GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 8

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill '(No. 3) received from the House was put fhrongh all its stages. THE CRIMES BILL. The Statutes Revision Committee recommonded that the Crimes Bill bo allowed to proceed with certain amendments. PURE MILK SUPPLY. _ The Hon. Dr COLLINS moved-" That in the opinion of tho Council further legislative measures are necessary to ensure a purer milk supply to the inhabitants in tho chief cities in tho Dominion." He pointed to the importance of the question from a health standpoint, and cited reports by Dr Mason and otheis as to the condition in which milk was supplied and the method of its treatment, by those who had the., handling of milk supplies. It was shown that much of the infant mortality was,due to impure milk. He proceeded- to discuss at length the impurities to be found in mill; and the diseases caused by fitch impurities, which included diphtheria, scarlot fever, typhod fover, diarrhoea. and other complaints, and he spoke of the practice of leaving m\]k standing in the sun or at railway stations, whore it was likely to rapidly . dotoriorntc. Ho-suggested that sterilised ."cans should bo sent from' the centre to the sourco of supply and the milk sent back in them to the corporation'' depot, whcnco.it should be distributed to con- ' snmers after being arailysed, strained, .cooled, and placed in flcaleil bottles. The debate was adjourned. 'COMPANIES ACT AMENDMENT. Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved tho' second Tending of the Companies Act Amondment Bill, which, ho explained,, adopted the English statutory provisions in reference to the reissue of debentures after having redeemed them or "deposited them with a bank as temporary security for'an overdraft. The second reading was agreed to. ' PHOSRPHORUS MATCHES BILL. Tho Hon. Dr FINDLAY moved the second reading of tho Phosphorus Matches Bill,' received from the Jlouso. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose. : HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I The House met at 2.30 p,ni. - '-'..." HILLSIDE WORKSHOPS. In replying to Mr Arnold, who drew the attention of tho Minister of Labour to a paragraph appearing in a Duncdin paper alleging that sweating conditions obtained at. the Hillside Workshops, ' The Hon. Mr MILLAR said the information was news, to him. Ho knew of nothing being'done to alter tho past, system. He did not approve of any driving of. men, but expected his ollicors to get a 'decent day's work from tho men for a fair'day's pay. Ho would mako inquiries into the matter. ..SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Mr T. E. TAYLOR asked the Minister of Labour if nothing could be done to prevent tho Shearers' Federation irom being put to the trouble and expense of attending , meetings of the Conciliation Councils m ilio various parts of the Dominion, apparently without any other intention _ on the part of the employers than to irritate the men by refusing to refer tho dispute to the Conciliation Council. These meetings cost the colony £50 each. The men were anxious 1 to have the dispute settled amicably if possible, .and .tho country would be involved in a serious.loss during the next shearing season if an agreement was not arrived at..

■■ Tho Hon. Mr MILLAR said he had no knowledge of the matter referred to. The reason for summoning tho men was that disputes had been lodged in each industrial district, and had to be settled by tho Commissioner appointed for each district. Arrangements had been made by the parties to the dispute in'Cantorbury whereby tho matter would bo referred to tho three Commissioners sitting at ChriskhuTch with a,view to making an award which would, be applicah!« to tho'wholo of the Dominion. The' Commissioners would meet on September IS.

Mr TAYLOR expressed the hope that provision would'lie made for tho making of awards to apply'to the whole Dominion wherever they' were likely to be successful. .

In Tcply to Mr Davcy, tho Hon.'Mr MILLAR', said that the-•shearers and theemployers had agreed lo atiide by the decision of the Commissioners. It was unusual, to appoint three Commissioners, but'ho liad agreed to this "boing done with;a view to arriving at a settlement of' Die.dispute. After an agreement had been oome to it.would be dealt with by the Arbitration Court with a view to making a colonial award.

~ WAR VETERANS' PETITION. Tho Potitidns' Committee, recommended that tho petition of a number of Maori war'veterans be favourably considered.

■ L Mr T. E. TAYLOR asked Sir J. G. Vfcrd when the House might expect to receive a report from the magistrates commissioned to inquire into, old soldiers' claims and as to the decision of the GoYornment in rcforenco to the same.

Mr HERTCIES said that many veterans woro.not aware that an inquiry was being hold, and the matter should receive wider publicity. .■ 'Mr 1100-AN suggested that old soldiers should he granted a military pension in recognition of llieir services. He would go further and give every old military soltler a 'pension. He believed the House would agree to the granting of pensions to. veterans, and lie hoped legislation would be introduced to provide for tho substitution of a military pension for the old-age.pension for old soldiers who had taken part in the "Maori wars. Sir! ,7. G. WARD said that as soon as the magisterial report was received tho Government would bo in a position to deal witli the matter. As far as ho could judge, tho fact- that an inquiry was being held was, widely known Referring to the proposed change of-pension suggested by. Mr Hogaii.he said that this was a reflection on old-ago pensions as a system of: charity. Under tho latter old soldiers would get 10s,'.but the majority ol military pensioners'wore not getting anything like thai-. Many ol those getting the oldage pensions now would got nothing under a : ' military pensions scheme. Many reputable people wore now in receipt of old-age pensions. He could foresee difficulties arising out of the committee's recommendation. 'Mr WILFORD drew attention to the case of Samuel Smith, a member of Sir George Gtov's Rifle Rangers, who had been nnnblo'to substantiate his claim, and suggested that some'assistance should be rendered to veterans in making good their cli.ims.

