WEDNESDAY, JILY 10.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 28

WEDNESDAY, JILY 10.

In the Legislative Council on Wednesday, after some formal business* the matter of the election of a Chairrnau o£ Committees cams ou. The Hon. W. C. Smith, the Govern-

'neat nominee, was defeated, and r\.' .U..illy the Hon. Mi Uailiie was le elected. Tn the House of Representatives on Wednesday, after =ome debate on the motion that toe balance <-heet of the Bank of >'cw Zealand be punted, it was resolved that till furtl-er no* -co + h -e House meet on two clays in the week at 10.30 a.m. and adjourn not later t! an 10 30 p.m. ! < Questions occupied the remainder of the afternoon sitting. In the evening a number of bill- were road a second time, including Ihe Rabbit NuLance Bill, the Rofcrnj diim Bill, and a bill to amend the Police I Offerees Art. The Workers' Right of Apr peal Bill was thrown out. The Local Bodies' 1 Indemnity Bill was pa-sed through it? final a' ages. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to a ques! ion. lie PRKMTER, stated that the Referendum Bill would supply t'.e machinery 10 enable the elector!: to express thpir opinion on the question of Biblel cading in <-choolfs. Mr Sedc^m said lie wai opposed to the introduction of Bible-ieaclmg in schools. Ministers replied to questions to the fol- | lowing effect: — Lord Roberts has recommended a successor to Colonel Pole Penton as Commandant of the Force*, and an announcement on the subiect will be made to the Hoim next day. Ihe new commandant will not be one of our own men. It was stated that it is unreasonable at Ihis early stage to ask the Government to commit itself -on the question of further reducing the duties on the necessaries of life. Inquiries are being made as to the erection of a r.inatorium at Monnt Egmont. The present system of military drill in. public schools will be continued and extended. A COUNTIES BILL. Mr BUDDO moved the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, to amend section 3 of "The Counties Act Amendment Act, 1899." and to prevent the main act from affecting tJ-e powers or jurisdiction of the South Waimakiriri River Board in respect of the control or maintenance of the Waimakiriri River. Mr Bud do said this bill was simply carrying out the intention of the act of 1899. The second reiding was agreed to on the voices without debate. THE RABBIT NUISANCE. Mr HOGG moved the second leading of the Rabbit Nuisance Act Amerdmeni Bill, to am^nd "The Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1882." He said that since the -principal act was passpd the rabbit nuisance had been very effectively suppressed in various parts of the colony, and there was no longer a necessity for drastic legislation. The whole object of the bill was to biing the act into conformity with the rest of our statutes. It would enable an adjudicating magistrate to weigh. the evidence before him and fulfil his ordinary functions. At the present time if the officer prosecuting was of opinion that his mandate had not been carried out the magistrate was bound to convict, howeveroverwhelming the evidence to the contrary mi<?ht be. The Hon. T. DUNCAN said he had not altered his opinion in regard to this? measure, nnd he still considered it was not required. The law at the present time was working fairly well, and he did not think the member for Masterton could show that any man ha<l been convicted who was not a delinquent. At any rate, he thought the bill should go before the Stock Committee, ard he would be satisfied with the decision of the committee. A long debate followed in which various" aspects of the rabbit nuisance were discus=ed. Nearly all the speakers expressed t! emselves in favour of the bill. The only speeches in opposition to the measure came from the Hon. Mr M'Gowan and Captain Russell, the. latter holding that before repealing the clauses obiected to a bett&r case shou'd be made out by the opponent* of these clauses. Mr HOGG, in repaying, said it would be a mate of effort and time to refei the bill to the Stock Committee. On a division, the second reading was carried by 36 to 10. A motion by the Hon. T. DUNCS.N to refer the bill to the Stock Committee was lo3t on the voices. UNOPPOSED BILLS. T! c Hon. T. DUNCAN moved the second reading of the Cemetery Trustees Valuation Bill, to validate the appointment of certain cemetery trustees was agreed to on the voice.". Thp Land and Live StocV Auctions Bill was read a second time pro forma on the motion of the Hon. T. DUNCAN, and referred to the Stock Committee. BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS. Mr Arnold asked the Government if they will this session introduce a bill