PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIV, Issue 12322, 12 October 1900, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ' Thursday, Oct. 11. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. It was decided to. agree, to the amendments made bv the House of Represenla-. fives in tho Companies Act Amendment Bill.- " „ The Electoral Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS. The Hon W. C. -Walker, moved, the'third reading of the Private Industrial Schools Regulation and Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill. The Hon Dr Grace moved tho recommittal of tho Bill, in. order to reinstate the Words "as aforesaid" in Clause 4. In doing so he stated that, by striking out the words, it was made impossible-for something like two hundred girls, who at "present were being educated, in various convent schools throughout the colony, to continue receiving education. He referred at length to the good work done atSfc Joseph's Orphan-, ago, Wellington, where eighty-nine crirls had - homes, the whole of their affairs being a-'dminisiered by the nuns until they reached the age of 'twenty-one, and whenever they were out of service they' had the distinct privilege of. returning to the school.

The Hon Colonel Pitt thought that separate schools should be established in. the provincial districts for .boys.and• girls, Roman Catholic children to be sent, say, to Nelson, Anglican to'Christchurch, Presbyterian to Otago, and Nonconformist.' to Auckland, the clergy of each denomination having free access to impart religious instruction. The Hon J. M. Twomey and; the Hon B. H. J. Reeves supported the motion. The Hon J. Jones endorsed the encomiums on the work of the convents, but thought that, as the Act was not Operative for twelve months, the motion was premature. The Hon C. C. Bowen said that he could nob agree to committing children to confinement under the charge of anybody but the State. The Hen J. A. Bonar eulogised the work of the convents. The Hon Dr Grace's motion was defeated by 16 votes to 15. The Bill was read a third time and passed. THIRD, READINGS.' The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Bill and Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill passed through committee without amendment, and were read a third time and passed. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. In committee on the Industrial. Conciliation and Arbitration Bill the Hon J. Rigg moved to strike out "or any" in Clause 56, so as to compel all parties itc a dispute to execute a memorandum of agreement before such memorandum was valid. Losfc by 16 to 11. The Hon J. Rigg's motion to amend Clause 57, so as to necessitate all the parties to a memorandum of consent agreeing among themselves where such memorandum is drawn up before a Board's recommendation is filed, was also lost* by 17 to 10. New Clause 103 a provides that if any person prints or publishes anything calculated to obstruct or interfere with or pi-e----judicially affect any matter before a. Board or Court, he shall, for every offence, be liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO. The Hen J. Rigg moved that, where an award is made by the Court, or an agreement is entered into by the parties to a dispute, the terms shall be binding on the Crown or any Government Department employing workers in a similar industry.' The Hon S. E. ■ Shrimski -rose to a noint of order that the clause was a money clause;, and the Council could'not deal with 'it. .'' '; ; ■•' " . :''" ~'■:"■" . Progress was reported, and the Council adjourned at 4.37 p.m. -for the Speaker's ruling. • EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Speaker said 'that die clause .proposed by Mr Rigg might be held to affect' the appropriation of public (money, and ii the Council inserted it it" .would be his duty to gee.'tha't it -was s'o'printed as not to form ,part of the Bill when at went to the other House. The Hon J. Rigg's motion iwas lost by 17 votes to 7. New Clause 106' was .added, giving to members of Boards and Courts or their authorised representatives extended powers of entry of work? and (premises for inspection or interrogation of persons, amy parson obstructing or hindering such inspection >or interrogation being liabb to a penalty uot exceeding £SO. The Bill was reported, ,read a third time, and passed., ANIMALS PROTECTION. The Animals Protection Bill was read a. second time. j The Council rose at 8.50 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. .Wednesday, Oct. 10. COMPENSATION. FOR ACCIDENTS. " After 2 a.m. discussion on the motion for the committal of ; the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Bill was continued' by Mr J. Hutcheson, who expressed satisfaction at the introduction of the Bill,- even at that -late stage of the session. He contended that -the fact that, an accident had -happened should be regarded as prima facie evidence ■of negligence on the part of the employer. Mr Atkinson approved of contributory negligence on the part of workmen being a bar to compensation, and further contended that the provision- that awards for compensation should 'take precedence over mortgages would depreciate the value of security.

