PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12586, 22 August 1901, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE 1 COUNCIL. Wednesday, August 21. AFTERNOON SITTING The Council met at 2,50 p.m. GAMING AND LOTTERIES. The Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. IMPORTED HORSES.

. The Hon J. D. Ormond moved for a return of all sire horses imported by the. Government to date, with the cost landed in the colony, the place where each horse is stationed, and the fees. The mover, said that there were many better horses in, the colony 'than those imported, and he doubted whether sufficient care had been taken in selecting the horses imported. Tire Minister of Education said that the horses were selected by the best man in the Government’s service, and the horses were carefully chosen, with a view to introducing the best new blood strains. He promised to furnish the return asked for. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS.

The Hon J. D. Ormond’s motion, asking for a* return showing the quantity and nature, of 'the lands purchased under the Land for Settlements Act, was further' discussed, and carried. BILLS. The Wellington Harbour Board Act, 1879, Amendment Bill passed its final stages. A motion by the Hon W. C. Walker, that the Council should not insist on its amendments in the Land for. Settlements Act. Amendment Bill, was carried. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Wednesday, August 21

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. In the absence of Sir (Maurice O’Rorke, Mr Guinness took the chair. BILLS. a

The Hon J. Carroll' gave notice to introduce the Maori Lands Administration*Act Amendment Bill. .

The Greytown Reserves Vesting and Disposal Enabling Bill, and Levels and Waimate Counties Boundaries Bill were introduced, and read a first time. questions.

Replying to questions, the Premier, who was asked if he would consider the advisability of amending the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act with a view of making it clear as to whether farm labourers came under the provisions of the Act, said that he was quite satisfied that the Act did not apply to that class of labour, and that it was owing to the action of self-interested insurance agents that an impression to the contrary 'effect had been spread amongst the farmers.

Other- Ministers replied to questions, stating that funds were not at present available for establishing an iron foundry at the Hillside Workshops. That an effort would be made to have the Native names oi railway stations correctly spelt. . That enquiries would be (made as -to the necessity of erecting a lighthouse at Oeo Point, Tarairaki. That the question of pay and nours of service of attendants at lunatic asylums was under the consideration of the Government.

Ini reply to a question as to how at was that 81 artisans and 1062 labourers are employedl on the North Island -Main Trunk Railway Line while only 18 artisans and 404 labourers are employed on the , Midland Railway Line, 9 artisans and 248 labourers on the Blenheim-Waipara Line, and 36 artisans and 484 labourers on the Otago Central Line, the Hon W. Hall-Jones said that the facilities for placing men oh the ground and importance of the work were the reasons why the North Island! Trunk Line was bo fully manned. Other questions .©Edited ‘answers that in the ©vent of the Government acquiring 16,000 acres of the Lyndon Estate, a report would he obtained on. the advisability, of reserving land for a railway from Oulverde® to Hanmer Plains. That the Native Land Administration Act passed last session would shortly he -brought into force. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. *

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m, RABBIT NUISANCE.

The House went into committee on Mi Hogg’s Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill.

In reply to -Mr Meredith, the Hon T. Duncan said that he did! not think that the Bill -was required, and that if it passed rabbits would become os great a nuisance as -they had been in the .past, and that great depreciation! in the value of pastoral property would follow. Under tha Bill he believed that it would be impossible to get a conviction against am owner of property who neglected 'to deal with * the pest. He moved to report progress on the Bill. The morion was negatived on 'the voice®. On the clause which repeals section 9 of the Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1882, and enacts in its stead that if, in the opinion of the Magistrate, an occupier fails to take steps to destroy rabbits he shall be liable to a penalty, a discussion of some length ensued.

Captain Russel contended that it would be a retrograde step ilf it were left to a Magistrate to de-aids upon the evidence adduced only whether rahbits were a nuisance, and that the drastic provision of the present Act, in accepting, the evidence of m inspector, was necessary to prevent the spread of the evil.

'Mr M’Eab • reprobated! the provision iti wo Act of 1882 making to inspector’s evidence final as to whether or not rabbits existed on a property. In spite of all that had been said' against the Bill, he hoped that it would! pass. ' . Mr T. M’Kenziio safid! that he thought it Contrary to the spirit of British law that a man should be fined upon the unsupported testimony of am inspector. 'He was of opinion, however, that as the export trade in rabbits increased the nuisance would therebv be kept -within bounds. Mr W. Fraser said that he was opposed to anything that would! detract from the DepantmiEint’s effort to stamp out the rabbit nuisance, but he thought that the power vested in inspectors was too drastic. The Hon W. J. Steward 1 said that settlers were of opinion that legislation with respect to the suppression of rabbits was now no longer necessary, and they, were strongly opposed' to the aniti-B-rtesh policy of oendeuming a man unheard. The Hon J. M’Govran said that ho thought that itha question was on© of sheep versus rabbits, and he believed! that so long as at paid settlers to export rabbits, it was more than human to expect that vigilant steps Would be taken to destroy them. After considerable discussion, that portion of the clause repealing Section 9 of the Act of 1882 was struck out, upon Mr Hogg intimating that a new clause making general provision for the repeal of conflicting 'portions of the principal Act and its amendments would he added to the Bill. Clause 2, as amended, was agreed to. A new clause was added, on the motion of Mr Hogg, to provide that after one month from the date of a conviction, if, in the opinion of the adjudicating Magistrate the occupier of the land has failed to take diligent steps for the destruction of rabbits, a further penalty not- exceeding B?.0 per month, and not less than £5, may be imposed 1 . • A new repeal clause was also added, in accordance with Mr Hogg’s intimation. The Bill was, .then reported. PUBLIC WORKS ON GOLDFIELDS. Mr Jackson Palmer moved the 'second reading of the Local Bodies Goldfields Public Works and Loans Bill, to facilitate the construction by local bodies of public works in gold-mining districts, and! the rasing of money therefor. He said that he thought that ths Bill should go before the.

Public Accounts Committee, and he therefore moved the second reading pro forma. Mr Guinness, acting Speaker, pointed out that as this was a loan Bill it could only be introduced by Governor's message. It could not ba introduced without the consent of the Crown.

• Mr Palmer said that he had brought the Bill under the notice of Sir Maurice O’Rorke, who had told him that it could be' gone on with. Mr Guinness retorted that he had nothing to do with any private ruling. He adhered to his ruling that the Bill could nob proceed without the consent of the Crown, but in order that the honourable member might have an opportunity to further consider the matter, he suggested the pos+nonement of the second reading. 1 Palmer adopted this suggestion, and the Bill was postponed for three weeks. EIGHT HOURS. A motion for the further consideration in Committee of Mr G. W. Russell’s Eight Hours Bill was negatived by 32 to 20. SHOPS AND SHOP ASSISTANTS. Mr Barclay’s Shops and Shop Assistants Act, 1894, Amendment Bill, was further considered in Committee. Clause 4, which proposes 'to give domestics servants a weekly half-holiday, was discussed at great length. Eventually Mr Barclay agreed to abandon that portion of the Bill relating to domestic servants, in order to save the rest of the Bill.

Clauses 4 and 5 were thereupon struck out.

Clause 6, which provided that the Act should be incorporated with the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, 1894, and its amendments, was also struck out. The Bill was then reported with amendments. The House rose at 12.15 a.m.