GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13959, 19 July 1907, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THURSDAY, JULY 18. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m., and adjourned for the presentation of tho Addrcss-in-Roply to the Governor. Upon resuming, the Council immediately adjourned until I'riday week. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THURSDAY, ,7ULY 18. The llouso met at 2/30 p.m. DUTY ON KEROSENE. The PRIME MINISTER, in answer to a question, informed the House that no duty on kerosene was imposed by the new tariff. Mr AITKEX staled that the price of kerosene had been increased by £d a gallon under the belief that it was dutiable. The PRIME MINISTER; It is not dutiable under the tariff.

Mr AITKEN said tho Customs authorities lmd told owners of oil that, on the next shipment that arrived they would demand, under tho new tariff, a duty of -id per gallon. The MINISTER OF CUSTOMS said that any Customs officer who 6aid thero was a duly on kerosene did not know what ho was doing. Tho only duty was that on crudo oil. Later on lie stated, in reply to an interjection, that.the statement that a duty had been placed upon kerosene did not emanate from the Customs Department. THE LAND BILLS. Replying" to Mr Massoy, tho Hon. Mr M'NAB said the Land Bills would bo brought down this week. MUSICIANS BILL. . Mr SIDEY moved the second reading of the Musicians Bill, to provide for tho registration of musicians and for tho regulation of instruction in music in New Zealand, and tho admissions of musicians to the society to be incorporated under the provisions of the act. Members of the various registered musical societies, ho explained were to bo admitted, and all persons over 21 years of ago who had boon habitually engaged iij composing, teaching, performing, or writing upon music for three years prior to the coming into operation of the act, would bo entitled to have their names registered, together with all persons holding diplomas, degrees, or certificates showing their qualifications. The remainder of tho bill was composed mainly of machinery clauses," inoluding power to deal with offences against the provisions of the act. Owing to the opposition exhibited against tho bill in certain quarters he did not intend to 1 proceed further with tho measure this session than having it read a second time and referred to a select committee. Such-a bill was in the interests of tho musical profession in the colony.

Mr T. MACKENZIE moved that the bill be read a sccond time this day 6ix months. Ho scathingly criticised the provisions of the measure, especially the penal clauses.

Mr BARBER supported the amendment. Ho said he considered tho bill premature. There were sufficient examining 'bodies without establishing another ono, which was what the bill sought to do. Mr FISHER opposed tho bill, and pointed out that it proposed, to set- up a monopoly. As to tho age of persons to be admitted, ho said there wore a great many persons under 21 who had tho faculty of teaching music, and they were debarred from membership.

Mr BARCLAY said he thought tho bill should be allowed to go so far as to be considered by the committee proposed to be set uo.

Mr BUDDO said while the musicians of tho colony deserved sympathy, he objected to making a close corporation of them. There were, however, some good features ill tho bill, and ho. would not like to see it kilted outright. Mr AITKEN 6aid the Wellington musicians opposed tho bill 'on tho ground that it was "drafted, and they wished to obtain a general conference of musicians of the colony during tho year to decide what was the best step to take. Mr.HA NAN favoured the spcond reading of the hill.

Mr IZARD stated that he 'had received information from musicians in all parts of the colony that "they did'not' want tho bill.

The amendment was negatived by 58 votes to 22, and tho bill was read a sccond time.

Mr SIDEY moved that the bill be reforrcd_ to a select committee.—Carried by 35. votes to 32. . ' ACCOUNTANTS BILL.

Mr A. L. D. FRASER, in moving tho second reading of the Accountants Bill, said it was a measure which ought to havo been introduced by a Minister of the Crown. Lengthy _ as tho bill was, its object could be explained in a few words. It was that tho accountants and actuaries of tho colony should bo registered, and that the 500 or 600 accountants and actuaries in the colony should bo embodied into one solid body. He had approved of the majority of those interested in the measure in asking for this bill, and he hoped tlie House would assist in making the bill a workable measure. He desired to see none excluded who should bo included, and also that none should be admitted to registration who ought not to be admitted.

