N Z. PARLIAMENT.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1.
The Old Age Pensions Bill Avas on Tuesday 'signed by the GoA'ernor, and is now in operation.
In the Legislative Council yesterday a number of bills Avere passed, including the Loan Bill, the Dairy Industry, Fencing, and Pharmacy Bills.
BILLS DEALT WITH.
The amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Kaxiri Gum Industry Bill were agreed to.
The Rabbit-proof Wire Netting Fences and Land Drainage Bills were passed through Committee, and the folloAving measures Avere read a third time and passed: — Fencing Acts Amendment, Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement, Dairy Industry, and Pharmacy Bills.
The Canterbury College PoAvers Bill Avas read a second time.
In the House of Representatives on Tuesday after the Premier had given notice of motions providing for a preferential duty on British manufactured goods and the control of officers of the House, the Railway Authorisation Bill was considered, and progress eventually reported on it. A vote on the question of initiating a large borrowing polioy to complete unfinished railways wav taken, but only 6even members were found ready to support a renewal of the plunging policy. The Juries Act Amendment Bill— with the clause for abolishing grand juries struck out, — Law Practitioners Bill, Homing Pigeon Protection Bill, and a measure dealing with the sale and exchange of reserves and endowments, and other matters were put through their final stages.
QUESTIONS.
Ministers replied to questiono to the following effect: — A committee will be set up to next session to inquire into the high prices of Westport coal in various parts of the colony. Inquiries are being made and a report will be submitted respecting the action of the police in arresting several men, without a tittle of evidence, in connection with the specimen stealing case at Coromandel. It is intended to insert a condition in tenders for all inland mail services that the successful tenderer should take over at a valuation the working plant and horses of the outgoing contractor. RAILWAY AUTHORISATION.
The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved the second reading of the Railways' Aiithorisation Bill, which, he explained, provided for the construction chiefly of sidings to the rail,way6 of the colony. Captain RUSSELL complained that the Minister had not shown that the expenditure on these works would be reproductive.
Mr PIRANI intimated that he intended moving an instruction to the Committee on the bill to insert a provision prohibiting transfers of money from one railway to another.
Mr J. ALLEN noticed that one of the sidings was to a Canterbury colliery, and considered if this was a private company other private companies should be treated in a like manner.
Mr ROLLESTON pointed out that hardly a single member knew anything about any of the sidings mentioned in the bill, and he suggested that the bill should be referred to a committee to report on its proposals.
Several members spoke in a similar direction.
Mr GUINNESS considered the present was an occasion on which the feeling of the House should be tested on the question of borrowing sufficient to complete the unfinished railways. As an amendment, he moved that it is inexpedient to authorise the construction of the extensions of railways and isolated sections out of revenue at the present slow rate of progress, and that a scheme should be devised whereby the amount estimated to complete the unfinished lines should be borrowed and expended, so that the construction of railways be more vigorously prosecuted, and that the Government be requested to bring in a bill early next session to give effect to this resolution.
Mr MILLAR seconded the amendment, .which was opposed by Mr MEREDITH, who contended that the member for Grey did not recognise his responsibility as a representative of the people in proposing such wildcat plunging. On a division the amendment was negatived by 44 to 7. _, The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES, in the course of his reply, said the country had evidently approved of the Government's policy in connection Avith the construction of railways, and did not favour a large borrowing policy. The second reading was agreed to. Mr J. ALLEN moved that the bill be referred to the Railways Committee. — Negatived by 30 to 20.
PREFERENTIAL DUTIES
The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON gave notice to move that in order to draw closer the bonds which unite the colony with Great Britain, and stimulate and encourage trade with the mother country, the customs duties on goods manufactured in England, with the exception of spirits, wines, and tobacco, be reduced by 5 per cent., and that power be given to the Governor to declare which English colonies should also be included in this proposal. In reply to a question, he said lie was not at present able to fix the date on which the motion would be discussed, which would depend on the progress made with the business.
The PREMIER also gave notice of motion relating to the control of officers of the House.
IN COMMITTEE.
On the motion for the committal of the Railways Authorisation Bill, Mr Pirani moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on the bill to insert a proviso preventing the transfers of moneys voted for any special railway for expenditure on any other railway. Negatived by 29 to 23.The bill was committed.
Clause 2, proviso as to Canterbury Colliery Biding. — Some objection was taken to the construction of a siding for a private company. — Mr J. ALLEN moved an amendment in the direction of providing for a sinking fund for the repayment of the amount expended on the siding.— The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES paid he was prepared to reduce the rate of interest from 5 per cent, to 4 per cent., and provide for 2 per cent, as a sinking fund. — Mr J. ALLEN was prepared to accept this if the sinking fund was properly safeguarded. Several members objected to the portion of the bill dealing with this siding, and pointed out that requests for similar sidings to sawmills and to lime deposits had been refused until the applicants had provided funds for the construction of such.— Mr FIELD said he objected to special legislation being inoluded in a public measure, and moved that the portion of the clause referring to the siding to tho Canterbury colliery be struck out.—
Mr J. ALLEN said if Avhat had been said respecting the inexhaustible nature of the coal deposits at this mine Avas correct, it Avas curious that priA'ate enterprise did not find tho necessary £700 _ or £800 required to construct a siding. — Mr ROLLESTON said there was no job in connection Avith this siding so far as he kneAV, but the Minister for Public Works Avas very secretive, and should explain matters.— The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved that progress be reported.— After a brief discussion progress Avas reported. The Reserves, EndoAvments, and CroAvn and NatiA'e Lands Exchange, Sale, Disposal, and Enabling Bill Avas commit led, and after lengthy discussion reported. The Juries Act Amendment Bill Avas further considered in Committee.
Clause 4, grand juries abolished. — Considerable objection Avas taken to this clause.— Mr DUTHIE contended grand juries Avere necessary to protect people from the exercise of tyranny by any Government, which Avould be possible if the Attorney-general Avas invested with the poAvers now held by grand juries.— The Hon. T. THOMPSON said grand juries had served their purpose, and it could not be said that they performed any but perfunctory duties. — Mr PIRANI contended that grand juries Avere maintained in the interests of rich men, and had been used to cloak them and keep them from justice. In the best interests of justice grand juries should be abolished. — After further discussion,Mr DUTHIE moved that the Chairman leave the chair, but thi« was negatived, and clauses 4, 5, and 6 Avere struck out.
Clause 7, exemptions from juries. — Mr DUTHIE moved to include dentists. — Negatived by 32 to 23. The remaining clauses were passed unaltered. The Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill was committed.
Clause 2, solicitor in practice for five years may be enrolled as a barrister. — On the motion of the Hon. T. THOMPSON the clause avos amended to provide that the five years practice has been continuous. — The clause was further amended to provide that solicitors avlio have been acting as managing clerks for five years may be enrolled as barristers.
AMENDMENTS BY THE COUNCIL.
Managers were appointed to confer with managers from the Council Avith regard to the Council's amendments in the Wages' Protection Bill.
The amendments made by the Council in the Pharmacy and Fencing Act Amendment Bills were agreed to.
OLD AGE PENSIONS.
The PREMIER intimated that the Old Age Pensions Bill had that day been signed by his Excellency the Governor.
BILLS PASSED.
The Juries Act Amendment Bill, Reserves, Endowments, and Crown and Native Lands Exchange, Sale, Disposal, and Enabling Bill, Homing Pigeon Bill, and Law Practitioners Bill passed their final stages. The House adjourned at 1.35 a.m.
In the Legislative Council on Wednesday the Dairy Industry, Stock, Land Drainage, Mining Companies, Rabbit-proof Wire Netting Fences, and Native ToAvnships Bills were passed.
BILLS DEALT WITH.
The following measures Avere passed through their final stages : — Rabbit-Proof Wire Netting Fences, Land Drainage Act Amendment, Native ToAvn6hips Act Amendment, Stock Act Amendment, Mining Companies Act Amendment.
The Canterbury College Powers BiHs and Admiralty House (Auckland) Bill were read a second time without debate.
The Council agreed to the amendments made by the Lower House in the Clutha Biver Board Empowering Sill. MASTER AND APPRENTICE. •
The report of the Labour Bills Committee was brought up by the Hon. Mr OLIVER, recommending that the Master and Apprentice Bill be not proceeded with.
In the House of Representatives on Wednesday the Premier was refused leave to introduce the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill. The Public Works Statement was discussed, and then the House proceeded to deal with the Public Works Estimates. These were under discussion when the telegraph office closed this morning.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
By 33 to 30, the Right Hon. Mr Seddon (Premier) Avas refused leave to introduce the imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill.
THE PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.
The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES moved that the House go into Committee of Supply on the Public Works Estimates.
