GENERAL ASSEMBLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12472, 1 October 1902, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLE.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS SUPER- ] ANNUATION FUND. ' A message was road from the House disagreeing with the amendments marie by the Council in the Government Railway* Superannuation Bill. The Hon. W. 0. WALKER moverl that the Council do ■ not insist on its amendments. An amendment by the Hon. Mr JENKINSQN that managers bo appointed to draw up reasons for adhering to its amendments was carried. THE ARBITRATION COURT. The Hon. Mr RIGG moved that the Government be requested to take into consideration the administration, of the Industrial Conciliation Mid Arbitration Act by the Court' of Arbitration. The mover quoted the awards mode by the court in support of his contention that they were unfair, and had in most cases given dissatisfaction. He was satisfied with the act so, long aa'it .was capably and impartially administered, but he considered its administration lately had' placed the act in great danger: ' The HoTi. W. 0. WALKER did not think the mover had made out a good case; and did not t'hihk it was judicious on the part of a friend of tha-act to discuss the findings of the. court-in &e manner that had been done. / The Hon. Mr'JENNIXOS believed several awards had given dissatisfaction, but he asserted that there was a general and d<>ep feeling of satisfaction with the net. Tho> Hon. Mr deprecated reviewing the judjjmente, ol what \*as practically a court' i>£ .justibjv / The discussion! was ih? upted D> tne arrival of tins ho«r, accord.. ::'M> the Standing Orders, when] orders, of the day should be proceeded wit*'.. . ■ | BILLS PASSED. I The Poisons importation and Carriage Aot Amendment, JMuff Harbour Foreshore Reclamation Leasing and Borrowing, Waikokopu , Harbour Bpard, Wobcr County, Nelson City Streets 5 and Reserve, Oxford and- Cust " Road 'Districts Alteration oi Boundaries', * North' Canterbury Common Hospital Reserves, Ohristchurch City Council Empowering, Mount Herbert County, end H&wcra Hospital District Bills were read a second time,.and passed* their final stages. The Council at 5 p.m. rose till 8 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. "■ . . ■ TIED HOUSES. | The Hon. Mr TWOMEY resumed the \ discussion on the motion to go into committee on'the'.Tied Houses Bill. He bore testimony to, the fairness of the ••ommittee in i framing its report recommending that the bill be dropped, and asserted tliat six members -of the committee whf were, in favour of the bill wore converted to the opposition after hearing evidence against it. Although' the promoter 'of the bill had ransacked the, colony for evidence in its favour, ho had failed to procure suoh evidence. The Hon. G. JONES urgea the necessity for.the bill in the interests of the public— not of brewers and publicans, who seemed to bo the particular cause of some opponents of the bill. He quoted evidence given on the subject in Victoria and' New South Wales in favour of his contention * that the ticd-house system was inimical to the public welfare. He adversely criticised the evidence given before the committee. Referring to the statement that if the bill passed it would ruin half the publicans in the colony, he implied thai; would prove no ; disaster. : ; i The Hon. Mr BOLT contended the question involved was one of more importance | than the. quarrel between brewers and pub- j licans: it was one' as to whether or not. I the law had been observed. He asserted there had. been-a gross violation of the law for years. He urged .that the ],iquor trade , should be in the hands of the State and . until that was done there, never woukl be prooer oontrpl of the traffic. With the object of bringing the aobate to a close, the Hon. Mr HARRIS moved— "That the Council divide on the question, - ' —This was carried by 11 to 6. The motion io go into committee on tfiA bill was then put and negatived by 12 to 5. The Council rose at 11.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29.

After the Telegraph Office closed at 2 o'clock in the morning the debate on the motion for the committal of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill was continued'.■■-Almost unanimous approval Was expressed of the proposal to brine agricultural labourers within the soope of the act, and the motion •was agreed to on the voices.

