THURSDAY, AUGUST 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 22

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11.

In the Houso of Representatives to-day; tho debate on the Financial Statement was adjourned. The Master and Apprentice Bill was read a second time after a discussion which lasted all the evening.

PETITIONS.

A largo number of petitions, signed by ovetf 6000 Natives, protesting against the Government's Native land administration proposals, wero presented by Mr Kaihau.

MASTER AND APPRENTICE,

The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Master and Apprentice Bill, which, ho explained, was the same measure which, was last year rejected by the Council. Speaking for those interested in labour, who laid great; weight on the passing of the bill, he aakl thero oxisted a necessity for it in the great; wrong which was being done to young girls and boys who were taken on for a year on probation without remuneration and at the end of that period were sent about their business. It was a serious question whether or not they were to have skilled artisans or unskilled youths, and ho pointed out that in England a first-class all-round workman who could bo depended on had been apprenticed to his trado. Ho contended that both artisans and youths should have some guarantee that youths shall be taught their trade. He could not understand the commiseration witli the people whose children would be thrown out of employment, as these same people wer9 most anxious that the measure should" become law.

Captain RUSSELL regretted that tho Premier by false pathos stiivecl up class feeling. He disagreed with the statement that tho bill met with almoot the universal approval of the workers. The Premier evidently believed that employment coiild be regulated by legislation, but he (Captain Russell) considered that any legislative endeavour in that direction would result in nothing at all. He quoted the opinion of Mr Earnshaw, the lato member for Dunedin, that tho system of apprenticeship was not necessary in order to. turn out competent workmen. # Mr JOHN HUTCHESON said a workman could not be well trained unless he had been apprenticed to his trade. Mr CROWTHER described legislation of this class as crippling- and hindering to industrial progress. Mr R. THOMPSON said the effect of the bill would bo that only boys in large towns would learn trades, and employers in the country districts would be unable to teach, their boys trades unless they employed a certain number of journeymen. In his opinion there \%as no agitation in the country for the bill, and thero was no neceosity for it. limiting the avenue of employment. Mr CARNCROSS said the bill would dd more harm than good, and in seeking to regulate wages of apprentices they were attempting an impossibility. Altered methods of manufacturing rendered the apprenticeship; system undesirable. Mr BOLLARD said he was ontirely opposed to the bill, as the system of apprenticing belonged to a by-gone age. Mr HOGG pointed out that other labour measures which had become law, and of which it had been predicted that evil would result, had proved highly beneficial, and tho same would occur in connection with tho present meab'uro. it was necessary for the protection of juvenile labour that a bill of this character should be passed, but care would require to be used so that the employment of youths should not be discouraged. Mr LEWIS said the effect of lessening the amount of boy labour would be that men would have to'do tho work at wages approximating those paid to boys, or goods would! have to be imported or the price raised. # Mr SLIGO said unless the Arbitration Court took a very narrow view of skilled handicraft thousands would be thrown out ot work by the operation of the bill. He acknowledged that there were evils to be cured? in connection with the employment of youths, but questioned whether the present measure would bo efficacious in dealing with them.^ Mr M'NAB considered the new industrial conditions should not permit of a return to tho indenturing system. Mr PIRANI hoped stronger efforts than in the past would be put forth to place the bill on tho Statute Book. . The PREMIER, in reply, said the subject! of the bill was a difficult one, and to » large extent an experiment, but without expenmontiDg no progress would result. where labour was organised it supported the measure, which would not detrimentally affect juvenile labour in country districts. The second reading was agreed to by 3b to 19. .. . . r , Tho following is the division list: — Ayes (35) .-Messrs Joyce, M'Nab Smith, John M'lCcnzie, R- M'Kenzie, Hall-Jones, Crowther, Steward, Seddon, Cadman, Lawry, Ho<"» Holland. Montgomery, Pirani, M Nab, Meredith, Duncan, Ward, Fisher, Flatman, Mills Parata. O'Meara, Morrison, Carncros3, Carroll, Tanner, Stevens, Thos. Thompsoa, Carson, Hutcbeson, B. G. Allen, O'Regan, Taylor. „ _„ Noes (19).— Messrs Masses', R- Thompson, Sli«o, M'Guire, Monk, Guinness, Lethbndge, Lewis, Bollard, Moore, S. Mackenzie, Giaham, 'j. W. Thomson, Russell, Buchanan, Lang, M'Lean, Brcwn, ilerrics.

