IN THE HOUSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9492, 14 August 1891, Page 6

IN THE HOUSE.

MISCELLANEOUS-BILLS. [nOV OUR OTyN'CORWSFONDENT.] WELLINGTON,’ August 13. Mr Fish is in * mood which, at any mom ant, may develop into ferocity. He hae heard of a conversation about the Lunatic Aaylnm at Seaoliff, between Dr M'Ckeeor and the gentleman appointed to ,n inquiry into the affairs of that institution. He wants to know if the Government has heard of • that conversation too, and what it thinks of it. The •lisktien :of order crops up/ and Mr Fish AM to postpohe the tnatter till to-morrow, when that question will be cleared up. Mr I'inlMsia like the gentleman yesterday who ship In numerous He sees danger in the dual - lesb^.Government Insurance and Director sf fws Colonial Mutual-—" a perilous, combination, Sir.” Mr Fisher invites.the ■kippir 'On to the' bridge to inspect; he toUohes- his cap ; he wants to know what tbs skipper thinks of it P The skipper peers, cautiously in the direction indicated, but hs thinks there is nothing in it. The •hip goes briskly on. Mr Dnthie brings bar to with " A OXiAIM FOB JUSTICE. He hss been libelled by the Minister for Pablio Works, who has charged him in Hansard with having demanded the punishment •'Of somebody who had condemned ■omeenein the House of Duthie and Company, whereas hehad only drawn attention to the' grievance of a contractor who supplied gravel.. ..Mr‘Duthie is a little sore at |n.h .«* §q unfounded.'imputation,” and he stande lor Justice; moving, the adjournment to enable him to do so with proper effect. He gets the matter thoroughly ventilated. Documents of public officers are read. Mr Xtothi# points out. that they only, affect the navel question': lie has had nothing whatever to do with any case involving wire, and haying hoisted his flagaloft he finishes.. The: ship goes ' ahead on her voyage, with a monotonous steady sound of the screw. Mr Richardson tries to intercept supply with that eternal financial problem, but bis leader points out that it is not usual to intercept supply when there is only an imisitsupplyte gointo.andMt Rlchard|Oii retina with a:very- good grace, - after explaining that he has been really too ofSen fobled by'the Government. The Im|»csfa Supply Bill passes all its stages. No BIX BILLS are read a second time. The Marriage Bill enables some handsome things to be said about the Salvation Army. The Distillation Bill takes a short cut through a vineyard of .two acres. No one can distil who has not a vineyard of that size. New Zealand barley and the articles imported for the purpose of manufacture, get a new lease commercial life. ' The position of Trustees is defined and amended and made generally more easy, and in certain points ■ more tolerable. The M’Lsan Lap! > Bill ‘ makes unexpected supplement, the Minister for Lauds having moved Hie second reading. Mr Bolleston objects, going into the particulars. The land was originally claimed as a grant by one Hatene for service in the field, and he really bad no right to it. That is the contention., of, Mr Bolleston,, supported by extracts from Mansard and Blue .Books, a legal'‘opinion of Sir F. Whitaker amongst them. . This stinga Mr Lawry into making very vigourona protest. He talks roundly to Mr Bolleston, to Mr Valentine and Mr T.Madteuzxe, who have aided and abetted Mr; Bolleston, who he avera had not told the .whole truth. Colonel M'Donnell, whom her,- had quoted in support of the other side, had : since written withdrawing his statements as made in ignorance of all the facts’. " "MSjot Gudgeon had written him- a letter. “ What .date?” asks Mr BdJeston.“October, '9l,”...replies Mr Lawry. • Mr Bolleston accepts the information with gteat gravity. Mr Valentine points out that we are only in'August. Mr- Lawry discovers the date to be July, not October; he reads the letter; he invokes the reports of several Committees; he. warmly describes Messrs G. M‘Lean and Livingston as the beat settlers on the coast from here on to New Plipmwit. Mr. Bolleston having agreed tbit these gentlemen are everything- that MrLawry s'ayathey are, and having disavowed all ehmity to them or ahybpdy else, the Minister replies. He does, so warmly. quotes 'the reports of the Waste Lands’Committee. - He explains that the' Bill -gives cheat to the report of a .CommitieeJ ■ He says that no amount of inquiry will elicit soy further information whatever';: - /HV has. a crack at Mr' Richardson ia 'passiDg: “ He opposes the Bill, Sir, because it comes from the Minister for Lands.”, He reads the opinion of the Departmental officers; he eulogises the Colonists wfao have been in possession for-jitwenty-two years; he asks why Mr Bolleston, when he was Minister, did not. If be held these opinions, do his duty, and torn them Off the land ? He declares that no .Government in the world would turn them off theland. He is very vehement and exhaustive. . The Bill is read a second time.'