TUESDAY, JULY 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2369, 27 July 1899, Page 27

TUESDAY, JULY 18.

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, after notices and questions had been disposed of, a discussion took place on the subject of new markets for New Zealand produce, with special reference to South Africa. The interrupted debate on the question of extending the order of reference to the Public Accounts Committee was resumed and concluded, the committee being appointed without its sphere of usefulness being enlarged. In the evening the Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill was considered in Committee, but not much progress had been made when, the House adjourned. NOTICES. Mr J. W. THOMSON gave notice to ask if the attention of Ministers had been drawn to the decision in the Magistrate's Court at Balclutha, where a boarding-house keeper had been for a first offence fined £30 for sly grogselling, £10 for a second, and £15 for a third, and whether an effort will be made to have a more equitable administration of the law upon the subject. The PREMIER gave notice to introduce the Volunteer and Military Parliamentary Priviliges Bill, the aim being to qualify Lieutenant-colonel Pitt for a seat in the Upper House. MARKETS FOR PRODUCE. Committees were set up to inquire into and report as to the best means of promoting the commerce of the colony, and the sale of the colony's products'in markets other than those at presentobtainable. Messrs SMITH and TAYLOR pointed out that merchants in Canterbury had already, at their own expense, sent an expert to South Africa to report on that market, and that shipments of produce had already been sent there. They contended that the money proposed to be expended in opening that market would be better laid out on roads. It did not require an expert to report on the field. What was required was better communication between the colony and the Cape. Mr DUTHIE referred to the fact that the recommendations of the committee last year had not been acted upon, and that it was no use the committee devoting time to .such matters unless the recommendations were acted upon. The PREMIER said the recommendations of the committee cost money to carry into effect. With regard to greater shipping facilities, he said the Union Steam Ship Co. must supply the demand, or the Government would have to take the matter up. At present New Zealand produce was sent from London to South Africa. An offer haa been made by a company to run steamer 3 direct from New Zealand to South Africa, but no sooner did the company make an offer than the Shaw, Savill and New Zealand Shipping Companies offered to establish direct trade. The companies had not treated New Zealand well; freights from Australia to South Africa being 50 per cont. less than from New Zealand. It was the duty of the Government to opon up new markets for the product* of tlio colony, and ho was surprised that any obstruction should be raised to the efforts of tho Government in the interests of producers. H« did not tbink it wise that the largo volume of the trade of tho colony should b» winfined to three or four shipping com-

panies, and the Government hailed with satis^ faction the advent of a fresh company. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. The interrupted debate on the motion of the Hon. Mr Carroll that the Public Accounts Committee be set up, and the amendment moved thereon by Mr Rolleston extending the order of reference of the committee, was resumed. Mr ALLEN urged that the House should be in possession of more information with respect to the finances of the colony, and to that end the Estimates should be placed before the committee before being brought down to the Houee. Mr THOMSON thought that the present system of dealing with votes for public works was very defective. A Board of Works should be constituted for controlling and directing the expenditure on local public works. Mr M'LEAN objected to the hurried manner in which large sums of money were annually voted for public works. The House divided on the question. The amendment was negatived by 33 to 22, and the committee set up, to which was referred the old-age pension regulations. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. In Committee on the Land for Settlements Acts Amendment Bill. Clause 2, principal act to continue in force till "' the expiration of the fourteenth day after the close of the first session of the next ensuing Parliament." — An amendment was moved by Captain RUSSELL definitely fixing the time for the 31st March, 1900.— The PREMIER said he preferred to extend the time to 1913. — Both amendments were ruled out of order, as being an increase of appropriation. — The clause-was passed with a technical amendment. Clause 3, increasing the amount that may be expended in any one year from £250,000 to £300,000.— Messrs PIRANI, DUTBLIE, and -I 'LEAN complained of the loose way in which the bill was drafted.— Mr SEDDON defended the manner in which bills had been drafted during the pa3t few years. — Captain RUSSELL and Mr PIRANI "contended that as amended the bill did not give power to borrow half a million. — Messrs HUTCHISON and TAYLOR said if it was intended to give power to buy land up to the value of £500,000 the mode of payment should be made more clear.— Mr MONTGOMERY thought that a definite limit of expenditure should be fixed for each year, with accumulations. The amount available this year would be £886,000. Mr TAYLOR thought the 3iouse, arid not the Government, should have control of the unexpended balances. Under the present system the Government might have a million of money to expend under the bill. Mr OROWTHER considered that half a million was quite enough to expend per annum in the speculative manner provided in the bill. — Mr I) DTHIE agreed that the Government should be kept to a limit of £500,000. —Mr i 1 AY LOR moved an amendment preventing the Government spending arrears of accumulations after March, 1900. The PREMIER pointed out that if the amendment was carried the Government would not be able to carry out the engagements partly entered into for the acquisition of certain lands. — The amendment was withdrawn, and the clause passed. Clause 4, provisions applied when an assessor resigns or refuses to act" — Captain RUSSELL demurred to this clause. It was rumoured, whether correctly or not he could not say, that the Government wished by the clause bo supersede one of the assessors in the Hatuma estate, who placed a much higher value on the property, which the Government wished to acquire, than they considered it was worth. — He objected to the clause being retrospective.— The PREMIER said there was no law whereby an assessor could be forced to attend against his will, hence the necessity for appointing a successor. — Mr f 'LEAN had no objection to the Government acquiring an estate so long as a fair price was paid, but there was a growing impression that an attempt was being made to get properties at an unfair value. — Captain RUSSELL said it was of the utmost importance that assessors should act permanently, and that the claube should not be retrospective. He moved an amendment to that effect, which on a division was lost by 32 to 24-. — Captain RUSSELL moved a further amendment to prevent the clause being retrospective. The amendment was lost by 29 to 24.— Mr LEWIS moved an amendment to provide that in case of an assessor becoming incapacitated or refusing to act the case be heard de novo. — The PREMIER opposed this on the ground that it would cause delay in the decisions, and would give rife to serious complications. — Captain KTJSSELL and Mr PIRANI supported the amendment, contending that an assessor, after evidence had been taken, was not in a position to adjudicate on a case. — Mr G. HUTCrtlSON said manifestly the side on which the assessor was appointed would be a disadvantage unless he heard the cays from the beginning. — Mr WAS ON suggested that in case of an assessor resigning without just cause he shall pay all costs incidental to a fresh trial.— The PREMIER asked that the amendment be withdrawn, and he would take tiie advice- of the law ofticer.s on the subject, and see if the clause could be amended without prejudicing the case. — The amendment was withdrawn, and the clause passed. Clause 5, how the amount of compensation payable is to be determined. — Mr G. HUTCHISON moved an amendment to the effect that compensation be paid for the forced sale of chattels and loss of interest while the money is awaiting investment. — Mr MONK contended that something more than the fair market value should be given for land taken compulsorily. He condemned the proposal to force people to part with the land that they had toiled for laboriously and loved beyond the money value. There was plenty land which the Government could use without forcing people to part with what had cost them so much toil.— Captain RUSSELL commented upon the difficulty of defining what the fair market value really meant. If a system could be devised whereby a person dispossessed of his property should not be a loper, he would agree with the proposal. — Mr WASON considered the clause was one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation ever proposed by any Government. TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA. A short but animated debate took place this afternoon on the important question of trade with South Africa. The Premier said he intended to place the matter before the Commerce Committee, so that the question of direct communication with the Cape might bo dealt with at once. He hoped the House would sanction a pound for pound subsidy up to £100 for sending an expert to the Cape, the other pound being found by the merchants. Mr Smith, however, pointed out that the Chrislchurch merchants had already sent an expert to Cape Colony, and other members stated that the mere appointment of an expert would not have any great result. What was wanted was direct steam communication. If the committee reported favourably the Government were prepared to at once take

