SESSIONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5730, 27 October 1905, Page 5

SESSIONAL NOTES.

NEW ZEALAND STOCKS. The Premier was asked by Mr J. Allen yesterday afternoon if ho mas correctly reported in Dunedin when he said in May last: —Since the payment of the interest the New Zealand stocks had begun to rise again, and with a surplus of £761,000 ho was looking forward to them going np further still. As Now Zealand 3 per cent, stock on the 1-tli May, 1905, stood at 871, and in September, 1905. at 87j,.and bn the 13th October. liKKh at SOj. ho wanted tho Premier to explain tho reason for the continuous full, “and why tho so-called surplus of £701,000 has not caused the rise he anticipated?”

Mr Seddon said circumstances over which the Government of New Zealand and any other Government have no control has resulted in tho present position. Tho following is a comparison of New Zealand consols with those of tho Australian States, as at 16th October last:—

Tho slight fall in tho New Zealand 3 per cents, can be accounted for, seeing that tho interest was payable this month, and it should not bo forgotten that only one-sixth of our debt is at 3 per cent., one sixth at 35- per cent., and four sixths at 4 per cent. There lias not been a continuous' fall, and some of our stocks have, as ho had anticipated—and probably tho surplus of £761,0C0 may liavo boon an incident—risen sinco tno date ho spoko in Dunedin, the 25th May last.

PROHIBITION IN THE KING . COUNTRY.

The member for Egmont asked the Premier yesterday if lie would take the necessary steps to grant forthwith to tho colonists residing in tho King Country the same privileges as those possessed by persons residing in other prohibited districts in New Zealand; failing this, would he set up a Commission, consisting of three Magistrates, to inquire into matters in tho district named? Mr Seddon replied _that ho was ret aware that colonists in the King Country were deprived of privileges that were enjoyed in other prohibited districts, except that in regard to tho King Country there was special legislation affecting the same. Inquiries would bo made with the object of arranging, as far as Europeans were concerned, that no disabilities other than those by law entailed should bo imposed, and that they might enjoy the same 'privileges and live under the same conditions as persons living in other prohibited districts, provided that this could be done compatible with agreements made with the natives, and in such manner as not to be to their injury. CONFERENCE OF PREMIERS.

Mr Taylor asked tho Premier yesterday whether, in view of tho fact that his unauthorised actions at the .last Conference of Colonial Premiers involved tho colony in a contribution of £15,000 to an Imperial monument, and might hr,vo pledged this' colony to the support of an Imperial army reserve liable to foreign service* without the consent of Parliament, he would submit to the House before its adjournment a draft of any proposals ho might contemplate bringing before the projected Conference of Colonial Premiers in London next year, so that the representatives might authorise any such proposals before the colony was involved in any undertakings which affected its public policy or its financial obligations ? Air Seddon said: The first part of tho question, both as regards the colony being involved to tho extent of .£15,000, or being pledged to an Imperial Army resdne, is incorrect. /Up to the present time no invitation has been received from tho Imperial Government that -a conference was to be held next year, and the colony will not be involved or Ire committed definitely to any undertaking involving large public policy or financial obligation without tho representatives of the people being 'consulted. Everything involving public policy and finance passed at previous conferences by Prime Alinistcrs was subject to /confirmation by the respective Parliaments. INDUSTRIAL LAWS.

The amendments made in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill by the Labour Bills Committee wore reported to tho House yesterday. The principal amendment is in clauso 2, -which, as originally brought down, provided for the amalgamation of uro;i« in any district, without, however, making it clear what should bo done in tho case of there being a number of different awards in force and running out at different times in such district. The amendment made by tho committee it to tho effect that the Court shall have power to review the various awards with the view of bringing them into harmony. Tho amendment also provides that no amalgamation shall take place until this has been done. The committee has struck out clause 12, which deals with permits to w-'i-k for less than the minimum wage, and empowers the secretary of a union to ho present when tho permit is being applied for, and to oppose it. Clauso 14 (providing for applications for enforcement of awards being heard by a Stipendiary Magistrate) has also - been struck out. Both these clauses were excised at the joint request of the employers and tho Trades and Labour Councils. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.

In reporting on tlio Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Amendment Bill, the Labour Bills Committee recommends the excision of clause 2. In the last amending bill it was provided that the minimum payment under the act to wha'-f labourers and stevedores should bo 23s a week, irrespective of the wage received. The clause erased by the committee stipulated that this provision should apply to all workers receiving a wage of not less than 30s a week. The clause was opposed by both the Trades and Labour Councils of the colony (represented by a deputation from the Wellington Trades and Labour Council) and by the Employers’ Association, and the committee states that consequently it had no alternative but to strike it out. LABOUR BILLS COMMITTEE. The Labour Bills Committee of the House, in presenting its final report yesterday, stated that it lias held thirty, meetings (including three sub-commit-tee meetings) during the session, and has considered forty petitions. The average attendance at the twenty-seven meetings was 13.3 out of a total of twenty members. The number of witnesses attending the meetings was 239.

3 pol3J per •1 per ecat. cent. cent. New South Woles 83 99 109 Victoria 86 98 195 Queensland 87 9S 106 New Zealand 86J 99 107 On October 21st the figures were— New South Wales 85.5 9S 108 Victoria 80 93 105 New Zealand 86 99.5 107