HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 52

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22. The House met at 2.30. LOCAL BELL. The Oxford Road Districts Bill (Mr Buddo) was read a first time. CRIMINAL CODE. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Criminal Code Amendment Bill were agreed to. The Minister for Justice explained that the only amendment of importance was one giving the Court power to exclude all persons during the hearing of charges for offences against girls. As the -bill went up from the House of Representatives it excluded only those persons under twenty-one years of age, excepting the solicitors and the parties concerned in the case. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time: —'Mining Act Amendment; An Act to Consolidate the Law forthe Protection of Animals and the Encouragement of Acclimatisation Societies ; An Act to Extend the Provisions of the Land for Settlements Consolidation Act, 1900; and the Trade Monopolies Prevention Bill. BILLS FROM THE COUNCIL. - The Maori Land Councils Bill, Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment, and Statutes Compilation Bill, passed by the Legislative Council, were received from the Upper Chamber. CONDOLENCE. On the motion of the Premier, seconded by Mr Massey, it was decided: “That this House desires to place on record its deep regret at the death of the late James Green, for some years a member of the House of Representatives, and tenders to the family its sincere sympatny and condolence.” The mover and. seconder, Messrs T. Mackenzie, E. J. Allen, Millar, and J. W. Thomson paid tribute to the public services rendered by the deceased, who represented the Waikouaiti electorate for some years. ELECTORAL BILL. Sir JOSEPH WARD moved the seoond reading of the Electoral Bill. The mover explained that the bill was largely a consolidating measure. In the new clauses provision was made for meeting the situation created by the constitution of the Single City Electorates Act, and for the appointment oil: a Chief Electoral Offioer, who, under the direction of the 'Colonial Secretary, was to be charged with the duty of carrying the act into effect. There was to be a separate registrar for every electoral district, who may also be the returning officer for the same district-. Every employer of labour was to afford to each of his employees a reasonable opportunity of enrolling his name on the electoral roll of his district. Any registrar who, in consequence of the redistribution of electorates, removed from or entered on any roll the name of any elector, had to" forward to the registrar of the adjoining district a list showing the name of every elector so removed, and also to send a notice to the elector concerned. The general roll in every district was to be closed on the 31st day of March in every year. A fine not exceeding £2O, with the alternative of three months’ imprisonment, was provided for failure to deliver to the registrars a claim for enrolment, and by which the claimant’s name was not placed on the roll. Provision was made for seamen voting as ordinary or absent voters; for the issue of voting permits to anyone desirous of recording his vote outside his district at any polling-place appointed under the act; and for the prevention of irregularities in regard to ballotpapers. The power given under the previous act, by which returning officers erased off the roll tihe names of those persons ■who did not vote, was not embodied in this bill, as the provision had been found to be very vexatious. The alterations suggested were the outcome of the experience gained at different elections, and were thought desirable. If hon. members could suggest any amendments which would make their electoral laws as perfect as possible, he would be pleased to embody them in the bill. If objections were raised, he was quit© willing to eliminate the clause giving power to any qualified:;person, not enrolled, to vote, on the returning offioer being satisfied with his qualification. Mr MASSEY complained of the awkwardness of the electoral districts of tb,o colony. He supported the setting

up of an electoral department, and hoped it would be able to appoint returning officers without political interference or influence. Unfortunately, that had not been the ease during the past few years. He advocated the readjustment of the boundaries of the Maori electoral districts. He would not oppose the seoond reading, but hoped when the bill was in committee that close scrutiny would he given to it by members, and bbei necessary amendments made. Sir WILLIAM RUSSELL saw no necessity for the bill at all, as there was precious little improvement proposed in it on the present method of conducting the elections.

Mr BEDFORD doubted the wisdom of bringing down an Electoral Bill in the last session of the Parliament, wiiicdi gave the electors very little opportunity of making themselves familiar with the provisions of the bill prior to the elections.

