PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12550, 11 July 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. | WEDNESDAY, JULY 10. ~, ■ The Council met at 2,30 p.m. . BILLS. . The Minister of Education gave notice to' introduce the Public Officers Act Amendment Bill, Young Persons Protection Bill and Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill. The Hon W. M. Bolt introduced the Law Act Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. CHAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. The Minister of Education moved the appointment of the Hon W. C Smith as Chairman of Committees. The motion was lost by 16 to 14. On the motion of the Hon G. Jones ib was agreed to proceed with' the election/ by ballot. The first ballot reduced the candidates to three, the Hons W. D. H. Baillie, J. Rigg and W.. C. Smith. Ati the second ballot Mr Smith' dropped out, Mr Rigg withdrew Ma candidature*, and Captain Baillie was elected chairman on a final ballot. Tho Council adjourned at 4.15 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Jult 10. AFTERNOON STITING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. The Premier moved' that the. balancesheet of tho Bank of New Zealand, which was laid on the table yesterday, should be printed. In doing so he called ■attention to the fact that it had been stated in the public Press that the bank was going'to pay a, dividend. He would point out tihat very little had been paid off by the bank | in respect of the Assets. Realisation Board, and he himself thought ib would be better if'those entrusted with the affairs of tho : bank first of all paid off their debts, instead of paying dividends. Tho responsibility of the Crown still remained intact in respect of the Assets • Board. He thought he should speak plainly, so that there would be no'mistake afterwards. If they did not say anything it would be taken that the Government tacitly agreed with what was being done. At the same i time, he might say that no one was better ! pleased than himself at the success of the bank. I Mr Pirani expressed surprise a* the new dictum of the Premier that it was necessary to pay eff debts before declaring a dividend or going in for further expenditure. If that principle applied to the colony, What would happen to the proposal to establish a line of steamers to carry the.co-' lony's produce to outside markets. It was, he understood, proposed to spend four millions in this direction, and the colony was not asked to pay off a'fcs debt first. Surely they could not. ask the bank to conduct its business on different lines from those of, the colonial Government. Ho con- ! sidered it an improper thing/to ask the House to criticise the bank on hearsay evidence: He did not'think that the directors would dream of paying a dividend under present circumstances, as it was probable that within two years they, would have to come to the House for a renewal of the large guarantee. Mr James Allen said that he regarded •the Premier's statement as very damaging to the bank. It was provided) in the Banking Act of 1895 that the bank could pav a dividend in due course, but he took the Premier's remarks to imply a threat to repeal these clauses. (Mr Seddon: "No.") Ha considered that the Premier's statement would do a great deal of harm to the bank, and dishearten the shareholders and .those who were administering the bank's affairs. The Premier, in replying, admitted that the bank could'pay a dividend in due course, but he thought it was better that they should not do so. If the directors paid a; dividend in. the- present circum-j stances of the bank 'they would be liable under; the existing commercial law. The j Chairman some time ago mads a statement i that the bank might' be able to pay a dividend, but he* subsequently withdrew it, as he found that, it had led to some misapprehension. He (Mr,Seddon), could tell the House that there was no intention to amend or-.repeal any of the provisions of the Banking Act, and there was nothing behind the statement he had'made: It'was quite clear that in two years or-*so«the Legislature would have to renew or extend the time and position in respect of the colony's guarantee. The liability of the colony, through the ' Assets Realisation Beard, still remained, as very little had been, paid off. He to s ay that he did not think that the bank would cost the colony a penny piece, notwithstanding the great obligation it owed to the colony. The action of the Legislature had saved millions of money, and averted financial disaster. Ib face of the fact that the bank's shares were going to a fictitious value, he thought it better for him to stand up manfully ar.d' state the tme position of affairs. The payment of a dividend by Hie bank was not mandatory, and'the statement that had obtained circulation might lead to'expectations that might not be realised. It had already led to speculation, and it was better to do as.hs had done than allow the statement to go unchecked.' He complimented the bank and its officers on the success of the business, and said, that the appointment of Mr M'lntosh as"'Government Auditor was one- of the best things that ever happened to'the bank and the colony. Never s'nee its inception was the BanK of New Zealand in a better position, than at the present time.. The Premier's motion was agreed to on the voices. < LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted for one week to Mr M'Nab and Mr R. M'Kenzie, and for three days to Mr Rhodes. BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Duneam City and Suburban Tramway "Act, 1900, Amendment ('Mr Millar),' Dunedin Water Works Extension'(Mi-Millar), xempleton Domain Board Empowering (Mr G. W. Russell), School,Attendance (Mr Pirani), Libel No. a, (Mr .Carnoross),; Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration (Right Hon R. J. Seddon). THE OPHIR. j'''The Premier, in reading a telegram with regard to tie arrival of the Tagus, mentioned the refusal of the commander of the Ophir to take his vessel into southern harbours, and ben- he;.and Sir Joseph Ward strongly condemned that officer's attitude as being entirely unnecessary and uncalled for. QUESTIONS. In reply to- questions, it was stated that the Referendum Bill would supply machinery to enable electors to express th air opinion on the question of Bible reading in schools; the Premier said that he was opposed to tnf introduction of Bible reading in schools. That Lord Roberts had recommended a successor to Colonel Pole •Penton as Commandant of the Forces, and an announcement on the subject would be made to the House next day; the/new commandant would nob be one of our own men. That it was unreasonable at this early stage of the session to ask the Government to commit itself on the question of further reducing the duties on the neces--1 saries of life.' That inquiries were being made as to the erection of a sanatorium at Mount Egmont. That the present system of military drill -in public schools would be continued and extended. .EARLY SITTINGS: . ' Sir Joseph Ward moved, that until'fur-

