PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9492, 14 August 1891, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

[Per Press Association. I LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, August 13. The Council met at 2.30. BANKRUPTCY BILL. The Hon D. Stewart brought up the report on the Bankruptcy Bill. The Committee recommended that the Bill be allowed to proceed with tho amendments attached. ELECTRIC LIGHTING. The Speaker gave his ruling on the point of order raised by tho Hon J. N. Wilson in the Wellington Electric Lighting Bill, his objection being that inasmuch as the amount of capital of the Company had not been raised by the Select Committee it was not competent to raise a point of order at the present stage, ha (the Speaker) ruled that as the Committee to which the Bill had been referred had not raised the question, it could nob be raised until after the second reading had been either agreed to or rejected. iTha Hon E. C. J.' Stevens resumed the debate on the second reading of the Wellington Electric Lighting Bill; aud in doing so remarked that there were two or .three questions in the Bill which required attention in Committee. The Hon Dr Grace having replied, the motion for the second reading was agreed ,to .on tho voices. . ; . SOCIETY OF ARTS. ; The Canterbury Society of Arts Reserve Act Extension Bill was read a third time ;and passed. ■ ■ - . . ; ' LIBEL BILL. ; : The Libel Bill was further considered in Committee. ,': ' ... i ; The Hon W. D. Stewart moved the tollowing new clause—" This Act shall not apply, to the case of any libel against any candidate for a public office or position in tho Colony, unless the retractation of the ,charge.ia made editorially, in a conspicuous manner, ‘at. least three days before the election.” -

■ , The clause was agreed to bn the voices. ’ The Bill as amended was reported, the third reading being fixed for tho following .day. ' The Council at 3 p.m, adjourned till nest day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr Meredith, The Hon J. M'Kenzie said he ; should make inquiries during the recess as to the position and management of the Lincoln School of Agriculture, 'and, if necessary, introduce a Gill dealing : with the matter. Replying to Mr Barnahaw, The Hon A. J. Cabman said the Government intended, during the recess, to go into the whole question of our charitable system. Replying to Mr Fisher, whether Sir Robert Stout, who is solicitor to the Dunedin branch of the Government Life Insurance Department, is also a Dunedin Director of an opposition Life Insurance Company, the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, of Victoria; if so, does the Government perceive any incompatibility in tho occupancy of the two positions by the same person. The Hon J: Ballance said he was informed that Sir R. Stout was a Director of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society of Victoria, and the firm of which Sir R. Stout was a member were the solicitors to the Government Life Insurance Department ; but the Government saw no incompatibility in' Sir E. Stout holding the two positions. Replying to Captain Russell, The Hon J. M’Kbnzie said the Government would make inquiries as to the desirability of introducing a Bill for the destruction of the codim moth. LIVE STOCK QUARANTINE. The Hon J. M’Kenzie moved that the whole question of the quarantine regulations relating to live stock be referred to the Stock Committee for consideration, and to report to the House. Agreed to. . . GRAPE VINES. The Hon J. M'Kenzie moved that the question of the importation of grape vines be referred to the Noxious Weed, &c., Committee for- consideration, and to report to the House. •' Agreed to. ■. SUPPLY. The House went . into Committee of Supply, and an Imprest Supply Bill for .£250,000 was passed through all its stages. marriage act amendment. The Hon J. Ballance moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill ; was intended to allow officers of the Salvation Army, and .ministers of minor denominations in the Colony, to perform the marriage ceremony. Sir John Hall said he should move an amendment in Committee to the effect that every marriage certificate shall be signed by at least one clergyman of the Church of England. Mr Hutchison (Dunedin) strongly supported tho Bill, and he saw no reason why the Salvation Army and the members of small religious bodies should nob be allowed to perform the marriage ceremony. Agreed to. distillation. The Hon J. Ballance moved the second reading of the Distillation Act Amendment Bill. He said it followed the legislation of Victoria, and enabled the owners of vineyards to keep and use a still of not less than twenty-five gallons and not more than 50 gallons capacity, for the purpose of distilling.spirits from wine, the produce of their own vineyards. Agreed to. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. The Hon J. Ballance moved the second reading of the Customs and Excise Duties Bill. He explained that the Bill was meant to provide that the duty on unmanufactured tobacco was to be reduced to Is 6d per pound on Jan. 1 next. This was to continue for two years, after which tho duty would be 2s on the pound. The Bill also provided that, after Jan; 1, 1892, the duty on tobacco manufactured in the Colony should be Is per pound, aud on cigars, cigarettes and snuff la 6d per pound up to Dec. 31, 1896. Agreed to. TRUSTEES. The Hon W. 3?. Reeves moved tho second reading of “The Trustees Act, 1883,” Amendment Bill, to amend tho law relating to the duties, powers and liability of trustees. The Bill was a short and simple one, to define the position of trustees, which had hitherto not been an enviable one. Clause 11 enabled a trustee to apply a reasonable sum for the maintenance of children out of the trust estate. Clause 14 was the most important of the Bill, as it empowered trustees to invest in Government * securities in any of the Australasian Colonies, or real securities in New Zealand, in bonds and debentures or other securities of Mnnici pal Corporations or County Councils haying authority to borrow money. The Bill had. been very carefully prepared, and he felt sure it would commend itself to the House and the country. _ Mr Rhodes congratulated the Government on the Bill, which had been very carefully examined by tho Statutes Revision Committee. He thought the whole Bill was a useful and valuable one. Agreed to. m’lean land bill. Tho Hon J. M’Kenzie moved the second reading of the M Laud Bill, which was brought in give effect to various recommendations made by the Waste Lands Committee, and to authorise a grant of land to George M’Uean, of Hawera,

