PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

[Br TKLEGRATH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m., and immediately went into committee on the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill. A proviso to clause 6 was deleted, and a new proviso inserted making it permissible for a magistrate to estimate the income an applicant for a pension will probably earn in the following year, instead of as at present. The Bill was reported without further amendment, and the third reading was set down for to-morrow. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. On the motion that the report of the joint committee of both Houses of Parliament on the building site be agreed to, the Hon. J. E. JENKINSON urged that the piece of land on Lambton Quay, from. Quinton's comor, about two chains long, be* purchased by the Government "-"i order to give better frontage to Lambton Quay for Parliament Buildings. The Hon. S. T. GEORGE urged that the best place for the Governor's residence was Mount View or the site ol the mental hospital. Discussion followed, and tho report was eventually agreed to by 20 votes to 2. The Council adjourned at 4.40 p.m. till to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday. The House met at 2.50 p.m. MONOPOLY PREVENTION. The Hon J. A. MILLAR moved the second reading of the Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill, which extends the operations of Part 1 of the principal Act (providing that in cases of alleged , unfair competition hi the local market by outside agricultural implement manufacturers, a board of inquiry shall be set up, and, if necessary, it, may grant such relief as may be expedient) until the end of the year 1910, and also provides for the repeal of the clause inconsistent with this extension. In reply to a question, the MINISTER said the Act prevented unfair competition on the part of the International Harvester Trust, and other foreign companies. There was nothing in the measure to prevent prices being raised. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.".... ' EDUCATION RESERVES. The Hon. 'G. FQWLD3 moved the second reading of the Education Reserves Leases Validation and Empowering Bill, which originated in the Legislative Council. Th© Bill makes provision for validating certain leases granted by the Otago School Commissioners, contrary to the terms of the Mining Act, 1891, and empowers the Wellington School Commissioners to borrow £6000 for the purpose of discharging certain existing liabilities. ■ The Bill was read a. second time on the voices. ■' .■.;-'', - MENTAL HOSPITAL RESERVES. The Hon. G. FOWLDS moved the second reading of the Mental Hospital Reserves Bill, giving effect to an agreement between the Wellington Hospital Board and the Crown for an exchange of ' land for the purpose of erecting a fever hospital.' '. . • ' : ' Strong opposition to the Bill was set up by Wellington members, on the ground that such reserves forming part of the Town Belt originally belonged to the city, and had been taken by the Crown ' for certain : specific purposes, from which it was sought to' depart.The MINISTER said he was not going to allow Wellington members to lay hands upon a-quarter of a- million pounds' worth of Crown land, which had never belonged to ''. anybody but the State. The Bill was carrying out in the letter and spirit the terms of the trust under which these reserves were set apart as an endowment for hospital purposes. The second reading was carried by 38 votes to 18. GORE LIBRARY BILL. The Hon. R. McNAB moved the second reading of the Gore Public Library Vesting Bill, which originated in the Legislative Council, and which vests certain land in . the borough of Gore, as a site for a publici library. • . The second reading was agreed to on the voices. HAURAKI PLAINS BILL. Sir JOSEPH WARD moved the second reading oft the Hauraki Plains Bill, providing for' the settlement of the Hauraki Plains, enabling the Minister for Finance to allocate funas for that purpose out of moneys authorised by . Part 11. of the Local Bodies' Leans' Act, 1908. The Bill also makes provision for licenses to 1 cut .', j flax . being granted, for the compulsory taking of. land lor drainage ! and other works, and for the payment of | compensation or ; purchase money. Sir ; JOSEPH WARD explained -. that the Bill was a machinery measure. | Mr. MASSEY hoped the Bill, which he I heartily approved, would not prejudice the Loans to Local Bodies Act by taking too much money out of the funds provided under that Act. The PRIME MINISTER gave assurance that this would not be the case. The Bill was read a second time on the voices..'