On going into committee on tne bill, Messrs Maesey, .Tas. Allen, and others urged .that the G-overnmemi .should agree to an adjournment, and protested against tho practice of legislation by exhaustion.— The motion .to report progress was lost by 30 to JAS: ALLEN then moved that the chairman leave tho chair, and a tengthy discussion . ensued, the continuing to protest against late sittings. Eventually, at 5.10, Mr Allen withdrew his raotion, on the .understanding that the first tliree clauses of the bill should be passed, and that a now clause be brought down by the Minister at next sitting. This arrang«ment was'. carried out. The first three clauses of the bill were agreed to unaltered, and,_ on the Hon. Mr HALL-JONES'S motion, progress was reported. The House rose at 5.25 a.m. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. , The House met at 2.30. FIRST READING. The Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Aot, 1877, Amendment Bill (Mr R. M'fcenzie) was introduced and read a first lime. / THE FROZEN MEAT TRAD*. Mr BUDDO brought down the report of a Select Committee which was set up to inquire into the condition of the frozen meat I industry in tho colony. [ Objection was raised thai, this committee had sat and finally completed its roport that morning, despite an order of the House made at 5.25 a.m. that no committees should eifc. Sir J. 0. WARD suggested, as a- way out of the difficulty, that the report be referred back to the committee, na there was plenty of time to have it brought down, without transgressing an order of the House. Mr HORNSBY said all chat was done that morning was to confirm the minutes. The report "had been adopted on the previous dav after full consideration. Sir M; O'RORKE thought it was a laudable desire on the part of the committe© at that late stage of the session to bring thoir labours to a close. Mr BUDDO said only formal mis-mess was done at that morning's sittincr. After considerable discussion, the report was ordered to be laid on the table and be printed alon" with tho evidence. SLAUGHTER OF BILLS. On "tho motion:of Sir J. G. WARD, the following . bills were struck off the Order Paper:—Land for Settlements Act Amendment, Grown Tenants' Rent Rebate Act Amendment, Orchard and Garden Pests, Destitute Persons Act Amendment, Tenants' Rights, Young Person*' Protection, Shop and Offices, Medical Practitioners, Legitimation Act Amendment, Electric Lines Act Amendment, Contempt of Court, Lyttelton Harbour Board Act Amendment, Absolute Majority Vote, and Thames High School Borrowing.—Tlie motion was agreed to on the voices. Sir J. G. WARD stated that it tne House would co-operate with tlie Government in disposing 1 of the remaining bills on the Order Paper members ought without any difficulty to be able to get away during the week. I ,I'HE AUDITOR-GENERAL. itfr FISHER brought down the repori; of tho Public Accounts Committee on the correspondence as to the difference of opinion netween the Audit Department and tho Treasury as to the payment of a draft of £5000 in respect of the Coronation Contingent. Die committee iound '•'chat the oharging of the £3000 te the Imprest Account was in accordance with tlie practice followed ay the Treasury for years, but that, in order to remove the contentioiift between die Controller *nd Auditor-general and tne Treasury, an amendment of tho Public Revenues Act is ««*■ ««ry" , On the motion tnat tee report of the committee lie cm the table, Mr JAMES ALLEN complained t'hat the ttuin ot £3000 had boon paid out of the general imprest aocotmt in London, Instead, of being defrayed out ot ttn»uthori.sed docounu. The/ had evidence befow tho Public Aocoitnts Committee of the payment of further sums ot £1500 and £1000 W £-he expenses <»f the Coronation Contingent, and 'there Was deference to another sum of £3000, so that tho total cost of t»io contingent would probably amount to £iOjooo or more. He contended the money should have been paid out of unauthorised expenditure, and objected that

' a slight had" been put upon the House in not Suking it last eesaion to vote a sum of money'for the despatch of a contingent ! Had the House known the probable cost to be incurred lie believed members would i have hesitated to sanction such a large sura in view, of the requirements of the., ! colony in the matter of publio works. In liia opinion, the. stand taken up by Auditor-general was a correct one. He further urged that more details should be laid . bare in presenting the public account* of | the colonv. , ■ Sir J. G. WAUD said that at the end of last session the Cabinet had decided not to | send a Coronation Contingent to' England, but after the close ot Parliament an invitation to send contingents was extended to all British dependencies, in the face of wh-ksh New Zealand could not atond atoof. The Government then decided to accept the invitation, so that there \ms no slight upon the House in not having consulted unembeni last sesoion. Sir Joseph went on to say that any allusion to any sum outside-the £3000 draft under review had