HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7544, 20 August 1902, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, August 19.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. J. Carroll gave notice to introduce a Land Titles Protection Bill.

The Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Bill (Mr Mills) was introduced and read a first time.

The Select Committee to which was referred the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Bill recommended that the bill be allowed to proceed, subject to certain amendments.

The Public Petitions Committee reported on the petition of James Mc« Ainch, of Wellington, who prayed for compensation for loss sustained and degradation suffered through being imprisoned for alleged passing of false entries through the Customs at Wanganui, The Committee was of opinion that there was no criminal intent to defraud, and therefore it recommended the petition be referred to the Government for consideration.

Siv Joseph Ward said he had no doubt; an injustice had been done, and the Government would look into the matter.

QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, Ministers stated that there was no intention to intimate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Premier that the people of New Zealand were in hearty accord with tbe chivalrous and hospitable treatment which is being accorded to the Boer leaders in the United Kingdom, though the people of this colony recognised that the Boers had fought a good fight ; that interest charged to borrowers on life policies in the Government Insurance Department compared favorably with rates charged by other offices under same conditions, and it was considered inadvisable to make alterations in tho rates at present ; that the question of abolition of the totalisatot wae a matter for a vote by referendum ; that if it was thought desirable to give special facilities to returned contingenters to take up land, the necessary provision could be inserted in the Land Act Amendment Bill, which would come down this session.

The Solicitors' Bill of Costs Bill (Mr Pirani) was read a second time pro forme, and referred to a select committee.

Mr Fowlds moved the second reading of tbe Cycle Boards Bill. He explained that the bill now proposed to define certain districts, and could only be brought into force on the petition of a majority of cyclists, and after full opportunity had been given to petition against it.

Sir Joseph Ward supported tbe bill.

After considerable debate, by 23 votes to 21 the bill was killed.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Bank Holidays Bill, which fixes the bank holidays as follows : — New Year's Day, Good Friday, day after Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Christmas Day, day after .Christmas Day, St. Patrick's, St. George's and Sfe. Andrew's Days, the Sovereign's Day, Prince of Wales' Birthday, and Labour Day.

In the course of a short discussion Mr Arnold indicated his intention, when the bill was in committee, of moving to eliminate the Saints' days from the list. RJr Atkinson urged that he would move in committee to remove from banks the power of declaring a holiday when a race meeting was held in the neighbourhood.

Mr Pirani pointed out that the bill contained no provision to prevent Bank authorities from keeping their employees at work on holidays.

Sir Joseph Ward said the point raised by Mr Pirani required consideration. He was quite in accord with tbe opinion expressed during tbe debate that there should be a limit to the hours worked by bank employees, but if a clause were inserted in the bilj, stipulating that no work must be done inside banks on holidays it might result in great inconvenience to the public and the colony. If the employees had to work long hours then no exception should be taken to banks closing on Saints' days. He thought there was a good deal in Mr Gilfedder's suggestion to fix the weekly half-holiday on the day fixed for the statutory half--holiday, as he was of opinion that there should be one universal weekly halfholiday.

The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of tbe Cook and other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the bill amended the principal Act as to tbe government of Niue Island, and repealed the clause which limited its duration.

Messrs Herries and Tanner spoke. Mr Napier urged that tbe Islands should be lepresented in the New Zealand Parliament.

Messrs G. W. Bussell, Atkinson, Monk, and Firani spoke.

Mr E. M. Smith considered it was our duty to bring the Cook Islands up to the same state of civilisation and perfection as existed in New Zealand.

The second reading was carried by 43 to 13, and the House rose at 12.20.