■ y-The motion for committal was" carried on ■, •the voices. ' •'ln committee Clause 4, limiting the employments to which the Act applies, Mr ,G. W. Russell moved that the Bill should b'o made applicable to agricultural labourers. '■ The Premier said that a special Bill would be required for agricultural and farm labourers. He also thought - coal - miners 1 should come out of the Bill, as they could not be, insured. • Mr Millar urged that the Bill would be of little value if it did l not apply to all classes of labour. Mr J. Hutcheson was prepared to accept, the Bill as it stoodj manned and incomplete as it,was,.but.urged that the only logical position was universal application. Mr Atkinson thought all insurable risks should be inserted in the Bill. The motion to include agricultural labourers was lost by 26 votes to 20... A proposal to limit the definition of mining to gold-mining was lost by 37 votes to, ' 8, and the clause was retained by 32 votes to 14. • - ■ - At 3.45 Mr Willis moved to report progress. ' ■ ' Lost by 31 votes to 8. In Clause 18, which gives a claim for damages priority over all charges on property, Mr Atkinson moved to except those encumbrances bona fide given for value and duly registered, which shall be protected only to the extent of two-thirds of the value of the security. Lest by 25 votes to 15. Mr Barclay moved that a new clause be inserted, providing for the compulsory insurance of workmen by every employer to cover his liability under the Aofc. Lost on the voices. He further proposed a new clause that the defence of common employ-

'meitt. would ;not avail in an action before any Court, this was also, negatived. The Bill was reported with amendments, and-read a third time a nd passed. The House rose at 5.40 a.m. -.Thursday, Oct. 11. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House, met at 2.30 p.m. TEACHERS' SALARIES. •/The Hon W.- Hall-Jones gave notice, to introduce to-morrow the Public School Teachers Salaries Bill. REPRESENTATION. Amendments in the Representation Act Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor's ...message, providing, for ten additional members, instead of six. ' ''■ BILLS DROPPED'."' " """'■■ - On the motion of the Premier the, following. -Bills were struck off the Order Paper: —Factories, Gaming, Police Offences, Telegraph Copyright Regulaiion, Shops and Offices', Native Land Administration, Bating on Unimproved Values, Land Act Amendment, Limitation of Working Hours, Porirua and Wairarapa Native Trust Re.serve, Workers Right of Appeal, Counties Act Amendment, Pedlars and Hawkers, Eight Hours, State Schools Compulsory Drill. PETITION. The Native Affairs Committee reported on the petition of 8000 Natives praying for the passing of the Native Land Administration Bill, that it had no recommendation to make. ■• - Mr He'ke said that a large' number of the signatures were not genuine. ' SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

•' The Hon'J. G. Ward moved—" That the House authorises a temporary agreement with Messrs Spreckles and Co. for a continuiiK'e of the San Francisco mail service, for twelve _ months sixteen, days, every three weeks." . The necessity for a short contract 'was that Messrs Spreckles had made a ten years' contract with the American Government from March, next. An American service was not popular. He read the conditions of the new contracts which showed that provision was made for a sixteen days' contract. The company received a subsidy . from the American Government, and this colony had been asked to contribute £30,000. Personally h& did not approve of subsidising the service on tho conditions contained in the contract. He believed, however, that it would be in the interest of the colony to maintain a rapid service across the Pacific. The Union.. Company had requested to be relieved of their contract on Oct. 29, as they found that they were being squeezed out of the trade, whioh he regretted, as the company had carried out the work well as far as New Zealand waa concerned. He was of opinion that the colony should enter into; a contract entirely on its own account and apart from the other Australian Colonies. The present service cost the colony £12,145. For a three-weekly service the loss would be increased to £15,000. When penny postage came into force, the net cost to the 1 colony would be about £17,000. Instead of thirteen voyages the annual number would be sixteen,, and the average length of the voyage from-Auckland to London would be reduced from thirty to twenty-seven days. Under the new service it would be possible to de-. liver" mails'" from London to Australia via San Francisco in less time than it takes under the present mail system. It would be entirely at the option of the company to 'make Wellington a port of call. He was opposed to subsidising for a long term of years the service via'Vanoouver, and he believed:.that .the' spirit of enterprise would in the course.of ten years, be so developed, that there,would be several services in operation, both via. San Francisco- and Vancouver. Mr T. Mackenzie contended that if the Vancouver service had been supported by tho Government the colony would now be in the-enjoyment of a grand service! with a-British colony. The spirit was now prominent'amo'Tigst' it-he people or the Empire to develop trade- between the different parts.. They begarr the San Francisco service with a view to the increase of trade, but while the trade of America/had increased with this,colony, the' trade' of the.colony with America had decreased. He had no desire to show-an antagonistic spirit-to the States, but he thought that the colony 'had not been, treated right by that country, and it was to our interest to cultivate trade with the Empire. He considered that the amount proposed to bs paid for mail matter was too high, and was of opinion that subsidising the San Francisco steamers would bring them into competition with our own trade. He believed that the federal mail service could be so accelerated that it would suit this- colony. The day when an Imperil Zollverein would bs established) was not far distant, when America and other countries' would be shown that .if our produce were barred we could retaliate. He' moved an amendment to the effect—" That it is impolitic and inexpedient for the Government to enter into any contract on the lines proposed for the continuance of the San Fran;ckco inall service, for the following reasons :~r- (1) That the law of the United States has the effect of excluding and expelling all •vessels flying the British flag from th& service, or the employment of any British subject therein, a privilege hitherto enjoyed by our countrymen; (2) that such action is humiliating to our national dignity, and repugnant to the Imperial spirit of the British nation; (3) that'it is unwise to subsidise armed cruisers of a foreign nation, for .the fiscal policy of the United States precludes trade relationships of any value '.to us, a consideration which in the past largely influenced cur .subsidies for.that service; ; (4) that this ' House therefore reoomuvendis the Government to" open negotiations with the- Governments of Australia, Canada and Great Britain with a view to establishing: an all-British' mail service to England, via Vancouver,- and that' in the meantime the existing services be utilised for the conveyance, of our mails to Europe and America." : ; Mr Lewis said that he thought that attention .should .be devoted to cultivating relations with Vancouver. -The sentiments expressed by Mr Spreckles, the owner of the •San-Francisco..mail steamers, in his'paper -irii California, were most bitter against England, and' he did not think it well to enter into relations with a people so hostile. He 1

