OUR POLITICAL SPECIAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9824, 25 July 1900, Page 5

OUR POLITICAL SPECIAL.

{FROM OVU FAIiLIAME'STARY

R&FORXEB.)

[by teleckaph.]

Wellington, Last night. CONSUMPTION.

2vlr Ell again referred to-day to the subject of consumption in New Zealand, and asked the Premier if he was aware that 287 native born peraous died during 1899 from phthisis, that 123 died between fifteen and twenty-five years of age, and 100 between twenty-live and thirty-five years of age ? The Premier owned that the figures were correct, but the cases in question were hereditary. It wa3 his opinion that these cases would go on as long as this colony was advertised and as long as there were places here set apart, for the cure of this disease. They should pass the Undesirable Immigrants Bill and prevent consumptives coming to the colony. It was quite enough io have to grapple with the disease already amougst us without bringing cases here from other places. Mr Ell referred to the matter later on in the afternoon, arid urged that it was the undoubted duty of t>e state to establish a sautaorium for consumptives, as there would then be far less dauger of the disease spreading than under the present conditions. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Mr G. W. Russeil suggested to-day that the Stipendiary Magistrates should be asked to report on the working of the Old Age Pensions Act and to make suggestions as to the directions in which technical amendments were necessary.

The Premier said he thought the better course would be to have the amending bill drafted and to send that on to the magistrates for recommendations. It was necessary to make some amendments, because abuses were creeping in, and magistrates were almost powerless to deal with the matter. The Maoris were transferring their property to enable them to qualify for the pension, and he believed that a Justice of the Peace and interpreters had been going round among the natives charging them for their services in enabling them to get pensions. Thio was a matter that required attention, aud he would have enquiries made in regard to it. He rather doubted the advisableness of extending the period of absence from the colony. If the measure was to remain on the statute-book they must render it not subject to abuse and such that it would not impose too heavy a burden on the taxpayers. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. •' The Technical Education 8i11, , ' said the Premier this afternoon, "is well under way." He quite agreed with the necessity of passing legislation this session dealing with this important question. He was also prepared to admit that the youths of the colony were suffering from the want of such a measure, and ov» ing to the fact that the necessary funds hadnotbeen provided. It would rest with the members, and not with the Government, if this matter was not dealt with by legislation this slssion. FREEHOLDS.

The Government, were asked by Mr Field this afternoon whether they would introduce legislation to enable a fee simple title to ba acquired in Crown lauds where such land was in the form of a township or suburban section or other small holding. The Minister or Lands said he was sorry he could not give a favorable answer to this question. Such land as w..3 referred to had not been acquired by the Government to enable the settlers to obtain the freehold but merely to proviile a home for them until they had improved their prospects, aud then if they wanted a freehold there 'were always freeholds which they would be able to buy. He was against selling any of these lands whether in large or smali areas. He was against interfering with the Lands for Settlement Act in any Wiiy, aud he believed it would work well for those people who wanted to establish

themselves on a farm without being put to any extraordinary difficulties with regard to capital. ' LABOR BILLS.

The Labor Bills Committee of the House recommend that the Barclays Shops and Shop Assistants J3UI be amended by the inclusion of the words "and chemists' shops" in the J <gperataon of Clause 3 of the Act of 1894. The committee also recommend that provision be made whereby chemists may open for certain hours on half - holidays, and may prepare urgent pre-o«P----tions. It defines " domestic servante " who are given a weekly half-holi-day as all females engaged for hire perform work of a manual character within a private house, _ refreshment room, boarding house, eating house, or restaurant. . .^ The Labor Bills Oofcumttee of the Legislative Council recommend * hat JJj Workers Compensation Bill shall apply to agricultural work.