YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 20586, 11 September 1930, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

—..." 1 ,4“ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [Per United Press Association.], The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Unemployment Bill was received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. The Acting-Leader of the Council (the Hon. R. Masters) said it was intended to refer the Bill to the Labour Bills Committee. The Masterton Trust Lands Amendment Bill, the Rotorua Borough Empowering Bill, the Dunedin City Corporation Empowering Amendment Bill, the Wellington City Exhibition Grounds Amendment Bill, and the Invercargill City Fire and Accident Insurance Fund Empowering Bill were read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned at 2.45 p.m. MUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.. Two private Bills, the M'Lcan Institute Bill (Mr H. Holland) and the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property Amendment Bill (the Hon. H. Atmore), were read a second time. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Ransom) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Statutory Land Charges Registration Amendment Bill. Replying to the Leader of the Labour Party (Sir H. E. Holland); the Minister of Education (Mr Atmore) said he would give instructions that Labour Day should be as a holiday in the Native as Well as the nakeba schools. Until his notice had been drawn to the position ho had not been aware that Native schools had not had this privilege in- the past, and it was the desire of the Government that these schools should have the same treatment as all others Replying, to Mr G. C. Black (Motueka),, the Acting-Prime Minister stated that a meeting of the Central Earthquake Committee would bo arranged at l ah early date, when the question of annuities to widows would be finally dealt with. This matter was at present being considered by -a subcommittee appointed at the last meeting of the . Central Committee, , The administration of the fund would bo wound up as soon as possible, PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. Mr R-ansom made a statement to the House in reply to a question, asked by Mr R. M'Keen (Wellington South )as to whether his attention had - been drawn to a statement in' the ’ Evening Post ! to the effect that a circular had been issued from the head office of the Public Works Department to its employees advising them of a reduction in their wages, and whether, in view of the assurance given by him that no instructions had been given to reduce wages, ho would immediately cancel the action of the head of the department. Mr Ransom stated that for many years it had been the practice in the Wellington Public Works workshops and tho bulk stores to pay forty-five hours’ wages for forty-four hours’ work per week. The origin of this procedure was somewhat obscure, but as far as could bo ascertained the concession had been in operation for from fifteen to twenty years. It seemed that the employees of the workshops had desired Saturday afternoons off, and offered to work extra time between Monday and Friday, reducing their lunch time. However, they had subsequently found that the period for lunch was too short and renewed representations had resulted in an arrangement whereby if the men ..worked forty, hours . and .on Saturday they would be booked and paid for forty-five hours per week, five hours being booked on Saturdays, although'they worked only feur hours that day. This arrangement had been operated under unwritten instructionsIt was estimated that on a conservative basis this concession was costing tho department in the vicinity of £450 per annum on tho present wages bill, and represented an unproductive overhead charge which contributed substantially towards the recurring deficit, in tho workshops account. Tho department observed the Arbitration Court awards in the matter of rates of pay in tho workshops, and as tho employees received quite liberal'concessions in the way of annual leave and payment for statutory holidays not accorded outside the department, the position was reviewed by tho Minister of Public Works. Moreover, such an _ arrangement was not fair to the men in similar employment in other districts, and coinplaints had been received. It had therefore been decided to remove this source of irritation and pay the men only for tho time they worked. The principle of paying men one hour per week for nothing could not bo defended. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministerial replies to questions were circulated. Mr H. lE. Holland asked the Post-master-General ‘Mr J. B. Donald) whether he was aware that the. issues of the,New Zealand ‘ Samoa Guardian ’ of August 7 and 14 respectively had been confiscated by the Postal Department, and, if so, would he inform the House why this action had been taken. —Mr Donald said ho was -aware that the issues mentioned had been intercepted in the post and destroyed. Tho action had been taken under the Post and Telegraph Act, because the newspapers contained matter of a libellous nature. In taking this action the department had merely been carrying out the law.