or move such resolution as would enable the electors to express their opinion on the Question of Bible-reading in schools. He said the question was becoming more and more pressing, and it should be removed from the political arena. The Premier, in replying, made an attack on the Rev. Dr Elmslie, of Christchurch, in connection with tie remarks recfiitly made by him a? to the evils that resulted because there was no Bible-read-ing in schools. Dr Elmslie had said this was the cause of all the juvenile immorality. A charge had been levelled acrainst the Government stating that they were favouring the Roman Catholics. This was another slander. There had been no • preference shown whatever. He (Mr Seddon) was quite prepared to submit to any committee or any investigation in that respect. Such, statement* as ba.d been made by Dr Elmslioand Bishop Julius were made without the slightest foundation. If the churches were to make such wholesale charges without foundation and without inquiry, it would mean that our people would have to insist on maintaining their privileges, ov we would go back to the dark ages, when the ehuTche* dominated everything aud crime was much greater than it was to day. Personally, h<* believed that without Bible-reading the education of a man or woman was incomplete, but the place for the reading of it was not in the public schools. A RUMOURED INNOVATION". Hitherto the chairmanship of sessional committees had been an honorary post, but I have it on good authority that it is rhe» intention of the Government to place a. sum on the Estimates foi their remuneration. There are about 20 chairmen of such committees. THE ADMIRALTY AND NEW ZEALAND PORTS. Both the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward had a tilt at the British Admiralty in the> House this afternoon. The criticism arose oat of the refusal of the Admiralty iuithori-

ties to allow the Tagus with the fourth contingent on board to proceed to the Blurf. Mr Seddon said this decision said very little for the Admiralty ; in fact, it proved that the Admiralty knew nothing about it, and & more feeble conclusion he had never heard. The same trouble had arisen with Commodore Winsloe and the Ophir. He had lost two days to the people of the south in connection with the royal visit through his 6eeing grave dangers that did not exist in connection with the harbours of Port Chalmers and the Bluff. He had also stated it a.s a fact that he would not go into Lyttelton, and yet when he (Mr Seddon) arrived there he found him already tied up to the ■wharf. Sir Joseph Ward said it seemed to him a very regrettable and extraordinary condition of affairs that those responsible for the control of the steamers coming out to the colony with the returned contingents and Imperial troops should have so little knowledge of the conditions of our harbours as to allow the vessels conveying them to pass first-class ports. It should be the duty of those responsible for the upholding of the facilities that exist to make the strongest representations pointing out that grave injury was likely to be done in consequence of the crass stupidity of some of the men who were sent put here. As for Commodore Winsloe, he had caused himself to be made ludicrous in the eyes of the men of the merchant service here by stating that he could not take the Ophir into Lyttelton Harbour. This sort of thing left the impression on people's mind that those who were- put in charge of Imperial ships had not the necessary knowledge as compared with the knowledge of the masters in the mercantile marine. Any of these ships could have gone to either of the southern portg. In the case of the royal party they had been put to great inconvenience because Commodore Winsloe would not take his ship to Port Chalmers. In the case of the Tagus the colony was now being put to inconvenience and expense because of the attitude of the authorities. He hoped the admiral of the squadron would take the opportunity or visiting the ports of this colony and see that it was his duty to remove the false impressions that seemed to exist in the minds of those who were in charge 13,000 or 14,000 miles away. Mr Thompson (Marsden) said the whole thing no doubt arose from the Admiralty using obsolete chart?. Captain Russell said hard-and-fast rules were laid down and had to be adhered to by those in charge of the ships. There was no use, therefore, in blaming the commodore. Mr Laurenson : "He deserves it." Captain Russell : "No doubt the hon. gentleman knows as much about sailoring as he knows about politics." — (Laughter.) Sir J. G. Ward replied that if stringent regulations existed it was time they were altered. He pointed out that