Mr ELL considered it was the duty of Parliament to make the colony’s system of representation more equitable than at present was the case. He suggested to the Minister in charge of the bill that more facilities should he given to employees to record their votes. There Should, in his opinion, bo a half-holiday on election day.

Mr DUTHIE considered that Ministers were trifling with the time of the House in bringing forward such a bill when important hills were kept hack year after year on the plea that there was no time to deal with them. In connection with the redistribution of seats, he considered that a census taken once every ten years would be sufficient. Once every five years was too frequent. He hoped when the bill was an committee the House would deal with the permanency of boundaries, so that the country would have peace for a time. In Ms opinion, clause 123 (persons qualified to vote but not enrolled) was not acceptable to the House.

Mr LANG said the present system of Maori representation was of little use co the natives, and there should be an alteration. He objected to the Government employing men to make a canvass to put voters’ names on the roll; in some instances those men really acted as agents for the support of the Government candidate.

Mr BARBER said the abolition of the half-holiday on election day did not meet with, his approval, and there were other minor objections he ■would raise when the bill was in committee.

Mr ARNOLD complimented the Government on its decision to set up an electoral department. He strongly upheld the retention of the present system of removing from the roll the names of those who did not exercise their votes, and the retention of the half-holiday for factories on election day. In general, the bill was a step in the right direction. Mr TAYLOR thought there was no wisdom in pushing through such a hill on the eve of a general election. The full bearing of the alterations would scarcely be gathered by the time the election was held. The real defects in the electoral system were not remedied in the present bill. He particularly referred to the Maori representation, and urged that • special representation should be done away with. The Maoris should be merged into the European voting population. He objected to the quota system that gave the purely country elector a 28 pea* cent, advantage over the town or suburban district. The country quota should have been done away with years ago as being an undemocratic principle. Mr A. L. D. FRASER said the day long ago arrived when special representation for the Maoris should be done away with, both for the benefit of the native and European population. He was supported in this opinion by the Hon Mr Carroll. When the bill was in committee he intended to move that the natives should have the option of enrolling on a European roll or a Maori roll. He pointed out that the will of the majority of the members of the House on a question of the most vital importance to the European population or even to the Empire might be upset by ‘the four Maori members. The Maori members in all Parliaments had been clay in the hands of the Government of the day. Mr FISHER stated that he would vote against the second reading of the bill, because amendments to the electoral law should not be made in the last session of a Parliament. Mr HEtKE described as ungenerous and unfair the cry of the Europeans to silence the native voice in the House. It was done because the European population had grown from 50,000 in the ’sixties to 800,000 at the present day, and it was no longer feared. It was always the way of human nature. If the native vote was detrimental, what about the vote of the member for Napier? Both were with the Government. If the native race and the Europeans were taken in proportion, the natives would be found to be the more loyal. The native members voted with the party they belonged to, and the party they belonged to represented the bulk of the people of the colony. The Hon Mr CARROLL believed that it would be better if the special native representation acts were repealed. He had held that conviction for some time.

If the voting of both races was merged, the whole of the member® of the North, Islandj for instance, would be representative of the natives. The nativ» vote would force candidates to pay attention to native matters. The soone; the Maoris were put upon a roll with the Europeans, with the same opportunity to vote for the best members possiuie, the better it would be. He trusted the day was not far distant’ when Ms ideas on the matter would be realised.

Mr TANNiER objected to the five years’ census, and argued that if a ten years’ census was good enough for the British Islands it was good enough for us. He advised the Government that after the taking of the next census, when the redistribution of seats was made, the work should he carried out- by commissioners well informed, with some common-sense, and a knowledge of the colony. These virtues the former commissioners evidently did not have, because the result of their work was nothing but an idiotic Chinese puzzle.

