HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10397, 27 June 1895, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26. The House met at 2 30 p.m., Mr Guinness being in the chair REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. ' ' Replying to Mr Larnsca, The Hou. J. M'KENZIE said no officer in the Government service had asked for the privilege of holding a sent as director of a public or other company, aud the-Government did not think it desirable they should do so. Heuiyirjg to Mr J. G Wilson, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the question of prohibiting a license being'transferred* from one township to another could be dealt With in a bill amending the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act. Replying to Major Steward as to whether, to meet the unemployed difficulty, the Minister for Lands would forthwith strrange to put in hand roading, drainage, and limber-falling works ou land to be "thrown op?n lor occupation by work-' men engnged on the alternate system, The Hon' J. M'KENZIE said Borne such arrangement was briog made, but it could only bs done where good laud was available. Replying to 'Mr Joyce, The Hon. Mr SEDDON Baid the Government cauld not see their way to get up a commission to inquire into the case of the convict Louis Chemis.

Replying to Mr G. J. Smith, Tha Hon. Mr REEVES said a bill amending the Shop's and Shop Ass-itauts Act would be introduced doing away with all exceptions under the act, but it was donbtful if provision could be made for taking a poll of residents for fixing the day for the weekly half-holiday.,

Keplying -to Major Steward respecting the unemployed throughout, the colony,

The Hon. Mr SEDDONsaid the Government bad at present as many men on the Otago Central aud' North Island trunk lines as tha appropriation would permit, but as regarded tbe Midland railway plans and specifications w,ere being prepared, so as to comply with the4*w.

Rsplying to Mr Pl'atman, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said a bill would be introduced dealing with the pfeveutioa of an invasion 6£ rabbits on the property of Crown tenants. ' Replying to Mr Lawry, The.Hon. Mr REEVES said the Government did its best to employ local men in want of work on tho co-operative system. Keplying to Majnr Steward, The Hon. Mr REEVES said'he had already given directions that an inspection of shearing sheds, nnder the factories Act, should be made prior to the shearing season. Replying to Mr Lawry, The Hon. Mr.SEDDON said he was willing to reconsider Mr decision as to the granting of subsidies to the fire brigades of the colony, but his opinion was that those allowances should be paid either by the local authorities or insurance companies. ' i Replying to Mr Flatman, The Hon. J. M'KfiNZIE said a local bill would he brought down thiß session in the direction of making domain and park boards elective. Replying to Major Staward, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said a bill would be introduced making all rabbit fences legal fences within tho meaning of the act. Replying to Mr Morrison, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said efficient volunteers .had «ome claim for exemption from serving on juries, and when the Juries' Bill was before J&he! House he should move in that directien. Replying to Mr M'Gowan, The Hon. Mr REEVES said a bill which was being drafted would deal with the question of sending destitute persons back to the district they belonged to within the meaning of the ' Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act. Replyingto Mr Morrison, The; Hon. Mr CADMAN said the cost of railway passes for volunteers had hitherto been paid by the Defence department, but as the department .had. been imposed upon ib was intended to restrict those passes. Replying to Mr Wilson, ;The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said a bonus had been offered for the improvement of flax-dress-ing machinery laßt year, but nothing had been done to warrant ib. Tbe Government would renew the bonus this year for a longer period. Replying to Sir R. Stout, The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said it would depend on the progress of business whether a Libel Bill would be introduced this year. Replying to Mr G. W. Russell, whether the . Government would consider the desirability during the present session of placing on all long-distance railways in the colony dining cars for,the Bupply to the travelling public, at fixed rates, of food and non-aicciholic drinks, The Hon. Mr CADMAN said the matter would be.'considered: but owing to the time for which refreshment room licenses were held, nothing could be done till the end of the yea,r. i Replying to Mr Pirani, The Hon. Mr SEDISON said legislation would be introduced providing a legal status for scenery preservation societies. Rsplying to Mr E. M. Smith, The Hon. Mr CADMAN sajd inquiries were being made of the Agent-general as to the desirability of lighting railway carriages by electricity. Replying to Mr M&slin, whetker the Government will amend " The Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act 1894," especially the clause where a farmer competes against a butcher, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the necessity existed for some amendment in this direction. If the hon. gentleman submitted his objection in writing he would consult the law officers with the view of introducing legislation. Replying'to Mr Hall, whether the Government would amend the Advances to Settlers Act so that three-fifths of the value of securities, offered should be advanced when applied for, The Hon. Mr M.'KENZIE said a bill would be shortly before the House to amend this act, and an amendment of this nature could be considered. ,

Replying to Mr Joyce, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government had doDe its best to promote reciprocity with Hew South Wales but had received no encouragement, and they had done the next best thing— namely, reciprocate with South Australia. Replying to Mr J W. Kelly, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said there had been some communications on the subject of appointing additional Legislative Councillors, but at that stage he could say nothing further on the matter.

Replying to Mr G. .1. Smith, The Hon. J. M'KENZIBS said the Government bad received a report on the advieability ot establishing a fire insurance department on Mmilar lines to the Life Insurance departm&nt, but pending consideration of that report he could not givs a definite reply to the question. Keplyiug to Mr Carnr)!, The Hon. Mr REEVES said he thought the time would have arrived about the beginning of nest session for putting inspectors of schools under the direct control of the department with a view to (heir periodical removal to other uisbrietsL

Replying to Mr O'Regan| The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government were not in favour of changing the name of the colony from New Zealand to Maoriland. Replying to Mr Meredith as to whether tbe ?Q°n7. r. Ument Would ameud " The Factories Act 188* defining a place whe-e two persons are employed as a factory, with the view of exempting small industries where a family of two or three persons are employed, from the operation of the act,

The Hon. Mr REEVES Fair* if he were to agree to this it would bj to strike the bottom out of the act, but he considered a fine of 5, excessive, and wonld be-prepared to reduce it to Is.

Replying to Mr Millar, The Hon. Mr REEVES said he should conier with the Lands department to see whether a. State farm could be es.t&b'lished in the South Island.

Replying to Mr Joyce, whether the Government will provide one or more inebriate horces tor the curative treatment of habitual dtunkards who may bn committed to such homes by magisterial authority The Hon. Mr REEVES said this was a matter of finance and could not be dealt with this yeir at any rate. Replying to Mr B. M. Smith, The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the purchase of ihe-ftlan&wßtu railway would be dealt with in the Public Works Statement. Mr E M. SMITH moved'the adjournment of the House to refer to the claims of old soldiers and volunteers, and a leugthy debate arose on the whole question. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the question "'™ a »«6O amount of money (about £60,000). He asserted that the schema had beea greatly abused, and that men had got land lor military services who had no claim to it. ' Ihe debate was interrupted by the 530 aOjourameut.