PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8661, 2 September 1891, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. press association.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday. The Council met at half-past two p.m. THE AUCTIONEERS RILL. The following were appointed to confer with the House on the Auctioneers Bill Messrs. Pollen, Stevens, and Shrimski. BILLS PASSED. The River Boards Amendment Bill and the Book Purchasers Protection Bill were read a third time and passed. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. Mr. Millar was appointed to act as Chairman of Committees in the absence of Captain Baillie. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. The Public Revenues Bill was further considered in committee. Clauses Ito SS were verbally amended. Clauses 94,95,96, and 97. were struck out, and schedules 1 and 10 slightly amended, and the Bill as amended was reported, and the third reading fixed for next day. AUCKLAND ELECTRIC LIGHTING BILL. The Auckland Electric Lighting Bill was read a first time. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES. The Customs and Excise Duties Bill was further considered in committee, reported without amendment, and ordered to be read a third time on Friday. The Colonial Secretary moved that the Bill be referred to a select committee. Agreed to. THE MINING BILL. Dr. Pollen moved the second reading of the Mining Bill, which he explained he had taken charge of at the request of the Colonial Secretary, who was overwhelmed with work. Dr. Pollen briefly explained the provisions of the Bill, which was, he remarked, the thirty-seventh Consolidated Mining Act which would have been passed in this colony. Sir G. Whitmore expressed a hone that the Select Committee on Mines and Goldfields would very closely scrutinise the Bill, mote particularly the clause relating to tributers. He thought that the eight hours* clause, and that relating to the prohibition ot females in or near a mine, most arbitrary. At this late period of the session he feared there would not be time to consider the Bill, which being of a consolidated nature, was necessarily of a most voluminous character. Mr. Stewart also referred to the bulky nature of the Bill, which, if it were to be carefully studied, would require at least a week to master it in all its details. The hon. gentleman at some length reviewed the Bill, and pointed out a number of defects in the partnership clauses. He expressed a hope that the Bill would receive the most careful consideration of the select committee. The Bill was read a second time rind referred to the Mines Committee. THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' BILL. The Colonial Secretary moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies' Amendment Bill. Mr. Stevens criticised the Bill, and in doing so remarked that the measure was of a permissive character. He remarked that even the restrictions of the existing Acts were in favour of the members of friendly societies, but the Bill went further and imposed obligations which really were oppressive, more particularly such as were provided for in clause 2. He altogether failed to see that the Bill was required, or was asked for. Referring to the sick fund, he expressed the opinion that if the Bill were passed it would not facilitate the existing arrangements between employers and employees. Believing this, as he did, he moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. Dr. Grace could not understand why it was that any politician should have deemed it advisable to bring in such a Bill as the one before the Council. He could not believe that the Attorney-General really believed in the Bill, which, as a matter of fact, practically did away with any chance of co-opera-tion as between employers and employees. It was, in his opinion, the duty of employers to assist their employees, but this Bill prevented any pleasant relations between them. Dr. Pollen opposed the Bill, as being calculated to set class against class. Mr. McLean objected to the Bill on the same grounds as those put forward by those members who had preceded him, and with regard to the co-operation of which they had heard so much, he said lie should be glad to throw all the companies in which he was interested into co-operative concerns, but he asked the Council would the suggested scheme -prove profitable? No. He could assert positively and without fear of contradiction that if the public could or would not subscribe in running companies co-operation would not pay. It was well known and acknowledged that the Union Company had never opposed their employees, and this was shown from the fact that since the last deplorable strike the men who then struck were only too glad to .-'again obtain employment in the company. He had no hesitation in saying that tne company had been conducted more as a national work than as a private company, and in this direction had effected more for the colony than even the Government railways. Much had been said of the monopoly of the Union Company, but he could assure the Council that there was a time when the shareholders had been obliged to pay out and receive nothing in return. He apologised to the Council for obtruding his remarks, but he felt obliged to do so ill order that he might point out why it was he opposed the Bill. He felt assured that the Union Company's system of assurance was a good system, and believing as lie did that things should be levelled up in favour of the working man and not depressed, he intended voting tor the amendment. On division the amendment was carried by 20 to 5, thus the Bill was killed. The following is the division listAyes (20).—Acland, Barnicoat, Bowen, Fulton, Grace, Hart, Holmes, Johnston, McLean,"Miller, Phara'/yn, Pollen, Reynolds, Stevens. Stewart, Swanson, Walker, ahawaha, Whyte, Williams. . ; . Noes (s).