Mi* McNAB also considered that we ought to have some better system of fixing up our electoral boundaries. He, with other members, objected to the dropping of the clause dealing with, the purging of the rolls. No Electoral Bill would get through the House that did not provide for the mechanical purging of the rolls. No person should be allowed to get on the rolls at a date later than the issue of the writs; the time should be fixed well before the election when the rolls should be closed. He would not like to see Maori representation abolished. It might be possible to have them represented in the Legislative Council, but if the natives were placed on the European rolls, it might be possible to return as many Maori members as now sat in the House, and instead of the native question being postponed until the end of every session, it would become a live question, in which every member would be interested. He did not think there was the corruption in elections in tMs colony to warrant half the restrictions imposed. Mr MOSS considered it a hard principle to allow an act to be passed which could nob be generally circulated at the time of its enforcement, and in this case it would be wanted, in view of the election, at the very hour the House rose. He believed that the time had arrived when the system of voting in regard to Maori - representation should be changed, and the Maoris given the advantage of voting by ballot, instead of the present unsatisfactory system.

Sir JOSEPH WARD, in reply, said those who contended that the system of purging tb© roll was done away with by this bill seemed to overlook altogether the fact that the bill created an electoral department, well-organised. After each election, naturally, the returning officers would send to the chief department marked copies of the rolls, snowing every person who had voted, and it would be the duty of the chier officer to ascertain for what cause a person was removed off the roll, whether by transfer or death. Rut what was the advantage of a system that on the one hand erased the names of people, and on the other hand put them on again ? He had .pointed out in his opening remarks that he was quite prepared to accept any reasonable proposal for the improvement of the bill, and this fact seemed to have been overlooked by those who had criticised the measure. The object of the bill was to ensure that every one entitled to vote should have an opportunity of voting on the day of the election, and the proposal to allow those who did not get on the roll prior to the nomination day the right to exercise their vote was only carrying out a general idea prevalent throughout the colony that no one should be deprived of the privilege of voting. This was to provide for those who inadvertently failed to get their names oh the roll. He could not understand why members should urge the postponement of the bill, seeing there was such a general wish for uniformity in regard to our electoral laws. The fear of partisan persons going round and nob puling certain people on the roll entirely disappeared under this bill, which sought to provide that everybody entitled should be put on the roll. So far as the complaint in regard to the abolition of the half-holiday on. election day was concerned, as the law now stood a half-holiday was mandatory, and the employees received no pay for it at all % An employer might close his factory and turn his employees out for the afternoon without pay. The proposal contained in the hill, that an employer should give his employees a fair opportunity of voting on election day, without a halfdioliday being declared, came on behalf of the employees, Who had in the past been compelled to take a half-holiday, and who had had their pay deducted. The second reading of the bill was carried on the voices. The House rose at 12.35 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILL. The Offensive Publications Bill (Hotf Mr McGowan) was read a first time.