Mr George Hutchison is still struggling unsuccessfully to get at the travelling expenses of Ministers!. The estimated cost of class M locomotivesi now being constructed in tho colony is £4000 each, and of the W A locomotives £3300 each. It is apparently rather an expensive luxury getting locomotives made in this colony. THE GOVERNMENT AND LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Another effort is to be made when the Master and Apprentice Bill is in Committee to insist upon tho provisions of the labour billa of the Government being applied as far as possible to the Government and its employees, as well as to privato masters and their workmen. Previous attempts in the same direction made during the present session have received very strong support, the feeling being that Ministers should be made to practise what they preach, or, as one member put ifc, " what is sauce for the goose is sauce for th© gander." An interesting division may be" expected when this point goes io the vote. PROPOSED NATIVE LAND LEGISLA-

A sheaf of petitions, containing over 6000 signatures, presented by Mr Kaihau, protesting against the Native land legislation pro->

UP LIKE A ROCKET and clown like its stick is true of inferior brands of tobacco, but DERBY has maintained its excellence foffl years.

posed by the Government, shows that the Premier's policy on this question is distasteful to a very large section of tho Maori people. It is true that at several meetings held during the recess a section of the Natives expressed themselves as being generally agreeable to the Ministerial measures, and at a xecent gathering in Wellington the Maoris spoke of Mr Seddon as their father, but I am assured that the Natives did not fully comprehend the details of the proposals. However that may bo, it is evident that the opponents of the Government bill who have hitherto kept comparatively quiet are now beginning to make themselves heard. Most of tho 6000 signatures are those of Waikato Maovis, who contend that most of those who have declared in favour of the bill would not be affected by its provisions. They also fear the land will be controlled more in the interests of settlement generally than for the benefit of the Maori people, and they are opposed to a bare majority being able to coerce a strong and intelligent minority. Besides 4liis, they distrust the borrowing proposals of the bill. Mr Kaihau himself is, I understand, strongly opposed to the measure.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

The financial debate will probably commence on Tuesday next. The Premier stated this afternoon that he was anxious to get it over 'as soon as possible, more particularly -with the object of getting ways and means for the necessary railway rolling stock, which was being held back for the present. "It need not be. Why should it?" asked a member. The Premier replied that he had only recently been called to account for exceeding appropriations, and he was not going to lay himself open to a similar charge. Then the disturbance in commercial circles, caused by the proposed 5 per oent. remission of duties on goods manufactured in Great Britain, made it desirable to push on the debate without delay. The Statement was very short, and confined solely to finanoe. This declaration was received with laughter, and Mr Piram" interjected, "The debate will not bo though "

THE TARIFF

Are we going to have a revision of the tariff tliid session? The Financial Statement, which suggested a remission of 5 per cent, of the duties now imposed on goods imported from the mother country, teemed to indicate something of the kind, but the Premier says " no.' Captain Russell this afternoon remarked that the custom had been to bring down a resolution to give effect to the change at once. Tho Premier should do so if he was serious j in his intentions. Mr Scddon, in reply, said: " I do not intend to touch the tariff by introducing a resolution and bringing down an amended Tariff Bill." "How will you do it then?" asked a member. "I will show you j how to do it," was the Premier's answer, j " There is no necessity in tliis case for a re- J vision of the tariff. I know what it is to get . a resolution on the tariff in ways and means, j I might, put a resolution in, but I would not ] know it when it came out. This is a good j reason why there should bo no resolution. Each of the proposals would have to be dealt ■with separately cmtside of the Financial .Statement "

