GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14927, 1 September 1910, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

.. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. . . WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PURE MILK SUPPLY. Tho Hon. Mr LUKB resumed the debate on the Hon. Dr Collins's motion to the offect that further legislation is ' necessary to ensure a purer milk supply to the inhabitants of the chief cities in the Dominion, Mr Luko said it was a question which should be taken up by the various' local bodies. He thought it desirable to give mothers who were ignorant upon the subject instructions regarding tlio importance of milk diet. With ,: a r moro general use of milking machinery and proper instruction as to sterilising it, the danger would be reduced to a minimum. Once the ptoplo » were convinced as, to the importance of : keeping milk free from contamination they would heartily co-operate with the authorities in preserving the purity of milk. ( Tho Hon. Mr M'CARDLE pointed out the difficulty of keeping milking machines clean. Dr Collins had said that it required 230 degrees to destroy genus, and tho indiarubber tubes would not stand that temperature. As to a milk supply thoio should not only be a thorough examination at the central depot, but an officer should bo employed to see the milk' delivered to tho people ' in a pure condition. The Hon. Mr SINCLAIR said he con sidered that the present Jaw was sufficient' to protect tho milk supply. What was essential was tho careful carrying out of tho law as it existed. ■ Tho Hon. Mr ANSTEY said the pro- , poßtrl to deal with milk in, municipal depots would probably prove ultimately to be tho solution of the difficulty. Municipalities should establish receiving 'depots at ; the main entrances to cities, and compel suppliers to deliver there; A supplier should be paid the full wholesale price for his milk, and then his connection with it would cease. Proper scientific. treatment and a well-organised ■ ' system of delivery would complete the scheme of control. As, however, nothing had been said to show that existing legislation was defective the motion was going too far. The Hon. 'Mr LOUGHNAN urged that pasteurised milk should be placed on tho list of adulterated foods. The Hon. Mr BAILLIE emphasised the necessity,for efficient inspection under the present law. The Hon. Mr SAMUEL contended that tho mover had absolutely failed to show the necessity for further legislation on the question of milk supply. There was , full power under tho act to deal with the question. It was all a question of administration. ■ Tho dolrate was adjourned. THE CRIMES BILL. The Council then went into committee on tho Crimes Bill as amended by tho Statutes Revision Committee. - r At clause 3, dealing with the sentenco for an, indictablo offence, which may in- , elude reformative detention, .tho Hon. Mr JENKINSON moved an amendment with the object of taking from a, magistrate the of imposing an indeterminate .sentence, which, he urged, should be decided by a judge alone. ' ,?!"> amendment was lost, and the clause was eventually passed.' The clause providing that a judge may - direct as part of a. sentence that a . prisoner may, be detained for. reformative purposes for any term up to 10 years or without the imposition of any prior term of imprisonment a'prisonor may be forthwith committed to prison- for reformative purposes for a period not ex- ; ceedinp 10 years was passed as amended. A similar amendment waa made in tho next clause, giving magistrates power to impose a reformative sontence for three • years. ' 1 - ITie clause relating" to the Prisons Board artd tho number and personnel of tho; board was altored by increasing the board from five to; not more than seven persons, and by eliminating "permanent - officers of tho l public-service " from the board:

