PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10901, 19 October 1911, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(Pee Press Association.) Wellington, October 18, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30. On the motion for the third reading of the Guardian Trust and Executors Company Bill. Mr Samuel took excep- , tion to the resuscitation of a practically defunct company by an Auckland speculator, and its endowment with all the powers that should be given to a new concern. Ide appealed to the Council to refuse to let such a measure go through. Sir J. G. Fiiidlay contended that there were far more safeguards in the case of this company than there were in connection with the Dunedin comparues. _m conisdered the Bill should never have been brought in at all. Mr Rigg held that the system of giving special rights to private individuals or companies to exploit the public was wrong. It led to wholesale ''Doodling, and lie hoped the Council would put its foot down and stop this sort of thing.- . After further discussion the Bill was read a third time by 15 to 14. The Christchurch Ditrict Drainage and Death Duties Bill were read a second time. The Council adjourned ilntil the evening. •. The Council resumed at 8 p.m.; The Land Tax and Income Tax, Rating Amendment, Shipping and Seamen Amendment, Methodist Church of New Zealand, University of Otago Council were passed through all their stages. The Public Works Amendment and the Auckland University -College Amendment Bills were read a second time. When the Public Works Amendment Bill was being taken Mr Jenkinson suggested that the proviso to clause 2, giving the Minister. certain powers in regard to electric lines, should follow the ensuing subsections, so as to curtail the power of the Minister. Sir J. G. Findlay said he did not think the suggestion was material, but he would consider it when the Bill was in Committee., The Methodist Church Bill ,was passed through Committee. Tin: Council rose sit 11.15 p.m. ■

HOUSE OF REI'RESEXTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Mr Massey read a telegram lie had received" from Mr R. S. Gray, of Christchurch, as follows: "Protest strongly against the Government's attempt to retain over one thousand names on each electoral roll of persons not found in the district as the : result of the electoral census, and subsequently not found by registered letter. Dirty rolls are a positive danger, and leave the door wide open for impersonation." Mr Massey asked what steps were being taken to remedy- the ■ difficulty stated in the telegram. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he had given definite instructions to the registrar that the names of persons who were not entitled to vote should be removed from the rolls. Mr Gray's telegram was contrary to fact. Mr Isitt said lie was aware of instances where the name of a dead man had been restored to the rolls. . Mr Gray's telegram suggested that the registrars were still dubious as to what they should do.

Sir Joseph Ward promised to repeat his instructions to tlie registrars making them clear. Mr Jennings asked the Premier what was intended to be done with his Gaming Amendment Bill. In his opinion the House would get no reply from the Racing Commission-during the session. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he had already promised that if the Commission did not report, this session he would provide an opportunity for the Gaming Bill to be discussed further.

In reply to questions Ministers •stated —

That Sir John Findlay's opinions expressed in Auckland in connection with native representation in the House, duties of citizenship, and the use of their lands were his own private views expressed in his capacity as a candidate. The Government's attentirn had' been drawn to one case .fit --ev : ::t* of . law: under the Commercial T usts A;.V nnd the case was being enqvired into.; The question of the substitution • commercial geography for French in the syllabus under the Civil Service examination regulations had been carefully considered, and no reason had been seen for a change. The statement that the Government had squandered money in hiring a whale (?) ship to come from England was an impertineut fabrication, and absolutelv untrue.

It was proposed to go into the whole question of the constitution of the Court of Arbitration during the next recess. The Government was always ready to assist local bodies in giving every facility to consider the question of electrical or any other method of traction. The question of subsidising the construction of tramlines to be electrically operated was worthy of consideration, but until the Government develops some large force of hydro-electrical' power for transmission to suitable localities it was doubtful whether it would be profitable for local bodies to. undertake the construction of small schemes with a view to electric traction on light tramways. The House resumed at 7.30. The Guardian Trust Bill was received from the Council with amendments. Mr Allen said he was not sure he was satisfied with the Bill, which was designed to reinstate a company which had been defunct for 30 years. Mr Isitt wanted to know if this was the company that had charged £SOO expenses for administering an estate of £ll2.

Mr Bollard (who was in charge < f the Bill) said he knew nothing of the matter.

Sir Joseph Ward moved that the ■House record its high sense of the faithful services- rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr J. S. Shanks, aud als-.> the late Mr A. S. Collins. The motion was seconded by Mr Massey and carried. Mr Buddo moved the second reading of the Local Elections and Polls Auten-.1-ment ment Bill, which provides that every elector who, on the close of eft© poll, is present in the polling place for the purpose of voting, shall be entitled to receive a voting paper and exer ;ise, his vote.

