PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12573, 7 August 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, August 6. ' AFTERNOON SITTING. SHOPS AND OFFICES. The Coupcil met at 2.30 p^an. The Labour Bills Committee brought down its report on the Shops, and Offices Bill. Generally speaking, the- wholesale warehouse clauses are struck out, but the sanitation and extra time book provisions still apply to warehouses. Bank and insurance officials remain within the scope of the Bill. To the interpretation of “ shop ” is added, a proviso that it shall not include any warehouse doing wholesale business. Under the heading of hours of employment in shops, it is provided that all shpps shall he closed at six o’clock in the evening on 'four working days in each week, and at one o’clock in the afternoon on the statutory closing day, and shall remain closed during the rest of the day. Under the same head it is provided that a shop assistant shall not be employed in or about a shop or its business for more than five, hours (instead of four) except on the day when a half-holiday is observed, without an interval of at least one hour for a meal, nor at any time between the hours of six o’clock in the evening and half-past six (instead of eight) in the morning, except on Christmas Eve 'and on one day in each week. An extension of hours for stocktaking purposes is grantable on the written application of an occupier' and" shall not exceed four hours a day on thirty days in the year. Wages or salaries must be paid in offices at intervals not greater than a fortnight. In regard to as. to the employment of office assistants after office hours, the overtime provision in section 24 is struck <rat. The powers conferred on the inspector to take action to prevention unhealthy person working in a food shop are struck out, and instead it is provided that the inspector shall, -in such case, report the matter to the Public Health Officer, and a new clause provides that if any shop or office assistant is employed later than half an hour after the prescribed rime of closing the employer commits an offence. BILLS. The Ashburton County Council Empowering Act Amendment Bill and Woodville County Bill were read a second time. The Police Offences Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 2.52 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, August 6. / ' MORNING SITTING. The House met at 10.30 a.m. THE RHODES TRUST. The Rhodes Trust Bill was read a second time. , 'SALE OF PREVENTATTVES. The Premier gave notice to introduce the Exposure and Sale of Preventative's Prevention Bill. THE COAL, COMMISSION’S REPORT. When the report of the Coal Mines Commission was laid on the table, Mr Guinness presented a petition from the Wallsend miners, denying the statement of one of the witnesses that that mine was worked out. , ' THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In reply to Captain Russell, the Premier said that' if the Financial Statement was not brought down this week, it would be brought down, early next week. He remarked that he had been facb to face with difficulties that had; delayed it, and he' had once or twice indicated to the House the nature of those difficulties. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Ministers statedthat legislation was absolutely necessary to prohibit the sale of Maori curios and relics outside the colony. The Government had the matter under consideration, and legislation would be introduced/The formation of a national collection,'' illustrating the history of the Maori race, had also been decided , on by the Government, and Mr Stowell, of Hawera, was engaged in the work. As far as the Government was aware, the reforms established in the Stoke Orphanage were working very satisfactorily. It'was the intention of the Government to establish a Stats coal-mine. A site -was being selected, and Parliament would bo asked this session to give the necessary authority and appropriation to carry out the scheme. As far - as the Government wa/s conicomed, the naval and military land claims bad been finally settled, unless Parliament was determinied to re-open the matter. The 'Government intended to make inquiry into the difference of premium charges between the Government Accident Insurance Company and the Ocean Accident Insurance Company. The House rose at 1 p.m. AFTERNOON SITTING. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. .Mr James Allen, resumed the debate on the motion for the second reading of the Rating on Unimproved Values Act Amendment Bill. He held that there was no argument in favour of making the system compulsory. Mr Tanner said that he did not agree with the Bill in its present form, and reviewed its effects oh small farm tenants, who were already compelled to pay exhorbitanb rents, and who were liable under agreement for payment of rates. The Hon W. J. Steward said that he did not think it wise to force this law upon every part of the colony alike. The circumstances of various portions of the colony were so dissimilar that the provisions of any law should be elastic enough to meet these’ circumstances. Mr, Bollard said-that under this Bill, the wealthy man. would pay less than lie did now, while, on the other hand, the struggling settler -would pay more. Mr Fisher .supported the Bill, saying that it was not necessary to go beyond Eketahuna to see the evil results of the present system. There one man owned about onethird of the township, the progress of which was greatly retarded by that fact. Mr G. J. Smith opposed the Bill, and said that he believed that the Premier hoped that it would be killed. Mr W. Fraser said that- he thought that great injustice would be done to the owners of land in country districts by this Bill. Mr Hogg strongly supported the Bill. He did not believe that there was the slightest wish to go back to the old system' wherever this system bad been tried, Mr Millar said that he was prepared to accept the Bill if it applied to country districts, but-if towns were included within its operations he would strongly oppose the measure. Mr Monk held that the Bill would scarcely touch o' man who retained land for speculative purposes. He would vote against the Bill. Mr Meredith said that he was utterly opposed to the Bill, as under it taxation would bo thrown upon small farmers, whilst those who put their money into buildings, or any tiling of (bat kind, would escape,.,. Mr Lang said tbat be* had always supported the system of rating on unimproved values wherever it was permissible. Ho opposed the Bill because it was compulsory. - . Mr Massey said that he thought that

there was no justification for the proposal contained! in the Bill. Mr Flatraan- suggested that the voters nv any district should have power to protest against tins measure coming into force ia their district. . The Premier said that he had, m moving the second reading, promised to agree to this. Mr Flatman said that he would vote for the second reading of the Bill on this condition. Mr Bennett opposed the BillMr R. M’Kenzie said that he had always been in favour of rating on -the unimproved value, but he was opposed to it being made compulsory. , The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. , , >■ EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. POLICE OFFENCES. The amendments made by the Legislature Council in the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill were agreed to, the Hon J. M'Gowan remarking that he believed that the alterations were an, improvement on the measure as it left the Lower House. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. Mr Laurenson resumed the debate on the second reading of the Rating on Unimproved Values Act Amendment Bill, and supported the measure, quoting figures to show that under the proposed system taxation would be more equitable. Mr R. Thompson said that he did not sec the-necessity for the Bill. Mr Willis supported the Bill as likely to be of benefit to ail classes of the community. DEATH OF SIR JOHN MCKENZIE. At ,8.20 p.m., the Hori W. Hall-Jones moved the adjournment of the debate. The Premier then rose and announced to the House that he had received the following telegram;—“Father has- just passed away, at 7.30. His end was peace.—J. M’Kenzie. Ho moved the adjournment of ,the House, and added that later on he would move a further adjournment, as many members would like to pay their last respects to their old comi’ade. The adjournment was agreed to, and the House rose at 8.30 p.m. t