Mr MASSBY. said'if was perfectly, correct, as stilted by Mr Hemes and Mr Taylor, that sufficient publicity was not being given to the inquiry. Complaints had°also boon mode that.the inquiries were perfunctory • and that veterans were not being ■given'a proper-opportunity of stating their claims. He believed that the country would not object to £2.(X)0.000 being expended in order to provide pensions for old soldiers. Mr BUICK contended Hint military, pensions should b'e independent of (lie old-age pensions. Ho gave some details TCgtirdin" the career of Samuel Smith. Sir J. a WARD said he was perfectly, certain'that the magistrates would, carry out their work of inquiry thoroughly well, and "until a report was received the Government could do nothing m the matter. ■ Mr BROWN suggested that a sum ho nlaced on the Estimates to provide cmExmirv grants to veterans, many of whom might pass away before next session Sir T • G WARD sa"> ]k cmM x not to give effect to the suggestion. LIMITATION OK DEPUTATIONS. The 'PIUMK MINISTER made an „i tint on account ot announcement that on . tue Btomng cwtom ot that the Government

would not meet deputations while tho House was fitting. Many people camo U> Wellington, and at short notice asked Ministers to meet thorn while the House was sitting. It was impossible for Ministers to carry on under the present system. Many of tho matters brought up by such deputations could easily he dealt with by means of correspondence with membors. The announcement was received favourably by the House. EXHIBITIONS BILL. The Exhibitions Bill was recommitted and a. number of amendments inserted. Tho bill was then read a third time and passed. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES. The Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits Act Amendment Bill was passed through all its stages. EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT. The Education Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS explained that the bill contained provisions amending the conditions of the junior national scholarships, for the education of blind, deaf, and paralytic persons, ami continuation schools. The bill was read a first time. LAND DRAINAGE BILL. The Houso went into committee on the Raugitaika Land Drainage Bill. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. In tho ovenhig Mr T. E. TAYLOR asked tho Minister in charge of the bill (Sir J. G. Ward) it he was personally, acquainted with the country. Sir J. G. WARD said he had been through it, but ho disagreed with the doctrine of Mr Taylor that the Minister should decide technical matters, which must bo left to lu's official advisers. Mr TAYLOR said that was not what-he ment -to say, and he went on to dilate on the necessity for the Minister being placed in control of the Lands Department exclusively. He agreed that to a large extent a Minister should bo guided by his officers, but in mnny cases it was necessary for the former to force the policy decided on by the country on officials whose decisions were not always in the best interests of the country. The bill, with a few machinery amendments,',was passed through committee. PTJBLIC DEBT EXTINCTION. The Public Debt Extinction Bill was taken in committee. On clause 1. the PRIME MINISTER, replying to Mr Massey, said sinking funds were provided) under the bill for nil loans not already so provided for. Future loans would have sinkmg funds attached to them at the rate of £230,000 per million, and under the ■ system, which had', been acluarilly worked out, every loan could bo extinguished in 75 years after being raised. Mr ALLEN asked if Sir J. G. -Ward would exclude from tho scopo of the bill war loans and loans to local bodies so that thsse coidd be paid off as originally providtd. Otherwise it would be a breach of faith on the part of the Prime Minister, .who had said that the war loan would be paid nit in 36 years. The accumulated sinking funds now in the hands bf the Public Trustee outfht to be utilised to pay off the loans to local bodies.'

Sir J. G. WARD said that no pledges had been given in regard to sinking funds far the loans referred to. On his suggestion the House had agreed to provide sinking funds for there loans. Mr Allen evidently desired to kill the bill. There was nothin* to prevent the war loan from being repaid in 36 years. Mr Allen's prediction.l? never came out right. In regard to a suggestion that tihe Tailways should he excluded ho said V could jiot agree to thk In view of the progress of invention railways were uncertain assets, which showed the necessity for nroviding sinking hinds. The same principle applied to telegmnhs. Mr MASSEY said ho consdered that Sir J. &. Ward would' have a different opinion in regard to tlie■ bill in seven years. He repeated the arguments used by Mr AEon in regard to loans to local bodies. Mr PHASER asked if it was. the case that the nreserit indebtedness of 63 mil lions would ho paid off in 75 years, and that future loans would be liquidated in 75 yea re from their creation. Sir J. G. WARD replied that that was so. At clause 8, subsection b, Mr MASSEY moved to add the words making the clause read: " A sum which if invested each year as compound interest at 4 per cent, would from the uossing of the act in the cass of loans raised up till the 31st March, 1910; or in 75 years from the raising of each loan, as the case may be." On a division the amendment was lost. On olause 12, which repeals section 54 of " The New Zealand Loans Act. 1908," and sction 88 of "The Local Bodies Loans I Act, 1908," Mr AIJJW moved that section 54 bo omitted, which would have the effect of withdrawing tho sinking funds on war loans from the operation of the bill. The amendment was lost. A' further amendment by Mr ALLEN, that section 88 be omitted, which would mean the withdrawal of the sinking funds oQoc.il bodies from the bill was also rejected.