—Buckley, Dignan, Shrimski, Taiaroa, Wilson. the factories HILT.. The Factories Bill was further considered in committee, a verbal amendment being made in clause 31, ".Space to be allowed each worker." The Bill as amended was reported, and ordered to be read a third time next day. . Messrs. Swanson- and Mantell gave , notice to re-commit tho Bill, for the purpose of inserting new clauses., SHOP HOURS BTLL. - On the motion for the committal of the Shop Hours Bill, Dr. Pollen moved the adjournment •of the debate till the following'day. This was agreed to, and the Conned, at 4.55 p.m., adjourned to next day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tcksday. The House met at half-past two p.m. AUCKLAND ELECTRIC! LUIIITIM! I'.ILU The Auckland Electric Lighting Bill was read a third time and passed. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, it was stated that the Government were endeavouring to obtain ammunition for Martini-Henry rifles at a cheaper rate, and if they were successful rifle clubs would be given the advantages of the concession ; that the Government did not propose to ask for any vote this session to give assistance to nominated immigrants, but possibly a small sum might be set apart for the purpose of bringing out relatives of people already in the colony. LAND BILL. The Land Bill was re-committed. Clause 103 was amended, so as to provide for the ballot system in disposing of runs of 5000 acres. Clauses Mil to 170 were amended, consequently, to provide for the ballot system. Clause 2'M, Governor exclusively may purchase or lease native land under the Thermal Springs Act, ISSI, provoked a long discussion. • Mr. Carroll moved an amendment, that every existing lease should be validated, and this was agreed to. The House rose at five p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven. The Land Bill was reported, and on the motion for the third reading, Sir John Hall made a few remarks. He said the Premier was a strong believer in land nationalisation, and the Minister for Lands had openly stated that Crown grants would be unknown in fifty years. That being the case, the Government would no doubt go in the direction of withdrawing from future settlers the right of freehold, and to this he took strong exception for several reasons but he thought there was no more chance of the Minister for. Lands doing away with the desire that existed amongst the people for possessing freehold than there was of that estimable lady Mrs. Partington sweeping away the Atlantic with a broom. Messrs. Buckland, J. W. Thomson, and Valentine, in criticising the Bill, expressed regret that freehold tenure was about to be swept away. ' Mr. George Hutchison said the Bill was most unfortunate, not only as regarded altering the tenure of land, but also in respect to intemperate statements made by the Minister for Lands in regard to this measure. Mr. Duncan did not hold with the Government as to the perpetual lease system, but he approved of most of the other features in the Bill. ' m . • Messrs. Mackintosh and laylor also spoke. . ... . The Hon. Mr.. McKenzik,, in replying, said every argument adduced thatnight had been answered by him time after time. With respect to the remark by Sir John Hall, that the option of tenure was taken away by this Bill, he denied that statement, and said he had no intention of taking I away from the people of the colony

the right of tenure. As to the freehold system which Sir John Hall had defended so eloquenty, he mentioned that m some districts fifty per cent, of the freehold was heavily mortgaged. He held that three systems of tenure remained in the Bill, and it seemed to be forgotten that anyone who wanted to take up land could do so under the perpetual lease which could eventually be turned into freehold. There, was no doubt that public opinion was tendinsr in the direction of the Bill. He thanked Mr. Rolleston for the very able assistance he had given linn in passing the Bill, and he also thanked Mr. Richardson, his predecessor inthe Lands Department, for the valuable assistance he had rendered him in connection with the Bill. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. LAND AND INCOME TAX EIU.. The Land and Income Assessment Bill was received by message from the Governor, with amendments. Mr. Baij.ancf. explained the nature of the amendment, and said it was of a purely technical nature, being simply to allow assessment under the Bill to be made before April 19. He moved that the amendment be agreed to, which was carried. I.KOrSLATIYK COUNCIL REFORM HILL. Mr. Bai.lanck moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill, to alter the mode of making appointments of members of the Legislative Council, and to regulate vacancies therein. The Bill would be an important reform, and would tend to accomplish what they on that side of the House desired to see, namely, the Chamber more in accord with the wishes of the people. He proposed in committee to ask thar. the original number of seven years' tenure be inserted in the Bill. He would also ask that the Speaker of the Council should be appointed by the Crown instead of by the Council as altered by the Council, and he should also propose that the ago of members be made 21 instead of 35 as altered in the Council. Whatever might be said against this Bill it must be held to be a great reform in many respects. Mr. Rolleston did not think it would interest the public at all if the members of the Council wery appointed every ten years. It would largely do away with their indepenpendencc in dealing with public questions. To his mind the only real reform worth lighting for would be to make the Legislative Council an elective body under the forms of local Government. After considerable debate the motion for the second reading was agreed to on the the voices. WORKMEN'S LIEN BILL. , The House went into Committee on the Workmens Lien Bill, which went through without amendment, and was read a third time and passed. The House rose at at half-past twelve a.m.