HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8483, 18 July 1913, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The Speaker took tho ckair at 2.30 P ' m ‘ ’DUTY ON TOBACCO, Mr J. Vigor Brown (Napier) gave notice to ask tho Minister ot Customs whether ho could reduce "by sixpence ■per lb per annum the duty on plug tobacco till the whoe duty was removed, the revenue to be made up by imposing duty on champagne and other luxuries. POLICE EXAMINATIONS. Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) asked tho Minister of Justice whether, in view of tho general dissatisfaction and feeling of injustice among non-commission-ed officers in tho police force, consequent upon tho recent introduction of examinations, as a condition precedent to promotion, the Minister would arrange regulations in so far as sergeants and senior sergeants were affected thereby; and m tho meantime suspend the operation of these regulations. Mr Atmore pointed out that neither police commissions nor commissioners had in the past recommended examinations, which inflicted a hardship upon competent and experienced officers. It was unfair to spring a surprise upon such men, who had attained tho ago they had and were entitled to promotion. Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman said no knew of no instance in which a man deserving promotion had been treated unfairly. If tho hon. member knew of any such instance where a police officer deserving promotion had _ been treated unjustly, ho (tho Minister) hoped the member would bring it under Ministerial notice. He knew of no general dissatisfaction or sense of Injustice in the force at tho present time because tho new regulations prescribed that police constables and noncommissioned officers should pass an elementary tost before they gained promotion. What the member had said regarding previous commissioners might he quite correct; ho was not in a position to contradict it. He was certain that before a police officer got promotion some test should bo passed by him, in order that ho might prove that ho was familiar with the elements of education. “We have instances of men in charge of country stations who have got their accounts and financial affairs in a hopeless state of muddle, not because they wore dishonest, but because they were not familiar with accounts and lacked tho ordinary elements of education.” Ho would be eery . glad to consider tho hon. gentle- ■ man’s request, submit it to the Commissioner of Police; arid matter investigated. He’ suggested that, the member should write to him. giving tho reasons, and ho (tho Minister) would go into tho whole question. Ho would ho obliged ter have tho-names of any men who had boon unjustly treated, , INDIAN COOLIES. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egniont) asked the Prime Minister’ whether his notice had- been drawn to the reported influx of Indian coolies into Auckland. Ho had been told' that a large number of coolies were coming periodically into the country. He understood that they were prohibited altogether from entering Australia, but that they were allowed to land in Now Zealand after passing a very meagre educational test,: the fact that they were British sub-, jeets being taken into consideration. It had been reported that tho exoolies were going from Calcutta to Fiji to work on the sugar plantations there at ”s a day, hut they found that they Could command higher wages in New. Zealand, and were landing in Auckland on tho average twelve by each Island steamer. Ho was in favour of their total prohibition from tho Dominion. Tho Prime Minister (Hon. AA r . F. Massey) replied that this was the first ho had heard of tho matter, and ho asked tho member for Egmont to give him details of tho information he had at his disposal. NEW BILLS. Tho Springs County Council Redamation and Empowering Bill (Hon. R. H. Rhodes) and tho Shops and Offices Bill (Hon. AV. F. Massey) wore read a first’time, the former being referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Hon. • AV. F. Massey intimated, with regard to tho Shops and Offices Bill, that he intended when tho Bill, same up for second reading, ,t*> move tho second reading pro forma, and have tho measure referred to tho Labour Bills Committee. An amendment to tho Magistrates Court Act, 1908, was introduced by Governor’s message, and read a first time. MILITARY CUSTODY.

The Hon. James Allen. Minister inf Defence, moved that a Select Committee bo appointee!, consisting of ton, members, with power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council, .to consider the amendments made in the defence legislation by the Act of 1912 in their, relation to military custody, punisl-, ment, alternative service, and sne’f other matters as the Minister of Defence may refer to it; the committee

to have power to call for persons and papers, and to report to the House within twenty-one days; three to bo a quorum; the committee to consist of; —Messrs Bradncy, Coates, Davcy, Escott, Isitt, Myers, E. Newman, Statham, Veitch, and tho mover. This was agreed to.

THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) brought under the notice of the Minister of Defence tho following paragraph in the report of the Commandant of the Defence Forces regarding tho proposed expeditionary force;,—_ “If tho experience of the South African War, when Now Zealand warmly came to the support of the Mother Country, may bo taken as a guide, if is fair to assume that, in the event of' tho Empire becoming engaged in a 1 serious war, where tho preservation ol its existence is at stake, there would ■ be an instant demand on tho part otj tho people of the Dominion for the; dispatch of troops to assist the Mother 1 Country. Tho value of any assistance, however willingly and enthusiastically given, will bo-greatly lessened, if not altogether nullified, by waiting till the actual outbreak of hostilities. It has therefore become necessary to work out thoroughly in peace time full and complete plans (organisation, transport, equipment, etc.) for an oversea expeditionary force, in order that efficient machinery may exist for the immediate execution of the wishes of tho people. This previous preparation will, moreover, result in a very largo saving of expenditure. Such an expeditionary force will consist entirely op those serving Territorials who come, forward and offer themselves for servicer. overseas to assist the Mother Country to preserve tho integrity of the British Empire in time of great! emergency.”

Mr Buddo asked if this statement was made on the authority of the Min-', ister of Defence or the Government.. Ho thought it was too important a: matter to bo undertaken without Pin liament having an opportunity to discuss it. Tho Minister of Defence (Mon. James Allen) said that if the member thought the matter so important, ho should put the question on tho orderpaper. MARLBOROUGH LAND BOARD. Replying to Mr R. McCallum (Wairatt), tho Minister of Lands (Hon. W. F. Massey) said that hc had given instructions for the vacancy on the Marlborough Land Board, which had remained unfilled for two months and l was said to be causing trouble by a, quorum not being obtainable at meetings, to bo filled immediately. NO UNEMPLOYMENT. The Hon. W. Fraser, Minister ot Public Works, referring to the question asked without notice by Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) the previous day, said he had received replies regarding reported unemployment at Dunedin from the District Engineers at Dunedin and Invercargill. The former officer telegraphed: “Can take about 20 men Lawrence railway. Six on Scragg’s Hill road deviation. Four men Barewood road. Old grants; all to be on contract or piece-work. Have had a standing order for good men for irrigation works for last six months, but sample of men totally incompetent for such work. Will advise later if other road works available. Taieri County has a standing order for men for work Flagstaff Hill, near city, for breaking stone, but no men |will take work on.” Tho engineer at Invercargill telo(graphed : “£SOOO available loan blocks l and land for settlement, and £SOOO [now loan blocks on current estimates; I all suitable. About £IOOO in hand roads and backblock roads suitable. Practically all new moneys; current estimates applied for by councils. Local (bodies; have made arrangements for! (works under all votes offered them.” 1 ■ That, said tho Minister, clearly showed that ho had not been careless as to the possibility of work being required,, and that he had carried out what ho stated when he said ho had both money jand work available in event of un'omployment.