GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 8

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ' WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER t. , ' £ ho' Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tho'debato on the' Hon. Dr Collins'a motion re improving tho legislation regard- „■ ing infant life protection was resumed by tho ATTORNKY-GENKRAL, who said that h'o had como to somo definite conclusions einco yesterday as to the lines upon which the law should bo amended lor the bettor protection of infant lifo. lie explained that, his proposals had not yet been sub-: mittcd to his colleagues. In tho first placo it was proposed to removo the control of tho inspection from the Police to the Ifaucation Dopartmcnt. Then thero ought to bo inspection by, a. proporly qualified nurse, who was experienced' in the upbringing of children. ■ Thirdly, provision ought to ho made whereby no foster-mother should lio alki'ivcd to take children until her fitness had been proved Further, somo provision should 'bo mado to prevent the removal of•infants until, thero fas reasonable evidence that the/ would do properly cared for. Oi;co a child was in tho hands of a suitable foster-mother its removal should not tako place without good reason. Provision should. bo made that no. foster-mother should tako a child except at a rato that • avoidd .properly maintain it, and then -it should bo with tho approval of tho State officer. -It-should bo provided that'the faster-mother should not bear the burden of collecting,tho money from tho parent. It must bccomo tho duty of tho State, to collect thio amount, and whoro the money . could notbe collcctal the State must make , iip- tho _ deficiency. With regard to tho registration of'births, it shoitkl bo enacted that registration must ho within 48 hours of the bivth of, an illegitimate child, as often tho first few days of life wero most im-

jrortant. ' Tho Adoption Act should bo -The Statd provided for the . proper, rearing of farm' stook, but it was altogether boliind tho times in the matter of providing for tho proper treatment of ' children. Tho law should prevent children being adopted l for a. lump sum. The Stato must tako the matter in hand, and get what money it could from tho parents, and seo that the foster-mother reeeivod a reasonablo Eiim. An ordbr for tho adoption, of a child should bo provisional, and not exceeding six months, renewable for a further six months if tho result was satisfactory. If tho result was. unsatisfactory the child should bo removed, oven in certain cases despite the protest of tho parents. Whore a- suitable foster-mother, after having a child for some years, desired to permanently adopt it, she should be afforded an opportunity of doing so.

The Hon. Air RljGGr said ho was one of iljose who was prepared to support tho extension of any system that would result in tho benefit of the majority of the community. Tho- difficulty aißout appointing trained' nurses was that. £ow of them had

experience in tho upbringing of children, and. ho would prefer to , seo appointed women who had brought tup To deal with the whole quastioiv effectively tjjby must got to tho root cf tho evil. The

evils they now sought to jomcdy had their growth,in tlio standard qf morals we had sqt. up. Fear of exposure contributed latgoly to the' destruction of infant life, and this implied tlfat thqro was something wring in our stato of society. "What was ■wanted wore foundling hospitals, where children .might- be carod for; and. this was tho only way to prevent tho destruction of child life. Tlio State shcmld take charge of these infants in the first instance. Ho would <lo his best to help to • mako tho law as beneficial as' possible.

Tito Hon. Mr GEORGE went, into statistics to show that tho death rate amongst children generally was excessive in tho colony, this boing duo to ignorance. Ho advocated sending lecturers round tho colony to instruct mothers in the methods of treatment of children. The Stato should train -children in the various branches of domestic duties. To cncoirratro an increaso in t.ho birth rate ho advocated a land grant it}- each child born and surviving n.t a (specified date.' Tho debate was adjourned. PERMITS TO UNDER-RAW, "WORKERS. A return was ordered, on the motion of tho Hon. Mr Rigg, showing'the number of permits applied for and issued to underrate workers under the awards of' tho Arbitration Court.; also tho permits granted in connection with tho provisions of tho Arbitration Act. - BILLS DEALT .WITH.

Tho Wa-ipukariui County Bill was passed, but the Farriers' Bill was killed by 13 votes to 11 on the motion for committal.

.■Tho Gore Bill and tlio Wellington City Empowering Bill wcro read a second time. -

Tho Council roso at 4-.55 p.m.

' WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. In answer to questions Ministers stated— That it was not possible to say at. .present whether thero would bo any amendment of tho Municipal Corporations Act tliis session. That it was the caso that District Judge Haselden, whose salary was £750 a year, ■received a'travelling allowance at the rato of £1 lis 6d a dav. Owing to tho extent of tho district in which court 9 were. hold, oxfinding from New Plymouth to Inverear-. gill. : and including Nelson and Vostland, •Tudgn Hasclden was almost constantly travelling, and was therefore . unable to fcsthblish a permanent, bomo in any one plnoe. like all other district judges and stipendiary magistrates who were required to travel on' .public .service. Mr Fasoldon was furnished with an otTicial railway ticket. The. (Minister was not aware whether Judgo Jtalden's wife had it free pass. That all the tines inflicted by tho Arbitration Court on employers having property oil;which distraint, oould bo levied had been Irani There bad been some eases in which men, nominally employers (such as one driver employing another), had been fined, and a fow of these men had ijot paid, Somo of them had left the country, sonic wcro bankrupt, and somo had died. These cases represented' 2J per cent, of the total taken. In ov'ery caso tho department had pushed matters to tho extromo. of the civil process Wore desisting from tho efforts to rccovor the money. Moneys wore still being received from nveu who Wcro formerly employers, but who wero now out of business.

