■ its .consideration. Surely the proper course .was.for the .Council, which was a legislative'body,, to say what.it thought fit.'ir-, ' respective 'of what the 'other Houso' thought. ' ' The- Hon. I?'.' Moore said the real effect lit" ilie amendment was to go back to the old hours of closing six months after 'the conclusion of pence. Those who desired'six o'clock closing to re< maiir: should- vote- for- the clause,- and against'the amendment.

, TiS Hon.J. T. Paul considered ■'that the,;effect of. the proposal of the Leader' of: the Council to have a further poll' on the question: of 6 o'clock closing would further conl'usa the electors. A

definite ■ expression jf .opinion on tliS fundamentals' of the licensing question &ib'i'ild<'be obtained.

.... The motion' that, the ■ words in the -...amendment be added to the clause was .lest by 20' votes to 10. The division list was as follows:—Ayes—Sir Francis j.Bell, Alison, Sir. Walter Buchanan, Garland, Grimmond. Izard, Louisson; Sinclair, Stewart, Wigram, -N'.oes-T-Aitkeh, Ban-.. Earnsliaw, Fisher, Fleming; Gow, Sir William HalfJones, ,- Hardy, 'Harris. Hawke, Jones-, Mac Gibbon- MacGrcgor, Moore, 'Paul, Sampson; TV - Heuheu Tukino, Thomson, Topi Patuki, and Triggs. On the motion that clause 2 should remain: part of-the Bill, Sir Walter: Bu-chanan-said that a number, of members would vote against it in order that the Lowjer Hotise should have an opportunity of ■ reconsidering.ihe Difltter. He would move that clause 2.be struck out. ' ,'_ Sir Francis -Bell said., he hoped Sir Walter - Buchau'in- would not press his motion,, as it was evident what the opinion of the House .was on the mat- \ The Hon. W. Earnsliaw trusted that the clause would remain. If the other House, wanted to rescind the clause; let themjroquest that it be sent lxicK.tO'.'tkem. for reconsideration. "Come- to" Stay." "I believe that fi o'clock closing has come to stay," said Mr,- Paul. But; he thought that before the clause- was re- ' tained evidence shouhf be obtained 'from the people who Were directly interested. The motion that the clause be retained was carried on the voices by a large majurity. At 4.10 p.m. • progress- was again reported.

•■■'., Compensation Clauses, When the Council in Committee underthe discussion 'of- Hie compensation clauses, Sir Francis ; Bell said Unit the committee had no power to, amend any of the clauses, since: changes would ali'cet the. finances" of the : Bill: • The committee had. merely to consider ami- report on certain amendments-proposed by a select committee without inserting, these amendments in the Bill. The ch'niiman, ruling nnan amendment proposed'by the Hon. ,T. ,'W Paul, said that .the .committee could' not amend - any of. the compensation claiises, : andi he could not accept any motion to "amend. After discission,'Sir/Francis'Bell said he wduld ask. the Council to instruct the ■ committee.', to consider any amendment moved by any member* without making any amendment in the Bill. ■'The Council instructed-accordingly, and :the : committee-resumed. I The committee recommended, en the. motion of Sir Francis Bell, that maltster's servants should bo added to the persons wlio could receive compensation. Clerical Workers. I The Hon. J.-T-." Paul moved s a recommendation that- clerical workers as well as manual workers should be entitled to compensation under the Bill. '■ Sir Francis Bell objected. The Efficiency Board, had' not proposed, any compensation for employees at nil. The amendment would enable highly paid' officers to. claim compensation. Clerical workers would not have difficulty in. Uridine work iri other trades. The Hon. AV. H." Triggs suggested that agents and managers should be-excluded, but compensation provided for low-paid: clerks and: similar- clerical workers. The middle-aged, clerk would often be placed in serious difficulties'by the loss of his I employment.. '

