HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 11 September 1908, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. Mr Laurenson presented a petition - bearing 11,259 signatures, praying for 3 tho repeal of compulsory vaccination. On tho report of the Petitions Coms mittce. the late manager of the Wera- . roa State Farm and Industrial School, ' for redress, the committee had no recommendation to make. s Mr Lawry said Walker had been one * of the most competent officers the State l ever had. but having incurred the dis- ' P^-furo or animosity of a Government 3 official, he had been dismissed without 1 anv reason being assigned, and a satelf lite cf Mr G. Fowlds, who knew noj thine about farming, had been put in . his place. He asserted this was the . most disgraceful job ho had ever heard •i. ' Mr Hanan ,the Chairman of the Edut cation Committee, said there was no 1 claim for wrongful dismissal in Wal- ? ker's position, but only claiming for al--3 leeed defamaton of character. Mr Hanan b objected to the House being used as a _ Supremo Court to hear an action for det f.imation of character. If the petitioner was airericvcd. he had tho usual remedy. Thc report was referred back to the ( Committee. The Impounding Act Amendment Bill was reported from committee with- J r out ameiimdcnts. I ' In committee on the Agricultural ' Pi-educe Sale and Importation Bill, Mr • McNab explained the object of the i measure was to induce indent agents L to exercise proper care against felling anv produce which they had reasonable . . <-aiiso to believe contained seed of in- ; iurious plant or to be affected with anv disease. Mr Donald Reid moved an amendment to clause 3, by adding after the , word "seed" the words "in a state fit to germinate." This was agreed to, and the House rose at 5.30 p.m. Tho House resume.! at 7.30, when t the Agricultural Produce Sale and Im- ) Dortation Bill was reported with amend- . ments. > Mr J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Inspection of Machinery Amendment Act, which extends the definition of boilers and machinery for inspection purposes, and requires a certi- ' fieated engineer to be in charge of en- . gine and boiler. Various other amendments of the principal Act are included 1 in the direction of bringing the law more into conformity with the exigencies of the present conditions and latest developments. Mr Maesey thought the Bill was a eood one. but said that under it windmills would have to be inspected, and that seemed unnecessary. He thought also harvesting machinery would have to be inspected. Mr Massey also critirified somo of the technical provisions of the Bill, and thought the schedule of fees was too heavy. He Insisted upon the necessity- of inspecting the boilers of steam trolleys, urging everything should be done necessary for the public safety, and nothing harassing to the owners of machinery. In the course of the discussion which ensued, it was stated that license fees would be harassing to industries with verv small appliances. The necessity was emphasised for an examination test for driving motor cars, also a speed limit for motor cars. The Bill was reported, and the House adjourned at 11.57 p.m.