Mr G. HUTCHISON pointed out that these Estimates were brought doAvn some five weeks ago, when the Premier had promised that reasonable time AA r ould be given for their discussion, but no one Avould have the hardihood to say that noAV, Avhen members Avere exhausted by late sittings and beAvildered by hurried legislation, they Avere in a fit condition or had reasonable time to discuss the public works policy of the Government. He advocated greater progress being made in the construction of the North Island Main Trunk railway, and drew attention to the fact that money for this purpose ought to be available from Native lands purchased out of the money borrowed for the construction of the line, out of Avhich the Lands and Survey department this year had received £30,000 for surveys in connection Avith the line, and Avhich had gone to swell the surplus. The Government Avere making use of the alleged agitation for the Stratford route to delay the Avork, but he believed there Avas no desire to prevent the Central route being constructed. But in the interests of the colony a survey of the line from Stratford to the point of divergence should be made. No indication had been given by the Government of their intention to borroAV for the purpose of completing the unfinished railways, and some doubt Avas expressed whether under the regime of the present Government a loan could be floated on the London market.
Mr J. W. THOMSON considered the expenditure on the goldfields should be decreased and the votea for railway construction increased. The money for the erection and construction of bridges and roads ought to be in the hands of the local bodies, as it Avas impossible for a member of the House to know anything about the 1501 roads and bridges on which it Avas proposed to expend money this year. Mr PIRANI, as an amendment, moved " That it is not desirable that the present session should be terminated until the important questions relegated to several select committees are dealt Avith in an exhaustive manner. He pointed out that cwing to the dilatory manner in Avhich several of these committees had conducted their business the House Avould orobably hava no opportunity to discuss the
granting of the New Zealand Cross to Harry Wrigg, the costs in the Horowhenua case, several matters affecting the public accounts, and the allegations of the member of Patea against the Premier. Party government was responsible fpr this state of affairs, and nothing would hasten the death of party government more than the way in which the present Government used the trust reposed in them. At least one of the present Ministry would have been sacrificed to the just condemnation of members had it not been for the astuteness of the Premier, who bad got a report circulated that the Minister in question would resign during the recess--. With respect to the votes for roads and bridges, he considered it would be more satisfartory if portion of the expense was provided by local residents.
Mr FISHER said the people of the colony would have a poor opinion of the Ministry if they gauged them by the remarks of Mr Pirani, whose attitude towards the Government, he said, was due to the fact that when a vacancy occurred in the Ministry Mr Pirani was not offered office.
Mr J. ALLEN referred to the last speaker as hardly an authority on consistency or integrity. The present system of expenditure on the construction of railways was unbusinesslike. The practice of paying money received from the sale of Native lands into the revenue account was also unbusinesslike, .and when all the land was sold the consolidated fund would begin lo feel the want of this prop. Referring to the fact that the Minister for Lands had control of £300,000, proposed to be expended, he hoped that next session legislation would be introduced to prevent the transfer of amounts from one item to another in tho same vole.
Mr BUCHANAN said the waste which was caused by the piecemeal construction of railways was sis nothing compared with the waste connected with the expenditure of putolle moneys under tho co-operative system. The amendment was negatived on the voices.
Captain RUSSELL said there was nothing more trying than to attempt to drive arguments into empty benches, or so hopeless as trying to make a speech when there was no one to listen to it. Year by year interest in the public works of the colony was steadily diminishing, which arose from the fact that tho arrangements with respect to these AAorks was made in caucus instead of in the House. The principle, of the expenditure of public money required reconsideration, as certain votes were passed without it being considered whether or not the money would be properly expended. Notwithstanding the fact that theirs was a policy of retrenchment, t'.ie predecessors of the present Government had constructed 28 miles yearly as against 30 miles by the present Government. The proposal to expend £200,000 on working railways was, he considered, an evidence of the complete mismanagement of the railways, and showed that they were being starved in order to show a dividend, which really did not exist. He combated the statement that the necessity for this expenditure was on account of the action of the railway commissioners, and pointed out that though the population of the colony had increased since the Government had assumed control of the railways the earnings per mile had not increased. With reference to the expenditure on roads and bridges, he said that the Government subsidies to local bodies should not be in proportion to the inverse ratio of the rateable value.
The PREMIER said the general consensus of opinion of those who used the railways was that they were now better managed than at any previous period. He pointed out that no demand had been made for an earlier opportunity to consider the Public Works Estimates. Referring to the transfers of monej r from one item to another in the same vote, he said the transaction had no influence or bearing on the balance for the year, which was neither increased nor decreased. Considering the strain which had been placed on the railway plant, the manner in which the department had met it was highly commendable.
FIRST READING.
By 34 to 12 the Canterbury College Powers Bill was read a first time.
PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.
The debate on the motion that the House go into Committee of Supply to consider the Public Works Estimates was resumed by _ Mr KAIHAU, who advocated the construction of a branch railway from Pukekohe to Waiuku, Auckland province. Mi MASSEY reminded the Government that the line referred to by the last speaker had been recommended to be constructed 18 years ago.
Mr BROWN advocated the completion of an alternative telegraph line from Auckland to Wellington, and a road to connect Taranaki and Auckland provinces. Mr WI PERE advocated a 20 million loan for the purpose of opening up the East Coast district of the North Island.
Mr TAYLOR said there was c>reat danger ahead with respect to the demand for railway extension. The most direct benefits of railway construction accrued to the holders of land, and before any railway policy was undertaken — and such a policy was inevit-able-^-there should be some method devised to bring back into the publio revenues some portion of the sudden increase in the value of land which would follow on railway construction. Most of the works provided for in the Public Works Estimates should be in the hands of the local authorities, who were in a better position to judge of their necessity. Mr LETHBRIDGE urged on the Government the more rapid construction of the North Island Main Trunk line.
Mr FIELD objected to the Government's attitude in connection with the Manawatu railway.
The Hon. Mr" HALL-JONES, in reply, said he considered fair progress had been made with the North Island Main Trunk line, end if greater progress was to be made the question as to where the money was to come from would have to be answered, as the constriction of other lines equal in importance could not bo stopped. The present policy in connection with the construction of railways was to get uncompleted lines off their hands as soon as possible, and a more vigorous prosecution of the work would require considerably larger expenditure than that proposed. The motion to go into Committee of Supply was agreed to.
IN COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.
On the first vote, immigration £150, a general discussion ensiied on the Public Works Estimates. — Referring to the criticisms on the proposed expenditure on roads, the Hon. J. M'KENZIE said the amount applied for by local bodies and members amounted to one and a quarter million pounds, and if he had his way one million potmds would be spent on roads in the North Island.— After discussion, class 1 was passed. Class 2, Public Works department, £9500, passed unaltered after a brief discussion. Class 3, railways construction and land, £171,600— Referring to the Midland railway vote, £30,000, the Hon. Mr HALLJONES said the Belgrove section could not be continued Beyond Motupeka Valley with-
out parliamentary sanction. Vouchers for £12,000, representing the transfer of stores from the Working Railways department, had been withdrawn, and would not come back to the Midland railway vote and increase the proposed expenditure. He had a report prepared wliich he hoped to have printed in time to lay on the table, in which several engineers expressed a decided preference for a switchback or zigzag construction in place of the Al>t system on the Springfield-Jack-son's section. — The vote was agreed to after a further debate. — A short discussion ensued on the remaining lines, the votes for which pawed unaltered. — Additions to open lines, £200,000. — In reply to Mr Montgomery, the Hon. Mr HALL-JONES said the Minister for Railways had informed him that he was taxing his staff to the utmost in order to provide sufficient rolling stock to cope with the traffic for next harvest. — The class passed.
Classes 4 to 7 were postponed.
Class 8, public buildings £126,420, general £50,000. — A discussion ensued on the proposed expenditure on Parliament Buildings. —The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES said that a two-storey building would provide sufficient space in which to lodge the General Assembly library. In answer to further questions, he eaid that the cost of altering the addition from a two to a three-storey building would be £4500. — As an indication that a three-storey building should bo erected, the Hon. Mr STEWARD moved that the item " new buildings, £25,000 " be reduced by £1. — Negatived by 34 to 17.
Class 8, public buildings. — A lengthy discussion ensued on the item school buildings and special technical school buildings, £25,000.— Mr TAYLOR' and other members asked the Minister to give a pledge that the money would be used only in connection with State schools. He was also asked to make a similar promise to that given last year that the vote would not be expended until Legislative authority was given. — The Hon. Mr HALL-JONES said the money Avould only be expended in accordance with the law. —The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON (Premier) said he hoped next day to bring down suggested new clauses to the Technical Education Bill providing for doubling the capitation and givhig an opportunity for the vote being distributed in a satisfactory manner to all concerned. If any payment was made it would be as made last year. — As the replies were considered unsatisfactory, Mr MONTGOMERY moved that progress be repcrted, but after discussion this was withdrawn, and Mr Montgomery then moved that the vote be struck out.— The PREMIER said if this was carried it would limit the an'ount to be expended. — After debate, the item was struck out by 20 to 19 and the class passed.
