PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4487, 15 October 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS

LABOUR LEGISLATION. In the course of his speech last night on the Factories Bill,' Mr Hogg sounded a note of warning in regard to labour legislation. If the restrictions put upon labour should drive the artisans to the wall, said he, who would suffer? Not the employer; for the capitalist would always find a fair amount of investment for his money. It would be the artisan who would suffer. He knew that gome of the manufacturers and importers carrying on business in this oity were no)v importing articles they, would only be too glad to have had manufactured. It paid them better to import these articles from abroad than to comply with the demands of the unions. He was stating what he believed to be an absolute fact when he said that some of the largest employers in this city during the last few months had been dispensing with their hands, as they found themselves unable to compete with the importer. He had not a word to say against trade unions, but if trades unions pushed things too far, they were not doing that which was best in the interests of the workers. Mr Meredith, in endorsing the remarks of Mr Hogo\ spoke of the hearty support which the member for Masterton had invariably given to labour legislation in the House. NATIVE LANDS. The Maori Lands Administration Act Amendment Bill, which is under the charge of the Native Minister, repeals section 22 of the principal Act, and provides that Maori land in any district proclaimed qnder section 5 of that Act shall not be alienated by way of lease either to the Crown or to any ■other porsofi except with the consent of the Council. Where the land belongs to two owners, the consent of the Gov-erpor-in.Council must be obtained. The Governor is given power to remove the restrictions against tho alienation of Maori land. The Council is_ by this Bill empowered to hold land in trust. JOTTINGS. The Premier gave notice last evening that ha would introduce a Crown Tenants Rebate of Bent Amendment Bill and a Medical Practitioners Bill. In answer to a question from Mr McGuire last evening, Sir J. G. Ward stated that the Year Booh would be printed and circulated as soon as possible. It was not yet quite ready • A return submitted to Parliament shows that an officer of the Civil Service, Mr Robert Kaye, of the Post smd Telegraph Department, is. to receive an annual pension of £216 13s 4d from December Ist, 1901. Replying to Captain Russell last evening in -relation to Forest Gate estate, the Premier said the owners would be permitted to retain tho land upon certain conditions- Captain Russell asked under what Act? The Premier replied that it was a matter of arrange. “I say that the legislation pae B ed during the last ten years bag, in almost every instance, ■ been in the •direo.tion of assisting the farmer, and this has been very heartily supported by the representatives of the towns in this House.”—Sir ,J. G. Ward. “Tho great struggle in this county will be on the question of freetrade against protection.’'—Mr Hornsby. _ A petition, l -signed by certain, residents of Wellington, was presented by Mr John Hutcbdson yesterday in refer, ence to the statements of the Rev R. Haddon. Wesleyan missionary, as to the excessive drinking among the Maoris in the Taranaki district. A similar petition from Hawera ha s been presented to Mr McGuire. petitions are distinguished by a novel tea. tore—a copy of a picture introduced into the middle of the printed matter. This appears to be a representation or a Maori whare, with a gentleman m the middle distance about to undertake what is either a haka or a sailor’s hornpipe, while the foreground is ornament, ed with various casks and bottles. Illustrated petitions , are very rare m Parliament, and it is a question how far the standing orders permit this novel departure.