‘l A Aixth Bill, River Boards, is also read a second time, and then the. House : goes to dinner, satisfied with the stampede.of legislation. tub evening begins briskly. ThS&vdarable-we'ather of. the afternoon holds till two more Bills’ are read a second time, and Hie House gets into Committee oftHteFactbriesßill. Ibis a. discussion of thwlttshal conversational order. The first boatfilf,'contention. is in the meaning . of thorword^faefory... “One or more persons engtfied ” '. The ..first wor d ,is the trouble. Afpinii '.discussion, during which it is pointed out that the figure will made.every private house la faetpry,’ the Minister in charge agrees.to strike out the figure, and out. Mr Fish takes up tbe VoZs of coach horse.- kicking his heels all over thebox'seat. When his thuda-have ■abided, Mr’BHUr* frbm'fche roof dfthe Mt'S&erm. laai- done, the leader of the' 'OpmitibnT gets v6uf' hir" whip; and has a; him if firirnnir frifr fchft.vantage'gToundv nTths mails road. There is a great deal of ocafatdoti ; talking.’gbes on:promiscuously;: tbwConverfaHon'orecpowers the speakers, TkeChairmaacalla bon members: to order, vetyisharply. Mr Bryce s thinks that’the Chairman will have to, name somebody one. oftheee days, adding, “ I’m sure I don’t know ,what will happen, then.’’. There.is a laugh, mid someone calls but, “Give him tig months.” , The discussion goes on with fitful warmth. Sir John Hall rates Mr Fisk at . last for his behaviour, handling bka with pointed sarcasm. He has made ilmistake about .the Liberal party; that party ia really oh Sir John's side -of the ibiim, hut it is never too late to mend. Thg House enjoys the irony. Mr Taylor is ,inone.of his wild .moods. He wants to see "morel backbone in the Ministry. ■ “ Yes, Sirr'more.-backbone.” • And Mr Taylor, enforces the point by drawing a backbone very wavy in the air, with hia apebtiwles held firmly in the right hand. itoyto'a country aristocracy. Xh fact he does no*, believe in a country aristocracy. ** Where are they?” comes from .opposite. * About the Clutha, and such places,” says llr Taylor, indicating Mr T. Mackenzie with sprihgipg gesture. Mr Wright tells Jfrl, .Taylor that whatever he may , tl;iuk »bfl»fthe,Miniater’s haokhone,Abat gentle-, m«d,'«f All isveatfi has- more brains than bi|£-'followers; Mr Kelly, of ; Inverthe Ministerialists -. w.hb. bave Criticised the Ministerhe himself is ready to. do what is reasonable. After aotibiderable discussion, the figure l ia gbriiik out; -After.that,BECOMES WORSE THAN EVER. •The. question is, what number shall be pnbitituted ? And after a general converaotibU. interrupted by a few speeches, the pate in the word “ three.” Presently It appears that this is only for the; country generally, the intention of the town party being to propose the addition of; “ one or more”" for .boroughs and town districts. The’- country - party protests violently. There is bobbiutr up of excited men in all directions, and the House takes excursions Into -the Bill, leaving the interpretation eIMM far behind. It looks remarkably likr'n discussion of the full scope of the measure. Mr Buckland is the moat per* dStent aad frequent critic of their order.

He points out that a woman won’t he able to knit a pair of stockings. He insists that charcoal burners, and the fish curers, and all the small people who work by whole families will be ruiued. The country party is with him with equal vigour, but less reiteration. The Chairman calls Mr Buckland to order, and then calls the House to order. Mr Buckland must keep to the clause; the House must keep silence, otherwise we shall never get on. The Minister tells the country party that they may feel perfectly sura that the country is not going to be over-run with inspectors. It is very-unlikely that inspectors would be appointed in districts where there are no factories. There is a country chorus of “ Then why do you ask for the power?” Mr ; -Valeafcitte’s voice predominates, and thefehprus is followed; by chaotic talking, onfe pf which Mt Fish- rushes with, a ipofcion for reporting progress. “ Enough michief iOJtoae night, Sic,” ho says; declaring that he considers the acceptance of three for one as a disaster.