nothing to do with the question, and was only mad* for the purpose of creating a wrong impreo-. uion. The contingent consisted of 150 men, and the grant of £20 to each man made up the £3000, besidea which there was the cost ot equipment, passages, etc. It came in evidence, he. said, that unauthorised expenditure was occasionally charged to ihe imprest account-in London, and ho contended that no departure had been made from tho usual course- in regard to the payment of the £3000 under roview. He expressed the opinion that the colony ought to adopt the post audit system, and so obviate these continual differences of opinion between the Audit and Treasury Departments. Had there been time this session be would have brought down an. amendment of the Publio Revenues Act which would have provided for a post audit instead of pro-audit system. Mr HORNSBY complained that while the other eolonisfl had withdrawn their' contingents upou the armouneemottt of the serious illness of,the King the iiwn from New Zealand were kept in London. Wore'we, he usked, so rich that we could afford to pitch away so much money on g«w-gaw» and ■ jingoism? . | The Hon. W. HALL-JONES wanted to ; know where there had been any...wasteful expenditure in regard to this contingent. The invitarfcion of the King was i equivalent to.a. command, and how could m«i have been sent 16,000 miles without the expenditure ot money. The men had to'"go in. spick-and-span oonditiou on a #peciul service, where they would meet mien similarly equipped. New Zealand Would riot. have done her duty if she nad not sent her representatives, when-contingents had gone from every other part of the Empire. '■ Mr W. FRASER believed the Unauthorised exiienditure account was almost exliauated, and that that accounted for the | anxiety, of t!ie Government to have the 1 £3000 charged to general imprest. ; Mr HUTCHESON i-aid last session' he had suggested that the cost of the contingent would l be nearer £15,000 than £1500, and he waa prepared to hoar Bomwhwe in the oburso of a year that t!ie cost was £15,000. Mr PALMER defended the action of the Treasury .and of the Solicitor-general in tlie matter of the .dispute.. Mr M'NAB said no doirot am .attempt would be made during the elections to show that this £3000 was used by Mr Seddon.for his own expenses, and he deprecated any euoh, misrepresentation. Mr FISHER, of the Public Accounts Committee, in replying, said people were not aware that the Government were entering upon the expenditure', of £15.000 in do-matching a contingent.—(Sir < J." G. Ward: "The cost is nob £15,000, or anything like it.") He contended Parliament and the people had been misled in the matter. Thfe oust of the contingent should have beem. charged to the unauthorised account, so that tho House would have . had an opportunity of dieeuaping the matter, j 'The ' report was ordered to lie : oh the ! table. - i GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS SUPERANj NUATION. . < A Message was received from the Legislative Council insisting on ito. amendments in the 'Government Railways Sujerannua- ■ ticm Fund Bill. "■■'•'. Sir J. G. WARD said he did no* want to jeopardise euoh an important bill at this late stage of the session, apuV therefore moved thai the Gounod's ani-sndmonts *ie agreed itO.~The motion was agreed to cd the voices. ■ The House rose at 5.00. EVENING SITTING. , The\Hous6 resinned at 7,30. , ' Sir J. G. WARD moved the second reading of the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand Bill, to give statutory sanction to the change of the name of the Wesleyaii Church in New Zealand.—Agreed to. Tho Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved the' second wading, of tho Military Pensions , Bill, to amend " The Military Pensions Act, | 1866,'' and to further extend the'provisions i of "The Military Pensions Extension to Contingents. Act, 1900." The Dill extend* I the principal aot to the Eighth,' Ninth,' and ; Tenth Contingents, and the, Minister ex- | plained tliat it also extended the time j within which a pension or gratuity would be I granted from six to 18 months ftftei 1, date jof injury. That provision would meet the wishes of several members, as expressad in a recent debate. "'.'"■

Mr JAMES ALLEN regarded the bill as i an improvement so far ne it went; i hut he i was very disappointed thait the Govern- \ inent were doing so little to bring our military pensions law into lino with the English aot. He regretted that the promise to make this bill cover the whole scope of the royal warrant had not been fulfilled, and he urged that this colony should not be : behind the Imperial authorities in the matter of generosity. j Sir J. G. WARD said everybody was desirous of seeing our returned (soldiers treated with consideration and generosity, arid the Government were doing what was generous, just, and right towards these men* This bill really provided a eeoond pension, as the men also got a pension from the Imperial authorities. Mr JAMES .ALLEN: Only some of them —not all Sir J. G. WARD: Well, the majority