Class 4, construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, £360,000. — Agreed to after a short discussion.
The other classes passed without alteration, and the House adjourned at 4.35 a.m.
MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATION.
Clauses in the Reserves and Endowments Bill relating to the following matters of interest in Otago were passed this evening: — Authorising Crown grants to be issued to Messrs R. Norman and H. Maidonan, agricultural lessees in Otago. This section has been incorporated in the bill in compliance with a petition from the above-named persons, which has been forwarded by the Waste Lands Committee to the Government for consideration. The petitioners took up their land in 1878, under the agricultural lease system, at a high rental, but the land is of an inferior character, and there is no doubt that the rent was assessed at too high a rate. Several other persons who took up land at the same time forfeited their holdings, and the adjoining land was cut up by the Government and valued, and sold at a much less rate than was done in the case of the petitioners' lands. These persons have been in possession of the land for many years, and they have allowed their leases to run out before they acquired--the freehold. It is px'oposed to enable them to obtain the freehold, the same as was done in the case of the other agricultural leases, if it is found that the payments made by them total in the aggregate the capital value of the land. Site for municipal buildings, Invercargill: The Borough Council of Invercargill has occupied the land mentioned in this clause for many years. A Masonic Lodge was built on the land, but it was mortgaged, and the mortgage fell into the hands of the Bank of Otago. who sold it for £650 to the Provincial Government, and it was afterwards used as a Supreme Court, and then by the Southland County Council as a place of meeting, and finally given in charge of the Borough Council of Invercargill. The borough now asks for a proper title. It is practically an endowment to the borough.
THE HON. H. K. TAIAROA.
There was some discussion to-night on a clause in the Reserves and Endowments Bill regarding a grant of land to the Hon. H. K. Taiaroa. This clause is to enable effect to be given to an arrangement made by the late Hon. W. Mantell with the father of the Hon. H. K. Taiaroa when settling the purchase by the Crown of the Muvihiku block. Mr Mantell promised Mr Taiaroa that if he signed the deed of cession of the block to the Queen in 1853, he should have 100 acres of land at Milford Haven. It was afterwards found to be impossible to give effect to this promise, as the land was claimed by one Murphy and another. The land is now Crown land, and can be granted. The Hon. Mr Taiaroa claims that 1000 acres was promised by Mr Mantell's letter, but it is quite clear that 100 acres only was to be given. The land proposed to be given is in Anita Bay, Milford Sound, where the Maoris used to find jade (greenstone). There was general objection to the clause, and it was struck out.
JOTTINGS.
The following estimates of the cost of works proposed to be constructed within improved farm settlements out of the lands improvement account were laid on the table to-day by the Minister for Lands:— Auckland, £4142: Hawke's Bay. £1000; Taranaki, £4781; Wellington, £5975: Otago, £4586; Southland, £3300; general,' £500. The lfind acquired from the Maoris, the Ktle of wliich has been completed, betwe&n May 1, 1893. and December 31, 1897, amounted to 1,614.000 acres, and cost £410,754. Europeans have settled on 2G9 ; 512 acres of the total area thus acquired. Mr Millar asked the Minister for Lands whether he would, without further delay, set aside five acres of the Purakanui Inlet reserve for the pnrpos.es of a marine fish hatchery. The Minister replied that six and a half acres had been set aside for the purpose in September.
SLIP-SHOD LEGISLATION.
Though the House has been sitting for nearly five months the bulk of the important work is being rushed through in the dying hours of the session. Ministers do not mim to caro how some of the bills are passed ; all they want apparently is a thick Statute Booksomething they can hold up on the public platforms as an indication that they have passed some legislation. Recently the legislation baa been of such, a slip-shod character
that even after bills have passed both Houset tho Premier has had to get them amended"/ and they make their appearance again by Governor's Message. Captain Russell and several other members have protested against .this state of affairs, and the former stated that it was a grave reflection on Ministers themselves. Mr Seddon argued that he was not responsible for amendments made in the bills. Another instance of the unbusinesslike- methods of the present Parliament is to be found in the fact that several of the petitions referred to the Railways Committee will have to- stand over till next session. This will be very disappointing to the petitioners. Some of the matters to be dealt with were of sufficient importance to require the attendance on the committee of the Minister for Railways, but he was generally too busy on the Mining Committee to attend. The whole arrangement of the committees has been bad, for in most cases they are too cumbersome, and members have to do double duty on different committees.
AN ADVERSE VOTE.
The House gave the Premier what is in political metaphor known as a slap in the face this afternoon, when he attempted to introduce the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Bill. It is very rarely that leave to introduce a bill is refused, but the House on this occasion negatived the Premier's proposal by 33 votes to 30.' The bill was brought on in accordance with a promise made to Mr Fisher, and when the division was announced the Premier remarked that he had now redeemed his promise. " Rather late in the day," Mr Fisher replied, and the House laughed heartily at the Premier's expense.
NORTH ISLAND EXPENDITURE.
The Hon. John M'Kenzie says he would like to spend a million of money in the North Island on roads. Ho has had application this session from local bodies and members of Parliament for a million and a-quarter oi money for public works.
THE POSITION OF PARTIES.
The Opposition are naturally greatly delighted with the result of the Tuapeka election. The return of Mr Rawlins reduces that Government majority by two, seeing that the: seat is now held by an opponent instead of a supporter. Mr Seddon can now only counis on a majority of nine, and amongst these are several waverers, who may kick over the traces at any time. It is not improbable that at the next election Mr Guinness may come back as an Oppositionist, while Messrs R. Thompson and Field can hardly be called out-and-out supporters of Mr Seddon, and at least one of the Maori members may leave the Government party. It only requires three or four members to go over to leave Mr Seddon without a working majority, and, in any case, next session he will have a very warm time of ife. A dissolution is almost certain to ensue, and the Opposition have a great deal of excellent ammunition available for a fight in the country.
JOTTINGS.
Mr Seddon says that the Bun Tuck storyis to be cut out of the bound volumes of Hansard. Members of the Opposition, however, are said to be chuckling over the facfc that the Bun Tuck issue of Hansard was also the Horarata map issue, of which the Ministry boast that they have circulated 10,000 copies. Mr George Fisher presented a petition today praying for the release of Mrs Camille Locher, under sentence for shooting at George Norbury, contractor, in Wellington, in February, 1896.
JOTTINGS.
The discussion on the Public Works Statement revealed a great deal of dissatisfaction with the present Administration, and several strong protests were made about the tactics of the Government in keeping the debate over till the dying hours of the session, and forcing it through in one night. Mr John Duthie, M.H.R., though a stubborn filter in politics, is one of the warmest-hearted men in the House, or out of it, for. the matter of that. During previous parliamentary sessions, he has shown the visiting Opposition members many little kindnesses. In token of this, and his many good qualities, the Opposition, aB a body, met this evening and presented him with a silver salver, on which was this simple inscription:— "John Duthie, M.H.R., from, his confreres in the Opposition (1898), in appreciation of many kindnesses." The presentation was made by the leader of the Opposition, and Mr Duthie returned thanks in a kindly and sympathetic speech.
The Legislative Council on Thursday passed the Mining Bill with but few amendments. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, which was also passed, was amended materially by the adoption of the amendments proposed by the Labour Bills Committee.
THE MINING BILL.
The afternoon was spent discussing in Committee certain verbal amendments in the Mining Bill recommended by the Goldfielda Committee. The only important alteration, made in the measure was the excision, by 15 votes to 14, of clause 216, the occurrence of any accident in a mine shall be prima facie evidence that such accident occurred through some negligence on the part of the owner.— The bill was eventually reported, and read a third time.
The Hon. W. C. WALKER, in moving the committal of the Industrial Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, urged that it was a necessary complement to the earlier legislation, and particularly advocated the adoption of the clause giving unionists a preferential claim on employment in industrial pursuits. The Hon. Mr RIGG contended that many of the charges levelled against the machinery of the Arbitration Courts were totally unfounded, and supported the extension of the cX The ng Hon. Mr DOWNIE STEWART thought it unwise to prosecute. The Hon. Mr SHRIMSKI argued that the wisest course at the present stage would be to withdraw the bill. The Hon. J. MACGREGOR failed to see that any argument had been promulgated to justify the introduction of this extraordinary bill, which he thought would have an entirely different effect to that anticipated by its promoters. . On the bill being committed, sub-clauses 2 and 3 of clause 3 were struck out. These originally provided that unionists must be given preference over non-unionists by employers. Clause 4 — " Employer shall not discharge any worker on account of an industrial dispute "—was also deleted, and the next section, which made it _a breach of the act for an employer to dispense with an employee because he was a member of a trade imion, was also deleted.
