PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9590, 6 September 1913, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Put Pmss Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. The Legislative Council met at.-2.d0 p. in. Hon. 11. D. Bell moved that the (.'oiinci! do not insist- on the amendment* made in the Industrial t&nciliation and Arbitration Amendment llill, explaining that the amendments made gave the mcosur« a wider effect than was contemplated. Hon. J. E. Jonkineon contended that the amendments should be insisted on. Managers should appointed to confer with the lloua* on points of difference. Hon. J. A. Burr uiid lion. John Paul argued that the amendments of I lis Council enlarged the scop» of conciliation, and should theroforo bo insisted upon. Hons. liarnshaw, Samuel, and C. M. Luke contended that by giving an industrial agreement the place of an award an injustice might bo inflicted upon persons who wor'o not parties to th« agie»?meiit. Tho Minister's motion wa* carried by 16 to 13.

HOCSIC OF REPRESENTATIVES

PUBLIC TRUST REPORT.

Tlmj Houso met nt 2.30 p.m. Speaking to a motion by Mr Geo. Lauroiiton. seeking information regarding the annual report of the Public Trust Office, Hon..A. L. llcrdman said lie took full responsibility for not .laying the report liefore tli? House. It was not. as had lieen alleged, a universal custom to lav the re* port ou the table.. He considered the rel>ort furnished by tli.i Public Trustee a confidential document, and it should not go l:e-1 foro the lfouse. Any report to treated should not contain items of poluy, but only a review of thb years work. The j Public Trustee hud no right to discuss suinc of the quertious ho had done They were iiurely matb rs for Ministers of the Crown. It was very Obvious from what had transpired recently that someone in the printing office or Public Trubt Ofiice had committed a very grave Breech of faith The fnet that a garbled report appeared in the New Zealand Times wan evidence tlu'.t iomeone had betrayed his trust. THE ESTIMATES. The llouso then went into Committee on the Estimates.

At Class 5, Public Buildings, Domains, and Maintenance of Roads, £116,569—Mr Russell moved to reduce the vote by £45,00G for the maintenance of roods, as un indication that fftller details should bo given. On being assured that tho Minister would supply details, Mr Russell said he would not pursue tliat. course. He asked whether the Government intended to go on with the proposed motor car tax to assist in the maintenance of roads.

Hon Fraser (Minister for Public Works), replying, said the question of a motor car tax "was not in his department, but he understood motor car owners desired to be taxed in order to properly maintain the roads tlicy used. The vote passed unaltered. Class 6, Native Department. £24,724, was then considered.

Mr T. M. Wilford suggested that the vote should be held over to allow two of the four native members in the House who were away (one through illiess and the other owing co being occupied on public being present to watch the interests of their people. Other members upheld the attitude adopted by Mr Wilford. Dr. Pomare said there were two native members present. It could not be said that those members would not conserve the riulits of their people. 'Hon. W. H. He.ries said that if jho native members hud given notice that they desired to have the estimates postponed he would have done so. He was bringing down a Native Dili this session, and the whole ul)airs of the native race would be thoroughly discussed when thai measure camo before tlui House. He would say that he, as Minister of Native Affairs, or as private 'member, had anything detrimental to the native race. He had. cs a matter of fact, on more than one occasion, been against his party on matters affecting the native race. . ' Mr C. Pnrata advocated the abolition of the N't live Department, and the putting of Native Affairs under the Justice Department. Me protested against the small salary of £330 provided for'the Chief Clerk. The Minister said tho question of salary was in the melting pot. The position of ■liici Clerk was varant Owing' to the death of the Int.. Mr Cordon. His successor had to lie appointed, and his salary would be fixed bv the Civil Service Commissioners. Mr T. Wilford asked ihe Minister whether Mr Guillenian, who had been acting Chief Clerk for some months, could be superseded by tho Commissioners without any power of interlerenca on tho pait of tho Minister.

Mr Hcrrics replied that fust was so. Mr Witty said 'hat it on»> proved tho fully of handing the Civil Service ovei o Commissioners. Mr KU twitted tin; Minister with being placed in an abject position, having t>> go •;i]> in hand to *n outside body as to what wa'i to lie done about the uppointnient of its own odicors. . , Mr G. W. Russell complained of the paucity of information given to the House ■lbiiut native nfiai's. No papers were available. Only 31,055 acres of native land had been settled, against. 9M95 dtirinp the last year of the Ward Administration. I Ins .vas taili'ia with a vuigwieo Mr 0 Paruta contended that the natives, not be in' 4 ablo to deal with their lands ss Europenus. should not be taxed. Not ino.-> than 2nO out of 50.000 natives yere capable of ma'in« r iii ,r tiieir own affairs on an c>jual■ity with'the pakeli.r, Legislation placing them on the same footing as the pake.ia would mean the dprtruciion of the race. Mr G Lau ronton said that at the present rate of the disposal of native lands, m| twenty-four years the Maoris would not « have an acre left. On the vote for Maori ( ouneils, Mr I arata raised the Question of appointmjt inspectors to see that sanitary precautions > wore observed. In the past, the Minister said, the question was one of exponse. Mo would sro into it with the Minister for Health and Dr. Poiuaro, and something could bo done to make the working of the j Councils more effective. Ihe class was »• i i

hen passed. , » y„ On class 7, the Justice Department. Mi VVilford drew attention to the appropriaion bv the Crown of part of the salary •arned bv clerk* of court as clerks of licen„ng committees. The Mmister said no complaints had reached him. Mr \ulfoid also com pi ni nod that a rlerk of the court had been appointed at Dannovirke who had passed no examinations, and had been referred to others who had passed examinations and had longer service. Hon. A L Ilerdmai; replied that no injustice had been done. The appointment was a perfcctlx proper & When the telegraph office at Z o'clock the I louse was still dircuKing the Curton* and Marine, on the vote for the Government steamers, the Minister (Mr Fisher) said nothing would be done this year, but m*< year i would bo neccssarv to provide ano.hor sffftflMi I take the place of the llincmoa. which wa. rnpidlv looming unsafe in » heavy *'*• The' House adjourned at i.ZS.