of them do. He went on to say that every recommendation made by the Commandant of Forces and Undersecretary for Defence had been embodied in the bill, and he ' strongly resented the suggestion tnat the Government were lacking ih generosity towards the men who formed the colony's various contingents. ' • Mr MONK urged that special Transport ! faoilitiee should be provided for colonial troops, eepboially in returning them to i their homes. Another lesson to' be learned ! from the Britnnnic's revelations was that the Government. must put aside all political considerations in officering future contingents, i Mr FISHER said that old soldiers who 1 had taken part in the Maori war were erftitled to as much consideration h«, the men . who were being provided for by thio bill. Mr O'MEARA also urged the claims of o'cl soldiers. The Hon. W. J. STEWARD did not think tlie bill wont far enough in oases in which men were permanently incapacitated from j work through wounds. Mr LAURENSON thought there woe too I great a difference between the amount' of pensions drawn by officers and the rank and file. The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES, in replying, said the old soldiers referred to by Messrs Fisher and O'Meara would receive assistance. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. ' RAILWAY POLICY. The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, which, he eaid, was a formal ! measure giving authority for the oonstruc- ! tton of the Helensville railway northwards, Gisborne-Karaka, and Catlins-Seaward Bush linee. Several members urged the construction of railways in their respective districts, and against this it was Urged that before commencing new lines thp maiii lines of the colony should be oarrieii to a paying point. i Mr ELL raised the point that owners of property opened up by new railways should be made to pay some of the cost of the railI way, which added considerably to the value of the estates, and in this connection it ' was stated that speculators bought up. land along; the line to be followed by new railways in expectation of e consequent rise m values. . . After oonsidcrpble discussion a motion by Mr BYMES tor the adjournment ot the debate was carried by 38' to 22. j POISONS. j It was decided to disagree with the amehd- . meuts made by the Legislative Council ill I the Poisons Importation and Carriage Bill. SECOND READINGS. ! The Pharmacy Act Amendment Bill, Tattranga Educational. Endowment Reserves Bill, and Inebriate Institutions Act Amendment Bill (which provides for the. punishment of unruly inmates), which have passed the Legislative Council, were read a second time on tho Voices .without debate, THE PUBLIC HEALTH. air J. G. WARD, in moving the second reading of the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, said he intended in committee to move for the excision of clause 8, which gave power to the Governor-in-Council to order vaccination on an outbreak of smallpox. . ■-•'.' In the. course or the discussion wtaieh, ensued .considerable objection was raided tb

clause 6, which empowers local authorities to raise the amount required for the expenses in carrying out the provisions of tho prinoipal net by strikinf ft special rote not exceeding 2d in tho pound. • ' ■ Sir J. 6. WARD said he would reduce tho rate to a halfpenny. Opposition was also shown to flub-sootioa 3 of olause 3, which provides that all expenses incurred by the local authority in caeca where infectious diseases arc suspected to exist shall be paid, by the occupier of th* promises. ~ . Sir J. G. WARD, in replying, wid h* ma prepared' to accept reasonable emeadmente.in committee, but if the biH WJ strongly opposed he would haw te hold » over until next eeasion. It was na importun* meagre, and ought to go through. , Tha second reading was agreed to on ti* voices. THR COMPANIES BILL. It was decided to disagree with tha nmendffi6Ate,mttd<] by the Legistativs Council in the Companies Act Amendmoo* Bin. OTHER BILLS. On the motion of the Hon. Mr CARROLL.' ' the committal of the Native aad Maori Land Laws Amendment Bill was agreed to on ih© voices. ' \ " : The second reading of the Railways, Authorisation Bill was agreed to oa the voices. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. ' In moving tho committal of the Municipal Corporations Bill, Sir 3. G. WARD said that in committee he would rectify am obvious error in regard to the air space requirements as set out in clause 20. In its present form the clause would have involved rtn additional expenditure of feoflVG < £15,000 'for air space' in the ease of hotel* lilw the Empire Hotel, 'Wellington. Mr ELL said he intended w> move _ in' committee- to give, compulsory purchasing power to boroughs and cities in regard 1 to gasworks. Mr WILLIS also intimated •that 'he would propose an amendment in committee to th« effect that any surplus profits from gasworks owned by munioipaJihes should do irateferred to the general account. The motion for the comtftitlai was sgreotf . to on,the voices. " . '■ Wie House rose ai midnight.