After discussion, the amendments made by; the Labour Bills Committee were agreed to, and the bill passed Committee and its final stages.
In the House of Representatives on TThurs* day. 3 good deal of business was transacted*
The Premier stated that the motion to reduce the duty on British manufactured goods had been abandoned for the present session. A debate on the transfer of stores between the Railway and Public Works departments was not concluded. The resolution to renew the San Francisco and Vancouver mail services for another year was adopted. The Separate Institutions Bill passed its second reading. It was decided to hold a conference with the Council on the amendments in the Wages Protection Bill.
PRIMAGE.
The Extension of Commerce Committee reported that it had no recommendation to make with respect to the request for legislation on the question of primage and charges upon wool and produce made by agents.
Mr M'NAB moved that the report lie on the table. i Mr DUTHIE contended that the House had no right to interfere with arrangements made between shipping companies and their agents, and ib did not follow that producers suffered by the sytem of agents being paid by a rebate commission, t Mr BUCHANAN said that the efforts of the Freights Reduction Committee last year had resulted in a saving to the colony of £100,000. i Mr HOGG said that shipping agents, who also acted as agents for producers, worked .against the latter, and in the interests of shipowners in the direction of maintaining high freights. Any agent who might desire to hand over the primage to the producer ,was unable to do so, as the shipowners insist on them signing a bond not to hand the primage back to the producers. . 3?he motion was agreed to. > THE TRANSFER OF STORES. \ The Public Accounts Committee reported n the correspondence from the Auditor and tiontrollor-goneral respecting the transfer of stores from the Working Railways*to the Public Works department. In the course of a lengthy report, the committee stated that the Auditor-general acted in strict conformity with the law in the matter, and was justified in reporting the transaction to the House. The committee, amongst its recommendations, suggested that the vote for working railways should either be increased or the amount available from unauthorised expenditure for working railways should be increased by £50,000. Mr G-. HUTCHISON complained of the fact that, as the evidence had not been circulated, ib was impossible to dkcuss the report. Mr MONTGOMERY pointed out that the report of the committee did not refer to the fact that the Audit department had been kept in the dark as to the reasons for the transactions. The result of the investigation had been that they now knew that the surplus had been increased by £51,000 by the transfers of stores.
The PREMIER said that as the report stated that the Government was justified in the course they took, and that tha Auditorgeneral had been justified in his action, the Opposition could not contend that the committee had condemned the Government. No Government had ever received such an exoneration from a committee as the Government had received from this committee. The value of the report was enhanced by the fact that it was practically a unanimous one, and not arrived at by a Government majority. The transaction had not been done for the purpose of increasing the surplus, and had not had that effect ; but the position was that if £50,000 unauthorised had been available and had been spent, then the surplus .would have been increased by £30,000. He 'denied that the Auditor-general was ignorant of the reason for the transaction, as he knew what would happen by his refusal to unlock £50,000 of unauthorised expenditure. fUnder extraordinary circumstances the Government had adopted the best course in the interests of the colony, and therß had not been a Treasurer since 1882 who had not done exactly the same thing. Mr DUTHIE considered that on the whole the report was a very good one, but he cusagreed with the recommendation suggesting an increase of the statutory limitation of the unauthorised expenditure of this vote, i The Hon. Mr CADMAN said the abnormal increase of the railway traffio had resulted in the vote for working railways being abBorbed before the end of the financial year, and when assistance was looked to from the •unauthorised expenditure to the extent of £100,000, it was found that the Auditor-gene-ral would only allow £50,000t0 be used. Ho found himself in' the position of having plenty of money in one hand and none in the other, and had simply taken from one to increase the other. As an amendment to tho report he moved that an inquiry be made into tho efficiency of the Audit department.
The SPEAKER ruled that the amendment was irrelevant to the Bubject of the report. Mr MEREDITH moved and Mr J. HUTCHESON seconded the adjournment of tho debate. This was withdrawn after a brief discussion, and the further debate on the report was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.
EVENING SITTING.
The House resumed at 7.30. The PREMIER gave notice that consideration of the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the transfer of votes be resumed to-morrow.
PREFERENTIAL DUTIES. With reference to the motion proposing preferential duties in respect to British manufactured goods, the PREMIER said that he did not intend to move it this session. During the receas members could consider the proposals, which would be discussed in tho press, and next session the House would be ■vi a position to do full justice to them.
GENERAL,
On the motion of the PREMIER it was agreed to ask for a conference with the Council on tho Wages Protection Bill. On the motion of the Hon. J. M'KENZIE certain, lands were permanently set aside as endowments for primary education. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE moved that the amendments made by the Council in the Stock Act Amendment Bill be agreed to. Objection was taken by several members to the new clause put in by tho Council providing that some particular brands shall bo deomod to be brands under the original act. Tho Hon. J. M'KENZIE said he. was unaware what member of the Upper House had moved the clause, but he saw no reason v/hy tho clauiw ahould not remain in. He understood it rojerrod to a chemical brand. Tho motion waa atrreed to. M«f»r» Koddon, Cadman, and Carnrross were appoinlod lo confer with tho Council respecting the amendment* mado in tho Mining Bill •winch were objected to by tho^me. On Ihe motion of tho Hon. J. M'KENZIE, and without debato, tho report and evidence on tho purchase of the Otahu estate was ordered to be printed. of New South Wales withdrawing the subsidy to the Vancouver sorvico it had been found imuos&iblo to do so. With respect to
THE MAIL SERVICES.
The PREMIER moved in Committee of the Whole his motion for the renewal of the San Francisco and Vancouver mail services. He said he had hoped that the proposals would have been for a series of years instead of one year, but on account of the poesibility the 'Frisco service, it was intended to make bettor arrangements for the speedier distribution of the southern portion of the mail. Mr SMITH suggested that in order to lessen the cost to the Vancouver steamers the port charges at Wellington should be remitted.
The Hon. Mr WARD said it was satisfactory that the contracts were not to be renewed for any lengthy period, as there were indications that a very much better service than tho present ones would be established across the Pacific.
Captain RUSSELL, in objecting to renewing the contracts for a lengthy period, pointed out that improvements in steam machinery were being made every year, and it was to the interests of the colony to have the most rapid services. Mr DUTHIE said greater, permanency than an extension from year to year was necessary before shipowners would feel justified m investing in better class sleam&rs. Iv the course of further debate the PREMIER said he believed it would have been better if New Zealand had increased the subsidy at present paid to the San Francisco service by £10,000, in order to have the terminal port in the colony instead of m New South Wales, as this colony had lost the Island trade by permitting Sydney being made the terminal port. After further debate, the resolutions were agreed to, reported to the House, and passed.
SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. By 42 to 13 the amendments by the Governor to the Shearers' Accommodation Bill were amended to provide that the act is not to apply to sheds where only six shearers are employed, or in cases where shearers live at ordinary residence.
EDUCATION ENDOWMENTS. The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Porirua School Grants Bill, which, he said, was a suspensory measure in connection with certain school trusts*. Mr ROLLESTON objected to interference with these trusts. Mr PIRANI considered a suspensory measure was one of the first steps towards hanging the matter up indefinitely. After further unfavourable debate; and on tbo motion of Mr HEKitIES, the debate was adjourned.
SEPARATE INSTITUTIONS.
The Hon. Mr HALL- JONES moved the second reading of the Separate Institutions Bill, dealing with the election of trustees to the Waimate Hospital, and amending the law with respect to separate institutions. Saveral speakers objected to such an important measure at the present stage of the session. _
Mr LEWIS pointed out that the Premier and Minister for Education, in reply to a deputation wJiich waited on them last session, had expressed the opinion that separate institiitions should be abolished. The second reading was agreed to. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL.
Some objection was taken to the introduction of the Public Revenues Act Amendment. The bill is to give effect to the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee with reference to the transfers of votes, but ultimately the bill was introduced and read a first time.
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE.
The PREMIER gave notice to move resolutions respecting the control of the officers of the House.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
With reference to the Technical Education Bill, the PREMIER, in drawing the attention of Members to the proposed new clauses of the bill, said that if no 3trong objection wa3 offered to the bill he intended placing a sum on the Supplementary Estimates to replace the vote struck off the Public Works Estimates.
CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.
Thero seems every likelihood that Mr M'Nab, the member for Malaura, will join the Ministry during the recess, probably as Minister for Justice and Defence, in place of the Hon. Mr Thompson, who will resign his portfolios. Mr M'Nab, being a lawyer and somewhat of an authority on defence matters through his long connection with volunteering, it is most likely that if he is taken into the Ministry he will step into Mr Thompson's shoes. The Hon. John M'Kenzio has been advancing Mr Ward's claims to be again taken into the Ministry, and it is stated that Mr M'Nab haa informed Mr Seddon that he will join his Ministry if Mr Ward is to be included in it. Unless something intervenes, it is pretty certain that _Mr M'Nab will bo included in the Ministry either as Minister for Justice and Defence or At-torney-general. Ho is dissolving his partnership with Mr Watson in Invercargill with the intention of devoting himself more fully to politics.