steps_j;o open up negotiations with a new company direct communication. The House geneTjtlly_j>eemed favourable to > some action, being taken to .. promote trade with South Africa. THE GAME LAWS. The Government appears to be really anxious to amend the game laws this session, but the prospects of the Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill, which is a consolidating measure, and opens up many debatable questions, do not appear to be as bright as its supporters could wish. If this bill cannot be got through an attempt will be made to pass a small amending bill, making a few of the chief alterations in the-law contemplated by the larger measure. Amongst these will probably be the fixing of a date for the opening and closing of. the shooting season for both islands, and a provision that stoats, weasels, and other vermin shall not be deported to the islands off the mainland. RATING ON THE UNIMPROVED VALUE. The Rating on Unimproved Value Bill has been introduced by the Premier to amend ""The Rating on Unimproved Value Act, 1896." It provides that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in " The Rating on Unimproved Value Act, 1896," it is hereby declared that in every case where, under that act, provision is made for submitting any proposal to the votes of the ratepayers in the districts of a local authority, such proposal shall be deemed to be carried if. at the poll taken on such proposal, the number of valid votes recorded in favour of the proposal exceeds the number of valid votes recorded against the same, each ratepayer having one vote. NO AIORE EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT PAYMENT. The Premier's bill to prevent boys or girls being .employed in factories or workrooms without payment has been circulated. The act is to form part of, and be read together with, " The Factories Act, 1894." Every boy or girl under the age of 18 years who is employed in any capacity to do any work' in a factory or workroom shall be entitled to receive from the employer payment for the work at such rate as is agreed on, being in no cashless than 2s 6cl per week irrespective of overtime, and such payment shall be made at such intervals as agreed on, being in no case longer than fortnightly intervals. If the employer makes default fnr 14 days in payment he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 5s for every day thereafter during which such default continues. All proceedings for the recovery of any such penalty shall be taken by any inspector of factories within three months after the due date of the payments, and shall be heard before a stipendiary magistrate, without affecting the other civil remedies for the recovery of money payable under this act. Civil proceedings for the recovery thereof may be taken by any inspector of factories in the name of, and on behalf of, the boy or girl entitled to payment in any case where the inspector is satiii-. fied that default in payment has been made. THE GOLDFIELDS. Mr Rawlins to-day presented a petition digued by 762 miners and others interested in mining in the Otago -district, drawing attention to the serious "disability under which all forms of alluvial mining other than dredging are carried on in the colony owing to the licensees of special alluvial claims being unable to comply with the labour conditions of their licenses. The petitioners slate that :-t: -t is of great importance that as much labour as possible should be employed in the district, but they believe it will be impossible in the case of nearly every special alluvial claim in Otago to advantageously employ the prescribed number of men, so that unless some relief is given lo the licensees the industry cannot live. - At the first meeting of the Goldfields Committee held to-day Mr Carncross was elected chairman. Mr Guinness gave notice that he .would move—"That before entering on the consideration of the regulations made under ' The Mining Act, 1898/ this committee proceed to consider and decide what evidence shall be called before them as to the-opera-tions of working such regulations, with a view to repeal, amend, or adopt the same."