• .. The clause-relating to wages for labour being credited ,to a prisoner was altered from mandatory to permissive. The bill was then reported with, amendments, and the Council rose. • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Houso met at 2.30 p.m. : " TRAINING SHIPS.' ; On .a motion by the Hon. Mr MILLAR to lay on the table a return showing the number ;of boy? employed on board the Amokura and- other training ships, . Mr Tj ,E. TAYLOR raised the question o ftho after-employment oi such lads, man yof whom left'the Dominion to seek work; Something should bo dono to provide employment, for these .men, who , should be .available as naval reserves.' '/.Mi' POOLE suggested that an extension of the Amokura training system would be '-, possible if the Government -would.'acquire a. ,'fow old cruisers .and thus give many boys an opportunity .of naval training ; not Available at present. ' , REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In replying -to questions Ministers stated • That in the event of the Prime Minister, being inrited to attend tho : Imperial , Conference next' year, it was. hoped that arrangements- would bo made to enable 1 Kim to do 60. Should opportunity occur Sir J. G. Ward would be glad : to enable tho House to discuss, the all-important question of 'Imperial unity, which was the most.important one to be dealt with at- the next conference. t That in view of the fact that American Trusts had mptured the-meat trade of the Argentine and tho importance of freedom of competition to meat-growers and those interested in the meat trado in Sew Zealand, if any Amorican combination should endeavour to control the Dominion meat market the House would bo consulted as to whother the whole export meat- trade ought to be nationalised. A Prevention of Trusts Bill would be introduced at an early date. .'.That the question of amending tho State-guaranteed Advances Act in " liie direction of giving assistance by way of loans to beet sugar companies which might in the future be formed would lie considered in connection with the details of tho plan for assisting the beet sugar industry, • That serious consideration would be given to tho question of introducing legislation placing (he* control of primary, tfielinic.il, ana secondary education in the hands of education boards, which would involve a mat-crial change in tho method o' r electing education boards. That it was not considered necessary to amend the Dairy Industry Act so as to empower graders of butter for export to withhold from shipment any butter containing over 16 per cent, of moisture. In roplying to Mr Allen, the PRIME MINISTER' -denied that lie had -mado , a statement appearing in the press'that itwas intended'to appoint Colonel Davies, after he had spent some time at AlderN shot, to the position of Commandant of the Now Zealand Forces.. Mr ■_ ALLEN expressed dissatisfaction with the reply of Mr FOWLDS to his query as to whether he would amend tho Customs Duties Act so as to mako provision for, the introduction • of raw' material—namely, raw ' cotton—free of' duty or else remove an injustice which now, ur'evailed- owing to tho fact tha/. llannaM containing a large percentage ,os cotton' were now coming into tho Dominion free of duty, and local mills were, unable to compete owing to the duty on the nm material. Tho Minister had rei plied , 4lat the Government could not undertake the reconsideration of the question until tho schedules to the tariff again canie up.for revision. Mr Allen exhibited samples of the goods referred to, con- ; sisting of flannels with cotton ends, and pointed out tho -unfairness of allowing such goods in free of duty whije local manufacturers were unable' to manufacture, such goods on acoount of the duty on raw cotton. Mr HAN AN* said that textile fabrics ought to be slampod showing the nature of the materials used is the manufacture. Mr 'MASSEY said he hoped that when the next Thrill Bjll was introduced the

mistake made in allowing such goods to come in duty free would be rectified. Mr ELL contended that in the interests of the poorer classes goods made of a mixture of cotton and wool should bo admitted free. . Such articles were cheaper nr.d more durable. • He agreed with Sir Hafian that textiles should be so_ marked as to show the country of origin.' Mr HOGG dealt at length with the question of adulteration. He was in favour of fostering the woollen trade of the Dominion; It was a pity that' so much woollen goods used in the Dominion were imported. Referring to Ihe question of the Meat Trust, the Hon. T. MACKENZIE. read correspondence and reports on the subject from which. it appeared- that there was no reliable information to. show that the Meat Trust had captured the meat trade of the Argentine. The .Government was alive to the importance: of seeing .that no unfair competition in the meat trade was allowed'. Referring to moisture in butter, Mr Mackenzie stated that arrangements were being_ made for testing plants being established in several centres where butter could be tested at a charge of 6d per box. It would be impossible to have every box tested, as this would interfere with shipment. The department had prohibited the export of any boxes found to contain excessive moisture. He. was glad to know that those engaged in the industry were desirous of preventing such butter being exported. Ho had a bill prepared to meet tho difficulty, but it was necessary' to be careful not to do anything detrimental to the industry, and he was giving the matter further consideration.

iTai replying to Mr Allen, the PRIME MINISTER referred to the question of establishing a chair of Military Science at Christclmrch. This, would only be of advantage to tho sons of wealthy people. There ought to bo chairs in. the foiir chief centres. Definite action would have to await the establishment of a. military college in the Commonwealth. There'has been no suggestion that/Colonel Davies was to be appointed pommandant of the Dominion forces. Tliat officer had been permanently ■ appoionted to a position in the British army.