THE MAIL SERVICES,
The Extension of Commerce Committee's report on tho San Francisco and Vancouver mail services has been laid on the table. They find that delays in delivery have been duo in some part to dilatoriness, but chiefly to two tidal harbours and the Manukau bar. To enable an opportunity for a reply to inward correspondence as far south as Invercargill would necessitate an interval belweeu arrival and departure of eight days at Auckland instead of four, as at present; and this could only be attained by steamers making the passage in 17 days, as against 19 under the present contract. The committee recommend that negotiations be entered into with a view to a contract for 3even yeai'3, so as to induce steamship owners to procure the class of vessels necessary to permit of a smarter service being provided. In the event of the csssa,tion of the Vancouver service, a not improbable event, five steamers instead of six, as at present, on the dual routes would suffice, by the arrival of the Invercargill mail at Dunedin overnight and its despatch so that a steamer might leave Lyttelton by 5 or 5.30 p.m., reach "Wellington at 8 a.m., and arrive at Auckland the following morning. A return southward connection on the same lines is equally desirable. By the arrival of every alternate steamer at Wellington as the first port of call 12 hours would bo saved both inwards and outwards, although Auckland would be placed at a disadvantage; butas by far the larger portion of tho population would, benefit, the committee recommends this course for such alternate service!
BELLAMY'S.
The Joint House Committee have found that the conduct of Bellamy's is not satisfactory, and they make a long series of resolutions bearing upon the matter. During recesa no liquors are to be sold from Bellamy's to any person whomsoever, and the custodian is to be instructed, to use every endeavour to have all accounts due to Bellamy's paid at an early date, and that every member whose account shall nob hava been paid at
the conclusion of the session shall not be admitted until it is paid. It is understood that certain members' accounts at Bellamy's are pretty high, and this decision is regarded as a prohibition order against them.
THE QUESTION OF PRIMAGE
The Extension of Commerce Committee has reported on the question of primage and charges of agents on wool and produce — ■ "That ib is desirable that all payments to an agent in respect of the shipment of his produce should be disclosed to the producer; that the interests of the producer in securing reasonable freights cannot be conserved so long as agents have a proportionate and beneficiary interest in the payments of shipping companies ; that the condition imposed on agents that they rcusfc not return primage to the producer is an unfair and uareasonable restriction. The committee has no recommendation to make in respect to legislation." Mr Duthie defended the system of rebate commissions as quite legitimate, and contended that the shipper did nob in any way suffer by it. He took up the cudgels on behalf of the much-maligned shipping companies. He pointed out that the Now Zealand • Shipping Company's shares had been written down, and though he did not want to question the Aalue of their property, ho doubled if their steamers had been written clown to the extent they should have been written down. However, if the company had only been paying 4- per cent, they conld not have been charging undue freights. Mr Pharazyn had secured lo.ver freights simply because he had got Norwegian vessels, not vessels trading under the British flag. Mr Buchanan warmly replied to Mr Duthie's arguments. Ho said that in Sydney in 18S5 the freights were 10s 6d per bale lower by steamers and 7s per bale lower by sailers than they were from New Zealand. In the same year the freight on preserved meats from New Zealand was 35s per ton and from Sydney 12s 6d to 15s per ton. Similarly, tallow in New Zealand was 35s to 40s, while in Sydney it was 12s 6d to 27s 6d. By what means, he asked, had this differential rate been kept up. Simply by the payment of £2600 to the co-operative companies to secure the shipping companies from outside competition — £1600 in a lump sum and 5 percent, on the freight. In addition he maintained that last year £100,000 had been saved to the colony in freights as compared with the rates paid before, and that the Freights Reduction Committee was largely responsible for that. He added that other than the Now Zealand Shipping Company had been earning more than 4- per cent, and building new ships out of their profits. Mr Duthie: "What company is that?" Mr Buchanan: "The Shire line." After some further discussion, the debate was adjourned. TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND D - NOMINATIONALISM.
The feature of the discussion on the Public Works Estimates was the result in regard to the vote for techiicitl education. When the matter was under discussion members ooukl get no assurance that the money was not to be used in part for denominational schools. After some considerable discussion Mr Taylor suggested that the way out of the difficulty was to strike out the vote and bring it down again on the Supplementary Estimates after the Technical Schcols Bill had been disposed of. The Premier: "Strike it out, then." Members piesped for a straight-out answer on the denominational question, but failed to get it, and the Premier at last, in answer to Mr Montgomery, said : ' I don't know what the deuca you are driving at." Eventually the vote of £25,000 for technical schools was struck out by 20 votes to 19. Probably no one was more annoyed than himself when he found that his own vote had struck the item out.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION BILL.
Now clauses in connection with the Technical Education Bill were circulated to-night. Some of the principal provisions are:'— "A class for manual instruction" shall b& interpreted aa including any class for instruction in praclioal domestic economy, or in wood work or metal work, or in the processes of agriculture. "Practical domestic economy " includes cooking, laundry work, and any other household work that may at any time be recognised by Order-in-Couneil as coming within the meaning of "practical domestic economy." In section 5 of the principal act under tho term " Classes for technical instruction " may be included any class for instruction in any subject defined as a subject either in tho directory of the South Kensington science and art department or in the pro:jramme of the City and Guilds of London Institute. Any education board may establish and sanction a continuation class in any subject commonly taught in primary schools, or in secondary schools, or m bookkeeping, or in shorthand, and payments may be made by tho Treasury on account oi continuation classes in the same way and under the same conditions as are specified with respect to olassed for technical instruction. The Treasury may also, for the purpose of erecting school buildingd or purchasing apparatus and appliances for technical or manual instruction, pay to any education board by way of subsidy or otherwise such sums as are appropriated by Parliament for tho purpose, and as in each instance the merits of the cast) demand. Any local authority may from time to time out of its general funds contribute such sum as it thinks fit to any education board for the purpose of encouraging technical or ironual instruction, anything in any act to the contraiy notwithstanding. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.
The Arbitration and Conciliation Bill was crreatly amended in accordance with the recommendations of the Labour Bills Committee. The mo3t important alteration made was the excision of a clause, which, if adopted, would have forced employers to give preferential employment to unionists. A new clause was inserted enacting that the Arbitration Court should not have power in any award to declare that members of unions should be employed in preference to non-unionists. The latter decision was considered necessary in. view of certain recent decisions in the South Island by Justices Williams and Edwards. It is not likely the bill will become law this session.
JOTTINGS.
The Extension of Commerce Committee recommend that the bonus for a satisfactory flax dressing process be increased to £5000. Complaints are made in regard to the management by the Lands department of the Hermitage, Mount Cook. The glacier huts have not yet been provisioned, and though an expensive Alpine equipment haa been purchased in London and sent up to the Hermitage, there is no guide yet appointed. This is unfortunate, as already a party of English tourists have gone up to Mount Cook, and there is no one to guide them or show them over the glaciers, let alone to assist them in climbing. It is a thousand pities that the Government are so negligent of this valuable asset. Mr Pirani h.aa given notice to ask the Pre-
mier why a sum of £103 was paid to a Christchurch school of typewriting and shorthand as a subsidy for a technical school, and if it is considered that such schools are entitled to subsidies, will the Government deal in the same manner with similar schools in other parts of the colony? I understand this question will again raise the denominational issue.
In the Legislative Council on Friday a number of private measures were passed. The Master and Apprentice Bill was practically thrown out by the carrying of a motion to commit the bill three months hence.
BILLS DEALT WITH,
The Reserves, Endowments, and Crown and Native Lands Exchange, Sale, Disposal, and Enabling Bill was read a second time. In the afternoon it was decided by 17 votes to 10 to agree with tho amendments made by the Government in the Shearers' Accommodation Bill. , , . A number of local bills were passed their final stages.
MASTER AND APPRENTICE.
The Hon. W. C. WALKER moved that the Master and Apprentice Bill be considered in Committee, urging the Council to give it sympathetic treatment even at so late a stage of the session. The measure found support from the Hon. Messrs Twomey and Rigg, was sympathised with by the Hon. Messrs T. Kolly and A. L. Smith, and opposed by the Hon. Messrs MacGregor and M'Lean, the latter moving as an amendment thab the committal be postponed three months. ,„..,,., , On a division, Mr M Lean s amendment was carried by 11 to 8, the bill thus being killed. The voting was as follows: —
For the amendment.— Messrs Richardson, Baillie, Bonar, Barnicoat, Swanson, Jennings, Kenny, Ormond, Oliver, M'Lean, Williams. Against the amendment.— Messrs Harris, T. Kelly, W. Kelly, Rigg, Tomoana, A. L. Smith, Bolt, W. C. "Walker.