Mr Stallworthy, replying to Mr 11.I 1 . Fraser (Wellington Central), said it was known that a number of trained nurses were at present unemployed. Consideration would bo given to tho

question of introducing a regulation to enforce the minimum proportion of trained nurses to trainees and also of trained nurses to patients. Further inquiry was necessary before any practicable measures could be taken. As regarded public general lure the minimum proportion of ore amed nurse to three trainees was , .resent widely but not universally ‘reserved. In reply to a further point raised, by Mr Fraser, Mr Stallyvorthy said that tho provision of nursing services in the country districts was the function of the hospital boards. '• The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Murdoch), replying to Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka), said that the bonus payable by the Department of Agriculture for the beaks of keas had been withdrawn. The question of its reinstatement would be given further consideration. Mr. Burnett pointed out that in tho present critical period for the' wool growers of the dominion tho stopping of the bonus would be one ol the factors making for the abandonment of large areas of Crown lands in the back country of the South Island. In reply to a question submitted by Mr W. J.. Broadfoot (Waitomo), MiRansom said that the Agricultural Department was obtaining particulars from the United States authorities of legislation granting patents for newlyevolved plants. As soon as these particulars were available the matter of granting similar patents to New Zealand plant breeders would be further investigated. Mr Ransom, replying to Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), said the Government did not intend at present to install steam, Diesel, or other plant at Christchurch for tho purpose of enabling it to stand by the contract for the delivery of electric-power to the city. However, in view of the dry winter period experienced this year, the Government had already commenced work on the diversion of the Acheron River in order that the supply might be augmented. In view of the laetthat the Waitaki power scheme, providing for an ultimate installed capacity of 75,000 horse-power, was in such an advanced stage of construction, and that it would be interconnected with the Lake Coleridge system of supply, there would appear to be no necessity for Christchurch to harness the Waimakariri River for tho generation of electricity. Moreover, the information at present available would indicate that it was not desirable for the city of Christchurch to enter into such a largo expenditure as would be involved in the Waimaknriri scheme. The Minister of Pensions (Mr Cobbe), replying to Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau), said it ivas not proposed to make payment of old ago and widows’ pensions outside New Zealand, nor was it intended to apply the provisions of the New Zealand pensions legislation to residents of the dominions’ dependencies and mandated territories. Replying to Mr VV. H.-Field (Otaki) Mr Murdoch said that no legislative authority existed in New Zealand for declaring a leyv on wool on lines similar to those adopted in South Africa. The matter of introducing legislation giving such power had lately been discussed by the Shoepqwners Federation and the Farmers’ Union, and was now having tho consideration of tho Government. Mr Field drew attention to a letter from Mr Bernard Tripp, written in London, describing what the South African Government was doing for the advancement of the wool-grow-ing industry. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS. .The House then proceeded to deal with private members’ Bills. The Motor Cabs Bill (Mr H. d. R. Mason) was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labour Bills’ Committee.

In moving for the committal of tho Industrial and Provident Societies’ Amendment Bill Mr Mason said it was designed to give such societies the same powers with respect to borrowing as were contained in the Companies Act. The motion was adopted. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill No. 2 (Mr J. M'Combs) was read a second time. Mr M‘Combs said jtho measure was purely a permissive one. It merely empowered local bodies if they so desired to adopt the more simple proportional representation system approved by the British Proportional Representation Society in preference to tho more complicated Tasmanian system at present in use. Moving tho second reading of tho Invalid Pensions Bill, Air J. O’Brien (Westland) said he realised that the measure would not get far as a private members’ Bill because it involved an appropriation. Ho pointed out, however, that it bridged a little gap in the pensions legislation, and if adopted it would complete New Zealand’s claims to the most progressive, ’social legislation in tho world. There wore already pensions for tho blind and for widows, but when a man was incapacitated, but still alive, he and his dependents were deprived of the advantage of any pension. He pleaded with the Government to take the matter up, and if it could not do anything this session to bring down a Bill on similar lines next year. Mr A. 51. Samuel (Thames) said he did not think arty taxpayer would cavill at paying a little more to provide an allowance for the people who would be assisted by the Bill. He urged tho Government to take the measure up. Mr P. Fraser and slr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) also spoke in support of tho Bill. Tne Alinistcr said he was sure the proposals in tho Bill had the sympathy of every member of tho House. It was unfortunate, however, that at a time of financial stress like tho present it was impossible for the Government to do anything this year that would involve so much additional expenditure. Ho hoped it would bo possible to do something in tho direction of the provisions embodied in' tho Bill when the conditions improved. The debate on the second reading of the Bill was continued by Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West), who said"the cost of putting the proposals of the