would ..support .-the- ainendtaent, and;,urged tie advantages olf an'ail-British' "service.

Mr Wit&eiford .said that he had done his best. to .obtain an- allied 1 service, and io thought 'that it could be done by a combined Imperial and colonial subsidy. Mr Meredith said that the amendment had his .sympathy, and he, thought, that the selfish ' action of the - United - States was not creditable. It simply .meant giving ran opportunity to import American .goods, while very little of the produce <of this colony .was taken in exchange. Any .arrangement!: entered into for the continuation ,of 'the Sa.n Francisco service should be only of a temporary character, with a view to a Vancouver service. Mr Budd'o said that the business'of the colony with the Old Country was,now largely done through the'cable, sothnt'the aiacesKity for/a fast mail'. serVicg>was not now so apparent.,as..forffijc-rly...He also thought, that' a three-weekly ,sspv : ice .via, San Frauc&co would tft<i- 'greatly to restrict our, 'trade with Australia, which we could not afford to do. The trade with America was a very one-sided affair, and more encouragement, should be given to an Imperial service. Mr 'E. G. Allen urged tie establishment, as soon as -possible, of an all-British- mail service. , 'Mr R. Thompson failed to see what benefit the col any had ever got from the San Francisco service,..and.ie_ hoped that this would x be the last, time - that ,a .contract would be entered into with, the Spreckles Co. Mr J. Hutcheson supported the amendmen't, and objected to an American-owned and manned service bein-ar subsidised. ' The House adjourned at 5.30 .p.m. " • EVENING SITTING. The House resumed-at 7.30 p.m. Mr J. W. Thomson continued the discussion on the. San Francisco mail service proposals. He said that the service had not fulfilled expectations in the" amount of trade it would develop for the colony. He admitted, that, as. far as"mails were concerned, the service had been satisfactory, but it had been "got tip by American capitalists with a view to getting as much, out of the colony as possible. However,- be did nob think that the' Vancouver and San Francisco services were antagonistic, although he-preferred the former. Mr Fowlds said that he had not the slightest doubt that tire San Francisco service had conferred a boo?., on this colony, and in future with an improved service, the benefits would bs greater. However advantageous an all-red route might be, they must look at the matter in a practical way, and, at any rate for the present, must confine themselves to the San. Francisco service.

Mr Millar pointed-out that when the House was hgg. asked to consider the' San Francisco settee, it was on the basis that a local company would do the work. Now they had to deal with a foreign company, and ifc was for the House to consider what advantage the colony would gain by the. contract. He considered 10s 5d per lb for letters was too high a rate, especially when the charge by the Federal service was only 3s per lb. The navigation lawr. of the States were against the British nation, and it should be borne in mind that the mail vessels would be liable to be converted into men-of-war and might, in case of complications with the United States,--be used against us. Ho maintained that no subsidy whatever should be> granted to the service, and that am effort should be made to connect with, the Federal, services. Mr M'Lachlan said that, he would support the motion as a.tentative proposal, but he would oppose the contract being made permanent. ; Hie idea .was that the House should cultivate an all-red line, and he thought that could be done with out. showing any antagonism to the United States. Mr Collins said thalfc, looking at the interests New. Zealand was, acquiring in the Pacific, it was highly desirable that the steamers employed in the mail service should be largely under the control of the colony. , Mr Napier believed that a reciprocity arrangement'could be Effected with the United States that would remove .the objections to mails being carried under that flag. ■;• Mr W. Fraser approved the principle contained in the. amendment, although the arrangement proposed in the motion was, he admitted, the best that could"be made in the meantime.

