PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11162, 7 September 1899, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. PETITIONS. Regarding a number of petitions from Auckland and other places against gambling, the Public Petitions Committee report that as a question of public policy is involved, the committee have no recommendation to make. The Waste Lands Committee report on the petition of Charles Harley, of Katikati, for the restoration of a section the lease of which has been forfeited, that the petitioner has no claim. The same committee recommend that the petition for a grant of £200 for certain roads in Rodney county be referred to the Government. The committee makes a similar recommendation regarding the petition for a sum of money for a road crossing near Paerata railway station. MORTGAGES. The following are the amounts of the mortgages registered in the different districts during the past financial year: —Auckland, £845,011; Gisborne, £127,115; Hawke's Bay, £621,703; Taranaki, £513,066; Wellington, £1,880,281; Marlborough, £127,277; Nelson, £216,626; Westland, £21,067; Canterbury, £1,155,543; Otago, £598,928; Southland, £298,810. There is a stun of £280 lent in Canterbury at 20 per cent, and another sum of £182 lent at 40 per cent.; the total mortgages registered for the year amounting to £6,710,427. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION ACT. Some time ago the Hon. Mr. Jennings mofed in the Legislative Council that a return should be prepared showing the number of houses registered in the colony last year under the Infant Life Protection Act, 1896, and the number of deaths of infants reported under the Act since it came into operation. The information sought by the lion, gentleman was forthcoming this afternoon, and is of somewhat alarming character. It appears that there are 553 of the houses in question in the colony, and that the deaths have been no fewer than 145. The principal causes of death were: — Diarrhtea 33, convulsions 23, marasmus 27, and 20 are said to have occurred from what is vaguely put down as "natural causes." The extraordinary number of deaths recorded under an Act that was ostensibly drafted to protect infant life will probably lead to the supervision now exercised being more adequate. In view of the startling diminution in the birth-rate, the fact that so large a proportion of those who do come into the world come to their end in these licensed homes cannot be viewed with complacency. FACTORY LEGISLATION. The Labour Bills Committee of the Legislative Council has made several amendments in the Factories Bill, introduced by the Government. As originally drafted, the measure sought to repeal the third and fourth paragraphs of section 54 of the Act of 1894, and provide, That no person should employ any girl, woman, or boy in a factory for more than eight hours per day, or for more than 45 hours per week, nor at any time between six o'clock in the evening and eight in the morning. The amendment made by the Council Committee to this is to make it apply solely to females. Under the principal Aft women and girls could be employed for 48 hours in each week. Therefore, should the Bill pass in the form recommended by the Committee, they will receive a concession of three hours. This, however, is not to affect any industrial agreement or award made prior to the passing of the Act. A new clause has been added to the measure by the Committee, declaring that the occupier of any factory or workroom is liable to a penalty of £10 where there is committed any breach of the principal Act for which no specific penalty is imposed.