TWO HOURS WITH DEPUTATIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 30

TWO HOURS WITH DEPUTATIONS.

The Premier spent over two hours last week listening to deputations which interviewed him on various subjects.

The first was a deputation with regard to a resolution passed at the Conference of Trades Councils suggesting that the Government should immediately ascertain tho most suitable method of placing kauri gutn on the New Zealand, English and American markets; that the gumdiggers ho licensed, and licenses issued only to British subjects.

Tho Premier, in reply, said with regard to tho first part of the resolution, the Government had been doing something in that direction, and lie would immediately communicate with tho Agent-General oil the subject. As to tho license, ho saw no objection, but with regard to restricting'it to British subjects, lie did not think it would bo a wise policy, more so on account of Imperial interests being involved, lie was, lie added, in favour of preventing owners making binding conditions upon those men they let their fields to. LABOUR LEOISLATIOX. Tliß next deputation was from a number of representatives of unfederated Unions, who wished to impress upon the Premier the necessity of passing certain Labour Laws next session. The following bodies were represented : —Amalgamated Carpenters, Painters, Carriers, Seamen, New Zealand Workers, Furniture Trades, Operative Carpenters, Building Trades’ Labourers, Women’s Democratic League, Ironworkers’ Assistants, and Moulders. Mr D. P. Fisher, introducing the deputation, said their object was to strengthen the Premier’s hands in regard to certain Bills which ho had announced lie intended to introduce next session.

Mr 11. Warner (Amalgamated Carpenters) suggested that a clauso was necessary in the Masters and Apprentices Bill in apportioning the number of apprentices to journeymen. The Premier said tho Government had felt for some time the necessity of an adjustment in this direction. They had had experience of heads of families and good tradesmen driven to co-operative works through their own or other peoples’ sons being being employed to do their work. It would he tho duty of the Government, to obtain information from tho employees or tho Unions as to the maximum number of apprentices to bo allowed, and it would only be fair to consult the employers also. The Government would then bring down the measure, and submit to Parliament what they thought would be a fair thing. Mr T. W. Brooker (Painters) spoke on the subject of tho total abolition of imprisonment for debt. The Premier said he had stated in Parliament that there ought to be no recovery for debts up to a certain amount. To mane the Magistrate’s Courts debt collecting machines was to bo behind the ago, and ho did not so much wish to abolish imprisonment for debt as to say there should bo no recovery. No doubt that would do away to a great extent with credit, and that would be a groat benefit to the community generally. Tho Government would go on the lines of the legislation proposed last session. Mr W. Jones (Seamen’s Union) urged the abolition of private benefit societies.

The Premier believed it was in the interests of the Colony that the Bill dealing with this subject should pass. If these societies claimed to give the same benefits as other societies, let them come under the Benefit Societies Act, besides which it was the duty of the State to see that all benefits which it was said would be given should be given. There was no doubt the conditions of some of those

societies wore c rercivc, and, in addition, if men left the Union Company tho society did not give the same benefits as other societies. Tim Cabinet decided some time ago to deal with this question by legislation. Much societies weakened (lie other Friendly .Societies, and anyihmg tint would tend in that direction should he abolished. He would do ail he ceil id Lo Imlp in that direction. (Hoar, hear).

Mr A. Orr (Carriers’ Union) spoke of the extension of the Municipal and Harbour Board Franchise Bill. There were thou-

sands of people in "Wellington who had no representation on the Harbour Board simply because they did not directly pay rates. •

The Premier replied that to say that only 4000 people in Wellington had votes for the Harbour Hoard was the strongest argument in favour of extending tho franchise. Landlords fixed their rents according to what they themselves had to pay in rates, Ac., and the householders practically paid the rates for them. That being so, they should have tho franchise. It might be suggested the question should first be submitted to tho people, and if that was done, lie should ask tho Parliament to enlarge the municipal franchise,at

any rate. The whole structure of municipal representation was on obsolete lines, and the sooner it v,as changed the bettor. '1 lie money borrowed for drainage, Ac., v.o.iU'.l have to be paid by the citizens as a whole, and ho could not see how anyone could reasonably refuse to extend the franchise. (Hear, hear.) Mr A. .J. Bishop, representing tho furniture trade, urged the necessity of

passing the Undesirable Immigrants Bill, and suggested a <£loo poll tax for Asiatics. The Premier said the representatives of the people of New Zealand were in favour of a <£loo poll tax, and of restricting tho influx of Chinese, and he hoped the other portion of the Legislature would come round to that way of thinking. Mr Hat-chard (Amalgamated Carpenters) referred to tho necessity of preventing the influx of consumptives into New Zealand. The Premier replied that many people had now come round to the opinion that the Government were right in insisting that those who were admitted into tho Colony should not be people suffering from such diseases. He hoped the responsibility would bo put on those who brought such people to the Colony. The Government would introduce legislation as suggested next session. Mr D. P. Fisher expressed the hope that the Government would introduce a Public Tenders Bill. The Premier said this was one of the Bills they intended to bring in. Some of the locai bodies had been getting their work done on co-operative lines, and had found it very satisfactory, and that it tended to promote settlement. Some of the deputation having spoken of the Abolition of Distraint for Rent, The Premier said the idea that a landlord could take away a man’s furniture because he had not paid his rent was wrong. The landlord ought to be compelled to prove his debt in the usual way. They were told the tenants had their remedy, but a working man could not afford to l'eo a solicitor to light the landlord. This was one of the Acts which was passed in a different state of society than existed in New Zealand, and the sooner it was duiio away with tho better. Air Warner urged the necessity of appointing a workingman’s representative on the Wellington Harbour Board. The Premier said Colonel Pearce, tho Government nominee on the Harbour Board, was taking a well-earned rest at Home. Tho commerco of Wellington, ho went on to say, was fairly represented on tho Board, and the proper course to take was to place the best men possible on the Board to represent the Colony instead of trying to get any particular class represented. They wanted the best men, no matter what their class or position. (Hear, hear.) He found that if a workingman was taken from the ranks and given preferment, ho was treated hard by his fellows, and if such a man was put on the Board he would probably find he had lost the confidence of those at whoso instigation he was placed there. Ho said that with regret, because he had been thinking what the Government could do in this respect to give general satisfaction. Notwithstanding that, there were amongst the workers men who had the confidence of tho workers, and would do credit to the Government. The fact of their appointment creating jealousy would not have any weight. Tho matter would bo considered by the Cabinet, and whatever conclusion was arrived at he hoped they would acknowledge the Government had done what was right. Mr D. P. Fisher thanked the Premier, and said ho hoped the Government would bo successful in getting some, if not all, of the Bills mentioned through Parliament next session.