PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11782, 11 October 1901, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday.

The Council met at half-past two p.m.

THE LIBRARY FUND.

On the Hon. J. Rigg's motion, which was opposed by the Minister for Education, it was resolved that the Council agree to the resolution of the Joint Library Committee, that the Premier be asked to secure the sanction of Parliament to the payment of the £500 Watson fine to the library fund.

ROYAL VISIT EXPENSES BILL. The second reading of the Royal Visit Expenses Bill was carried on the voices. MONEYLENDERS BILL.

In committee on the Moneylenders Bill the definition of moneylender, with its exemptions, as contained in the interpretation clause, was discussed at length, and the clause was postponed. At clause 3 (reopening of transactions by the Court), the Hon. A. Lee-Smith moved a new sub-clause, providing that where it appears to the Court that any person, other than the moneylender, has shared in the profits of a harsh and unconscionable transaction, the Court may cite such person as a party to the case, and may give judgment in respect of such person as it deems fit. He stated that this was specially aimed at endorsers, and the practice of endorsing bills, the object being to bring endorsers within the cognisance of the Court. The Hon. F. Arkwright could see no advantage in the sub-clause to the borrower, as the power of setting the las? in motion under the clause rested with the lender.

On the Hon. H. Feldwick's motion it was decided, by 13 to 10. to report progress, and ask leave to sit again.

CHARITABLE GIFTS BILL.

The Charitable Gifts Bill passed through committee without amendment, and was read a third time on the voices and passed. The Council rose at five p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday.

The House met at half-past two p.m. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARDS BILL.

I Mr. Jones gave notice to introduce i the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards ' Bill.

MIDLAND RAILWAY.

On the motion of Mi-. Seddon it was decided that the Public Accounts Committee

be directed to report on the petitions of the debenture-holders and shareholders of the Midland Railway, and that the report of the Royal Commission on the Midland railway be referred to that committee for the purpose of enabling the committee to decide in respect to these petitions.

QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Ministers stated: — That it was the intention of the Government to give an inco-'ise of ammunition to the volunteers and rifle clubs of the colony, the Government being of opinion that the colony could afford the extra allowance. That there was no intention of introducing legislation to provide that henceforward New Zealand shall be officially styled a "State" and not a "colony." That the Government recognised that enough was not being done in the colony in the way of tree-planting, and the Cabinet would favourably consider a proposal to exempt from taxation lands used for treeplanting purposes. That the question of providing for a graduated receipt stamp and cheque duty would be considered by Cabinet. That no agreement had been entered into between the Government and the shipping companies regarding the despatch of steamers to South Africa.

That it was hoped proposals would be made in the House this session with regard to a regular steamer service to South Africa. The House rose at half-past five p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven. MORTGAGES. The amendments made by the Council in the Mortgages of Land Bill were agreed to. FISHERIES. The Fisheries Encouragement Bill was introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. CORNWALL PARK. Mr. Carroll moved the second reading of the Cornwall ark Duties Exemption Bill, which was agreed to on the voices ! without debate. « I THE FACTORIES BILL.

On the motion for the committal of the Factories Bill, Mr. Seddon said it was a consolidating measure. He briefly explained the provisions of the Bill in so far as they differed from the existing law, and which have already been telegraphed. j He went on to say that employers generj ally were satisfied with what was proi posed in this Bi"l, and employees could not reasonably take exception to it. He i would like to arrive at the stage when I our labour laws would be perfected, and ! would not require further amendment or I alteration. It was to the interest of those I who had invested capital in the country I to know where they were, and it was to j the interest of workers too to know where j they stood. A good deal had been written I in criticism of this Bill, but some of the j writers had overlooked the fact that provision to which they took exception had I been the law for the last five or six years. I With regard to the hours of labour fo" | women and children, Mr. Seddon said he had not heard it disputed that they should be brought down to the maximum limit contained in the original Act of 1894. It was complained that in some industries the men could nut work without the women and youths (he referred particularly to the woollen industry), but he thought some satisfactory arrangement could be made in that respect, and that I the House should fix the principle that women and children should not work more than 45 hours per week. Mr. Hutcheson said no statute of New Zealand had done so much to improve the conditions of the workers as the factories legislation, but if the Premier had bestowed personal care on the provisions of the Bill as first submitted, he would not have outraged and shocked the feelings of employers. He gave credit to the Labour Bills Committee for making the Bill the success it was. He approved of the restriction on the amount of overtime, and said the less overtime worked by women and young persons the better it would be for the future generations. This Bill provided such a compromise between extremes of opinions held by members of the House that he was sure it would meet with general approval, and that in its particular sphere it would give industrial peace and satisfaction to employers and employees alike.

