THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2013, 22 September 1892, Page 16

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In the Legislative Council to-day the j .West Coast Reserves Settlement Bill was passed. The Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill was read a second time, and the Pempsey Trust Fund Bill passed through i committee. I' „ 'house of representatives. f -The House of Representatives did not continue its sitting very long after the telegraph office closed yesterday morning* On a6semblinjj in the afternoon, after the questions had been, disposed of, a number of local bills were advanced a stage, the Eaitangata Relief Fund Transfer Bill aud the Mount Ida Water Race •Trust Bill being among the few which were passed. In the evening consideration of the ' Industrial Conciliation Bill in committee took up most of tho time, the Opposition stcougly but unsuccessfully objecting to the Railway Commiesionerß coming under its operation. The Shops aud Shop Assistants Bill was passed, and now goes before the Council. ! . , REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Shera, ' The Hon. Mr SEDDON said the Government did not intend remitting the import duty on voluuteor uniforms. Replying to Mr E. M. Smith, The llou. W. P. REEVES said he did not think ib right thai Taranaki school teachers should receive lower salaries than those in Wellington and other districts, but he could not devise any remedy. The reasou was that the average attendance in the Taranaki district was 49, and in the Wellington district it was 109. Replying to Mr Buchanan,

The Hou. Mr SBDDON said a reduction of 25 per cent, was made some time ago on the fees for inspection of boilers used in connection with agricultural machinery. As to the penalties charged for delay in paying the fees, he thought they were excessive, and he should look carefully into the. matter to see if any reduction could be made. Replying to Mr Rhodes, 1 The Hod. Mr SBDDON said the Government had decided to communicates with the Agentgeneral asking him to apprise the Government of the departure of all vessels leaving cholerainfected countries for New Zealand ports, and in the meantime tho Government would taka every precaution necessary for preventing the introduction of the disease iuto the colony.

COKCI MATIOIT EIU

The Industrial Conciliation Bill was further considered in committee.

Clause 74, Eailway Commissioners to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration.

The Hon. T. FERGUS moved that this clause bs struck out.

The Hon. Mr ROLLESTON hoped Mr Reeves would afford tho committee some information as to the effect of this clause, which was quite

different from other parts of the bill. Ho strongly opposed the clause, and said^ there was no evidence whatever before the committee to show that the commissioners abused their powers. That being so, he thought they were not justified in bringing the commissioners under the provisions of the bill.

Mr EARNSHAW defended, the clause, and denied Mr Rclleston's statement that one single man could drag the commissioners before the Court of Arbitration simply because the union would not let him take such action. He asked why a body of 4000 railway servants should be kept out of this bill when all other employes were brought under it.

Sir G. GREY was firmly of the conviction that if there were a court, an appeal should lie from railway men to that court, as he believed that would greatly strengthen tho hands of the commissioners. It was almost a certainty that amongst such a large number of men and officers some oppression would take place, and it would be for the benefit of both commissioners and men that an inquiry should be allowed to be held into grievances. "*"

Mr .M'GUIRE said he should oppose this clause to the utmost, and he thought it very unwise to interfere with the Railway Commissioners who had managed the railways so efficiently. They had lately been interfering and meddling with all classes of people, and they were now asked to interfere with the public service, a step which he could nob consent to. The clause was carried by 22 to 19. Clause 75, on petition the court may compel the commissioners to submit to arbitration.