. ,: RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION. The Hon. W. HALL-JONES moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, providing for the further construction of 12 miles of the Midland railway, from the termination of the line as at present authorised in Tadmor Valley to the junction of the Hope and Buller Rivers. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. -. UTILISING WATER-POWER. Tho Hon. W. HALL-JONES moved the 6econd reading of the Public Works Amendment Bill, embodying the proposals of the Government regarding the development of water power by private individuals. .'•'., - ' The Bill was read a second time on the voices..- ■.-■'••■■■ ; ■', . ARBITRATION BILL. .The Hon. J. A. MILLAR moved that the amendments made in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill by the Legislative Council be agreed to, with the exception of those made in clauses 29, 32, 33, 54, r 578, and 61. The Minister explained the nature of the amendments proposed by the Council, to.which he was unable to agree. The House had provided that three assessors might be appointed, one of whom might not belong to the industry, but. the Council's amendment enabled a sole assessor to be appointed, who need not belong to the trade concerned in the dispute. It ; also empowered members of Parliament to sit as assessors, and he very strongly felt that was not at all desirable. Another amendment empowered the Commissioner. to take a vote on everything but the recommendation. That was not desirable. The Legislative Council had struck out the proposal under which the Council had power to modify an award in such industries as fluxmilling and tanning, which were very liable to be affected by market fluctuations. By striking out clause 61, the Council would enable any person over 25 years of age to be employed as an apprentice. He had heard of sawmdlers of 60 years of ace being described as apprentices. He moved. That all these amendments be disagreed with, and that a committee consisting of Messrs. Hardy, Tanner, ? and himself be appointed to draw up reasons." Mr. BARCLAY delivered ■ ."a, lengthy speech, enumerating reasons why some of these amendments should be -agreed to. and why others, which it was proposed to agree with, should be disagreed with. The motion was agreed toon the voices..

DEFENCE AMENDMENT. The Hon. R. McNAB moved the second reading of the Defence Amendment Bill, which originated in.the Legislative Council. •- . * ■•■ The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Hon. R. McNAB said the Defence Amendment Bill was not a debatable measure. It proposed mere machinery and administrative amendment* in procedure with regard to the election of officers, and also provided that dismissals shall bo by tho Council oi Defence, instead of by the commanding officer of the district, the power of the latter being restricted to disrating. It is further provided that every case of summary dismissal must be imme-' diately reported to the Governor, who may signify his pleasure in regard thereto. Messrs. 'FISHER and BARBER dealt at some length with an alleged wrongful dismissal in. Wellington, which they supposed to bo the motive of tho Bill. They expressed approval of tho measure. Mr. WILFORD opposed the Bill, and said it was a direct blow at military discipline. Mr. McNAB said that was not the place to give publicity to particulars of any cases which had to be dealt with by the military authorities, and he was certainly not going to do any such thing. The Bill was read a second time. PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. A message was received from the Council notifying that Chamber's concurrence with the House in the adoption of the report of the joint committee- on the Parliament Buildings site. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Land and Income Tax Bill was introduced by Governor's message, and read a first time. COUNCIL AND HOUSE. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR brought up the reasons prepared by the committee appointed earlier in the day to prepare reasons for the House's disagreement with certain amendments made in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council. Mr. BARCLAY delivered a speech stating why, in his view, the reasons prepared by the committee were not adequate ones for disagreeing with the amendments of the Council. He framed an amendment, which was not seconded. The reasons were adopted on the voices, and transmitted by order of the House to the Council. IN COMMITTEE. The House then went into committee on various Bills dealt with during the afternoon and evening. The Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill, Defence Amendment Bill, Education Reserves Leases Validation Bill, and Gore Public Library Vesting Bill wore passed through wmmittee without amendment, and practically without discussion^ ■ In committee on the Hauraki Plains