The Bill was read a second timeOn the motion to commit the Workers Compensation Amendment Bill, Sir Millar explained that new clauses provided for wives and children of deceased workers receiving reasonable and proportionate compensation; and also, that where an action is commenced for the reoovery of compensation in respect of an accident happening out of New Zealand and in the harbors of New Zealand, the action shall be, on the application of the defence, staved until the plaintiff has given a.v undertaking not to institute any proceedings for the recovery of compunction or damages in other parts of tho Empire in respect to the same it. Provision was also made to make ;iroceedings taken outside New Zealand available as a defence to an. action i r >- New Zealand for the recovery of compensation. Another clause provides that if, in addition to the compensation payable, a sum equal to reasonable expenses incurred in respect of medical or surgical attendance (including first aid) on a worker in respect of his injury, but not exceeding £lO. lie pai'l. A clause would be introduced into the Bill in Committee bringing domestic servants under the term workers, so that they may get the full benefits of the Act. Messrs Isitt. Luke, and Brown congratulated the Minister on the introduction of the measure. Sir Poland urged the Minister to make provision for the relatives _of workers killed in New Zealand, but living away from the Dominion, being able to claim compensation. He urged that the State should take over the whole of the accident insurance in New Zealand. The motion to go into committee was carried. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr M.'.=sev said he hoped to get the Public Works Estimates through to-morrow and go through Mokau report to-mor-row. Sir J. Ward moved the second rending of the Loan Bill, which provided for C'l .500.000. to give effect *o the proposals in the Budget for public works expenditure. Mr A!l<>n said lie was not opposed to reasonable loans, but what he did oppose was the wasteful expenditure i> r borrowed money. The present cost ;f construction of railways was an instance. ! Railways should be taken into the bs>"kbjopk? pnd the country opened up. He

entirely agreed with the policy of the present Minister of Railways, who held that the railways should earn 4 per cent and not 3}- per cent., as did his predecessor. Mr Massey strongly obiecoed to the way money voted for roads an-l was dealt with. When money was voted it should be expended. In connection with the development of water power the Government was purs. ing a dog-in-the-manger policy. He thought that if private concerns wished to f">'sue the matter they should be allowed to do so. Local bodies, too, should be allowed a similar privilege. With regard to lands for settlement, th> Lands Department was not doing enough for settlement purposes. The land in the Kawhia district would supply the needs of New Zealand for the next two years. Mr Laurenson said Mr Massey delivered the same old speeches year after year. He was a political bully, and Mr Allen was a political nagger. Mr Massey had no sense of proportion. Air Herries was in favor of a borrowing policy. The country should oe opened up by borrowed money, but the way this was done at the present time did not appeal to him. The present system of railway construction was_ distinctly wasteful. ~ x Mr T. Mackenzie said that the statement that there had been extravagance on public buildings had not been supported. There had been no borrowing in this country save for public urgently required.- The development of the hydro-electrical energy scheme would necessitate the borrowing of some five or sis million pounds. It was always necessary, to have more money i:i the Public Works Estimates than it wq.s proposed to spend. More , money would be spent this year. This expenditure had nothing to do with' the fact that this was election year. .. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, Mr Allen had said he was not opposed to wasteful expenditure, yet he was one of the principal" supporters of a mosi wasteful expenditure —the Otago Central Railway. The contention that the North Island had been unfairly treated was incorrect. As a matter of tact there had been a far greater expenditure in the North -Islands than in the South. The groundless . complaint respecting non-representation and L details respecting loans had been made oyer and over again, and just as often answered. The railways of the Dominion were being earned on as fast as possible, and yet the Opposition continually raised objection .to the policy. In the House after 2 a.m. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing his speech on the Loan Bill, said the suggestion that the population was leaving the country was really too paltry to answer. _ Within thfi next few months the arrivals would probably reach 2000. _ The Bill was read a second time. In Committee Mr Pearce moved to strike out *'£2oo,ooo for other public works," as an indication that the borrowing was excessive. _ Mr Laurenson twitted the Opposition with inconsistency, and said they should not accept-the items in the Estimates for their districts from borrowed money. Other members supported this view, and suggested that the vote for railways in Mr Pearce's distrist should be struck out. Mr Pearce said his amendment was an indication that the brake should be put on. Mr Fisher contended that the question was not one of borrowing, but the way the money was expended. Sir Joseph Ward said that an immense amount of nonsense - was being talked about borrowing He asked where the reduction was to be made — in public works or railways? The amendment was lost by 45 votes to 8, those voting for it being Messrs Allen, Anderson, Guthrie, Hine, Nosworthy, Pearce, Scott, and Wright. On the motion for the third reading the Premier said that members of the Opposition who votCcl for the Bill had affirmed the Government's policy. The Bill was read a third time. The Premier announced that the increased revenue iof the year ending September 30, was $1,270,000. The House rose'al 4.5 a.m.