ther ordered this session, on tw-o of the days set apart for Government business the House should meet at 10.30 a.m. and rise at 10.30 p.m. The motion was. agreed to on the voices, practically -without discussion. THE ROYAL VISIT. On the motion of Mr Monk, a return was ordered to be laid before the House showing in detail the expenditure by the Government in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.-30 p.m. WORKERS RIGHT OF APPEAL. Mr Palmer moved the second reading of the Workers Right of Appeal Bilk, to provide for workers the right of appeal to the Supreme Court, or Appeal Court, without being called upon to find securitv for the costs of such appeal. He explained that the Bill was intended to facilitate a certain class of people getting their wrongs remedied without having to proceed "in forma pauperis. An appeal could not be made under the Bid unless good grounds were diown therefor, and every safeguard had been provided to 'prevent a frivolous appeal _ . _ - Mr Hemes objected to facilities being granted to one. class which were not open to another class. He could not see why a man working for wages should get any advantage as a litigant over a man who, perhaps, was equally impecunious, but happened to be working on his own. account. He could not see any equity 'audi right in, that. -..,-,, ~. ... Mr Bollard said that he believed in a, worker having every facility given him, but he failed to see why he should receive the advantage proposed by the Bill ■Mr R. Thompson hoped that the Grovernmont would carefully look into this xneaMr Massev regarded the Bill as being of a one-sided nature. It was class legislation of the very' -worst character, and he would oppose it. ' Mr G. W. Russell said that he regretted that tlie- House had not had a lead from, the Treasurv Benches on a Bill of this nature. He" knew of no request from the workers themselves for a Bill of this kind, and he- condemned it as an unnecessary piece of class legislation, Captain Russell asked how many appeals which were made from the lower to the higher Courts- were successful, and yet here was increased facility being offered for a poor wretched man to get into the hands of an unscrupulous lawyer, in the hopes of getting something out o-f a.n appeal to the higher Courts. The Bill would be of no real advantage to the workers. Messrs Napier, Collins and Tanner spoke strongly against the Bill. ■.,.,-,. Mr Palmer, in replying, said that the point all the speakers in the debate had missed was that the worker could not appeal unless he had a good case. On a' division the second reading was negatived by 29 to 20, and the Bill was thus thrown out. COUNTIES. Mr Buddo moved the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, to amend j Section 3 of the Counties Act Amendment \ Act, 1899, and to prevent the main Act | from affecting the powers or jurisdiction of the South Waimakariri River Board m re- j spect of the control or maintenance of the Waimakairiri River. He said that this Bill j was dimply carrying out tha intention of the Act 1 of 1899. . The second reading was agreed to on the voices, without debate. .THE RABBIT NUISANCE. Mr Hogg moved tho second reading of the Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment _Bm, to amend the Rabbit Nuisance Act, 18&VS. He said that since the principal Act was passed the rabbit nuisance had h.een very effectivelv suppressed in various parts of ] the colony, and there was no longer a necessity for drastic legislation. , The whole object of the Bill was to bring the Act j into conformity with the rest of our statutes. -It would enable an adjudicating Magistrate to weigh the evidence before him and'fulfil his ordinary functions. At the present time, if the officer prosecuting was of opinion that his mandate had not been carried out,', the Magistrate was bound to convict, however overwhelming the evidence to the contrary might be. ; The Hon T. Duncan said that he had not altered his opinion, in regard to ft-bib measure, and he still considered that it was not required. The law at the present time was working -airly- well, an d te.did not think that the member for Masterton could show that any man had been convicted Who was not a delinquent. At any rate he thought the BUI should go *>efoie the Stock Committee, and he would be satisfied with the decision of the commitA long debate followed, in which various aspects of the rabbit nuisance were discussed. Nearly 'all the speakers expressed themselves in favour of the Bill. The only speeches in opposition to the measure came from the Hon J. M'Gowan and : Captain Russell, the latter holding that before repealing the-clauses objected to a better case should be made out by the opponents of those clauses. Mr Hogg, in replying, said that it would be a waste' of effort and time to refer the Bill to the Stock Committee. On a division the second reading was carried bv 36 to 10. The motion by the Hon T. Duncan to refer the Bill'to the Stock Committee was lost on the voices. CEMETERY TRUSTEES. The Hon T. Duncan moved the second reading of the Cemetery Trustees Validation Bill to validate the appointment of certain cemetery trustees. Agreed to on the voices. AUCTIONS. The Land and Live Stock Auctions Bill was read -a second time pro forma, on the motion of the Hon T. Duncan, and re-, ferred to the Stock Committee. THE ROYAL VISIT. The Local Authorities Indemnity Bill was amended in committee, to include Drainage Boards among the local bodies affected by the Bill. The Bill was put through all its stages without debate. THE REFERENDUM. The Premier replied on the motion for the second reading of the Referendum Bill. He said that Captain Russell had accused him of not being serious in connection with tho measure. The same thing had been said of other measures that he had introduced and that had become law—the women's suffrage, old age pensions, and others. . Captain Russell had said that the people would, in ignorance, pass ill-digested legislation, but the people of New Zealand were well up on the questions of the day. ■ «» The motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices. POLICE OFFENCES. The Hon J. M'Gowan moved the second reading of the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill to amend the Act of 1884 in the direction of further defining offences as to breach of the peace,' and extending the section as to idle and disorderly persons. Mr Wilford objected to the priciple of the Bill, anct said that if tho Minister would set to work to amend anomalies in the, principal Act, instead of trying to create new offences, he would be doing some good. He would do hits utmost to prevent the passage of tho Bill. After considerable debate the second reading was carried by 36 to 5. The House rose at 12.20 a.m.