AMENDMENTS BY THE HOUSE. It was decided by 13 to 9 to agree to the alterations made by the House of Representatives in the Juries Act Amendment Bill, and also in the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill.
The House of Representatives was occupied throughout nearly the whole of Friday afternoon and evening in a discussion on the allegations made by the member for Patea against the Premier. The committee reported exonerating tho Premier and his dead relative. The Minister for Lands then moved that the allegations in Mr Hutchison's speech should be struck out of the bound volumes of Hansard, and after a somewhat acrimonious debate the motion was adopted. The debate on the second reading of the Public Revenues Eill was proceeding at 2 o'clock this morning. As the Supplementary Estimates and the Appropriation Bills have to be passed, there is some doubt whether the business will bo got through to-day.
REPORTS.
The report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of A. Crossey, licensee of the Ranfurly Hotel, Wellington, # who asked for redress on the grounds_ of injury to his business through undue police surveillance, was brought up by Mr Joyce. It was to the effect that Crossey be allowed to withdraw his petition as requested by him.— Mr JOYCE read a letter which Inspector^ Tunbridge had sent to the committee, in which he justified the steps he had taken for police supervision of the Ranfurly Hotel during prohibited hours, and said his actions were quite warranted by circumstances. — The report, with the letter, was ordered to be printed. The Public Petitions Committee reported that they had no recommendation to make on the petition of E. J. Riddiford, of Lower Hutt, who asked for compensation for expenses he had incurred in disputing the valuation of the Government valuer. — A short debate ensued, in which the Hon. J. M'KENZIE defended the officer whose valuation had been objected to. — Mr xuUN£ moved as an amendment — " That this House is of opinion that the evidence given before the committee shows reckless and oppressive action on the part of the supervising valuer (Mr Kennedy Macdonald), and, in disapproval of his methods, recommends tha petitioner's claim to the consideration of the Government." — The debate was adjourned.
QUESTIONS.
In reply to a question, The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON (Premier) stated that he would not place on the Supplementary Estimates the £25,000 vote for technical education which was struck off the Public Works Estimates. The fact of its being struck off gave him £25,000 extra for roads and bridges and other works.
In answer to another query, The PREMIER said the position with regard to tlie payment of the pension in connection with the New Zealand Cross awarded to Mr H. Wrigg had not, so far as the Government were concerned, been prejudiced owing to the report of tho Petitions Classification Committee on the question not being brought down this session. He did not know what power they had to suspend the payment, but he would look into the matter.
THE CHARGES AGAINST THE
PREMIER.
Mr SLIGO brought up the report of tho Member for Patea Allegations Committee. It was to the effect that the committee had found no evidence as to the alleged overpayments by the Kumara Borough Council to Mr Nathaniel Seddon in 1382, while, in regard to the allegations under the same head against Mr R. J. Seddon, the committee is of opinion that on the evidence Mr George Hutchison is in error in saying that the Premier had been tho person who had drawn the moneys over-paid. The further charge that Mr R. J. Seddon was once connected with Chinese in a partnership on the West Coast, and was known amongst them as Bun Tuck, failed. It was as mining advocate he •was employed by the Chinese, and the existence of a Chinaman at the period named of the name of Bun Tuck was established. The report says, in conclusion: — "In reference to the document read to the House by the member for Patea, the evidence leads to the conclusion that the original was written in English, and that the member for Patea procured the translation of the document into Chinese, a clerk having taken the original in English to a Chinese place of business in Wellington and had it; translated into Chinese. The names in the document are not, so far as could be ascertained, the names of individuals connected with the party of Chinese alluded, to, with the exception that one of tho Chinese was named Bung (not Bun) Tuck. It is right to «tate that Mr Seddon himself admits that the fact of his name appearing as it does in the transfer was not unlikely to lead to misapprehension." Mr SLKtO moved to lay the report on the table, and that it be printed. — Thi3 was agreed to. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE moved to the
effect that ihe allegations of the ..lember iuf> Patea made against the Premier De expunged from the House volumes of Hansard, andalso all subsequent references to the allegations* He thought that after the report of the committee no objection could be raised to this.
Captain RUSSELL said it was with extreme pleasure he had heard that the Premier was exonerated from the charges made, but he could not see his way to agree to interfere with Hansard. He could not see that such a course would do any good. No doubt the allegations were injudiciously made, and Mr Hutchison himself was probably now sorry he had made them.
Mr M'NAB considered it would be a mistake to strike out anything, seeing that the charges made had, in the unanimous opinion of the members of the committee, been disproved. Moreover, if agreed to, it would only affect the bound volumes of Hansard, and the unbound copies would still contain the charges in full.
Mr FISHER differed with the last speaker. If the charges appeared in the bound volumes of Hansard they were on record, and could be quoted for all time by unscrupulous persons who chose to make use of them. Mr SCOBIE MACKENZIE pointed out that Hansard was a record of what was said in the House,and the charges having once been uttered, must remain on record. This was the positon he took up. Was it right that this one special thing should be selected to be expunged when much more objectionable things were left on record for all time ?
The debate Avas interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.
The business on the Order Paper was postponed in order to permit of the resumption of the debate on the Hon. J. M'Kenzie'a motion to expunge the member for Patea, 1 s allegations against the Premier from the bound copies of Hansard. Mr SCOBIE MACKENZIE, continuing his remarks, said rather than expunge the allegations from Hansard, it would be bettor for those who sympathise^ with the Premier — and he was one of them in this instance — to take some other means of nullifying the effect of the member for Pataa's accusations.'
The Hon. Mr WARD said there was nothing improper in llr Seddon having had business relations with Chinese in the ordinary course of his business as a mining advocate. A similar charge might be levelled against any legal gentleman. He asserted that on every point the committee had been unanimous in removing a most undeserved stigma from the Premier, and upon that ground he urged that all reference to the allegations should be excised from the records of Hansard. The House, hs was sure, would not tolerate this attempt to bespatter the reputation of the Premier ami his family merely for the sake of party politics. He reviewed some of the^ evidence given before tho committee, and pointed to it as aompletely exonerating the Premier from the base charges hurled against him — charges which, if they had been true, must have necessitated Mr Seddon's permanent retirement from public life. Common sense showed that if there had been anything whatever in the charges Mr Seddon would have been confronted with them long before they were formulated by Mr Hutchison. In fact, they would have been made use of every time Mr Seddon took part in an election on tho West Coast during the last 16 years. Mr DUTHIE thought nothing better could have been devised to clear the Premier in the eyes of the people of the colony than the report the committee had brought down to the House. The matter should have been allowed to rest there, for he was sure no good could result from the acrimonious debate which had arisen. At the same time he must defend the member for Patea against the misrepresentations of members on the Government side of the House. As the Minister for Lands would not withdraw his motion, he proceeded to review the whole matter at some length, with the object of showing that Mr Hutchison had good grounds for assuming that the charges ha m*do against Mr Seddon had some solid foundation. He thought it questionable whether Mr Hutchison should have made the charges, but he must admit there was some colour for them. The report was a fair attempt to clear the Premier from what was a gross blunder on the part of the member for Patea, but, for the reasons he had advanced, he contended that tho allegations should not be expunged from Hansard. The PREMIER said there was no generosity in the speech of the last speaker, who had endeavoured to create a suspicion in the minds of whoever might read his speech. Mr Duthie admitted an error had been committed in muking the charges, and he (Mr Seddon) therefore asked why should the record remain for all time for anyone to use who came after him? The morning after Mr Hutchison had mado those serious charges that gentleman went to the printing office and struck out on his own motion the very paragraphs that the House was now asked to strike out. He then wrote to tho Hansard superintendent stating what "he had done, and telling him to see the Premier. His (Mr Seddon's) reply was that he would be no party to the deletion, fearing he might be accused of doing so because it was correct, and he, therefore, left it to Mr Hutchison himself. Later on another altercation took place, and the member for Patea, then told the Hansard superintendent to allow the paragraphs to remain in the report of his speech. Mr Seddon went on to say that unless the charges were expunged from the records they would remain for all time as a. reflection not only on himself, but on the colony of which he had been Prime Minister for six years. The charges having been disproved, they should be removed from the Blue Books, as evil-disposed persons might quote them on the public platforms, and ho would have no redress. He showed in detail how the report was borne out by the evidence, and ho regretted that he had practically again to defend himself from a repeated attack by the hon. member for Wellington. Mr GUINNESS contended that the imputation cast by Mr Duthie was unfair, and baser than that made by Mr Hutchison. Ho spoke strongly in favour of the motion, and said, as a, result of the investigations of tho committee the Premier stood without the slightest blemish upon his character. Mr SLIGO pointed out that the committee had dealt with the charges free from party bias, and honestly. The proposal of the Minister for Lands to delete the charges from Hansard savoured of folly, while the report of the committee and the debate on it remained on record. The Premier might well have been content with the report. Mr PIRANI said no good would be done by taking the course proposed by the Government. > Mr GEORGE HUTCHISON hoped tho Government would yet see that the eourte they were pursuing was neither judicial nor fair. After hearing the report and considering the matter, he was prepared to take a certain course, which be hoped would have ended it. He was prepared to give up much to relieve the Premier from the charges made against him, but no such opportunity was afforded him. The more the Ministry tried to rub out his previous speech, the more they would rub it m. He wished to say that his original charges were aot directed against the private, but