the flagship Orlando Lad gone into the* ports in question. Air Seddon added that the Britannic, a bigger chip, had transhipped 1000 Imperial troops at the Bluff, yet now the Admiralty said the Tagus, a smaller ship, could not tranship 600. Mr Laurenson-replied to Captain Russell that he (Mr Laurenson) believed in his polities, and, what was more, acted up to them. Captain Russell, on the other hand, neither believed nor did he act up to his. — (Laughter.) Mr Seddon, amid laughter and cries of " Oh," read a telegram from Dunedin to the effect that his commoneense was badly wanted down there in connection with the Tagus. The Speaker intimated that the matter was not formally beiore the House, and the discussion ceased. THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. The Premier, when moving that the balance sheet of the Bank of New Zealand be printed, called attention to the fact that it had been stated in the press that the bank would soon be likely to pay a dividend. He would point out that very little had been paid off by the bank in respect of the Assets Pealisation Board, and he himself thought it would be better if those entrusted with the affairs of the bank first of all paid off their debts instead of paying dividends. The responsibility of the Crown still retrained intact in respect to the Assets Board. He thought he should speak plainly, so that t'.iere would be no mistake afterwards, and if they did not say anything it would be taken that they tacitly agreed with what was being done. At the same time, he might say that no one was better pleased than himself at the success of the bank. Mr Pirani said the attitude of the Premier on this "question was an extraordinary one, and the statement he had just made would cause surprise. Mr James Allen said the statement just made by the Premier would be very damaging to the bank, and it wan one that he (Mr Allen) did not understand at all. The Legislature had provided what the bank had to do with its profits. A sum of £50,000 per annum had first of all to be paid to the Assets Realisation Board ; then there was provision for the payment of a 5 per cent, dividend ; and, thirdly, anything then left out of the profits had to be paid over te the Assets Realisation Board. It was essentially wrong of the Premier to threaten the bank ■with the repeal of clauses in the act so that the shareholders would be prevented from receiving a dividend. The Premier's remarks would do a great deal to destroy the good work of those who were building up t^e hank on a solid basis, and hia remarks would also dishearten the shareholders and those administering the affairs of the bank. Mr Seddon replied that the chairman of the bank, at the meeting before last,' made a statement about the possibility of a dividend, which statement he himself withdrew last year. In doing so, the chairman had expressed regret that what he had previously said had created a fake impression. So that this impression about a dividend should be removed. He (the Premier) had that day deliberately made the statement now objected to. He had no intention of repealing the act. The discretionary power rested with the directors. Mr Seddon added that ■within two years legislation would have to be passed dealing with the Bank of New Zealand renewing or extending the guarantee The obligation to the Assets Board was jtvvo millions, and very little had been paid off. The taking over of the bank would aiot cost the colony anything in the long run, and the action of Parliament in agreeing to stand by it had saved millions and prevented disaster. ; NEW ZEALAND AND FIJI. The relations between this colony and Fiji were touched on this afternoon, when Captain Russell asked the Premier whether n oopV of the resolution passed by this House on the 19th October 1900 recommending that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor praying that he will forward a resolution to the Chief Secretary of State for the Colonies in favour of the incorporation of liji as an anterral portion of this colony, has been •fended to h» EMflßeiMar the Governor