QUESTIONS. The greater portion of the afternoon sitting was occupied with a discussion on Ministers* replies to members’ questions. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. MINING. ACT. The Mining Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee. ANIMALS PROTECTION. The second reading of the Animals Protection Bill was agreed to pro forma, and referred to a committee. TRADES MONOPOLIES.. The Trades Monopolies Bill was also read a second time pro- forma, and leferred to the Industries and Commea ce Committee. ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral Bill was taken in committee. At clause 5 (representation commissions) Mr Massey asked the Minister in - charge if it was proposed to make any alteration in the method of adjustment of the electoral districts after the taking of - the census? —Sir Joseph Ward said he was of opinion that a change should he made. He would give consideration to the matter of extension of the time for taking the census from five years to ten years. Consideration would he given to the whole question in ample time to submit proposals to meet the country’s requirements after the taking of "the next census in April, before which nothing could be done. In clause 6, where rural and urban population is defined, the latter is set down as meaning “any population contained in a city or borough having a population of over 2000, or contained in any area within five miles of the chief post offices of Auckland city, Christchurch city, Dunedin city, or \v -ellington city.”—Mr Ell moved to amend the clause to add the boroughs of Napier, Wanganui, Tiniaru, and Invercrgill.—At the suggestion of the leader of the Opposition, Mr Ell altered his amendment in order to make the area three miles from the chief post offices of Napier, Timaru, 'Wanganui, and Invercargill, instead of five miles. —The amendment was lost by 43 votes to 17. Mr Duthie moved an amendment to make provision for dividing the colony into electorates after alternate censuses. —Lost by 47 votes to 17. Mr A. L. D. Fraser moved in the direction of making provision for allowing the natives of the colony to enroll themselves on the European roll. Sir Joseph Ward refused to accept an amendment without notice. It would mean a tremendous alteration of the Constitution of the colony.— The Hon Mr Carroll contended that the present bill was not the occasion for such a radical change.—The amendment was lost on the voices. On representation from Messrs Aitken and Massey, the Colonial Secretary agreed to strike out clause 42: “Every employer of labour shall afford to each of his employees a reasonable opportunity of enrolling his name on the electoral roll of his district.” It was contended that this clause made an employer liable for the enrolment of employees. Clause 63 (closing of the general roll on March 31st in each year) and clause 64 (provision for supplementary roll) were* postponed. Progress was reported at clause 79. The House rose at 1 a.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 24. The House met. at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. The following hills were introduced and read a first time :—Fisheries Conservation Acts Amendment (Sir J. G. Ward), Education Reserves (Mr Seddon), Kaiapoi Reserves (Mr Seddon). THIRD READINGS. The following local hills were read a third time:—Auckland Harbour Board and Devonport Borough Council Empowering (Mr Alison), Dilworth Trustees Amendment (Mr Lawry), Auckland Harbour Board Empowering (Mr Baum©), Auckland Waterworks Loans Sinking Funds and Borrowing Amendment (Mr Kidd), Gisborne Harbour (Hon Mr Carrolll, Havelock Commonage (Mr J. Allen), Gamaru Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute (Hon Mr Duncan), Wallace Hospital District (Mr J. Cl Thomson), Petone Borough Empowering (Mr Wilford), Eltham Public Hall (Mr Symes), Dannevirke Education Reserve Transfer (Mr Hall), Eastbourne Road District (Mr Wilford). THROUGH COMMITTEE. The following hills passed their committee stage:—Oamaru Volunteer Drillshed Site (Mr Duncan), Nelson Harbour (Mr Graham), Otago Education Board Empowering (Mr Millar), Dunedin District Drainage (Mr Millar), Wellington Hospital Contributors and Society for the Relief of the Aged Needy Exchange (Mr Aitken), Petone Corporation Waterworks (Mr Wilford.), Masterton Trust Lands Empowering (Mr Hogg). The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. MOTUEKA HARBOUR.

The Motueka Harbour Bill CMr R. McKenzie) gave rise to considerable

discussion in committee, owing to the introduction of a new clause by Governor’s message granting a subsidy of £SOO yearly to the Board, diminished by £1 for every £1 of revenue exceeding £IOOO, payable for a period of thirty years, it was explained that the Board had not, like other Harbour Boards, received any endowments from the Government. Members held that if £SOO subsidy was given to the Motueka Board, other Boards were entitled to equal consideration. —Mr Massey moved an amendment to make the appropriation annual, instead of for a, fixed term of thirty years.—This was negatived by 32 votes to 27. —Mr Graham said that in less than five years the subsidy would be wiped off by reason of the increased trade of revenue arising from the improved harbour.; — Mi- Harding moved a new proviso, that the annual subsidy should not be payable until a special rate of one penny in the £1 had been struck in the harbour area, and three-quarters of it collected.—Negatived by 35 votes to 255. The bill was reported -with technical amendments. OTHER LOCAL BILLS. The Hokitika Harbour Ball (Mr Seddon) was read a second time. The Wanganui Suburbs Lighting Act Amendment Bill (Mr WillisJ was reported arom committee without amendment, and was set down for its third reading on Thursday next. ELECTORAL BILL. Further consideration was given to the Electoral Bill in oommittee. At clause 81 (seamen’s rights) Mr Massey moved a new sub-clause to enable persons physically incapacitated from travelling to a polling-booth to have an elector’s right issued to him or her. Sir JOSEPH WARD stated that a special clause would have to be moved for insertion in another part of the bill. IIVLt MASSEY agreed to move in the matter later. Mr TAYLOR moved to strike out sub-clause 5 of clause 99, -winoh says that every noaninaticn-paper of a woman, as a candidate shall be absolutely void, and of no effect.—Lost by 43 votes to 23. Mr BUCHANAN moved to alter the number of votes that any unsuccessful candidate must poll to save his deposit. The bill says that one-fourth ot the votes received by the successful candidate must be polled; the amendment sought to have one-fourth altered to ten per cent.—The amendment was lost by 37 votes to 35 votes. Sir W. J. STEWARD moved the first of a series of resolutions to alter the whole system of voting.—'Negatived by 53 votes to 14. Mr MASSEY moved a new subclause to give persons incapacitated by illness an elector’s right on presentation of a medical certificate, to the returning officer.