against the public, character of the Premier. The report, it must be remembered, was based upon an ex parte case, and he refused to appear, because he objected to the constitution of the committee. The evidence he had seen was ludicrously one-sided. The whole thing had been left to the Premier, and he asked ■whether that could be considered fair. (Mr 'Seddon: I would rather you had been there.) ■Still as far as he could see, the committee could have arrived at no other conclusion. He had never intended to reflect upon the Premier's dead relatives. He had wished to delete from his speech the reference to that matter, but before that was done the Premier made a violent attack upon some of those associated with him, and he (Mr Hiitchison) then said it was vain to think of taking anything out. Mr ALLEN moved as an amendment that all the volumes of Hansard containing the speech of the hon. member for Patea in tho financial debate on the 23rd August last to be hereafter issued should contain an inset after the said speech bearing the words : — " For report of the committee in reference to the allegations by the hon. member for Patea against Mr Seddon see page — of the appendix to the Journals of the House. Captain RUSSELL supported the amendment, and urged that there was no precedent for the course suggested by the Minister for Lands. , On a division the amendment was negatived by 32 to 21. Mr ROLLESTON said there seemed to be adeßire on the part of the Minister for Lands to punish Mr Hutchison without consideration of the circumstances. It would bo a sorry thing if Mr Hutchison were to be jumped upon and a mark set against him m the records of the colony. nk _ nfVKT . Messrs MASSEY and CARSON spoke against Mr M'Kenzie's motion. The Hon. J. M'KENZIE, in the course of hie reply, said as long as he was a member of the House he would not allow any of his colleagues to be attacked without coming to their defence. He declared that no man with any spirit could have accepted the suggestion of Mr Duthie and withdrawn the motion. He regretted the personalities which had been introduced into the debate, but he had been in no way to blame for them. The Government members on the Allegations Committee had acted fairly throughout the inquiry, and he said this without the slightest fear of contradiction. The whole thing was nothing more nor less than a conspiracy against the character of the Premier, and if the matter were taken to the courts of law Mr Seddon would be entitled to recover heavy damages from those who were respon, -sible for making the charges. He deeply regretted his colleague had been so assailed, and he would not consider himself worthy of a seat on the Treasury benches if he had not taken up the position he had done. On a division at 1.15 a.m., Mr M'Kenzie's motion was carried by 35 to 21. The PREMIER moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill, which he explained was necessary partly in order to extend the currency of Treasury bills which expired on the 31st March next, and partly to remove some other difficulties that existed. Clause 6 of the bill dealt with the railway accounts, and allowed an .expenditure above the appropriation to the extent of the excess of revenue over the estimate.
The second reading of the Public Revenues Acts Amendment Bill was carried on the voices, after a short debate.
In Committee on the bill, clause 5, which was designed to allow the temporary application of the balance of one fund to the use of another fund, was struck out, on the Pre1 " •
mier s motion. The bill was then put through its final stage 3. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.
The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON moved the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, which iiad already passed the Legislative Council. He said the bill was necessary, in the interests alike of employers and employed, to prevent the benefits already derived from the act being nullified.
After a brief debate the motion was agreed
to. In Committee on the bill, clause 4, " court may not give preference of employment nor fix the age for apprenticeship," was struck out by 26 to 14.
Tho bill was subsequently put through its final stages.
CANTERBURY COLLEGE,
The Canterbury College Powers Bill passed all stages. CONTROL OF THE OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE.
On the motion of the PREMIER, it was decided that the Government should continue to be responsible for the Legislative Estimates, and that clerks and other officers of the House of Representatives should be appointed by the Executive, on the recommendation of the Speaker, who should have control over them.
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.
The Supplementary Estimates were laid on the table.
MASTER AND APPRENTICE BILL.
The Legislative Council has killed the Master and Apprentice Bill. The motion to commit the bill was lost by three votes. One of the most prominent opponents of the measure was a member closely identified with the Labour movement — viz., Mr Jennings, of Auckland. He recognised that the effect of the measure if passed into law would be to revolutionise the industrial life of the colony. He therefore refused to take the responsibility of its adoption while such disastrous consequences were'a possibility. As a matter of fact, the whole debate was remarkable for an entire absence of arguments in favour of the bill, the Minister for Education merely repeating another of his uncalled-for attacks on the Labour Bills Committee, for which piece of bad taste he received a somewhat severe castigation from the Hon. W. Downie Stewart.
CABINET RECONSTRUCTION.
There are still lobby rumours that either Mr Carncross or Mr M'Nab will be taken into the Cabinet during the recess. Mr M'Nab, however, denies all knowledge of the matter. In a memo, received from him last night after my telegram was despatched, he says: — "I know absolutely nothing about it. Have never been approached, or had it suggested to me. My connection has been limited to the ' chaff ' of hon. members." The names of Mr Hogg and Mr Graham are still mentioned as likely Ministers. THE NEW MEMBER FOR TUAPEKA.
Mr Rawlins arrived this afternoon, and was welcomed by the Opposition in tho evening. He has created an excellent impression, and is regarded as a valuable acquisition to the Opposition ranks. As the writ has not yet been returned he could not take his seat in the House, but occupied a seat on the left of the Speaker, and appeared to take a keen interest in the proceedings. Before he had been half an hour in the building he was Bloseted with the Minister far Mines on. buei-
ness relating to his district. He seems to have a -wonderful memory, and is a good speaker.
JOTTINGS.
This evening Mr Massey, the senior Or^osipion Whip, was presented with a purse of sovereigns from the party, with which to procure a testimonial in recognition of his very valuable services this session. _ Mr C. Lewis, the junior Whip, was the recipient of a solid silver cigar and cigarette box of very handsome design.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5.
The parliamentary session came to a close on Saturday night, or ralher very early on Sunday morning. An agreement was arrived at between the two Houses over the amendments by the Council in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, which is now in operation. The House of Representatives has sat on 80 days, and the daily average of the sittings has been 9 hours 48 minutes. The House sat for 569 hours_ before midnight and 214 hours after midnight. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.
It was decided, by 12 to 6, to insist on the retention of clause 4- in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, struck out by the liower House, which provided that the court shall not have power to direct that unionists shall have preference of employment or to limit the term of apprenticeship.
BILLS PASSED.
The Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill passed through its final stages without debate.
The Reserves Endowments and Crown and Native Lands Exchange Disposal and Enabling Bill was read a third time and passed.
The Council adjourned at 3.45 till 7.30. The Council resumed at 7.30. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION,
It was announced that tho conference with the Lower House on clause 4- of the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill had been abortive, and a second conference was arranged, the result ultimately being that a decision was arrived at not to insist on the portion having reference to preferential employment of unionists.
APPROPRIATION BILL
The Appropriation Bill was received from the other Chamber, and put through its final stages.
The House met at 2.30 p.m., and went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES.
Class 2, Colonial Secretary's Office £4116, item. £50, expenses connected with Residency at Rarotonga. — Mr PIRANI mo-ved to reduce the amount by £1. — Lost by 40 to 8, and the item retained.
In class 10, inspection of vineyards and treatment and eradication of phylloxera, £800, Mr PIRANI asked whether any portion of the amount was intended to be devoted to the compensation of the unfortunate persons who had suffered by the destruction of their vineyards. — The Hon. J. M'EENZIE replied in the negative. The vote was for the purpose of the inspection and eradication of diseases in vineyards and orchards.
After adjourning from 6 to 7.30, consideration of the Unauthorised Expenditure account was proceeded with. — A question was asked why provision was not made for the payment of Sir Walter Buller' s costs in the Horowhenua case.— The PREMIER said as far as he understood the matter Sir W. Buller's costs had been before a committee, and the report was that they had no recommendation to make, but that report had nut been brought down when the Supplementary Estimates were being prepared. There was doubt as to whether some of the costs incurred, and which were now claimed, had not been already secured, and they had to await developments. — Several members urged that Sir W. Buller's costs should be satisfied, and a long discussion ensued, in the course of which the PREMIER said no wrong whatever had been done to Sir W. Buller, who would be wise if he now let the matter rest.
