“LABOUR-SAVING" DEVICES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8782, 11 July 1914, Page 7

“LABOUR-SAVING" DEVICES

MR WILFORD AND THE COMMISSIONERS. Ths people will soon be able to hear something about the alleged laboursaving devices which the Public Service Commissioners have introduced. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) moved in the House yesterday:—“That there be laid before this House a return showing,— (1) The number of maclnnes installed in the Customs Department by the Public Service Commissioners for the purpose of enabling that department to get out its quarterly returns; (2) the cost of providing the machines installed in such department; (3) the number of those machines which have been found effective in such department ; and (41 the cost of the machines installed in the Land and Income Tax Department, and the number of ma chines reported on as effective for the purpose for which they wore installed.” COMING REPORTS. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Prime Minister in the House yesterday when he proposed to bring down the Financial Statement. Tlio Prime Minister said that _ he could not say at present. If the right hon. gentleman ashed the question next week he would probably have a reply. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Minister for Railways when the report of the general manager of New Zealand Railways would be placed before the House. Hon. W. H. Herries: “During this month.” Mr A. M. Myers (Auckland East): “Will the leader of the House set apart time for the discussion of this very important report?” The Prime Minister: “I have no objection.” In reply to Mr 6. W. Russell (Avon), the Prime Minister said that ho would lay the report of the Lands Department before the House at the earliest possible moment. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Sir Joseph Ward said yesterday that the answer of the Prime Minister with regard to a question dealing with the Legislative Council reform was not altogether satisfactory. He could give many instances where second had been reformed by the people’s House. The intention of the Government was to put members into the Council to carry out its reform. Would the Prime Minister state who those members were to be? The Prime Minister: “Oh, nol" (Laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward said that there were several hundred men waiting, and they should net be left in suspense. It was not- good for their hearts. (Laughter.) He believed there were 350 of Miem. The Prime Minister; “OhI” Sir Joseph Ward; “Perhaps the right hon. gentleman knows they are more than 350.” ' ' '

The Prime Minister: “A great many' of them are your friends.” (Laughter.), Sir Joseph Ward said that the Ministry had had ample time during the recess to fix their appointments. Mr Veitch (Wanganui) expressed a hope that the Prime Minister 1 would give an assurance that in the appointments to the Council neither liquor supporters nor prohibitionists would he specially favoured. THE LEVEL CROSSING DANGER. Mr A, Mr Myers (Auckland East) took the opportunity yesterday afternoon of expressing his disapproval with the information given by the Minister for Railways in regard to the vary limited application which is to be made of the automatic signalling device for level crossings which has been designed. It was acknowledged that it had been satisfactorily tested, yet it was only proposed “to instal the appliance at various busy crossings as opportunity offers.” It was further stated that it will “only be possible to equip a fixed number of crossings each year, but the work will be carred on until all the busier, crossings are provided for.” Surely, said Mr Myers, the principle of safety to life should rule in this matter, and no time should be, lost in equipping every danger place . throughout the Dominion. No matter what the cost precautions against accidents to the travelling public should be taken immediately. If a private company were running the railways there would be no hesitation on the part of the Government in insisting on that company carrying out its obligation to the public. Whan the Government had a monopoly of the railway service they should perform their duty and do what was necessary to prevent the repetition of accidents which had v resulted in the loss of a number of lives. ( Hear, hear.) Now that the new general manager was here and a device had been secured, he could not see why there should be the slightest hesitation in spending wherever amount was necessary forthwith. NOT “UNDER FIRE.” , “If we were to attempt to satisfy all the claims which have been made for pensions in connection with the Maori war,” said the Hon. Mr Fisher yesterday, "wo would soon bo in the position of the United States. The pensioners would exceed the number of people who took part in the war.” Ho was referring to a question put by Mr Veitch (Wanganui) whether it was proposed to pension veterans who were not “under fire.” The Government, ho explained, had already acted very liberally in this matter, the amount of pensions having now been brought up to £40,000. Since the last apportionment of funds claims had come in wholesale, from not only veterans, but their widows and children, and people who were employed on the river steamers far away from any field of action. EDUCATION BILL. In reply to Mr T. Iv. Sidey in the House last evening, the Hon. James Allen (Minister of Education) said that ho intended to bring down the Education Bill at the end of next week. i THE RAILWAYS STATEMENT. Sir Joseph Ward asked for an assurance from the Prime Minister yesterday that the House would be placed in possession of the report of the Minister for Railways before the Financial Statement was considered. He pointed out that considering there was a new general manager of rail-

ways it was essential members should know what the railway proposals were well in advance of the Statement, Mr Massey replied that the railway report would be brought down this month, and the debate on the Financial Statement was not likely to begin until August Ist. A PLETHORA OF PETITIONS. There was a perfect storm of petitions against the passing of the Religious Instruction of Schools Referendum Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. There were in all 26 of them, most of which were from Roman Catholics. The others were presented on behalf of the State Schools Defence League. The total of the signatures was 13,082. . AN UNDUE PREFERENCE. During the discussion on the election of committees, the leader of the Opposition entered a protest against the fact that he and other prominent members of the Opposition party, especially Mr G. W. Russell, had been ignored. He himself had been nominated only to the Finance Committee, and Mr Russell to two unimportant committees—debates and printing, and library. When the Liberal party was in power more generous treatment had been meted out to their opponents. He noticed that several members were on three committees. The Prime Minister stated that for years when he was in the position which the right hon. gentleman now occupied he had been denied the right to a place on the Finance Committee, which had been this session accorded to Sir Joseph Ward. The Chief Whip (Mr Guthrie) had had more to do with the setting up of committees than he had, and Mr Guthrie had assured him that Sir Joseph had been left off the committees because it was recognised that be had too much to do as lender of the Opposition. Sir Joseph Ward: “I have found lately that my duties as leader of the Opposition have been getting so light that I can do other work.” Mr Massey: “If the right hon. gentleman is looking for more work he will get it before the session is over.” (Laughter.)