PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14222, 19 November 1909, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOSPITALS BILL.

DIVISION OF DISTRICTS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. To-day has not been an exciting day in Parliament. All the afternoon was occupied with a discussion on the report of a committee and the Ministerial answers to questions. In the evening the House i went into committee to further consider the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill. There was considerable discussion in regard to the proposed boundaries of the ~ new districts, especially the North Auckland and Bhames and Waihi districts. On the question of separating the borough. of Waihi from the Thames hospital district a somewhat close division took place, the Minister, who opposed the separation, being defeated by 30 votes to 27. HOURS OF NURSES. MAINTENANCE OF LODGE MEMBERS. [BY TELEGRAPH.FRESS ASSOCIATION.] ■ Wellington, Thursday. The House of Representatives this evening went into committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill. The House agreed to the report of the Select Committee, which recommended a sliding scale of subsidies based on levies on ratable value per head of population.. At the Hon. G.Fowlds' instance, clause 81, providing for hospitals being transferred to another local authority in cases where the boundaries are altered, was superseded by another," which allows the Governor-in-Councii to combine two or more local authorities to constitute ' one board for the district. A new clause, providing that a board may make agreements with friendly societies in respect of maintenance of members or relatives of members of the said societies, was included in the Bill. Another new clause was added, providing that members of existing boards at the passing of the Act shall continue to hold office until the commencement of the Act. Mr. Hine moved to insert a clause providing a maximum working week of 56 hours" for nurses. Several members spoke in support, but eventually Mr. Hine agreed to amend the clause by adding the words, "except in cases of emergency.'' Several amendments were made in the first schedule with regard to the boundaries of hospital, districts. The Bill was reported with amendments, and the House rose at 1.20.

MINISTER AND MEMBER.

LIVELY PASSAGE-AT-ARMS. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] \ Wellington, Thursday. There was an animated controversy in the House this afternoon between Mr. J. Hine, M. for Stratford, and the Hon. R. McKenzie, Minister for Public Works, with regard to the housing of co-operative workers in various parts of the Dominion. Mr. Hine referred to the conditions under which the co-operative workmen in his district were housed. He declared that all reasonable assistance had certainly not been granted to them. The Minister stated that Mr. Hine had only raised the question for electioneering purposes. Everybody who had not a tent when going on to co-operative works, was supplied with one, and in addition they were also supplied with necessary timber. Workers could not expect the Government to be more generous in the matter. If the Government were f more liberal, both Mr. Massey and Mr. "Hine i would accuse the Government of extravagance. They would even like to see, the workers' wages reduced to 3s per day. Mr. Massey (warmly): The statement is absolutely contrary to fact, and has been denied over and over again. : The Minister: Oh! : / :

The Speaker: The Minister is bound ,to accept the hon. member's assurance. I ;;•■ The Minister: As far as Mr. Massey personalty is concerned, I will accept his explanation, but as far as their political tactics are concerned, that is a different matter. When Mr. Hine rose to a point of order, the Minister asserted that the member for Stratford might have drawn his attention to his complaint when he was in his district. ' '"■:.'.■;''■:•'. /' V : j .."■,;'''•'-".'"[

Mr. , Hine: So I did. ,- ". ' | The Minister: I deny that to be the case.

, Mr. Hine later denied that he had called attention to the matter so as to catch votes. The object in doing so was merely to secure increased comfort for the workers. (Hear, hear.) ' The Minister: I repeat , again that this ,is the first I have heard of it.

Mr. Hine: I contradict the Minister emphatically. ' The Minister: Ad I contradict what you

say. '■ -v "'.:,'•-. \- ' .; Mr. Hine . (to the Speaker): Is not the Minister bound to accept my statement? ; The • Speaker :• I didn't understand you to say that you had either written or spoken \ to the Minister; H■■\- j Mr. Hine: When he was in-my district I told him about it.

.: The Minister: He never. The Speaker requested the Minister to resume his seat, and the incident then closed. , , "". . ' •

THE NAVAL BASE.

A PLEA FOR PICTON.

Notice of the following question to the Prime Minister has been given by the member for Wairau, Mr. J. Duncan: — Whether, in view of the new arrangements entered into between the Admiralty and the New Government in respect to naval matters, with the resultant necessity for selecting in the near future a centrally situated and otherwise suitable harbour for a naval base, the Government will take steps to bring under the notice of, and urge upon, the Admiralty the fact that Queen Charlotte Sound possesses all the essential requirements for a naval base in the highest degree, such as central position, accessibility in all weathers, adaptability for impregnable defence, safe and easy navigation, with a channel of sufficient depth for the largest type of man-of-war, the existence of many and .good situations for the construction of docks, etc., within the harbour, and an extension of the railway would give the best coaling station within the Dominion.