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. Consideration of the Supplementary Estimates was interrupted by a message from the Governor intimating that a conference of managers from both Houses would be held on the Legislative Council's amendments in the -Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.
Upon the committee resuming, the Premier announced that the conference had been unable to arrive at any agreement. He said the responsibility for the loss of the bill must rest on the Council, and that Chamber would be to blame for the inability of the Arbitration Court to enforce its awards. THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. Upon consideration of the Supplementary Estimates being resumed, a further debate took place upon the question of the costs in the Horowhenua block case. Eventually the vote for unauthorised expenditure was passed unaltered, and the remaining items on the Estimates were agreed to without amendment.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The PREMIER, in moving the second reading_ of the Appropriation Bill, briefly explained its new features. He said clause 13, which provides that money appropriated for roads, etc., should include the purchase of tools, etc., was framed so as to meet the Audit Office requirements. Clause 17 gave power to transfer £425,000 from the consolidated fund to the public works fund, of which sum £25,000 was to be applied for defenoe services, £25,000 for the additional requirements of lunatic asylums, and £25,000 for new Parliamentary Buildings. Clause 19 appropriated £1000 for re-furnishing Government House at Auckland, and £450 for partly re-furnishing Government House at Wellington. The law was so stringent that the Au-ditor-general would not pass this expenditure unless this clause were inserted in the Appropriation Bill.
The second reading was agreed to,
In Committee on the bill, Mr ROLLESTON protested against clause 13, which he said was designed to exempt the Government from the provisiens of an act which should be universally observed— namely, the Truck Act.— The PREMIER explained that it was necessary to make this provision for supplying Government workmen with tools, otherwise, in out-of-the-way districts, the men would have to pay such prices for their stores as would prevent them earning much more than their food. — The bill passed through Committee without amendment.
REVIEW OF THE SESSION.
On the motion (at 11.40 p.m.) for the third reading of the Appropriation Bill, Captain RUSSELL said he regretted want of time prevented his carrying out the timehonoured custom of fully reviewing the work of the session. He deplored the bitter personal attacks that had been resorted to during the session, and regretted the great waste of time that had resulted from this cause. He would take care during tho recess to let the cQuntrje know, the pin?, of the Groverameut*.
The PREMIER also spoke briefly, and said that so far from the session having been a barren one, it had been one of the most memorable in the history _ of the colony, and many measures of vital importance to the people of the colony had been placed on the Statute Book. He expressed his great pleasure at the passing of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, by which the awards of the Arbitration Court could now be enforced.
The bill then passed its final stages. It was a few minutes after midnight when it was returned from the Council. The Speaker then took it to Government House for signature, and finally it was 1.5 a.m. before the House rose, and the session ended. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.
A message was read from the Legislative Council asking for another conference on the subject of the Council's amendments in the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. This was granted, and as a result of the conference, the PREMIER announced that an agreement had been arrived at by which that portion of the clause stating that unionists shall not have preference was struck out.— The report of the conference was adopted unanimously. CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.
Tho Arbitration and Conciliation Bill passed with amendments. At 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, Mr Speaker announced that the Legislative Council had refused to accept the amendments mado in the Arbitration and Conciliation Bill by the Lower House. The position may be summed up as follows: — The main act is said to be "an act -to encourage the formation of unions." It Avas upon these words that Judge Williams based his first judgment giving preferential employment- to unionists. The amending bill introduced by the Government into the Council contained a provision that it should be lawful for a court to order preferential employment to unionists. The Council struck this, out, and inserted a clau&e that it should not bo lawful to do so, together with another clause which struck out the words " to encourage the formation of unions " from the title of the main act. After a prolonged discussion in the House, followed by a conference between Messrs Millar, J. Hxitcheson, Allen, and Lewis, a coinpromiFS was arrived at under which the words mentioned were struck out of the title of the main act, and the clause in the new bill forbidding preferential employment was also struck out, thus leaving the question absolutely at the discretion of the judge, without anything whatever in tho shape of a direction or an indication of opinion on the part of Parliament.
A MISSING PAPER.
The bulky correspondence between the Auditor-general and the Treasury department, in which the former insisted on pro-perly-stamped receipts, in compliance with the law, has gone umissing. It was laid on the table earlier in the session. On Friday Mr Pirani explained that he had been endeavouring to get a sight of the papers for the last six weeks, but had not been able to do so. Within a day or two after it had been laid on the table it was missing. It had never been tiefore the Printing Committee. It Avas an astonishing thing that it should have disappeared from the House altogether. Mr Seddon promised to procure copies of the correspondence, which the House then resolved should be printed.
MINING RENTS.
The Public Accounts Committee has reported on the action of the Audit Office with reference to the Mines department regarding the collection of arrears of rent on mining leases. They find that the Minister has power to remit surcharges, and is of opinion that such surcharges when juade should bo reported to the House. THE PARLIAMENTARY MESSENGERS.
Since the control of the officers of Parlia ment has been taken out of the hands of the Speaker and assumed by the present Government, who, in many instances, have appointed their own friends and political supporters, there have been grave complaints on the part of hon. members. Some of the messenger are very capable and respectable men, but ethers are utceily unfitted for their positions. Ladies who have to pass one of the messenger's rooms on their way to the ladies' gallery havo often had to complain of over-hearing language that is the reverse of parliamentary. The matter, which has become somewhat notorious, was referred to in the House to-day while an item for extra messengers and police during the session was undei discussion in Committee on the Supplementary Estimates. Captain Russell pointedly referred to the want of discipline and soldierly deportment amongst the orderlies, and to the extraordinary increase in the number of messengers, who appeared to be as numerous as the members themselves, and yet members did not appear to be as well, or as courteously served, as in former times. Mr Duthie expressed himself in similar terms, and especially referred to the unseemly frequency with which, throughout the session, messengers had been seen carrying drinks through the lobbies to various parts of the parliamentary premises. The thing really amounted to an abuse, which was not creditable to the social tone or management of the House. In his opinion, drinks should not be served in that free-and-easy style at all, but should be supplied only within certain well-defined portions of the premises. The Premier admitted that there was much in what Mr Duthie said, and he agreed that the matter should be seen to. Later in the day there was an instance both of the incompetency of the messengers and the farcical nature to which the proceedings of our Parliament occasionally descend. While Mr Pirani was speaking on the Horowhenua costs question, a messenger appeared with a handsome bouquet from the Women's Social and Democratic League for Mr Seddon, and two parcels lqosely rolled up in a newspaper for Mr Duthie and Mr Pirani. On being unwrapped the two latter turned out to be cauliflowers, and members and the public in all the galleries laughed so loudly that Mr Pirani had to discontinue his speech. Mr Guinness, who was in the chair, rose with a well-timed rebuke: "I hope," he said, " hon. members will remember that this is the Parliament of New Zealand. I am very much surprised at such conduct, and I regret that the messengers should so far forget their duty." The messenger who took in the bouquet to Mr Seddon and the cauliflowers to Messrs Pirani and Duthie was promptly suspended. He would not say who he got them from. It is known, however, that the boiiquet came from the Women's Social and Political League, of which Mrs Seddon has been president for some years, and it is suspected that some members of this body had a hand in sending the other bouquets. MR TANNER AND THE GERMANS.
A good story ia going the rounds about Mr Tanner and the Germans. Mr Tanner's hat, it appears, was taken or stolen from the Government whip's room, and so far he has been unable to trace it. No one would suspect for a moment that Mr Tanner, the labour unionist and political friend of the working man, would buy anything but a colonial-made hat, or at all events a British , one. Cheap, foreign floods would, nevent jutj
peal to his altruistic nature! Yet it so happens that in this case the main clue to the identification of tho hat is that it was " made in Germany." " I was so wild," explains Mr Tanner, "at having bought anything made in Germany or abroad that I marked out the German stamp when I discovered it, and there is the stain of the ink there yet, so that the hat can easily be identified." THE NEW ZEALAND CROSS AGAIN.
There was a good deal of amusing "fooling" in Committee on the Supplementary Estimates this afternoon. In reference to an item of £100 for a Humane Society of New Zealand, Mr Fisher remarked that if such a society were established here it was extremely likely that there would soon be more medals in the colony than in all the rest of the Empire. Mr R. Thomson suggested that a special society should be founded for the recognition of the heroic efforts occasionally made 'by politicians under exceptional circumstances, and a beginning might be made by awarding meda^ to those public men who had been instrumental in obtaining the New Zealand Cross for Mr Harry Wrigg.
JOTTINGS.
The area of land occupied in the Clutha County by the railway department is, approximately, 1900 acres, and for rabbiting over the area the Railway department has paid for the last three years, respectively, £SO, £80, and £150.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18981110.2.81
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898, Page 25
Word Count
14,933N Z. PARLIAMENT. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4. Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898, Page 25
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