The clause was opposed by Sir Joseph Ward, who contended that it would lead to impersonation.—Lost by 31 votes to 30.

The leadei' of the Opposition said he desired to call attention to the fact that his amendment had been lost by the native vote —as many other motions had been lost. He moved (1 a.m.) to report progress. Mr BAUME alleged that the leader of the Opposition was piqued because of the defeat of his amendment. Mr MASSEY said he could take a “ licking ” as well as any member of the House, but it was not the first time the Maori vote had affected the result of a motion. Mr HEEE defended the Maori members, who, he said, had only exercised their right in a matter of party. Sir JOSEPH WARD promised to report progress' after a couple of other clauses had been dealt with. Progress was reported at clause 130. (There are 233 clauses.) The House rose at 1.20 a.m. FRIDAY, AUGUST 25. The House met at 2.30 p.m. CODON TAD BANK. The whole of the afternoon sitting was occupied with a discussion on the liquidation of the Colonial Bank (reported elsewhere). The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ESTIMATES. Further consideration was given to th i Estimates. Customs Department, £46,899. Mr MERRIES said it had been the custom before entering on the Estimates of a particular department to get the report of that department. He Inquired as to the non-appearance of the report of Colonel Gudgeon, Commissioner of the Cook Islands. The House should consider it a. breach of faith that the report had not been brought down. Mr Massey agreed with the last speaker. Mr SEDDO'N: The report of the Customs Department has been brought down. Mr MASSEY: I am not referring to the report of the Customs Department. I am speaking of the report on the Cook Islands by Colonel Gudgeon. He pointed out to the Minister (the Hon O. H. Mills) that in the miscellaneous Estimates there was provision for certain payments in respect to the Cook Islands.

Mr SEDDON said the member for the Bay .of Plenty was anticipating a discussion which should follow the detailed votes. He suggested that the Estimates concerning Customs should bo gone on with, and any information in regard to the Cook Islands could be given afterwards. Mr HERRIES said he would move that the item “ Secretary and Inspector of Customs, £700.” should be reduced by £1 in order that the House might get information on the whole subject. Mr BUCHANAN said Mr Henries had missed the strongest reason why Mr Glasgow’s salary should be increased. Further down th© list they found that a chief Customs expert was getting £Boo—£loo more than the man in Mr SEDDON said the salary of the subordinate officer hnd been £BOO for many years—it was £BOO when the Secretary and Inspector was getting £6OO. It had been paid by a previous Administration. Members of the Opposition were greatly in favour of higher salaries, but they did not betray a great deal of consideration for the workers. Th© Customs Department, he was aware, was a most economically worked department, but members could understand what an outcry there might be for allround increases in salaries. After some desultory discussion, Mr Berries said he would withdraw his motion if the Minister would indicate what he intended to do in regard to the “ miscellaneous services.” The Hon Mr MILLS said the report oi the Cook Islands would be brought down before the items in respect of those islands were gone on with. Mr Her rios accordingly withdrew his motion.

