NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8288, 17 September 1903, Page 1

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The. Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Wellington Harbin- Bo<ud Empowering Bill was reintroduced from Committee with amendments.

The Dramatic Copyright JJill was read a second time without discussion.

The City of Christcliurch Special Loan Enabling Bill passed its iinal stages, and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE 03? REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker read a letter from Mr S. Saunders, editor of the Lyttelton Tinuti in reply to a resolution passed by the Houso declaring that a breach of privilege had been committed by tliat newspaper in publishing a oertain article commenting on confidential matters before the Education Committee. Mr Saunders regretted that a breach of privilego had been committed. He pointed out that part of the information contained in the article had been previously published by the New Zealand Times, wliilo some of the statements were b;used on data obtained from Parliamentary papers distributed by the Government Printer some timo ago. He was not award that the publication of the article would constitute a breach of privilege. 'J ; . C. Wilkin, publisher of the Lyttelton limes, wrote tluit ho did not know how the information was obtained by tho editor.

Sir J G. Ward moved tli.it tli o letters bi> referred to the Privilege Committee, which is at present considering tile New Zealand -limes case. It seemed, to him tlmt there was not much breach of privilege so far as tlie J-yttelton Times was concerned. Sir Joseph Ward's motion was agreed to on the voices without discussion. Mr Buddo was granted one week's leave ol absence on account of illness, and Mr .lime tour days' leave on account of urgent private business.

The, following Bills were introduced and read a first time :~n W Water Power Hill, the lublic Works Act Amendment .Bill, i>-n I>frson « Act Amendment \ V, I S, PubLlc Works Act 1894 Amendment Bill.

In reply to questions, Ministers stated tiiat no steps were being taken by the Government to acquire the Wellington-Mana-watu radwa.y; that the Government hoped to pass this session a Bill dealing with tho whole question of sea fisheries; that the .Native Minister would -do everything in his power to acquire for the colony mtain historical spots in the North Island; that, several purchases had already been mails tor t he proposed national Maori museum; that the question of purchasing fion)c 0 f the many valuable specimens of Maori art, collected by the late .Mr Butterworth, of New Plymouth, was at present under conadeution of the Cabinet, and that a Bill would be introduced this session as a preliminary to the establishment of a nation,! nmIWeHiiiL'ton 1 WeHiiiL'ton ; that,a Jximl Bill would be brought down in a dav or two, and it would lie got through if members would only talk lea S and work more. Hie House rose at 5.30 p.m. House resumed at 7.30 p.m. 11k>. Git-y _of Cliristoliurc.h Special Loans hnabhng lull was reived from the Liewliu.ive Council and read a first time. It was stated that, the Legislative. Council insisted, on ita amendment* in (.lie Counties Act Amendment JiilJ, and a conference was arranged for. The 'Companies Bill was :vad a second time pro forma-, and referred to the Industrios and Comment ComiiiitUv. ihe House went into committee on tho shipping and Sea,men Bill. Ihe Hon. W. Hall-Jones said that. it wan proposed to paus over (.lie contentious claim's until all the non-debatable clause had been disposed of. i Ins coma was adopted. In regard to service certificates Mr Hall-Jones said m reply to Mr Taylor, thill, these ceujnentes would run on for one year after the coming into operation of the' Act, and would (hen Biwtu be issued altogether Paragraph "G" -of Clause 21 provoked considerable discussion. It provides that in case of a sailing ship under 25 tons regi/itcr, carrying passenger,, or cargo within fiucMi z*estncl<xl limits as mny bi> approval .y. e Minister, it must have a duty certificated master whose certificate .slwll'be of a. grade proscribed by the Minister. Mr Hall-Jones s;i,id that at present there was no chock *it «i JI 011 such vessels, AVliiit wa.s sought was that the penson in char/jo lmutfc l>roveihat ,he was reasonably competent, and know tlic- rule 1 ol (.lie road and ho on. Eventually (Jie olau.se was amended to read lijr case of a sailing ship of ov<»r five tons and up to 25 tons register. The words "or cargo" were also excised, ko that the provision will only apply to sailing ships carrying passengers. A sub-clauso was iidded oil the Minister's motion, providing that steamships of over 100 horse power, plying within river limits, should carry an engineer holding at least a second-class service, certificate. Another new sub-clause was inserted providing that extended river limit boats of under 100 lior.se power should carry an engineer holding a river limit certificate. Mr Willis objected to sailing vessels tilted with auxiliary oil engimis being required to carry cert,iieated tngineere. lhe_ Hon. W. Hull-,Jones said that the provision was a necessary one, Mr Houston moved an amendment with I'll-, object of exempting vessels having auxiliary engines This was opposed by the. Minister, but, wits carried by 33 v »l«w to 27 votes. I lie Hon. W. Ilall-Jones sa.id that tho Jluu.-e had ir.-:i«lc a gnat mistake in carrying Mr lion 'lm s amendment. Auxiliary vessels could now go to sea with a boy in charge of the engines. A consequential amendment, rendered neeo';y;iry by Mr Houston's amendment, prop:isid by Mr -Mass'.y' in the next <;ubvJ,i'jse, was ivj, c !.. <!' by 51 votes to 29 votes.

Mr M-.iwvy pi)inl; T l tmt. Hint. lli«« position v.-,is now ;i ridiculous one., ;uid it was no u n'oing on v/iili i.lie clause in its present; form.

. ii.. Hon W. llall-.lone, onniuyled tliat, ibe mistake w-.k; made. in a;'rrein,<>- to Mr Houston's amendment. ITc indicated Unit, lie- would more to recommit iti<> Kill for til ■ pmpo«> (if roeiuisid l rinir (.lia cla.iw;.'. CI uwe 21 as amnxk-d was then added to the Bill.

-H Clause 23, Mr Taylor moved .'.ll addiVon I<i provide. for oxamin/il inns in oij>ht tails by practical men, appointed by the ifinwi.T.

F'lih-section 4 <"f this clause provided that "every applicant for cxa.ininat.ion wliotlier as mn.-ier, mate, or engineer, bo a Bntinh Kuhject." Mr Harding moved to strike out the words "rli.'i JI l)v a British subject." Tlioi Minister urjrcd t.liat the words should lv. r .'itined. He contended that H wn.x our duty to endeavor to assist the Empire in bitildiny a self-contained navy. Mr Millar awl'Mr I.aurenson pointed out thi.t it was nil cney matter for foreigners to t::.k.i cur naturalisation papers. (Mr !Fr>w'd.s romb.'ited tlii-i view, and staled that the GovcmtK-nl. had absolutely refused to give naturalisation pipers unless •they wore signed by a Stipendiary trato. This was in defiance of the law, which allowed such pipers to be iwucd on a certificate of a Justice of the I'eac.". After considerable discission Mr Harding's amendment, was nogativ«l by 47 votes to 11 votes. Eventually Mr Taylor withdrew his amendment in. favor of jt new Kiib-scctinn, proposed by the. Hon. "W. Hall-Jones to the < ffcct. thnt tin* Minister may from time to time appoint examiners for applicants in siplit. tests. The sub-prcMon was agreed .to on tho voices, and to the Bill. The succeeding clauses up to No. 40 wero paswe-d without material amendment. Progress was tlien reported. , The House rose at 12.50 a.m.