THE LEFT WING. The Left "Wing appear to be divided as reoanls their opinions on Mr Seddon's Budget. Sir Firavri calls it a continuation of the bun and treacle for a good boy policy, while Mr Montgomery is more complimentary, ana stale Ahat it, is "the most business-like i Statement avo have had, and is truly described as a policy of confident optimism. Mr -Kelly, of Tnvercargill, is even more severe than Mr Piraiii. He is reported to have referred to the Budget as " the annual bribery.

LUNATICS IN PRISONS

In the course of his report the Inspector of Prisons stoles that the system of detaining supposed lunatics, as well as criminal lunatics, during the Colonial Secretary s pleasure in prisons does not commend itself. The inspector expresses the belief that it is si mo=it improper one, and an injustice is done both to the suffering persons and to the prison officials, as such maladies can only be aggravated by detention in gaols. No blame in this matter can be attached to the magistiates. Men and women are brought before them in a state of imbecility, or suffering from the effects of excessive drinking, and in the absence of suitable institutions for the reception and treatment of such unfortunates they are relegated to a gaol. Now by a reference to "The Lunatics Act. 1882," sections 67 and 68, it is imperative that hospitals shall provide wards for the temporary reception of lunatics, but owing to the non-compliance With this Jaw by hospital boards the pernicious practice of sending supposed lunatics to prisons continues. As regards persons suffering from delirium tremens, if such cannot bo legally considered lunatics then the sooner homes are established the better, where these unfortunates can be treated for diseases, in.'tead of for crimes.

• CODLIN MOTH.

Tho Agricultural and Stock Committee again had under consideration the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill. Messrs Johns and Sharp (representing the Auckland fruitgrowers) were heard, and gave some vahiable evidence. They were both closely questioned by the members of the committee. Tho report of the committee is not likely to be laid on the table of the House for some time.

THE LYTTELTONWELLINGTON SERVICE.

Judging from some figures I have obtained from an expert shipping man. I think_it very doubtful if anything will come of tne proposal now before a special committee of the House to accelerate the steam ferry service between Wellington and Lyttelton. The cost of making any material alteration in the speed of the service would involve the payment of a considerable subsidy, and the Government seem to have quite enough trouble to run their railways, without embarking on the more difficult and hazardous work of running a steamboat service. For instance, it would require a subsidy of £12,000 a year to run a 12- hour service, and £22,000 a year to run a 10-hour service, between the two ports; while the cost of building a boat for a 10-hour service would be £89,000. and a 12-hour boat would cost £63,000. It must be remembered, too, that three steamers would be required for a continuous ferry service. The total number of passengers between the ports, including through ticket - holders, is only 26,000 each way per annum, and it is well •known in shipping circles that the Rotoma,liana has left a loss on her 12 months' running. For the six summer months she 3ust paid her way, but there has been a monthly loss during winter. Her average earnings are £1900 a month, and her expenses £2000.

JOTTINGS.

During the year ending 31st March last 155 licenses were granted to racing clubs to use ;the totalisator, and the permits extended over 268 days. The State tax amounted to £13,297. At fiaumer last year therQ wore 1474 visi-

tors, who had 11,436 baths. The bathing accommodation is now rather limited, only 14bfcths being available, so that many have to wait their turn until the baths are empty. Now that the Hanmer Springs are getting better known and attracting; large numbers of people from all parts of Now Zealand and tho neighbouring colonies, further provision for baths is to be made.

Only 105 tourists visited the Hermitage last year, a disappointing result, according to the Lands Report. The reason no doubt is that such poor provision is made for climbers, whose efforts are often discouraged at the Hermitage. Only one expedition was made during all last season, and that a minor one.