Mr WILFORD agreed that tho bill was necessary, and that these men should be given a proper stajus. Referring to the penal clause, he .urged that it should be modified so as to prevent harshness, which would tear upon certain persons earning a livelihood as accountants, Mr AITKEN contended that a bill containing such an important, principle as this one ought, to bear the imprimatur of the

Government. He criticised the machinery clauses, and expressed the opinion that the door was opened too wide for safety, On the-, other hand, he objected to tho clause providing that. .110 one should be permitted to audit accounts of companies unless he was a public accountant, as it would be found embarrassing in rountry districts where there were no public, accountants. He annroved of the principle of the bill, but said thnt, as framed, it would be unworkable. Ho hoped tile principle would be affirmed, and that then the ! Government would take the matter in hand,

The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

TRUSTEES ACT AMENDMENT. The Trustees Act Amendment Bill passed through conimitteo without 1 amendment,

FARRIERS BILL.

The Farriers Bill ,wa6 committed, and the discussion was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjpunimont.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Farriers Bill was continued in committee, and was reported with verbal amendments. PURE FOOD BILL. Tho Pure Food Bill was further considered in committee, commencing at clause 14, which provides that reliance on a written warrant is. a good defence for the sale of goods. Mr AITKEN pointed out that this was right enough as far a 6 it went, but it did not meet the case of a retailer, who,after putting his goods on a shelf, could not say afterwards which of the goods there were warranted. Tho MINISTER said that the same remarks had been made when a similar provision was before .the Victorian Parliament, but had not been verified in practice. Unices there was some such provision they might just as well say that they did not want a pure Food Bill. Mr T. MACKENZIE said the trouble would be for the retailer to prove that any particular goods were bought from any particular merchant. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS said the retailer wanted something to go back on, and that was tho manufacturer. That was what this clause provided for.

Subsection 2 of the clause (no warrant shall be any defence unless given in New Zealand by or 911 1 behalf of a resident or incorporated company carrying on business there) was, on the motion, of the Hon. Mr FOWLDS, struck out, and' the following substituted: "No warrant or other written statement given or made by a person resident outside New Zealand shall be anv defenco under this section unless tho defendant proves that he has taken reasonable steps to ascertain, and did, in fact, believe in the truth of the matters set forth in such warrant or statement."

Tlie clause, as amended, was agreed to.

At clause 15 (what constitutes adulteration) considerable discussion ensued, but it was passed unamended. ■ ■ At clause 23 (sources of information or reports) the MINISTER moved to mate reports confidential. The clause passed. On tho .Committee resuming after aupptr we a iiro 4}»mutt 'i?rsssnt.

At clause 26 (Governor to make regulations) the MINISTER moved a new subsection: " The Governor may mako regulations making it lawful for any person, at any time within 12 months of the gazetting of the regulations, lo sell any food or drug ihe sale of which is otherwise lawful, if ho provc-s that at the said date such food or drug of the existing stock-in-trado in New Zealand of a .person carrying ou business there, and that since the gazetting no act has been done by which such food or drug fails to comply with regulation,"— Agreed to.

The MINISTER also moved a. new clause to replace clause 13 (which had been struck out at a- previous sitting) providing that in any prosecution for selling any food or drug contrary to the provisions of the act, it shall ho no defence that defendant did not act wilfully unless lie also proves that ho took all reasonable steps to ascertain the nature, quality, quantity, composition, or weight, as the case may be, of articles sold bv him.—Carried.

A now; clause was also added providing that oopies of the regulations shall bo laid beforo Parliament within 21 days of the commencement of the next ensuing session. .Mr BARCLAY moved a new clause making it compulsory for any constable to purchase a sample of food or drug for analysis when required to do so.-Agrceil to. Tho. bill was reported as amended. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE BILL.

The Public Trust Oflicc Bill was further considered in committee. A new clause wns added, at the suggestion of Mr MASSEY, providing that where flic Public Trustee proposes to take over the property of an absentee under tho .powers conferred by the bill, notice so to do is to he published in the Gazette and a paper circulating in the' district where ihe property is situated or where the-absentee owner last resided. The bill was reported at amended. Tho House rose at 11.20 p.m.