Mr Eolleston referred to this Bill at some length, and said he felt that the Legislature should not be asked to pass it, as Mr M’Lean was not entitled to the land.

Mr Valentine also objected to the Bill, as it was simply meant to validate a doubtful title.

Mr Lawry supported the Bill,, and said it was one that should 1 be passed by the House.

Mr M'Quire also supported the Bill, and said it was only meant to do justice. Mr G. F. Richardson differed from the last two speakers, and thought the evidence taken before the Legislative Council Committee in 1888 did not bear out the preamble of the Bill. The case on being investigated was shown to be a bad one. Agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. The Hon J. M‘K«nzie moved the second reading of the River Boards Act Amendment Bill, a technical Bill toenable Boards to levy general and special rates. Agreed to. The House rose at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. public bodies’ powers. The Hon W. P. Reeves moved the second reading of the Public Bodies Powers Act Amendment Bill, which had already passed in the Council, and amended “ The Public Bodies Powers Act, 1887.” Agreed to. employers’ liability. The amendments made by the Legislalativo Council in the Employers Liability Aob Amendment Bill were agreed to. factories bill, _ The House went into Committee on the Factories Bill. Clause 2 was amended to provide that the Act shall come into operation on Jan. 1, 1892. Some discussion took place on the interpretation clause, and the word “ one ” as the minimum number of persons who are to be engaged in premises for hire to constitute a factory' or workroom was struck out. The Hon W. P. Reeves pointed out that the object of the Bill was not to limit the hours of labour of male adults, or to affect wages, but it was to protect females and children. Mr Weight moved that the word “ five” be inserted in place of "one.” The Hon W. P. Reeves hoped the House would not agree to this, and suggested that the word " three ” should be inserted. Mr Fish thought Mr Reeves’ provision would spoil the whole effect of the Bill. MrDuTHiK did not see that there was any necessity for the Bill, hut as it had been demanded ho supposed it would have to be passed. The number suggested by Mr Reeves would nob prove harassing to factories, and the House might well agree to it.

Mr Eolleston coincided with the last speaker’s views, and said the Opposition would assist the Government in making the Bill a good measure. Mr Pinkerton appealed tohon members to see that the sweating system was not continued.

After further discussion, Mr Wright asked leave to withdraw the word " five,” and have " three ” inserted in its place. Mr Bryce contended that according to Clause 4 the provisions of the Bill would apply to country districts as well as to towns.