THE RENEWABLE LEASE. LAND MUST REMAIN LEASEHOLD. In conversation with your representative to-day Mr. Massey emphasised a point which he had made with reference to the land proposals of the Government. During the course of his Budget speech he declared that there was positively no land to which the paragraph providing for the freehold under the heading "re" newable leases of ordinary Crown lands" could apply, as directly a settler took up land under the renewable lease it became, by virtue of his so doing, part of the national endowments. Mr. Massey referred to the fact that early in his statement of the Government's land proposals Sir Joseph Ward had said "that no part of the nine million acres constituting the national endowments! would be disposed of on any tenure excepting that of leasehold." As up to the present time, continued Mr. Massey, there were only eight million odd acres so set apart, it followed that until the nine million acres had been reached there was, as he had said, no land to which the paragraph in question could apply, and as ten settlers took up land under the O.R.P. tenure for every one that took up land under the renewable lease, it was not likely that the nine million limit could be reached for many years to come. -"<•'

PROPOSED LABOUR PARTY.

CIRCULAR TO MEMBERS.

A large number of members of the House are being circularised by the Dominion executive of the trades and labour councils in connection with the proposed formation, of an independent Labour party. Members are asked to answer the following questions: —■ (1) Are you in favour of .an. independent Labour party in the present House of Representatives?

(2) H so, are you willing to make an effort to form such a party? (3) And under what conditions? Tho platform of the proposed party, which is said to be in process of formation, is embodied in the trades and labour councils' report for the present year.

POLITICAL NOTES.

A WIDOW'S APPEAL. [BT TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Jessie Anne Henderson, of . Christchurch, widow of Detective Henderson, has petitioned Parliament for an allowance, in view of her late husband's services in the police force. A LEGISLATIVE OVEN. With the advent of warm weather the physical inconveniences of a summer session are becoming apparent. Tho ventilation of the chamber is far from satisfactory, and in the early part of the evenings, when the accommodation for visitors is overcrowded, the atmosphere is extremely oppressive. Last evening the number of people in the chamber at one time was 254. A member, who counted the heads, states that the overcrowding is such as would not be permitted by the Labour Department to exist in any factory. What the experience will be in February, if the House is sitting, may well bo imagined. THE KUNCIMAN CROSSING. In referring to-day to the recent fatality fit the Runciman railway crossing, Mr. Massey said he had received a letter from the owner of the trees near the crossing, in which he denied the statement made last week by the Minister for Railways that he had, demanded exorbitant terms for the removal of the trees. The writer said: "I have stated no terms whatever, nor have any terms been offered to me." COST OF SECOND BALLOTS. A return presented to Parliament today gave the cost of the second ballots in connection with the recent elections. They ranged from £198 to £416. The total cost of second ballots at the general election was £6474, and the two by-elec-tion second ballots cost £611. The cost is grccitest in the country districts. The cost of the second ballot in Waitemata was £358, in Ohinemuri £285, in the Bay of Plenty £416, and in Thames (byelection) £341. ,■■.■••>;.. GRAND JURIES. Mr. T. E. Taylor has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether in view of the alleged frequent - and apparently improper interference with the course of justice by grand juries, and the fact that persons constituting such juries are largely drawn from only one class in the community, he will bring in legislation at an early date abolishing, grand* juries as being class institutions antagonistic to every right of a democracy. A MOTOR CAR QUESTION. Mr. Fisher is asking the Prime Minister whether he will bring down legislation this session which will in the interests of the public empower judges or magistrates to deprive persons of the privilege of driving motor care or riding motor bicycles in cases where it is clear that such persons are a menace to the public and should effectually be prevented from endangering the hves of the people. ' * ' ,"■ * 'V "~~™~~ — ■ 1 } THE LIBEL LAW. Mr. Arnold has given notice to ask the Government whether they will early next session bring in an amendment to the Libel Act with the view of giving the press of this Dominion the same immunity from prosecution as is enjoyed by the press of England, and if not why not." MIDWIVES' REGISTER. A report presented to Parliament shows that there are 141 midwives qualified by foreign examination practising in New Zealand and 742 registered without examination. Of the total number practising 54 are qualified by local examinations. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTIONS. . A petition ha* been presented to Parliament by the religious sect known ns the Christadelphians, praying that adherents of that Church should be granted exemption from the bearing of arms. They protest against having " anything to do with politics in wordy strife or in armsbearing under any conceivable circumstances or conditions." OLD SOLDIERS' CLAIMS. ; The Petitions Committee, in reporting to-day: on some old soldiers' claims, recommended that the Government be asked to institute an inquiry into the claims of all old soldiers.