Mr T. MACKENZIE (Clutha) said ho should propose a new clause to bring the police and civil service uuder the operation of this bill. He thought they were as much entitled to be included as railway employes. The clause was agreed to on the voices. The bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to. The bill was set down for the third reading next day. THE SHOPS BILL. The Shops and Shop Assistants Bill was reported from committee. On the motion for the third reading, Mr BUCKLAND said he hoped all the maledictions of the people Who would be harassed by this bill would fall on the heads of Miuißters and those who followed them into tho lobbies like a flock of sheep.' He said the bill would harass unfortunate shopkeepers in every direction, aud would make people imagine they wore living in Russia or some similar country. Mr T. MACKENZIE (Clutha) did not agree with Mr Bucklahd's sweeping condemnation of this bill. Ho said no hardship was at all likely to result from it. Ib would simply compel shopkeepers to close their- premises on one day of the week at 1 o'clock. Messrs Duthie and Rolleston strongly objected to the bill, and Messrs Thompson (Marsden), Meredith, Scobie Mackenzie, Camcross, and Russell also spoke on the bill. The bill was then read a third time and passed. THE ELECTORAL BILL. A telegram was received to-day by Mr Downie Stewart from the Female Franchise League, urging that he and those others who agree with him should not stand out unduly for the electoral right privilege, as tile women of the colony were quite prepared to accept the ordinary system of voting and to vote under it. Mr Stewart, iv reply, says that he must stand by this proposal, because it is 'the ouly chance of getting the female franchise carried in the Legislative Council. If the clause is carried allowing women to vote by electoral rights, Mr Stewait believes the bill will be carried by a majority of three or four ; if nob tho clause will almost certainly be thrown out. Mr Stewart is of opinion that the Council will insist on the female electoral right clause as a means of ensuring for women freedom from annoyances in voting, and enabling women iv the country to vote without being obliged to travel long distances to do so. The feeling is that this provision is essential to the free exercise of the feminine vote, aud the Council will insist upon it as tho condition upon which tho woman franchise shall be sanctioned. THE SINGLE ELECTORATES. On the question of the city triple electorates, the Council, as I predicted, will take up a firm 1 stand. The Council will pass the one-man-one-roll provided the one-man-one-vote principle, as professed to bo held by Ministers, is honestly and thoroughly carried out by limiting every elector's power to the exercise of a single vote in cities as well as in towns and in country districts. The Council are prepared to accept the oue-man-one-vote principle to its fullest extent, but will not consent to any limitation at all of its application. They will nob agree to its being set aside in the four cities if it is to be applied to every part of the colony. Accordingly the council will say, "We will readily accept the one-man-one-vofce if you will extend the one-man-one-vote princjple to the "cities, but not otherwise." On this point, I hear, they will stand very firm, and on the principle of insisting upon full facilities for voting beiug given to women if the right to vote is professedly conceded to them. I understand that the votes of Messrs Ormond, Grace, and Johnston depend on the acceptance of the new clause, and on their votes the fate of the women's franchise will rest. THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. A cablegram was sent to-day by the Hon. J. G. Ward to the Poßtmaster-general of New South Wales urging that the Government of that colony should contribute the buiu of L&000

a year to the San Francisco mail service. Mr Ward claims that, as Sydney is the terminal port in the colonies, and as in consequence New South Wales derives more benefit from the service than New Zealand does, it is only fair to ask for a larger contribution. Last year the 1 subsidy of New South Wales was L 2700, but under the proposals now made by the Imperial postal authorities the amount paid by them will bo less than that sum.

THE PBEMIBR. . This-afternoou the Premier was in his usual seat in the Hduse when the Speaker took the chair. Mr Ballance received warm cougratutions from members from all parts of the House on his restoration to health. Mr Rollestoo, the leader of the Opposition, had just presented a petition when he cau'ghtr sight of Mr Ballance, and walking over at once, he warmly shook hands with him . The Premier looked tolerably well, but he continues very weak and feels the effects of any exertion. • He returned home later m the afternoon. THE MAIL SERVICES. A return presented to-day shows that the average days occupied in the conveyance of the outward and Homeward English mails between London aud Wellington during the past year was as follows :— "Via San Francisco, 364: and 6is ; Brindisi, 43£ aud 45 fSirect service, 47£ and 44-. The quickest times of delivery were • San Francisco, 35f days ; Brindisi, 37 and 38 ; direct, 44 and 40.

JOTTINGS. Mr Allen is urging the Government to appoint an analyist to analyse manures at a cheap rate for farmers.

Mr Buchanan is endeavouring to arrange with the Government for securing a better method for the cool conveyance of dairy produce to shipping ports. The Kaitangata Relief Fund Transfer Bill got throagh committee in -safety to-day with amendments, the chief of which was one providing for administration by a non-political board appointed by the Governor, to consist during the first three years of Obago residents, exclusively, including the mayors of Dunediit and Kaitangata, afterwards the board to be open to the whole colony. I hear on good authority that the Labour members are very bitter against' Sir George Grey on account of his opposition to the Land Bill.