PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12587, 23 August 1901, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, August 22. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. The Public Petitions Committee reported that it had no recommend'ation to make on the petition of the Napier Women's Christian Temperance Union asking for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act. The petition of Samsons and Sons, and Blackwood Bros., Dunedin, for compensation on account of businesses closed through the Dunedin Corporation establishing abattoirs, was referred! to the Joint Stock Committee.

In the course of a short discussion several councillors said d&ab they recognised that these firms had no legal claim, but tile question of equity was admitted. INTRODUCTION OF DISEASES!

The Hon H. Eeldwick moved —"That with a view to preventing the introduction of malarial fever and measles in the colony through the medium of returned South African troopers and their clothing, the Public Health Committee be appointed to take evidence and report" After a discussion-, in which, the hope was expressed that such a motion, which was calculated to create a scare, would nab be passed, the mover withdrew it. The Minister of Education assured Councillors that attention having been called to the matter the Health Department would take every precaution to prevent outbreaks through the causes indicated in the motion.

SHOPS AND OFFICES. The Shops and Offices Bill was considered in committee. The Hon J. M. Twomey moved to strike out Clause 14, which exempts persons of New Zealand and European extraction having fruit, confectioners or fishmongers shops, or railway bookstalls from the statutory half holiday, whilst nob exempting shopkeepers of other nationalities. ■ Mr Twomey said that such a distinction would be a blot on the. Statute Book.

The Hon J. E. Jenkinson urged that the clause was the only means of getting at Chinamen who sold, not only fruit, -out other goods. The motion was 'lost on the casting vote of the Chairman.

In Clause relating to the wages of shop assistants on half-holidays, the Hon W. M. Bolt moved an additional clause, to provide payment also for the special holidays specified in Section 15 of the Bill. The amendment was opposed on the ground that it would breed discontent among employers, and was losb by 15 to 20. The Hon J. E. Jenkinson moved an additional clause, providing that no female assistant shall be employed in hotel bars after 9 p.m.

This was under discussion when the Council adjourned to 7.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m., in coanmi'bbee on the Shops and Offices BUI. Considerable discussion took place on Clause 18, which provides for a weekly half for hotel assistants. The discussion was brought on by a motion by the Hon D. Pinkeinton that hotels should be exempt from the compulsory half-holiday clause. He contended that the inclusion of hotels was merely a burlesque on labour legislation, and if the clause was carried it would disarrange the whole working of hotels and cause great public inconvenience. Other Councillors supported the clause, urging that hotel servants and barmaids worked-excessively long hours. On ai division, the motion to exempt hotels was lost by 15 to 4. A discussion arose on a further amend* ment moved by the Hon J. E. Jenkinson as an addition to Clause 18, to provide that no female assistant. shall be employed in any hotel bar after 9 p.m.

In the course of the discussion the Hon G. Jones, in supporting the motion-, referred to the liquor trade as a. detestable traffic.

The Hon C. Louisson contended that the words were unparliamentary. The Chairman (the Hon Captain Baillie) ruled that the words were objectionable, and asked Mr Jones to withdraw the expression. On Mr Jones declining to withdraw, a motion by the Minister of Education that he should be reported to the. Speaker for disobeying the Chairman's ruling was carried on the voices.

The committee then reported progress on the Bill, and the Council adjourned to next day. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 22. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m., Mr Guinness in the chair. PETITIONS. Mr M'Guire presented a petition from the prohibitionists of Tairanaki, pointing out the injury caused ito the Native race by their drinking habits, which 'the petitioners say are destroying them morally and socially. BILLS.

The Hon J. M'Gowan gave notice to introduce the Second-hand Dealers Bill, and the Premier the Opium Prohibition BUI. The Nelsom Harbour Board' Act, 1900, Amendment Bill (Sir Joseph Ward), Maori Lands Administration Act, 1900, Amendmietnlb Bill (Horn J. Cairoli), and Stamp Act Amendment Bill (Horn J. Carroll) were introduced and read a first time. Bills to extend the Westknd and Nelson Coal-fields Administration Act, 1877, and to aimiend the Coal Mines Act, 1891, were introduced by Governor's Message, and read! a,first time.

PROPOSED COMPENSATION. The Public Petitions Committee recommended thaifc the ■widow of Constable Luke M'Donnell (who recently died at Auckland, as the result of disease contracted while on duty at the wreck of the Wairarapa), should be paid a sum equal to three years' salary of her late husband. Several members urged th'ait the .Government should be generous in. its treatment of the widow a,nd children of a public officer who had contracted a .fatab illness in the execution of his duty.

The 'Hon J. 'M'tGowon said' that he could mot allow ami impression, to get abroad that the Govei-nmietofc Ihiadl not acted liberally in thus case. The constable had been paid full salary up to the time oi his 'death, and his widow had now been appoiwteicll prison matron), which was a- good position! for fhler. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.

The repo-rb of the Publiio Accounts Commitboa ia regard to five cases between the Audit Office andl itlhe Treasury Department, under Section l ' 9 of the Public Revenues Act, 1900, was read. In four of the oases the committee reported tbait they saw no reason far proceeding further :in the miatter. im'bhe fourth case the committ'© repotted th: t in their -opinion the -action of the Contiroller an'd Audibor-Giemeral was unnecessary, as the moneys were properly paid into the Treasury. Mr James Allen, speaking to the report, said that .the Auditor-General 'objected to •oEirbain services rendered by the Tutanekai in conveying volunteers to Sydney for the Commonwealth inaugural celebrations being charged to, the 'Marine Department. The miatter arose out of the amendments made last year in the Public Revenues Act.