MREARNSHAW STANDS'UP FOB THE MINISTER. He says that he has made a very good compromise. Others strike in. The Op<. position calls for a division, and declining to divide the motion for reporting progress is lost on the voices. Then the country party again goes off at score. Mr E. Thompson has taken the lead, vice Mr Buckland reposing. Their idea is that the. amount about boroughs,. &0., may enable a town district to be declared in every man’s constituency, no matter how remote; the Minister pointing out tha absurdity of the idea, fcut in vain. At last a touch of the ludicrous breaks the spell. After much interchange of argument with the Minister, Mr E. Thompson says all he wants is that his constituents be exempt. There is a roar of laughter, aud after that the discussion drops and the amendment is made. After that the interpretation clauses dribble through, the country party keeping up a desultory rapid criticism, rapidly waning. Then the ship gets to the Bill and the crew remains almost silent while she flies through twenty-six clauses. At the twenty-seventh there is protest against notice of accident to be sent in six hours, and the time is doubled. After some demur the clause passes, and the .ship''steams on. The twenty-ninth'clause is amended to compel drinking water to be supplied at every factory," ho mattsir how small the number of persons will be. A question here and there marks tha progress to Clause 35, during which clause we go to supper. THE RESULT OS’ THE AMENDMENT in tha interpretation clause is this. The interpretation of what constitutes a factory in the Bill originally introduced by Mr Hislop,was that a faotory was a place where six or mors persons were employed. In the present Bill it has been defined as a place in cities, boroughs or districts where one or more persona are employed, and in the country where three or more are employed. ; ’l hia result is regarded by the labour members as very satisfactory. After supper the ship gets along fairly, the crew being in a rather jolly humour. By midnight she is off Clause 63._ The majn alterations made are the addition of flaxmills to the exemption in Clause 35, and the excision of flourmills. Dairies and cheese factories are exempted from the white-washing provision, Ciutha having persuaded the House that they understand the business of cleanliness sufficiently well to be left to themselves. Mr Fisher supplies the comic element in a dull Bill by proposing that all newspaper premises 'shall be hosed down at intervals. Having amused the House, and insulted the majesty of the Press, Mr Fisher does not press the matter. Two divisions break off the voyage,' and Clause 33 requires a third. The fifty-sixth clause being opened out, we have a view of the question of FEMALE TYPESETTERS. Deputations, Mr Fisher explains, bave threshed out this question lately with great completeness. The opinions of the master printers have also been taken on the subject. One - master (a very enterprising one) in this country wishes to employ females at this work in spite of everybody. All others in New Zealand (he will be armed with telegrams to this effect) are in favour of the original provision in this clause, fixing the minimum age at eighteen years. He can say from his own knowledge that the work is specially injurious to the human structure: to girls the trade is very dangerous. The Labour Committee has altered the minimum , age to sixteen. Ha moves retention of the word eighteen. Sir John Hall takes a different view. It is a question with him of the social advancement of the female sex. This opens the door to that advancement. It is a trade well suited to them. (Hear, hear, from Mr Saunders). “ They can’t work at it,” says Mr Fisher ; “they can only get a smattering of it.” “Then,” retorts Sir John, “ how is it that this enterprising master printer employs them P He has found them very competent and very contented, and their health has not suffered.” Mr Earnshaw thinks the trade is not fit for them; they have broken down in Dunedin. The master printer in Auckland is, he informs the House, under a pledge nob to employ any more females. Mr Shera thinks that if the avenues of employment are being restricted to men, ha will have to change his mind and vote for women’s suffrage. He touches on his experiences. “ Have you seen these ladies at work?” asks an insinuating one. “I have.” “Where?” “In the Observer office.” A shower of questions falls upon , Him. “ Did they look well ? ” “ Yes, Sir, they did.” There is smiling and banter, and Mr Shera goes on to read a letter he has received about the way the ladies are holding their own, and upholding the principle of equality. Mr Shera won’t give the name of the writer. He makes light of the 'scientific objections, and exchanges banter with Mr Fisher. He insists on sixteen years. Mr •Eollestoh thinks -printing offices- quite