PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13839, 27 August 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BT TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] , LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ELECTORAL REGISTRARS. The Hon. G. J. SMITH asked the At-torney-General whether he would take into consideration the question of increasing the salaries, paid to registrars of electors in districts where the position was not held by permanent Government officials. He thought £25 per annum too little remuneration. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL replied that the matter had already received the attention of the Government, and registrars who were not permanent Government officials had bad their salaries raised to £52 per annum. LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, from the House, was read a second time. FARRIERS BILL. The Hon. J. E. JENKINSON moved the second reading of the Farriers Bill. He defended the system of examination and registration of farriers, as horses suffered in the hands of incapable.men. The Hon. A. BALDEY, in supporting the eecond reading, said that it would benefit the noblest of animals. The Hon. W. W. McCARDLE said he would support the second reading, but he hoped the Bill would be amended in committee.

The Hon. 0. SAMUEL suggested that' the police of the country should be instructed to interfere in cases of cruelty to animals. He would vote against the Bill.

The Hon. G. JONES generally supported the Bill.

. The Hon. C. M. LUKE, in supporting the Bill, urged that technical schools should establish classes for the tuition of farriers.

The Hon. T. KELLY was inclined to support the second reading, with the hope that the Bill would be amended in committee.

The Hon. W. BEEHAN said lie- would support the second reading, and suggested that the Bill should be sent to the block Committee.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL stated that under the provisions of the Bill he could become a farrier, although he knew nothing about the anatomy of a horse, and if the Bill aimed at protecting .dumb animals, then it missed its object. , He was wholly in sympathy with a Bill to relieve suffering, but as the Bill was drawn it did not effect that purpose. The Hon. Sir H. J. MILLER thought the Bill was on the wrong lines. What was required was another system of shoeing. . The second reading was agreed to by 16 votes to 15, and the Bill was referred to the , Stock Committee. The Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. .Replying to questions, Ministers, stated as'follows : — j - That with regard to Joshua Jones' Mo-., kau leaseholds,', the Government could not promise to introduce legislation, but suggested that Jones' should bring the matter under the consideration of Parliament by means of a. petition.- ;•' That as soon as the public ebasincation list was received under the- Public Service Clarification Act, the law in connection therewith would be complied with. That the representations- made urging the more vigorous prosecution of the South Island Main Trunk railway would receive full consideration when the Public Works Estimates for the year were hiring corn-, piled. • That thij Government was not prepared at present to make any reduction in the railway rates on New Zealand timber. That the matter of seeing that- the needy were represented by counsel in caees of -dispute arising between claimants and the other party under the Workers' Compensation for* Accidents Act. would receive the consideration of the Government. _ That it.was proposed to make provisions regarding the inspection of wool, tow, -and skins before shipment in the Bill which was being prepared to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act. When the Bill conies into force the Government . will consider the question of whether the Marine Department, will undertake the work of making the necessary tests as to the amount of ; moisture contained in any package. i That every endeavour would be made to exempt the Dominion from any order that miffht be issued by the British Board of Trade prohibiting the importation of ! boned beef into the United Kingdom. That it was not considered necessary to make provision in the future to meet the cost of cooking at camps at Easier manoeuvres. That if possible the Hospital and Charitable Aid Districts Bill would be proceeded with this session. That the instructions issued to registrars are to notify all parents who have not complied with the vaccination law, and if no attention is paid, the registrars are authorised to prosecute, the selection of names being left to themselves. EDUCATION ADENDMENTS. A Bill containing amendments in the Education Bill, introduced earlier in the session,/was introduced by (governor's message. The amendments were on the lines suggested by the Education Committee, and aimed generally at making the Bill more acceptable to teachers. The MINISTER FOR EDUCATION explained that the amendments guarded against anv reduction in staffing, and in teachers' salaries, as a result of the changes proposed. • A discussion took place in regard to the amendments, and the PRIME MINISTER agreed that the main Bill, which had been set down for committal that day. should be held over until members were able to consider the amendments. The Estimates would be proceeded with. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. BILLS PASSED. The Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Fisher), Counties Act, 1886, Amendment Bill (Mr. Allen), Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Fisher), and Public Works Amendment Bill (Mr. Izard) were read a third time and passed. ALTERATION OF TIME BILL. Mr. IZARD moved the second reading of his Alteration of Time Bill, which proposes to set back the clock during the summer months. He said that he wished to refer the Bill to the Industries and Commerce Committee. He did not expect to pass it this session. After a brief discussion, the Bill was read a second time on the voices and referred to the committee for consideration and report. - '■ BILL THROWN OUT. The Public Works Amendment Bill No. 2 (Sir W. J. Steward was thrown out on a point of order raided by the Minister for Public Works. y. LANDS AND SURVEY. The House proceeded to consider further classes of the Estimates. On the vote ot £232,744 for ;he Department of Lands and Survey a discussion took place in regard to j small 'grazing runs. Mr. Hemes complained of the manner in which small grazing run leases of 1885 were dealt with. They had been taken up under the impression that the right of renewal existed. bul_ in some instances renewals had not been granted. ' * The MINISTER FOR LANDS explained that there were two kinds of such leases^one

under the Act; of 1885, and the other trader that of 1892. The latter was practically a perpetual lease. Under the earlier Act if land was not suitable for sub-division the tenant had the option of renewing the lease, but the Government had the right to subdivide. This accounted for different decisions.