Mr. Houston, speaking as a country member, protested against the provisions of the Bill in respect of work clone elsewhere than in factories, and contended that the enforcement of these provisions had deprived many of earning an honest living. Great injustice was being done in trying to enforce this measure on country districts.

Mr. G. J. Smith paid a tribute to the Labour Bills Committee for its Handling of the Bill. He said there were some employers in the colony -who required very severe restrictive legislation, but all employers should not be condemned.

Mr. Seddon interjected that it was the few who caused all the trouble.

Mr. Smith went on to remark that the Government had been distinctly fortunate in its selection of factory inspectors, and he considered that both employer and employee would benefit from the embodiment in this Bill of the eight hours principle. Mr. Bollard supported the Bill as beine fair to both parties. In the course of his reply, Mr. Seddon said the result of our factory laws had been to improve the condition of the workers, and he challenged anyone to say that these laws had been detrimental to employers. It was significant that in five years the number of factory hands had increased.

The Bill was then committed.

Mr. Massey raised the question as to whether a place where two persons worked should be called a factory, and come within the scope of tuis Bill, lie moved to amend this provision of the measure by fixing the limit at three persons. Mr. Seddon said that the present L., fixed the limit at two persons.

The word "two" was retained by 34 votes to 21, Mr. Massey's amendment being thus rejected. Mr. G. J. Smith held that the railway workshops and factories should come under the Factories Act.

Mr. Seddon said the objection to this was the constitutional objection that under this Bill the owner or occupier of premises could be ordered to expend money. If the Government shops were brought under the Act they would see a funny thing happening, namely, a Government servant (the inspector of factories) ordering his Minister to spend money. Mr. G. W. Russell could see no logical reason for excluding Government servants from the operation of the factory legislation.

Mr. G. J. Smith wished to move an amendment to clause 2, with the object of bringing Government factories within the scope of this Bill, but Major Steward ruled it out of order, as involving expenditure on the part of the Crown. Mr. Seddon said he would be willing to accept an amendment which would give inspectors power to inspect Government factories and workshops and report. As a matter of fact, he said, they were doing so already. Mr. Smith said he would endeavour to draft a clause before the Bill got through committee.

In sub-section 3, in the definition of " factory," an amendment was made with the object of excluding harbour board packing sheds from the operations of Bill. Clause 2 was then agreed to, and clauses 3 to 7 passed unaltered. At clause 10, providing that a. factory shall nob be used until registered, a new proviso was added to the effect " That in the case of a first failure to register no prosecution shall be instituted without the permission of the Chief Inspector." At clause 18, regulating the hours of employment of women and young persons, Mr. Willis said, generally speaking, the Bill had his warmest approval, but this reduction hi the hours of women and young persons to 45 hours per week was going to be a serious thing for employers. Mr. Millar said that the employers who gave evidence before the Labour Bills Committee, with one exception, admitted the wisdom of reverting to 45 hourse per week for women.

Mr. Willis said the clause would seriously affect printing offices in which boys assisted on machines.

Mr. G. W. Russell thought Mr. Willis had over stated the position. Mr. Hornsby said he believed the recent awards of the Arbitration Court would cripple the printing business in New Zealand, and would mean the introduction of machinery where formerly men were employed^ Mr. Caracross said it was pointed out to the Labour Bills Committee that in woollen mills it was impracticable for the adults to work unless young people were also working, and there was a fear that the wages of adults would be reduced if woollen mill employers were not exempted from this clause. Mr. Wilford spoke to similar effect. Mr. Millar said the woollen mill operatives were in favour of the clause as it stood.

Mr. Willis moved to strike out sub-section A of clause 18. This sub-section provides for 45 hours per week for women and young persons. The motion was lost.

Sub-section c of the same clause was amended to provide that a woman or young person shall not be employed in or about a factory for more than four hours and a-quar-ter continuously without an interval of at least three-quarters of an hour for dinner. The clause as amended was agreed to.

At clause 20, " rules as to meal times," Mr. Seddon moved a proviso to sub-section 3 so that in cases where four women or young persons, or less, are employed in a factory inspectors may authorise them to take their meals in the workroom and remain there.

This was carried on the voices, and the clause passed. At clause 21, providing for overtime for women and young persons, Mr. Millar moved to apply generally the provision that no women or young children shall work overtime for more than four hours without half-an-hour for rest or refreshment.

This was carried on the voices. Mr. Millar also moved to apply generally the provision that overtime shall he paid for at the rate of time and a-quarter, instead of applying it only to women and young persons. This was earned on the voices, and on the motion of Mr. G. J. Smith it was decided that the overtime books should not be open to employees, but only to the inspector.

The clause as amended was agreed to. The Bill was still -under discussion when the telegraph office closed at two a.m.