PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8662, 3 September 1891, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— rUKSS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. The Council mot at half-past two p.m. THE LAND BILL. The Land Bill was received from the House of Representatives, and rend a first time, the second reading being fixed for Friday. workmen's lien hill. The Workmen's Lien Bill was read a first time, and ordered to be reAd a second time next day. PUBLIC REVF.NUKS HILL, The Public Rovemies Bill passed its final stages. _ FACTORIES 811.1,, The Factories Bill was re-committed. On clause 3, " Interpretation," Mr. Stewart said if the. word " six " was retained, as decided by tlx.; Committao the other night—referring to the definition of a factory as being a place whore six persona were employed—-tho sweating system would still be in vogue. ])r. Pollen thought the proposed amendment of Mr. Stewart's would press severely upon private families numbering six or more persons, who worked in their own homes. If the amendment was agreed to, he should move a further amendment, exempting members of one family. Mr. Bowen objected to Mr. Stewart's amendment as being unnecessary, as the late Royal Commission had reported there was 110 sweating in New Zealand. He for one objected to sanction a private house being invaded by spies in tho shape of inspectors. After further debate the amendment was lost by 19 to 7. The word,''.three" stands as printed. On clause 3, " Exemptions from limo washing inside walls," .Sir George Whitmore moved that dairies and cheese factories and Hour mills should not be exempted. The amendment was lost. Mr. Stevens moved that the proviso 111 clause CI conferring upon inspectors the power to suspend the operations of clause 50, defining hours of labour of boys and females, should be struck out. Mr. Swan son considered this an arbitrary amendment, as it prevented any person from working overtime even if they desired to do so.

The proviso was struck out. Mr. Swanson moved a new proviso to the clause giving permission to boys and females to work three hours per day overtime for twenty days in the year, on terms agreed to between the contracting parties. Clause 58, fixing holidays to be allowed, was slightly amended. Mr. Mantell moved the following new clause, which was agreed to by IS to 8:— "This Act shall not apply to any factory or workroom which may be under control of or managed by the New Zealand Railway Commissioners." The Bill was reported as amended, and the third reading fixed for next day. shop hours bill. Dr. Pollen resumed the debate 011 the motion for the committal of the Shop Hours Bill, and in doinj* so said he knew of no Bill which had need of a greater amount of attention at the hands of the Select Committee than the Shop Hours Bill had received, and the report of that committee had been virtually adverse to the Bill. lie had no doubt in his own mind what the decision of the Council would be as to the fate of the Bill. More than 100 years ago a famous man in the House of Commons tabled a motion that the power of the Crown had increased, was increasing, and ought to be diminished, and if he followed the example and the words of that great statesman, and made a motion that the privilege of the people have been steadily diminished, but should be increased, he thought lie ' would be doing his duty. The Bill had been brought forward and founded by a number of excellent young men, chiefly belonging to the drapery interests, who with view of enjoying the pleasures natural to their station and age, hail agitated for this Bill. But there was another and very large class also, who were praying to be saved from the operations of this Bill. This latter class had depending upon them a large number of children, and if they were compelled to close their places of business at an early hour at night, their livelihood would be taken from them. He intended to vote against the committal of the Bill.

-Mr. Shrimski, as one of the Select Committee to whom the Bill was referred, endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. The committee had closely scrutinised the petitions and telegrams pro and con, and had taken a great deal of evidence, amongst others the keepers of a shop in Cuba-street, and a lady, the owner of a small shop in Willis-street, Wellington. Both of these .vitnesses were averse to the Bill. Mr. 1). P. Fisher, secretary of the local Trades Council, had been examined, and he was in favour of the Bill, and very naturally so because it was to his interest that these agitations should be kept alive. Several others, witnesses in favour of the Bill, were also examined. He thought the Bill interfered with the liberty of the subject, and he believed that many deserving persons and many young children would be deprived of their living if the Bill passed. He was thoroughly in favour of short hours, but he failed to see why the many should suffer for the jdeasure of the few. As the few only had benefited by protection, so only would the few benefit if the Bill became law. He regarded the Bill as an oppressive, cruel, and tyrannical measure, and therefore he moved that the Bill be committed that day six months.