Mr R. Thomson said the Bill contained the principle of “one-factory-one-man,” but he had no objection to that principle as long as it was confined to towns, Mr Pinkerton asked the House to assist in putting down this abominable system of sweating, which had existed in the towns so long. The Hon E. J. Seddon agreed that the Bill was rather stringent for country districts, and suggested an addition to the interpretation clause to the effect that the Bill should not apply to any country district unless where three or more persons were employed. Several country members interjected that this alteration did not meet with their views. BJr Fish was greatly surprised that it bad been reserved for a Liberal Ministry and labour members to give way on the moat crucial, clause in the Bill. They would have to get their friends opposite to pass a Bill for them. ‘ Mr Valentine thought the difficulty might be overcome by retaining the word "one,” eo far as towns were concerned, and inserting another number to apply to the country districts. The Hon W. P. Reeves said he could not accept the suggestion that country districts should be allowed to escape from the provisions of the Bill, as wherever factories were in operation the Bill must apply to them. He moved that “ three ” be made the limit for country districts, and one or more for cities, boroughs or town districts. Mr Bryce did not think the Minister s suggestion would work successfully. He was of opinion that the proviso in Clause 35 exempting blacksmiths, agricultural implement makers, wheelwrights’, shops, &c., might yet offer a difficulty. After a lengthy discussion. The Hon W. P. Reeves’ motion, that three be made the limit for country districts, was agreed to on the voices. As to the question of town districts. The Hon W. P. Reeves said he could not give way, and asked the Committee to support his motion for the limit being fixed at one or more. He recognised that this Bill had not yet been fully discussed, and he was prepared to give every weight to the suggestions pub forward by hon gentlemen. The discussion still went on, and Mr Fish moved to report progress, so as to give the Minister time to consider in what way the clause could best be amended. The Minister had already done sufficient mischief for one night in having the limit for country districts fixed at three. Mr Fish’s motion was lost on the voices, and the motion of the Minister to fix one as the limit for towns, &c., was agreed to. Clause 9, notice to be given to inspector, with particulars of factory' or workroom. Mr Buchanan moved that twenty-one days’ notice be given instead of fourteen. Agreed to. Clause 27, notice of accidents to be sent to inspector aud to medical authority, The Hon W, P. Reeves moved that if notice of an accident is not given within twelve hours after its occurrence, the occupier of the factory or workshop shall be liable to a fine not exceeding .£lO. Agreed to. Clause 35, power to exempt certain factories from being lime-washed. Mr Kelly moved that flaxmills be exempted. The Hon W. P. Reeves accepted the amendment, which was agreed to. Mr Moore moved that flourmills be exempted. After a lengthy discussion the amendment was lost by 24 to 21. Mr Mackenzie (Clutha) moved to exemut dairy factories. The Hon W. P. Reeves said he understood that Mr Tanner intended moving that dairy factories and cheese factories should be exempted from painting and white-washing. Agreed to. Mr Dawson moved to exempt breweries Lost on the voices. Clause 41, bakehouses to be limewashed.

Mr Moore moved that the lime-washing shall be renewed once at least in every twelve mouths instead of six. Lost by 36 to 9. Clause 53, persons under sixteen not to be employed without medical certificate. Mr Moore moved that this clause be struck out.

Clause retained by 23 to 20. Clause 56, limit of hours of labour of boys and girls. Mr Fisher moved that no girl under eighteen years of age shall work as a typesetter in a printing office, instead of sixteen.

Mr Thompson (Auckland) hoped that would not be agreed to, as girls of sixteen now made very good wages. Mr Fisher said the characterof rthis

occupation was very unhealthy. He had had telegrams from Auckland to the effect that all the master printers there except one were opposed to the reduction of the age from eighteen to sixteen. Telegrams from Dunedin and Napier were to the same effect, and he could speak from experience that typesetting was a very trying, unhealthy occupation even for men. i Sir John Haul hoped the Committee would not agree to the amendment. He thought it very desirable that as many avenues of employment as possible should be open to females. This appeared to him to bo one for which females were specially adanted.

The Hon W. P. Reeves hoped the Committee would retain eighteen in the Bill. I£ women were generally employed, it meant cheap labour. He knew how laborious this employment was, and how many chest diseases resulted from the trade of typesetting. He also knew that it was an unhealthy occupation, and printers were not overpaid at all. While he was strongly in favour of opening the doors of employment for women, he thought they were not fitted for the printing trade, Mr Bryce pointed out that no argument had been adduced to show that typesetting was more injurious for women than men. There was no tenderness for women in the question, but what certain members wanted to do was to prevent competition. Mr Fisher corroborated the Hon W. P. Reeves’ statements as to the unhealthiness of the printing trade and the sickly condition of many of the men engaged in it. He spoke as one who had been a printer for years, and he should take good care that. none of his four sons were ever brought up to that trade. Mr Carnceosb, as an employer of printing labour, supported the proposal to raise the age to eighteen. Mr Tanner was opposed to bringing females into competition with men in occupations which properly belonged to men." He had seen more of females working in factories, and mixing with men and immature youths than aimember of the House, and he should he positively ashamed to let the House know of scenes he had witnessed in these factories,, and the knowledge which he could not fail to obtain in that respect. He opposed the amendment on the highest moral ground. Mr. Fisher’s amendment to raise the age to eighteen was lost by 24 to 16, and sixteen inserted. The schedule was altered to provide that the registration fee for workrooms, in which more than thirty persons were employed, was to be £2 2s per annum. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The House rose at 1130 a.m.