unfit places for girls. He would prefer to 'see them go out-into the country more. They ought to go there more than they do. Wairarapa has found a parallel in the shape of 7 au American retort to the opinion df Mr Fisher, the ;expert.j : He reads to tha effect’that in> tha , . country balled America ; the worn eh type- ; setters ate members ’of' the Printers’ Unions, that they are treated by the male compositors with the utmost consideration, and that they.are not only the most effective members, but make the most wages. The Minister prefers the original age, eighteen; he has watched the trade, and, though not an expert, knows something about it. As one who has been an employer, he might be supposed to be in favour of cheap-labour. The ‘ employment of female typesetters means cheap labour. There are cries of “ No, no,” but he sticks to it. Now, he dees nob want to complicate the question of labour by bringing down the wages. He knows the trade to be unhealthy. Look at the men who have worked 'at the trade for years. Are they not pale and narrow-chested ? Anycan she that the employment is not healthy: it is not fit for women. In America arrangements have to be made for them. He yields to no man in his desire to open up fields of employment to women. He has the honour to be an honorary member of the most powerful women’s organisation in New Zealand, but he cannot see that the trade is he iA for the higher ago, Mr. Wright is for the loirer age. Let them be employed 4t: the lesb unhealthy parts of the work. Sir John Hall points out that other provisions'of the Bill protect them in that direction. Mr Houston thinks the lower age fust the thibg. If you want to help the women, bring in a Bill to prevent tight-lacing. Mr T. Thompson says that Mr Eolleaton is wrong. He testifies to the clean, roomy, well-ventilated quarters taoy enjoy in Auckland. The Bill will makeagreat amendment in all the conditions • asserted as existing elsewhere; “We are going to remedy all that, Sir.” He has a special discussion with the Minister, who says that iH the women get the run of the day trade th«y will not allow to be shut out of the night trade. Me Bryce thinks the Minister inconsistent—“ If they can’t get in by day, they won’t get into the night work.” The Minister says “ no,” contendin g that they will only be employed as cheap

labour, not on fair terms, thus being tempted into unhealthy work. Mr Bryce is not satisfied and he goes on in the same strain.. He sees no philanthropy on the other side; he sees only the fear of competition. Mr Fisher flourishes a petition from the Typographical Association of New Zealand, and gets back to the medical 1 facts. He has four sons; not one of them, he -will take care, ever follows the trade he followed. “ I admit. Sir, it has not been particularly injurious to me.” The House laughs, and Mr Fisher laughs too, looking more robust than ever. As for hia family, they have been at it for generations. “We are the survival of the fittest,” ho says, amid some laughter. Mr Bryce interrupts with argument. He has bean asking for proofs that tins trade is more injurious to women than to men, and he has not gob it yet. Mr Fisher continues the argument on the other side. He reads telegrams he has just received from the masters of Dunedin. Mr Kelly (East Coast) thinks that if these ladies are allowed to join the Union the wages will be kept up, and the difficulty will be settled. “They’re not worth so much,” interjects a voice. Mr Kelly thinks they are: he has heard so, at all events. The voice says, “ Only one kind of work.” Mr Carncross opposes cheap labour. Mr Tanner takes high moral ground: “ The proper place for a young girl is her father’s home, and if she has to go out into the world she should look to domestic service, and then marriage.” There is protest. Mr Tanner admits that these ideas are old-fashioned, and he is sorry they are so. He denounces the horrors of the factory system; he has seen them; he dare not describe them in that House. He enlarges on the over-crowding of males in every trade. He wants to know it i,t is right to put the fathers on halftime in" order to find employment for tha daughters? Colonel Fraser says three words, and the House divides. The higher age is struck out by a majority of eight, and then the age is made sixteen on the voices. After that the ship gets away, ploughing through the clauses. An amendment is madein the holiday clause, so that evening papers may not be prevented from publication on half holidays, and there is no more stoppage until we reach the schedules. . Mr Moore thinks the fees of. the first schedule excessive. Mr Eolleston and others join him, the Minister gives way, and the ten-shilling fee is reduced onehalf. At 1.30 the Bill is reported and read a third time and passed. The House adjourns. We reflect on tha lightning effects as we, go away.