Mr MASSET. referring to tho reply ro .Tudtto'Haselden's travelling allowance, said ,lio had been informed that. Mr Shannon was- tho only officer in addition to tho Supremo Court, judges who drew 30s a day allowance, and yet lioro was a man drawing 31s (xl per day. The reply did not . say so, but ho supposed it meant seven days per week, or a little over £11 per week in addition to bus salary. Tho session was proceeding, and ho suggested that a special comm'ittco bo sot up to inquire inlo theso travelling allowances, as the. public had a right, to know what- was being expended under tho heading of travelling allowances by public officers. Mr T.' MACKENZIE said some prominent public oQ'icials travelled about tho colony and to tho neighbouring colonies with a large rotinue, Jiko ambassadors. 110 contended that if a committeo were set up it should have tho right to inquiro as to whether these officers wero justified in continually travelling or whether they only 'did fo in order to aupneiit. tlieirsalaries.' 110 referred to tho timo when retrenchment 'had to bo resorted to, arid said that if thoy had to do so again many of tho travelling allowances would have to bo considerably curtailed. Mr II AN AN said it was only right that •tho: public should know what travolling allowances wore authorised, and why tho ' ' regulations had been dopartcd from in tho caso of officers who had drawn travelling allowances in excess of tho regulations.. Mr GRAY said the reply was not strictly correct, as ho was informed that magistrates paid for their own railway tickets, which were subsequently included in the ma''istrates' travelling ~ allowances, but Judgo Haselden drew liis travelling allowances in addition to his railway pass. . The PRIME MINISTER said tho feeling of unrest in the, colony wa? duo to lion, members disseminating through tho country matter concerning an officer whose appointment, did not rest with this Government.

Magistrates did not pay railway fares, ( and fares did not coino out ot their travelling expenses. The Government did not intend to keep anything back, and lion, members would be informed of all travelling allowances at present paid to officers of the .services. Proceeding, lie slated that there were seven judges of the Supremo Court drawing £2 2s per day, ono Arbitration Court iudgo £2 2s per day, one District Court Judgo £1 lis 6d per day (which was the same as his prcdeccssor, who drew a liiglier salary), Auditor-general 50s per ! day, Assistant Auditor-goncral 30s, Customs expert. 30i'(Shannon), trade representative

outside tho colony 30s (which, the Prima Minister 'stated, waa the usual allowance granted to officers travelling outside, and was lilllo enough, in his opinion—that was, 30s per day whilst travelling on land and tho usual allowance while ori sea), ono District Court judgo 25s per day, head of tho Stamp Department £1 Is, head of tho Taxation Department £1 Is per day. There were 13 other officers drawing £1 per day, 163 drew 15s, 5 drew 15s, 51 drew 12s 6d, 30. drew 12s, and 1 drew lis, and in addition, thoro were 41 other officers, chiefly of the Justice Department, who drew allowances whilst, travelling, the total number being 328. This number did not, apply, to ordinary ofljeers who travelled for a day or to. In tho railway servico one'officer drew £1, three i/r four drew 15s, and. tho remainder of the railway officers drew allowances according to published . rates. • FIRE BRIGADES ACT.