Mr. 1 IjSOX said if the Bill went into committee he should move a clause exempting all shops kept by small proprietors and attended to by the members of their own family. He considered the proposition would do away with the chief objection to the Bill. So far as the employes of shopkeepers were concerned, he thought ■ eight hours' work was rjuite long enough. He hoped the Bill would go into committee. Mr. Stkwaut was totally against the closing of small shops at six o'clock, as he believed if this were done it would wipe out all the small shops and create a large monopolony. He supported the Bill going into committee, in order to legalise the halfholiday, and also provide proper accommodation for employees. Sir G. Wjiitmorb pointed out that the people who desired the Bill to be passed were not hardworking country people, who carried the colony upon their backs. They were people who went to business at nine o'clock and left at six, and who enjoyed themselves afterwards according to their own devices. The fact was, the country was being dominated by a tyrannical ciass of persons, who shuuld not possess the same amount of power they did possess. This class was unfortunately better off than were their brothers and sisters at home. The tendency of all legislation now was to crush out all landed interests. This was admitted very freely oh all sides. He should vote for the committal of the Bill, in the hope that it might be still further amended in committee. Mr. McLi;a.n* remarked that the Bill was thoroughly objectionable, and he believed that the country would regard it as another instance of the blessing of having a Legislative Council. He expressed a sincere hope that the Council would _ make short work of the measure, which in his opinion should not lie allowed to possess a place on the statute book. He failed to see why shops should be closed while groggeries were allowed to remain open. Mr. Pi.'arazvn' endorsed the remarks which had fallen from the speaker who had preceded him. The Bill was wrong in principle, and he regarded it as an attempt to curtail the privileges of the people. ' Mr. Barnicoat intimated his intention o supporting the committal of the Bill. Mr. Rkynolds favoured the amendment of Mr. Shrimski. Mr. Acland opposed the Bill on account of its unjust tendencies. Mr. Walk eh moved the adjournment of the debate till next day, which was agreed to. n The Council at five p.m. adjourned to the following day.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY. The House met at halt-past two p.m. THE ELECTORAL HILL. The Electoral Bill was further considered in committee. The interpretation clause, which container! a provision relating to female franchise, was postponed. ' Clause G : Qualification of electors, no person to be registered in more than one district. Mr. Rices moved an addition to sub-section 1 so as to provide that leaseholders should have a qualification for voting as well as persons possessing freehold. This was carried by 33 to 29. The I'kkmier then moved that the whole sub-section which provided for freehold qualification be struck out, as the proposal just carried would lead to great confusion. The motion was agreed to by 42 to '20, and the subsection was therefore eliminated from the Bill. Subsection 3: No person to be registered n more than one district. Air. Palmer moved that the words "No person to vote for more than one candidate at any election " bo added. Mr. Ballancji: said that would not meet the views of the lion, gentleman, as provision for giving three votes at the city elections was contained in the Representation Act, and

a, question of that kind should be dealt wit\ by,amendment of that Act. ' \ Mr. Palmer's motion was lost by 37 to, 21. ' The clause as amended was added to the Bill. The House rose at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 in committee on the Electoral Bill. Clause 7, Maori representation, provoked a very long discussion, the clause being eventually postponed, so that it-might be more fully considered by the Maori members. During the discussion Mr. Carroll strongly appealed to the committco to put the Maoris 011 the same fooling with respect to voting as Europeans, and he felt convinced that the time was coming when special representation for the Maoris would be abolished altogether. Mr. Ballance said 1 this was too great a change to make at the present time. He had frequently, when ho was Native Minister, asked the Maoris themselves whether they were in favour of special representation being abolished, and in every case he found they were unwilling to accept such a cliauge. Clause 51, returp of notice to be evidence of person having left district. Mr. Hogg moved an addition to the clause, that the list of names of persons struck off the roll should be placed outside the Registrar's oflice, and kept there for one month. Agreed to. In clause 63, voting by seamen, Mr. Duthik moved to add the words "and other persons temporarily absent from their electoral districts," but it was lost by 2S) to oo A motion by Mr. Fish to add the words " and commercial travellers," was also negatived. _ Clause 74, day of polling at general election to be a public holiday, elicited a lengthy discussion, the clause being retained as part; of the Bill by 24 to 17. Clause 11'}, number of votes to be ascertained on the close of the poll. Mr. Buick moved, " That when tho number of votes does not exceed 40 tho deputy returning officer shall seal the ballot box with his own seal, and deliver it to the returning officer." Carried by MS to 14. Mr. Buckland moved to report progress. The amendment. carried, ho said, would destroy the Auckland electorate, and lie .regretted very much that the Premier, in order to please one of his supporters, should vote for such a clause as this. Under this proposal in some districts they would have to wait for a fortnight before the result of the elections was known, and who was to say that the ballot-boxes would not be tampered with ? Colonel Fraser said, of all the ridiculous clauses he had ever heard of this was the worst of them. The proposal just carried would shake all confidence in elections. Mr. Carnoross said Mr. Buick's amendment was a serious flaw in the Bill, and if they went on any further that night some .more wonderful surprises might be sprung 011 them. Sir John Hall thought it advisable to report progress, as there was another clause which proposed to close publichouses on polling day, which it would be better to discuss in a fuller House. Ml'. BALLANC saw no reason to report progress simply because a majority of the committee had carried a certain clause in the Bill. He knew that there was a strong feeling in some small polling places that the ballot was not secret. ' After further discussion, Mr. Ballance pointed out that tho Bill would have to bo recommitted, and it would then be open to any member to move that this particular clause be recommitted. Mr. Buckland said he was satisfied with the Premier's statement and withdrew his motion. The remaining clauses passed with slight amendment, and new clauses were postponed. Progress was then reported and the House rose at 1.30 a.m.