The vote for the services rendered by the Tubanebai ought to have been repaid! to the Marine Department by the Department for which the service was actually rendered. There was no vote on the Estimates for any Depairtm'em't. The services were rendered and .charged) to the Marine DepaitaKint instead of being charged to unauthorised! experaaiture. It was useless, he said, for tiiim to move that the report should ba referred back to the Public Accounts Committee.

The Premier said that except so far as the fourth case was concerned, the Public Accounts Committee had not dee.rn.ed it necessary to call evidence. There was provision on. last year's Estimates for the Tutanekai'a trip to Sydnev, in that a vote had been passed for " services to Government steamers within and without the colony." It was not contemplated, if the necessity arose for sending the Government steamers beyond the colony, that the coal, food' and equipment necessary, would bo provided by PaT-liaiment. The re-fund to the Marine Department for the services rendered l was not a question for the Con-troller-General, but for the Administration.

A long discussion ensued, which was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the report of the 1 Public Accounts Committee was coetinmeidj: Mr W. Eraser said] that members would mot look back with pride ora -their action in amending the Public Revenues Act last selss-ion. The Premier: "None of them would repeal it." Mr Eraser: "I hope we will get a chance. For the crediit of Paxliamenib 1 hope the Premier will bring down a repealing Bill." He went on to say that the -report of the committee was a reflection on the Auditor-General, and he protested against such a report being presented. .uur Napier said that he regarded the Public Revenues Act of last s&ssi'on with great sa'tdsfadtdon. Its principle was that the people of the colony, through their representatives, should disburse the public revenues of the colony without th& intervention of any officer or bureaucrat. The pretention of the Auditor-General were inconsfebenib with a free democracy. Mr Pirani characterised Mr Napier's remarks on the Publia 'Revenue Act as utter nonsense, tand said that Mr Napier ought to know that it was unconstitutional for the Auditor-General to pass a payment which was mio'b embodied in the Acts. The Hon W.' HaiM-Jonitis said that before the Pufolio Revenue Act Amendment Act of last session was passed, constitutional govemimient did not exist in New Zealand, because thte Audiitor-General was trying to usurp the functions 'of the representatives of the people. Parliament should be su prenie, and he objected to the attempt that was being made to interfere with the authority of-Parliament. Mr Monk declared that the power to control the Auditor-General was gained by the £4O vote given to members last session—(Honourable Members: "No, no") —and the House was becoming so demoralised that he believed for another £4O it would repeal Magna Charta. Mr A. L. D. Fraser strongly resented these charges being levelled broadcast aigainst members, and said he would nob sit in his seat in the House and silently listen to them..

Mr Hutcheson said that if '•■ any Government wanted his support it would first hatve to repeal that vicious, dishonest, and iniquitous measure known as the Public Revenues Act, 1900. He complained that in the present state of the law there was no control whatever over irregular expenditure.

Mr Coffins reminded the House that he h'adi opposed the Public Revenues Act last session', and! he said that he had failed to learn anything which justified the House in .passing that measure. Mr Herries urged 'that the Publio Revenues Aab should be repealed. He said that he believed that the country was ogaiinist the Psemfier on this poior.. He considered that the Auditor-General was perfectly within his rights in attaching the " tag'-' he dDd to the Tutanekai's expenses. !

Mr G. W. Russell admitted that &ome o.' the clauses in the Public Revenues Act were necessary, but that others weire utterly objectionable, and that it was a most danger ous principle that a vote of the House could over-ride statute law. It was a; tremendous power to place qq the hands of any Premier. He urged thei repeal of Abe objectiocalble portion of tlha Act.

Mr Hogg supported the Public Revenues Act, and mainbainied that the law wa* good. Mr Massey said that he was not present when tihe Public Revenues Act was before ParKaanent, and he had refused to have anything to do with the £4O additional honorarium of members.

'Mr Eil objected to> the. Public Revenues Act, because it gave more power to the Executive, which, in his opinion, already had too much power. ■ Mr Smith comid!emm.'ed the Public Revenues Act, «umd said th'at he -would vote for its l'epeal. Mr Fisher (chairman, of the Public Accounts Commit/bee) said that he regretted that the afternoon) and eveming had) been wasteid on a. purposeless and' irritating debate. He held! that 'the Public Revenues Act, 1900, was not defective, amid! that it gave mo undesirable power to the Treasurer or the Governor, bub ieiven if it were defective, members on the Opposition! side were as much responsible for it as the Giverniment and' Government supporters. He declared, in view of what had! transpired at meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, that without the ameradtoemt of the Public Revenues Act carried last session, it would be impossible for the Govenniment to propEtrly and safely transact the financial business of the country. Things tod reached. such «, stage in i-egai<dl to the Auditor-Gene-ral's differences with the Tncaisury that the initerrontiioiiii of ParMarn'Ont was absolutely raeicessary, and he hoped) that 'the Act would not bo repealed. The motion that the report of the committee shou'Tld lie on the table was then carried by 39 to 11. COURSE OF BUSINESS.

The Premier announced that he proposed to-morow to put through an Imprest Supp'.y Bill, and then to begin the Financial debate at 7.30. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

The Premier moved that the amendments made in committee in the Government Advances to Settlers Extension' Bill should be agreed to. A long debate ensued, and was proceeding when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m.