measure into operation would bo a matter of transferring rather than increasing taxation. The burden on hospital hoards would be transferred to the general taxpayer. The State should be prepared to accept its obligations. Mr B. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) said the Bill seemed to have been carefully drawn, and it safeguarded the country in various directions against imposition. He agreed that all parties were in favour of some measure of the kind. Mr C. H. Chapman ton North) also supported the Bill, which was read a second time. Mr W. J. Jordan (Manukau), moving the second reading of the Painters’ and Decorators’ Health Protection Bill, said it was intended to protect the workers against the dangers attached to the use of white lead and to “dry rubbing down ” (tho smoothing of the dry surface of any painted structure by means of pumice, stone, glass paper, or other material). He contended that white zinc could bo used economically instead of white lead, and the urged that New Zealand should follow the example of other countries in safeguarding tho workers against tho ravages of diseases caused by the use .of lead paints. Mr G. C. Munns (Roskill) agreed with Mr Jordan’s remarks. Mr C. L. Carr (Timaru) stated that the Bill embodied some of the findings of the Geneva Labour Conference on the subject, and ho urged the House to bring the dominion’s legislation up to date. Mr Veitch said ho thought it would bo acknowledged that the proposals in the Bill were such as would commend themselves to the sympathetic consideration of Parliament. The question was how far it was reasonable to interfere with tho ordinary business of painting in order to protect the health of tho workers. He believed very great improvements in health could be effected if a non-poisonous process of paint manufacture were perfected, and he saw no reason why such an end should not bo attained. He commended Mr Jordan for introducing the measure. Tho physical well-being of the people was one of tho most important features of Parliament’s responsibility. The House should examine whether, the Bill offered the best way of dealing with tho problem. Mr Smith suggested that tho measure should bo referred to the ‘Labour Bills Committee. Mr Jordan, replying, agreed to this suggestion, and also intimated that he would _ bo agreeably to postponing the operation of the clause prohibiting the use of load for two years and a-half.—Tho Bill was

read a second time and referred to tho committee. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier), moving the second reading of the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill, outlined the measure on the lines or his previous explanation. He contended that magistrates’ courts were quite competent to deal with orders for maintenance, separation, etc., as the Bill provided. It had originally been intended that this , should be the case. Mr Barnard agreed to the suggestion by Mr Downie Stewart (Dunedin West) that the Bill should bo referred to tho Statutes Revision Committee. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the committee. The second reading of the Property Law Amendment Bill was moved by Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland, Suburbs), who said it dealt with the titles for old deeds. It substituted forty years for sixty years as the period over which titles had to be searched. A similar course had already been adopted in England, and he had also followed the English precedent in cutting down the limitations of actions and suits relating to real property. Mr Cobbe suggested that the Bill should go before the Statutes Revision Committee. Mr W. D. Stewart said that within a few years all land would be under the Land Transfer Act,, and the problem involved in searching would then disappear. He added that it was a false analogy to refer to an action that had been taken in England, because in that country it was practically impossible to get back to the original grant, while in New Zealand all such titles had originated from Crown grants, and while there was a good deal of work involved in searching for the title there was a definite basis to work upon. Mr Mason, replying, said he had no objection to referring the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee. If it were passed it would save an enormous amount of work.—The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Life Insurance Agents Bill (Mr C. L. Carr) was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Tho House rose at 10,30 p.m. ,