of Fiji or the Government of Fiji, and if any reply has been received thereto. Captain Russell said it would be remembered that the resolution contained a reflection upon the Governor of Fiji. The Premier replied that the resolution had been transmitted to the Secretary of State, who had no doubt forwarded it to the Governor of Fiji, but the matter was not yet complete. The reflection contained in the resolution was well merited. The number of deaths that had occurred among the native population of Fiji during the last few years had been something appalling, and, judging from letters published by a disinterested person, the House was quite justified in the course it took. As for the question of the control of the islands difficulties had arisen. The situation of New Zealand and Fiji at present was that the former was taking from the N latter about £350,000 worth of products annually, and was sending back only £29,000 worth. Australia was taking about £4-9.000 worth of produce and sending about £150,000 back. New Zealand was therefore practically supporting or maintaining Fiji, and getting lees than £50,000 per annum back. A letter had come from Fiji (from a secretary or under-secretary, he believed), but it was r.ot sent in a proper manner. Xf the Governor of Fiji had anything to say to the Premier, and sent it in a constitutional manner, it would be heard, but not unless it were so sent. It had been said that he (the Premier) had communicated with a person in Fiji who had broken the law. That was wrong; he had only communicated with men of integrity. He felt sure that when the matter was fully laid before the House C*ptain Russell would stand shoulder to shoulder with him in defending the honour of the colony. SPARK ARRESTERS. Farmers along the railway lines of the polony will be pleased to learn that the Railway Department fully recognises the importance of the question of providing spark arresters for the locomotive engines, and is making a series of experiments in this direction. The information was elicited this afternoon by Mr W. F. Massey, who asked Sir J. G. Ward if it were intended to offer a bonus for an spark arrester. Sir .Toseph Ware! statetl that when the department had offered a bonus they had been inundated with a number of crude patents. The only way in which they could arrive at something satisfactory was by making experiments and ascertaining from other countries what was being used in this connection. The department was now doing the best it could, and he hoped before long to have the most up-to-date spark arrester that could be obtained. DEPOSITS IN POST OFFICE SAYINGS BANKS. A table showing the business of the Post Office Savings Banks for the year 1900 gave the total deposits for the colony as being £4.170,428, from 347.056 depositors, as against £3.644,980, from 313.783 depoFdtors for the previous year. In 1870 the total was £264,328, from 20.489 depositors; in 1880. £664,441, from 81,660 depositors; and in 1890. £1,658,543 from 162,938 depositors. The total amount of withdrawals in 1900 was £3,827,416. and in 1899 £3,417,298. The figures at the chief centres were a 9 follows in 1900 : — Deposits. Withdrawals. Auckland £607,933 ... £552,046 Chriatchurch ... 782,613 ... 741,563 Dunedin 618,572 ... 568,611 Wellington 805,143 ... 728.473 The cost of management last year was £10,500. as 0 scainst £9500" in 1899, £8500 in 1898, and £8000 in 1897. JOTTINGS. The conso's account return for the year ended March 31, 1901. laid on the table, showed thai the total amount of deposits received from April 1, 1900, to March 31, 1901, wa3 £17,902. The particulars of investments made on the security of debentures were " the Government Loans to Local Bodies -Act." £15,008. Mr J. Allen asked the Premiei- what steps have been taken to comply with the prayer cf the petitioners who desired that the Roxburgh estate, near Milton, should be purchased for close settlement. Mr Seddon's rop^ was that the commissioners had reported that the land vas not suitable. Mr Millar wants the PostmaEter-general to make provision for enlarging the Dunedin Post Office, so as to give much-needed accommodation to the public. • Mr Parata would like the Government to introduce legislation prohibiting the Maoris of the South Island from devising their lands by will. Sir J. G. Ward, in answer to Mr Arnold, said the establishment of a post and telegraph office at Mornington was mainly a question of site, and the matter was leceiving attention. Mr Thos. Mackenzie is interesting himself in the case of Miss Annett, the Otago teacher who was persecuted and bad to leave her school. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones thinks Miss Annett should retition the House for compensation, and Mr Mackenzie said he would ariange to have that done. Mr E. G. Allen to-day asked the Govern- ' ment if it is intended to amend the Mining Act so that in the event of a gold dredging , company going into liquidation the directors . of fcuch company shall be persona^y reppon- | sible for the payment of any workman's i wages that may be due up to the time of ■ liquidation. The Hon. Mr M'Gowan pointed out that the workmen had several safeguards, i and it would not do, under all the cirenm- ' stances, to make the directors personally responsible. i _