PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Evening Star, Issue 15293, 19 September 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

SIX NEW BILLS,

THEEE MONTHS’ WORK AHEAD,

[From Our, Parliamentary Reporter,]

WELLINGTON, September 19. Tho loaders of the Government apparently intend to avoid the error of their past ways in the matter of submitting new proposals singly and far apart. Ycsterday afternoon no fewer than six Bills were introduced by Governor’s Alessage. Doubtless they had accumulated during tho prolonged stonewall on tho Estimates. Their presentation kept members “bobbing up and down serenely ” for a while, and before the sixth Bill had been introduced the mood of members was guy. The six Bills were the Beer Duty Amendment, Hanraki Plains Act Amendment, Rangitaiki Drainage Act Amendment, Education Act Amendment (referred to in another column), Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment, and tho Public Revenues Amendment Act. All were read a first time. NO FURTHER TAX ON BEER. Some mirth was occasioned among the Opposition, who are usually charged facetiously with being supported by brewers, when the Hon. Mr Fisher, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, intimated that the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill did not propose an increase of duty. The only expression of disappointment came inevitably from Afr Isitt. SHIPPED SEAAIEN. A number of amendments to the law relating to shipping and sea-men. in New Zealand are proposed by Bill brought down by Governor s Alessage. Provision is made for the engagement of seamen at out ports, the master providing funds for the cost of sending the man to tho ship. If a man so engaged fails to join tho ship ho will bo liable to a month’s imprisonment. The chief steward of a ship is empowered to engage the persons employed in the commissariat. An able seaman may bo employed as a lamp-trimmer, but in such a ease he must keep his ordinary watches as seamen. A scale of provisions is set down, and if that scale is not 'adhered to, and the failure is one to tho neglect or default of tho master, the master will be liable to a fine not exceeding £IOO. Provision is also made for tho compulsory registration and numbering of- pleasure boats. A MATTER OF AUDIT. The Public Revenues Amendment Act (Hon. J. Allen) consists chiefly of machinery amendments, though some of them have a wider significance. The amount of “ unauthorised ” that may be expended on Government railways is increased from £IOO,OOO to £150,000. Power is given to the Audit Office to inspect and examine the books of any person who : s liable to the Crown for tho payment of royalties, and the duty is put on the Auditor-General of including in his report a statement of all royalties payable and unpaid, and the reasons why they are not paid. The power of audit by the department of the accounts of local authorities is extended to thoso of borough and city councils, which were expressly excluded' under the original Act. TRAMWAY AIATTERS. Reference was made by Air Davey to a fatal accident to a tram conductor at Oriental Bay, Wellington, and he urged the necessity for legislation providing a regulation against the use of footboards. The Prime Alinister anounced that consideration would be given to the matter as soon as possible. The decision would be intimated probably early next week. The ALinister of Works said a conference would be held shortly of tramway bodies and employees. _ It was hoped to bring a Bill down this session, as a change of system was urgently required. PIECEMEAL LEGISLATION. The Education Act Amendment Bill served as a basis for a long debate on party lines, many members taking advantage of tho opportunity to make a contribution to ‘Hansard.’ The Opposition genenerally declared that the proposals contained in the Bill represented piecemeal legislation dragged from the Government by the criticism that had been directed against them for having neglected the necessities of the teaching profession. The defence was the old cry: What did the Liberals do in 21 years of power? One satisfactory result was achieved; both sides demonstrated their interest in teachers. DUNEDIN DRAINAGE. A message was received from the Legislative Council to the effect that the Council had passed the Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill with an amendment. The Hon. J, Allen, who had charge of the Bill in the House, explained that the Council had struck out the provision that the board might invest their sinking fund in their own debentures. He thought that the provision passed by the House was perfectly fair. He moved that the House disagrees with the Council’s amendment. Air Wilford expressed the hope that the Hon. Air Allen would protest strongly against the Council’s amendment. • The course proposed in the Bill, as proposed by the House, was the proper course to take. There was no better or safer wav of finance. The motion was carried, and the Hon. Air Allen and Alessrs Sidey and Statham were appointed to draw up reasons for disagreement. PRIVATE AIEAIBERS’ PRIVILEGES. There was a brisk discussion bn the Prime Alinister’s motion that on and after Wednesday next Government business take precedence on Wednesday. The Hon. Afr Massey said it was necessary to take Wednesdays for Government business, as there was enough work in hand to keep members engaged for four or five days a week for two or three months.-—Air Sidey pointed out that in no session during his experience had private members’ days been so seriously encroached upon as they had this session. They had only been given four days. He reminded members that the Prime Alinister in other davs had protested very strongly against similar treatment.- Sir Joseph A\ard endorsed Air Sjdey’s views, and emphasised the necessity of conserving the principle involved. It would be better to stay another month than encroach upon the privileges of private members. He appealed to the Prime Alinister to recant on this occasion.—Tho Prime Alinister, in re ply, contended that ho had been more generous in regard to private members’ days than some past Governments. He had promised to give separate days for the discussion of subjects in which private members were ‘interested. He was also considering the question of taking OVC i r i!l" e r • I, l imit,n g Distress on Rent and the Lights on Vehicles Bill, and he was quite willing to give full consideration to every private member’s Bill before tho House.—The motion was agreed to. ° CONSTITUTIONAL. The Prime Minister laid on the table the opinion of the Solicitor-General on tho question raised by Sir J. G. Ward as to the form in which the Estimates had been presented. Tho House rose at 12.35 a.m.