Arising out of tho Primo Minister's reply to a question put by Mr Aitken that it was proposed to bring down tho Firo Brigades Act Amendment Bill, Mr AITKEN said Parliament bad been in ec.ssion ,; since.June 27 and.tho bill had not yot been .circulated. Ho contended that in a, ease of conflagration,,which might caus ( o considerable datnago in any of the town 3 of the colony owing to lack of appliances or men, tho responsibility must; refit with the Government, as llio boards wero not able to borrow money in order to pay tho firemen's or for appliances, and bo could not understand how some of tho boards wero managing in this rcspeet. Ho urgod that tho bill should bo circulated without further delay. , A LOCAL BILL. Tho (Mi and Porirua Empowering Bill was read a eccond time. - THE TARIFF. Tho-llouso then went into committee on tho Tariff Bill. At. clause 12 .(manufactures of motal) Mr GRAY moved that cartridges (shot), 10 to 24 bore, bo reduced from 2s 6d to Is 6d per hundred. 'Ho said that tho increased duty would only benefit the Colonial Ammunition Company, whereas it would he penalising farmers and others who had to attend to the destruction of birds, etc. The Hon. Mr MILLAR, in opposing the amendment, said that half a. dozen other manufacturers would start under tho duty. 110 added that the Colonial Ammunition Company undertook to keep in tho colony suliicieht ammunition for tho requirements of the defence forces. Mr WILFORD said ho would back tho Colonial Ammunition Company's cartridges against any other cartridge. Mr FISHER said tho Colonial Company was supplying excellent, ammunition, but was only working half-time, and perhaps the effect of tho tariff would bo to keep tho factory soing full time. : , Mr POOLE eaid he hoped that- members would see their way clear to stand by tho Minister; Mr MILLAR 6aid that last year 5,651,000 shot cartridges and 10,140,000 ball cartridges wero imported. 110 thought the whole of tho latter should be manufactured in the colony. When tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr BUDDO said that the duty on sporting cartridges should be reduced; and ho fiUHgcstcd that 'the Government' should subsidise the Colonial Ammunition Company. 'Mr IZARD suggested that tho duty on cartridges should bo ad valorem, ■Mr BARCLAY, in supporting the amendment, pointed out that tho Colonial Company's factory was in a position that couM bo shollcd from a warship, and ho contended that tho proper place for a factory .which was relied on lo supply ammunition for defence should be somewhere in tho interior. ' '

Mr HOGG, whilst supporting the Minister, said-he thought the duty would idterfero with the business of persons dealing in sporting requisites, as it would decrease tho demand for cartridges. Ho suggested that a remission should he given in regard to cartridge eases. .Mr GRAY said that the duty 011 cheaper cartridges amounted to W per cent., and on the highcr-priccd cartridges to 25 per cent. Ho considered that the industry should bo üble to progress with that protection, and, if not, ho suggested that tlio Government should lake over the factory.

He hoped that tho Minister would meet tho public in the matter. Mr. MILLAR, said ho had an assurance

from the manager of tho Colonial Ammunition Company that the price of cartridges would not be advanced if a duty wcro put on. If tlio duty wore not retained the machinery for the manufacture of 6porting carlridgcs would bo transferred to Melbourne, and that portion o£ the industry would ho closed down. < Tho amendment was negatived by 43 votes'to 23.

At " Cartridge cases (Is 3d per 100)" Mr IZARD moved an amendment that the duty bo reduced to 9d. He 6aid that no question of protecting the Colonial Company arose in' this case, as it did not manufacture tho whole cases, but had to import tho cap. ... Mr MILLAR said the company manufac-

tured .the .wholg of the -easo. ' Mr HERRIES moved that the duty of 5' per cent.' ad valorem on mining machinery ho struck out to enable mining engines and machinery to bo placed on tho frco list, as it had been for yeans. It might be. said that it could be made in tho colony, but no complaint had ever readied the. Minister on the matter from any of the colonial foundries. Mr MILLAR said that engines under

this duty wero made in the colony, and ho hoped that members would support him. Other machinery for mining purposes that could not be manufactured in fho colony was on tlio free list, and he considered it was carrying things too far to suggest that tho industry should be relieved - altogether. Ho added "that every other industry paid its'share under the tariff.

Tho Hon. Mr GUINNESS pointed out

that' every industry did not pay its, share, as tlio Minister had, said. Agricultural ■implements, for instance, were free. To carry on the mining industry very expensive machinery was required, and if a duty wero put on that machinery thoy penalised those, who wero developing the mineral resources of thiS" country. The PRIME MINISTER urged that tho duty should be retained. Last jcar £45,000 worth of mining machinery was imported, and-the amount of duty charged to mining last year was £380. If tho same amount wa6 imported this year moro than half of it ivould bo on the free list, and at the outsido about £20,000 would bo subjected to 5 per cent., which would givo a duty of £1000 a year. This would not bo paid by the miners, but. by those who controlled tho industry. This Government was giving away £400,000—an amount which no other (<ovemmoi|t had done before, and it could on'y do 6o by putting a duty on some other items of the tariff. These duties wore for tho pnrposo of. assist,in? local industries, but the lion, member for .Grey was a Frce-

trader, and did not bclicvo in protecting local industries. 'lie had voted in favour of Frectrado' 'according to his opinions, and ho (Sir J: G. "Ward) gave him credit

for it. Mr MASSES' said it was quite true that tho Government was, remitting taxation, but if it left sugar on one side he belioved tho Government was deriving moro from increased taxation on other articles. The two industries that, it was proposed to tax —agricultural and pastoral and tho mining industry—wcro industries that the prosperity of the country depended on, and he included the workers in the towns as well as tho country when he said this. He hoped that a largo majority of the House would support the amendments in the direction of reducing the- taxation on theso