Mr T. MACKENZIE moved that the item “ Secretary and Inspector of Customs, £700,” should be reduced by £2 as an indication that the salary should be increased to an amount commensurate with the duties he performed, and, at all events, equal to that of a subordinate. —Lost on the voices. Mr ELL moved that the item “Chief Customs expert” should be reduced by £lso.—Lost by 34 votes to 15. Mr DUTHIE moved that the salary of £6OO to the Collector of Customs at Auckland should be reduced by £l, in order that some indication might be given why a salary of £550 only was paid to the Wellington officer doing similar duty. There was a similar discrepancy in the salaries paid other officers at Wellington compared with the amount-s being received by those at Auckland—landing waiters, examining officers, etc. Mr MILLS said the officer at Auckland was a very old servant. In cases where young officers were employed they would eventually be paid higher salaries. The officer at Auckland had been there twenty-five years; the officer at Wellington had been there only ten. Mr HAWKINS pointed out that there was little difference actually between the dues collected at Auckland and those collected at Wellington, while the salaries paid were just about equal. A lot of 'time was being wasted on a subject that required little discussion. Mr DUTHIE withdrew his motion. He said he moved it with a desire to show that the salaries of officers at different centres and ports should be brought into line. The salaries last year amounted to £39,360; * this year £41,296 was provided for. He contended that the preferential tariff passed last year was the cause of this increase, and he wanted to know when the Government was going to sweep away the abortion, recognising that it had failed to achieve the object it was primarily intended for. Mr WILFORD wished to say something about the candle industry and the effect thereon of certain duties, but the Chairman of Committee ruled that the tariff could not be discussed while the Estimates were under consideration. Mr Wilford then moved to report progress, and that the House should sit again, in order that the Minister might be able to explain the differentiation in salaries paid Customs officers at different centres. He complained of the unsatisfactory answers to questions.—Lost on the voices

The remainder of the Customs Estimates were passed unaltered, with the exception of miscellaneous services, £5603, consideration of which was postponed. Marine Department, £54,446. Mr LAURENSON complained that sufficient attention was not being given to the acclimatisation of sea fish. If properly encouraged, a great industry was at hand; and it would be a distinct benefit to the colony. Mr JAMES ALLEN agreed with Mr Laurenson. The hatchery at Portobello was being starved. The Government should go into the matter in a thorough manner.

The Hon Mr HALL-JONES said the hatcheries were not being starved. A great deal was done every year in the way of importing ova. Last year two millions were imported; and 400,000 salmon had been turned out.

After some further discussion, the vote for Protection of Fish and Oysters (£1790) was passed unaltered. Several members urged that the Government should systematically and energetically carry on trawling operations for the purpose of discovering fresh fishing grounds around our coasts, com-

plaints being made that the work es the department in this direction in th« past had been carried out imperfectly and incompletely.

The remainder of the Marine votes were passed without alteration.

Education, £690,479

Mr KIRKBRIDE asked if anything further was intended to be done in the way of assisting agricultural education.

Mr SEDDON, in replying quoted from the present regulations governing technical instruction, to show the powers already possessed! by Boa ids. The matter referred to by Mr Kirkbride was one for the Eduoation Boards, and not for the department. He had long been wanting to do something more than was being done at present in the direction indicated. The matter was being inquired into by the Education Committee, and he hoped to be able to report next session that a great advance had been made in this respect.

Mr MASSEY expressed pleasure that the Farmers’ union and Agricultural Associations throughout the country were taking an active interest in this matter. Agricultural education was 'a thing of very' great importance to the colony depending, as it did. so largely on agriculture. Mr KIRKBRIDE expressed a hope that something would be done to teach the young of the colony the science and practice of agricultural pursuits. Mr LAURENSON put in a plea for the town children, who, he contended, should be given an opportunity of going in for agricultural pursuits. The curse of modern civilisation was the drift into the towns —(hear, hear)—-the aspiration to be a clerk and a shopkeeper. Mr WILFORD moved that the item for secondary educaticffi oe reduced by £1 as an indication to the Government that it should undertake the publication of a uniform set of text-books a!n4 supply them at cost price.—Negatived by 26 votes to 24.