Bill, Mr. MASSEY, at clause 4, said that the clause enabled the Minister for Finance to issue from the funds provided under the Local Bodice' Loans Act, a sum up to £80,000 for the purpose of settling the Hauraki Plains, and he feared that would impair the utility of the Act to local bodies. Sir JOSEPH WARD said, in his opinion, there was nothing to fear. The amount required in any year for this purpose would not be more than £10,000, £15,000. or, possibly, £20,000. The Bill passed through committee without amendment; In committee on the Railways Authorisation Bill, Mr. MASSEY said he understood no now railways were to be authorised this vear. ;The Hon. W. HALL-JONES, said this did not come into the category of new railways, it having been authorised in sections, and been continuously under construction. ■■'•'' ■"■'•''" ; ''.'' '• * ■'■ : :..[ After some discussion the, Bill ;. passed through committee without amendment. The Public Works Amendment Bill passed . the committee stage without amend.ment. , ' ••» - •;" When the Mental Hospitals Reserves Bill was committed the >. Prime Minister immediately moved to report progress. BILLS PASSED* Progress was then reported, and - the Monopoly . Prevention Amend Bill, Defence Amendment Bill, Education Reserves Leases Validation. Bill, ■• Gore Pub-! lie Library Vesting'Bill, Hauraki .Plains Bill, Railways :; Authorisation '-Bill, and; Public Works Act : ' Amendment Bill were read a third time .and; passed.-. " REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE. The Menial Hospitals Bill was reported from committee and set down for re-com-mittal on;.next. sitting day. 1

v SECOND. READING. , jj On ■the''motion of the Prime Minister. the, j Validation Court Empowering Bill ; was; read a second time pro forma and referred: to the Native' 1 Affairs Committee. ' EDUCATION BlLL.;'■' '. \ On the motion that'' t3ia Education Act Amendment Bill be read a third: time,' an-.; other debate on the promotion of. teachers, free places, . and free school books, took plaoe on the lines of the committal debate.. The' Hon. G. FOWLDS, replying, thanked those members who had congratulated him upon'the, safe passage of the 'measure,Which - now -was soon likely to pass on to the Statute i Book. He said the people of the Dominion were ■under a/leep debt of gratitude to those members who had. voted with' him in resisting tile'blight 'of uniform; school books getting into the, Bill. . ■'■:; ; .-v. The Bill- was read a .third : ; time andpassed. .-, .' / ; '"■.' :\- ';■;■.■ . '..'••. WORKERS' COMPENSATION BILL.' ; The Hon. J. A. MILLAR moved the; committal of the 'Workers' .Compensation; Bill.. The Bill repeals and're-enacts the' Workers' Compensation for " Accidents Act, with various important modifications, Mr. HERRIES complimented the Mini-' ster upon the measure which vas a great advance upon the existing law. , Mr. WITTY' thought the Bill was a great advance, but leaved delays in obtaining coinpcnsati«i would still e list, under this measure. Mr. WILFORD hoped that in committee the Government would accept an amendment, providing that compensation should be payable to a person injured by a motor engine or traction engine owned by the Government Mr. POLAND objected to the delay of two weeks before compensation for injury was recoverable, and also thought that where death ocurred, even as the result of misconduct, compensation should still be payable. Mr. COLVIN congratulated the Minister, but thought that there were various email amendments yet required, especially that compensation should be paid for injury from the first hour it occurred. The Hon. J, A. MILLAR, replying, expressed gratification at the very favour-able manner in which the Bill had been received. Referring to Mr. Wilford's suggestion, Mr. Millar said clause 11 of the Bill made the Crown responsible. The House then resolved itself into a committee on the Bill. The first 11 clauses were passed unaltered after some discussion. - At clause 13, which provides that no compensation shall be payable in respect of any accident which is attributable to the serious and wiiful misconduct of a worker injured or killed, the Hon. A. R. Guinness, Mr. Poland, and others urged the Minister to accept an amendment in the direction of making compensation payable in the case of death, whether due to misconduct or not. '.'■:' After some discussion, the MINISTER promised to look into the point, and see what it involved. If the clause could be safely amended he would see that this would be done in another place. Clauses 14, 15, and 16 were passed without amendment, and progress was reported. ' , A MORNING SITTING. The PRIME MINISTER gave notice to move, " That the House sit at 10 a.m. on Thursday to take Local Bills." The House adjourned at 1.20 a.m.