' Sir l.'rancia Hell said that when the '; State took a man's land it did not com- ■ ponsato his employees. Tho Bill was making provision for some specialised ' groups of. workers, such as barmaids. 1 Clerks would find similar employment. Tho Hon. J. Bnrr argued that every class of worker should have a chance to "get a share of Iho boodle." if the workers could prove loss they should got compensation. The Hon. C. Izard supported this view. ■ 111 ere was "so, much boodle to be distributed." Let-, everybody whu could establish a. claim have a share. ; Tho Hon; G. .Tones/said that huge profits had been made in the liquor trade. Why shofild not a brewery manager have compensation as well as Iho brewery owner? Compensation would be paid, only if loss was proved. Mr. Paul's proposal was rejected'bv 21 voles to 5. j Various technical amendments were approved. . Country Hotels., ■Tho' committee recommended a new section providing that in the icase- of country hotels the owner of the freehold 'might receive up to GO per cent, of the .Government valuation, instead of 50 per cent. a§ in the-case of city hotels. Jt.was explained that country hotels would often have very little value after the :loss of the license. Sub-Lessees, The following new section was tccoiumended:— ..■(.' ■ _ In any case where the hotel.licensee is carrying on tho business as man- : ager, servant, or ageiit for some, other ' ,; person, or is a weekly or monthly : tenant, or is the lessee under, a leaso the term of which; expires within the period of ono year from the coming, into force of the.determination, in favour of National Prohibition with compensation, it shall not- be- oblige-- ; tory upon tlio Court to award (he I whole compensation ascertained to the : hotel licensee. ■-The-.Court shall dclcr- . ; mine in such manner as it deems just and equitable. what part of the ■ sums awarded and allowed-: for termination of trade'should be paid-t» others-than the'hotel'- licensee, and . for that purpose the Court, may add : 'other persons as. claimants with the ; hotel licensee; audi may distribute by. ! its award the total amount awarded. , among tho several claimants in such ' : manner as it deems just and : equiti able. ' . The Assessors. The Council added the following new .section relating to the courts of compensation:— Inasmuch as in claims for. compen- , sation against the (frown in ordinary : cases the claimant'and the Crown is ' ; "each entitled : -to appoint an assessor, ', . the appointment of-assessors shall be ■ ,so mado as in the opinion .of the Governor-General to ensure that the . views of the classes of claimant and '. the Crown resncetire.lv shall be fairly . represented on : . Hie Court. Compensation Claim's, An amendment was adopted providing that claims for compensation must he put. in within one month of Prohibitum coming into operation. Sir.Francis Bell said that owing to the limitation of the total amount" of compensation', no claim could bo paid until all claims had been considered:-' It was. important, therefore, that claims should be made quickly. 'The following, section relating ,to compensation . was recommended' to' be added to the clause, relating to payment of compensation: .''.,'. Provide.! further that, for the pur-, pose of giving effect to the limiluiioii provided by-this, section; claimants ..shall be entitled to receive immediately only 60. ppr cent, of such amounts, as may be awarded by the • Coiuiiensiition Courts, and the it- , maining 10 per cent. of. each amount awarded shall not be payable or bo paid until the total amount awarded in respect, of all claims shall have been ascertained. ' Hop. Gardens. The committee. recommended the adoption of the* following provision relating.- to hop ■ gardens.:— . - v Owners of hope gardens, tho Lops produced- on\ which ■ have been usedprincipally,for the purpose"' of the manufacture ofialcoholie beer within , the period of two years preceding ■tho. commencement' of this Act,, shall be. entitled'to claim' and have compensation only in respeot of'the deor'cciation of the .value of: the-free-hold of the-hop-, garden. The Court ■ . of Compensation' shall take into, consideration;, that hops may •: still- bo . grown for- export: ■ ' ■ ' . The Rolls. Sir Francis Bell, moved an amendment providing- that Hie general rolls should be closed, for. the liurnose of a special poll,'on .January 6, 101!). He said-- tho,-Elee;oral Department required u month to' purge the roll. Applications for enrolment on the supplementary rolls would'lis received; fronv the date:, of'.the passing, of the Act.

The-Amendment' was- adopted. The Bill was reported with, amendment* at; 10.10. p.m.,.and,Sir .Francis Bell moved, the- third' reading. The Bill was read a third time' and -passed, and.the Speaker was' instructedto transmit to the'.House of tiyes the recommendations made, br the Council with respect to the compensationclauses. REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS, , Tlie. Council decided to. insist noon its amendments,to.the Reformatory Institutions Amendment' Bill. ' ' • The Council '--adjourned' at 10.3") p.m. until .11.; a.m. to-day. ' - ■