The Hon. Mr FOWLDS, referring to the question of the importation of cotton goods, said the matter had been fully discussed. When the duties were imposed the woollen ''."manufacturers had represented 'that the 1 importation of : raw. cotton duty, free would adversely affect the industry, and the House had acted accordingly. EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT. The Education Act Amendment Bill was read' a second time pro forma, and referred to the Education Committee. RANMTAIKA LAND DRAINAGE.,; The Rangitaiki Land Drainage' Bill was' read a. third time and passed. PUBLIC DEBT EXTINCTION. The House'thcil went into committee on the Public Debt Extinction Bill. ' In replying to Mr Allen, who asked what course the Government would follow when the loans'fell due, Sir J. G. WARD 6aid the Government would, if tlie loans could not bo paid off, tfik'e steps to have them renewed, but it would provide sinking funds for the same if these were not already provided. • The House roso at 5.30-p.m. In the evening, on the suggestion of Mr Allen, tho PRIME MINISTER premised to insert a proviso for placing accounts of the fund before Parliament. . Clause 8 was' amended; on the mot-ion of Sip J. G/WARD, to ;prov?de for a certificate of the total amount at the end of. each, financial year, being famished by the Controller and Auditor-general to the Minister, and ■ the following new subclause was added to clause (c)ln calculating the amount of the public, debt the accumulations of sinking funds shall not be .deducted therefrom.'

Clause 24 was amended to include a proviso for placing the accounts bfefore Parliament, as suggested by Mr'Allen. Mr NEWMAN moved to add- the following ,new clause,:—" (1) Notwithstanding anything in this act,-on and after ■ the expiration of. 10 yesvs from the com* mencement of;thidf act the: sum mentioned in fection 11 hereof shall be paid'to tho Public Trustee ar.d not to the' Suneririteiideiit*;; v (2)- tiio Minis so' paid to-the Puoiic Trustee shall from fee to' time' be applied bv him towards the repayment of the public dcbt;'(3j on any such re- . payment the provisions i,of section 21- of ; this act (except sub-section 3 thereof) shall extend and ripply." Sir J. G. WARD said ho could not accept tho ■ agreement, which meant fixing a mandatory date for tho repr-.yinout of tho loans, which wi? against the'principle of the bill. , • > Mr MASSEY. said the amendment struck at the weakest part of .a.. weak bill. Hepreferred an amendment to specify five ili&tead; oi'lo years. ■■>' . Oil a division, the amendment was lost by 47-votes to 21. • ... ' ; TOWN BOARDS. ACT. ■ Tho Town Boards Act Amendment Bill Was'then-taken in oonunittee,'1 ho Hon. D. BUXIDO moved a number of amendments" rcimlating the exercise* of by a' board under special order, which wero -carried,'" :ind the bill was passed through committee. , ' STONE QUARRIES BILL. The Stone Quarries Bill in committeo met. with, considerable opposition,. which was a,imed at.-tha general principles , of the bill. - Mr FISHER moved to report progress. In replying to Mr Russell, the Hon. ft, M'KENZIE said'lie was prepared to recommit tho, bill.with, the object of includthe quarries owned by local bodies and the Government-.'. -!. In view of this, statement, Mr FISHER withdrew his motion to report progress. . The opposition to the bill was due .to tho fact that it did not apply to all men engaged in .-stone quarries. Sir J. G. WARD, in replying to the criticism of Opposition members, said he had received no protests from public bodies ill his district against the bill. He was surprised that, a measure having as its oEieet the .preservation of human life should meet with such .opposition. He could not . believe that the public bodies opposed the bill on account of the few paltry pounds it- would cost them. After midnight an amendment by the Hon. B. M'KENZIE' was carried fixing the aggregate experience for a managed or foreman'of a quarry to entitle him'to a permit to two years. The original proposal was three years' experience. Tho clause, as amended was passed, and progress was reported. REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE. ' The. Public Debt Extinction. Bijl and the. .Town Boards.]. Acfc Amendment Bill were reported Irpni' commitlee. ; The House rose nl .0.35 a.m.