Mr. MASSEY said the law was as stated by the Minister, but he quoted an instance of unfair treatment of lessees whose holdings had been cut up while that of a neighbour with a political pull had been left untouched.

Mi. MALCOLM urged that native grass lands were deteriorating each year, and that the tenants should be encouraged to improve their properties by being given the right of renewal. Mr. HOGG urged that more runs should be subdivided.

The MINISTER FOR LANDS said that orders had been given for the fencing off of certain areas of Crown land in Otago, so that the native grasses could spread again, and information be secured as to the best steps to be taken to improve and increase the native grasses. The importance of the matter was recognised. Mr. WITTY urged that a bonus should he offered for the best means of eradicating noxious weeds. Mr. HERRIES said that vigorous steps should be taken to suppress noxious weeds on Crown and unoccupied land, which at present served as breeding places for scores of pests. The MINISTER FOR LANDS stated that last year the Government expended a sum of over £1800 in the destruction of weeds on Crown lands. The matter was one for the Agricultural Department. In answer to Mr. Field, the MINISTER said he would like to see the whole of Kapiti Island owned by the Government as a-bird sanctuary, and he believed it was possible to come to tonus with the native owners. Grazing should not be allowed on the island because the preservation of native vegetable life was necessary. .Mr. JENNINGS stated that some settlers had suffered injustice in connection with the rebate of rents by the Government.

The MINISTER said that there seemed to Lave been some misapprehension ! n re-' gard to the rebate of rents, and the distriLion of grass seed. The Government had not been prepared to give grass seed to men who could well afford to assist themselves, and the Departmental officers, knowing that the consent of the Minister .Did Parliament were necessary, were not at all likely to have made rash promises. Next year's Estimates would provide for a large number of rebates in connection with the recent grass fires. Mr. ELL suggested that Kapiti Island should be used as a reserve for native flora. Kauri trees might also be planted. Details of the vote were discussed at considerable length. The MINISTER stated that he was mak!ne arrangements to deal with the question of sand drift. Dr. Cockayne would be at liberty in a few months, and Mould be employed to TOport as to the plants adapted for preventing the movement of sand across the countrv. Mr. WILFORD said that some local bodies had a real grievance in connection with workers' homes. When the Government acquired lands for homes the local authority no longer received rates from that land and other parts of the district bad to bear the whole burden. The land acquired by the Government for workers' homes should pay rates just as the other residential areas did. .. ■■' -

The MINISTER said Government did not pay rates, other than special ones, in connection with Crown lauds. The vote was passed unaltered. VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

The next elate taken was the- Valuation Department, total vote £34,501. . Mr. WITTY urged thai, valuers should be paid more in view of the importance, of their duties.

The MINISTER said that; lie was en-lu-jirourmg to remove existing anomalies in regard to salaries. " :: Th» matter would be d-ea'tw-ii'via the Supplementary Estimates. = Mr.-WILFORD protested against,' Valuations '.-boms raised in a wholesale manner. ami laud values forced (ip by Government officials. He suggested that landowners should be represented before the Court by expert valuers. " Mr. T. MACKENZIE moved, "That the vote be reduced by £1, •■>*? a direction to the Government to* instruct the valuers not to overestimate the unimproved value of lands." . ' Mr. ELL said that the land* put on the market nearly always brought more than the amount of the Government valuation. Mr. MAJOR; stated that most of the complaints against the valuations of the Department were based on the . fact that the improvements were valued too low. The MINISTER said the valuations for sale purposes were decidedly higher than. the valuation** for rating and taxation purposes. His constant instruction to Government valuers was to keep well behind the market values and when a valuer was found to bs fixing his valuations too close to the selling value?, he was told to be more careful. The motion to reduce the vote was defeated by 30 votes to 15, and the class was passed. Mr. MASSE moved to report progress at one a.m., the motion being defeated on ; a division by 30 votes to 11. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. The estimates for the Education Department were then considered, the total vote being £856,842, Mr. T. MACKENZIE protested against undue interference by official.-; with education boards. Mr. WILFORD moved to reduce the salary of the Inspector-General by £1, as an indication that school books should be supplied free. The House was still sitting at two a.m., when the telegraph office closed.