The Hon J. G-. Ward explained that the motion only covered.one year, and that it was his intention to make inquiries into .other routes and schemes for the service. .He deprecated the statement that the United States was ai foreign, country, in thaifc there was any antagonisim on the part of that country. The reason why the Union Company had decided to retire from the service was that the American Government subsidised the S-reckles . Company jto the amount of £50,000 pounds a year, and that the laws of the States prevented* the Union Company carrying passengers and goods between Hawaii and San Francisco. As to the charge that the Government was to blame for the. cesration of,the Vancouver service, he said that it was not the policy of the Government to give large bonuses extending over a. number of .years to mail steamers. Nothing of a permanent kind would be done with respect to the contract until the House had had an opportunity next sersion of reviewing the question. In the meantime the motion merely authorised Government to eiiterjnto. a:reas6tiable arrange-, ment for mails to be carried at a weightrate instead of giving a subsidy. He advised the withdrawal, of the amendments, which could not.be given effect to, even if they were carried, which, he thought, they would not be.' As to the statement that no British subject could be .'employed, as a seaman on the mail boats he explained:'that an agreement had been- come to by which one-third of the crew of the vessels could be so employed. , Mr Wilford 'thought that it was to be regretted that the Government had been incapable of devising a scheme that would ■have (resulted in: the. retention of the Union Company's boatsin the service. .That'compan'y had. done much for the colony. . .Captain Russell said that he'disliked the -motion, but he.could not vote against the proposals. .Theredeeming feature was that the.contract was for on© year only, and-did not debar.an effort being made to find an improved service. . Wearied as members

were with the.heavy labours of the session, they 'wetis'-ffbV in a condition' : to 'properly discuss the. proposals,..and he hoped that the last clause of; the amiendrsent Would be agreed to, that inquiries- should ";l>B made dur'ng the recess regarding a, service via> Vancouver, the report, on the subject to bo placed on the table fourteen days, after next session ' opened for discussion. 'lf an AllRed line could be established, even at an. increased -subsidy, he thought it "would'be,'ill 1 tie interests of the colony. ■ ;,- ■ The -motio-n.-was then put and carried on the voices,.the amendment being rejected. SECOND READING.'."'. -"■'„'' The Hon J. G. Ward moved''the second''■ reading of the Opium Prohibition' Bill; - which was agreed to without discussion. ELECTORAL.. --. ; the Hon. J.., G. 'Ward ni.oyed that': -.this amendments'~iriad,e in.J'tlis* Electoral ; Act •Amendment. Bill' :by .tlie .Cbuncil,,.with re--2"*"'' + o t]?° of c-ariyas'sitig; shbu|<i be disagreed with. . '..'" .'. ..' ..",'.'.' v ;-^"'■'..'' - -i.'iie jjijj.on was-carried, arid managers were.appointed'fo-confer with' the "'Council: •■■"".' ■"'■•■ opium, -.\: : . '. ;\\ The House went into committee• on tha Opium Prohibition Bill. 4 . Captain Russell said that the Bill was aa undue and unnecessary interference with .tha liberty of the--individual. They might as well include the. use of-tobacco, morphia 'or alcohol. ■■■>■• The" Hon. J. G. Ward pointed out that the Chinese:-themselves were.in. favour of the Bill, and from information received he was certain that it was the duty of the State,"in . the interest of young people, to prohibit the 'importation of-the drug. ' • -.- : •■■■'. Mr Wilford 'strongly supported the Bill; and related circumstances that showed its necessity. ... •..-.- -„•-.' - Mr J. Hutchespn supported the Bill, but did not think that it would prove* effective, unless steps were taken agains't'-sinuggling. • Mr Pirami did net approve of the.pr.ohibitron of anything.: 'Why was a meawe, jib* introduced abolishing , the.-.use of' alcohol, which "was, ten times more injurious thai* opium. ; He nioyed'.an..amendment- to th«. ■'effect "that the measure, should hot .come into : force in amy provincial''district, until a poll was takervand a majority declared in favour "ofit. ,'.-_' '. .... _.. . ; ' '",...' . ■ Captain- Russell moved that' the £hairmaa should leave the chair. , : - Lost by ! 39 to 14: ' " Mr Pirani's motion was los.t by 37 .to 11. -On the motion of"the Premier, who said that he did not wish business blocked, progress was reported'"by.3l'to 13. ' (Left sitting.)