industries. Mr W. FRASER said that during the afternoon ho had to complain of being misreported when discussing tho tariff resolutions. He explained that Mr Hcrries moved an amendment, that, tho 5 per cent, duty on mining machinery, be struck off. Several members supported tho amendment, and after Mr Fisher and Mr Hanan had opposed it he thought, and still thought, ho gave somo very cogont reasons why mining machinery ..should bo free. Moreover, when the matter came to a division lio voted for the amendment. Ho found in the Gore Standard the following words attributed to him:—"Mr W. Fraser. in opposing the amendment, said lie could not understand why hitherto the mining industry had been ablo to get its machinery into tho colony frco of duty." . To say .that that was an incorrect- report of what ho had said was using very mild language. Ho did not attribute wilful misrepresentation. Tho only explanation he coidd suggest was that the Press Association reporter had mislaid his notes, and had attributed to him the first half of

what Mr Mander, who opposed the amendment. had said, and then credited Mr Marnier with the other half. Sir .I. WARD: I expect he mistook you for the lion, member. Mr ERASER said that- was not so. Having drawn attention to this inaccuracy, ho hoped a littlo more care would be devoted to "the matter, and that In future one mipht depend upon the reports appearing in the papers being fairly accurate.

After further discussion Ml' Herrios's amendment was carried by 32 votes to 30. Mr MAJOR moved an amendment to place oil-refining and oil-boring machinery on the free list. .

Mr MILLAR opposed the proposal. They had put casing on tho free list, and if this proposal was carricd they should" ask tho House to take the duty off oil. Sir OKEY said tlioy would welcome Wh a proposal, so that' they could bring machinery ill free, and prove, if possible, that oil existed jn payable quantities. ' Tho amendment was negatived by 40 votes to 26.

An amendment to placo ruling machines in the 5 per cent, list was agreed to on the voices. Mr GUINNESS moved' to rcducc boilers for steam engines from 20 per cent, to 5 pec cent. Mr MILLAR said ahy class ,of boiler could bo made in the colony, and as they lasted from 10 to 20' years, they should bo ablo to pay i duty for the protection of tho boilermakers of the colony. Mr HURRIES said local boilers had heen used in tho dairy and mining industries, aa well as imported boilers,.but in many cases engines and toilers wero imported together. Mr MASS'EYsaid it was all very well to say tho duty was to' assist to build up" tho boilcrmaking industry, but'they wero doing so at tho expense of another'industry which was being carricd on under conditions, of great . hardship—the dairy industry. He hoped the amendment would be carried. Mr MAJOR urged that it would be : hotter for the 'workers to tako to the dairy industry .tlian to engage in an industry which required bolstering up. After several members had spoken on •Mr Guinncss's amendment, tho PRIME MINISTER said that the duty on boilers, if agreed to, would mean the payment of about £200 per annum by tho dairying industry. Remissions affecting the industry had heen made to the extent of about £8000 per annum. .Ho .was at a. loss to understand whether the concessions' mado were appreciated. He was disposed to think that they wero not, and' ho much doubted under tho circumstances whether the Government was justified in going on with the tariff at all. If somo lion, memtiers imagined that the fjoverninent did not understand what had taken place they wero mistaken.

Mr GIIEENSLADE: Wo told tlio Whips about if. , Continuing, the PRIME MINISTER said it was quite evident that if'a sectioii of tho. Government's own party entered into an alliance with a section of tlio Opposition to change the duties provided for in regard to particular items on the tariff,' they would bring about a position which the Ministry could not accede 10. If'the'Government was to ho treated in this manner, lie thought niost members would agree that, to put it; mildly, 'it. had •keen treated in a grossly unfair manner, and he thought the Ministry ought to. know where they were. A leading Opposition member moved a reduction on a certain item,'and was supported by members of' the Government party in con?cquencc of eome arrangement come to.' He pointed out thai 1 a very unfair position arose, and he declared thai lie did not intend to b'e placed in such a position. He indicated that an arrangement ihad been como to by certain 1 members to vote for the abolition of tho duty on mmint; machinery in consideration of a similar vote beinn cast in lcspect to dairying machinery. Ho suggested that Mr Millar should report progress and adjourn. Mr MILLAR accordingly moved to report progress.

Mr MASSEY said he did not know, that tho Prime Minister had shown good taste in making the remarks lie had uttered. If tho Prime Minister's remarks meant anything, it was a pure and simple threat that if bis own people did not support him better than it had done during the last two or three divisions ho would' drop the tariff. That was, lie unfed, a most improper .Txvsition *o take up. Tie had boon told by Mr Kidd that he (Mr jVfasscy) could not expect to bo supported by a. majority, in connection with the tariff proposals. After further discussion progress . was reported, and tlio House adjourned at 0.5' a.m.