TUESDAY, JULY 16.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 30

TUESDAY, JULY 16.

In the Leg-i;lati\e Council on Tuesday i.io Companies Act Ame-'dmem and the Rhod<^ Trust BilK werp read a second time. lit. Hospital Nurses' Keg i»t ration Bill \.c'» passed. TRAWLING. In reply to a question by the lion Mr Jennings m to whether travlin^ had a detrimental effeci on spawn and jorug iiThe Bon W. C. WALKI-'-R cmou .1 :.. information MippJied by tho li!«.pCi io- < I Fic.her:e"> to Ihe e-ffect that the «pa«n <il inc-t fi~h in the wateis sf}«t-i.ed was buoyant, and not deposited, ai.d tiav-lii.g wi>^ not responsible ior tlie aljoei.ee of fnh from a particular locality during a part.ml.ir tiir.e (if the yc'a-. BILL PASSED. The Ho^iU'l Nurpes' Ke«n' it-on 15x11 was read a third tune and pas=eJ. COMPANIES BILL. The Hon. W. C. WALEKR moved f..e second reading of the Companies Act Amendment Bill. The Hon. A. LEE SMITH advocated that directors of companies be made to give an earnest of faith in the future of their company by paying up Qualifying shares in full. The Him. G. M'LEAN thought liquidators should tie dealt with, ami made servants of the shareholders. The Hon. A. PITT poinicd out that the bill omitted to provide uoK-I'abiliiy of shareholders for calls in companies whose directors, had not paid calls. The Hon. W. M. BOLT *ta!ed that if directors wore made to pay up their sharen in full the best men could not be got, and such a provision would be unworkable. Th« Hon. J. M. TWOMEY wished to see vendors and promoters included in the scope of the bill. The Hou W C. WALKER promised to consider the sugaestions a-ud deal with them in the Statutps Revision Committee. The second reading was carried on the oices. In the Hou»e )f Rcpreaentathes on Tuesday morning the Ashburton County Council Empowering Bill was read a second time. A number of questions were replied to. The afternoon and evening sittings were mainly in Committee on various bills, and it is already evident that the Statute Book will be largely pddccl to. "~ The Police Offences Act Amendment and ih« Referendum Bills were reported with amendments. The Cyanide Process Extension, Chinese Immigiants Act Amendment, and Accident* Compensation Bills were put through the final stages The Exportation of Arms Bill passed the seond-readino stage, and a bill to extend the ponT of District Couit judge 8 in certain cases was under discussion when the House rose. AFFAIRS IN FIJI. Mr Napier asked the Government if th^y were aware that an ordinance luid lately been parsed in Fiji imposing a penalty on anyone who caused any Fijian to be disaffected toward* the Government. The Right Hon. Mr SEDDON &aid the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a communication, had stated that no change in the Constitution of Fiji should take place without the. Fijians being consulted, and yp,t this ordinance had be?n passed at a fuw hour*' notice. New Zealand was, he contended, greatly interested in affairs in Fiji, and such a lamentable condition of affair^ as now prevailed that lir thought it the duty of the House to ask tlie Imperial Government to a*, once institute an inquiry. Ho would piobably submit a proposal to that eFect to the Hou.se. REPUTES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers replied to question- to tlie following effect: — The time has anive-d for an entire ch?'.ige in tlie management of Lincoln College, so that the institution may be placed at the command of fanners' sons in the colony. The Government as far as possible will assi'-l lcturned oontingenter- to obtain employment. Ihey have given ju-pferonce to them in joining the permanent forces, ai.d all who left the Government service vrifl be taken on again The Premier look- forward with hojie to tlte time when Sta;e pajicr will be used for paving State claims vith. The Government will thLs sesden tukp steps to repeal the clause of the Defence Act whiVh Pliable* volunteer corps to in.port unifor^is fre-e of duty. The GowrmriLnt recogi.i»; tlu>t the licencing lav> require material ajiienc.i'ient, and favour a Miff-?eit:on Unit peroous found illeg;(ily <>ii liotel premises Bhould be equal!" liable with the hoi^lke&per. A State j.auatcrium fo>- the treatment of consumption will probably be elected at Naeeby. Tf the experiment i« successful, and another iu-iitution ip required, a locality in tiifi North Inland a—III probably be Fflwted. The whole hiibjeot had to be ppnroaehed v,i h grave consideratiewi. Jn future special cri^i'lcrntion wi'i he guvrn to applications from ladt for appointments to ire Railway Depailment when tiie=e lads aic membs-j of large families. Inquiries will be made as to the advifcnbihtv of having dental inspection made at regular 'ntovvals nf children attending the public 'chools of the colcjiv. Work -n the North Waud M'lin TruuL .ailvvpv i-- priice'diiif v"r> satisfactorily, and )T it, ihoiisrht the lino will be completed wit.hin the pariod ir."iiU' ned Life 1- sc- -Oi. — viz.. four yew-. THE REFERENDUM. The Rfcfrrend'iio J'.ill v.a» furl'i-n con sidored »n euinjii.itr". Mi P'rjun"^ i).o r )O'rci .'UiT-'iidT'-:.! in '■Ihu^ o lo Drrvidf tha f :t i ciVrondur.) -l^oll bf tikcii l«j p0r.1,, \\3-> nejTPt.vi'd nn^lii" \oi"---,. ant! Vie r'jtiw 1 i>a«sfd uimlt':cr'. ('lause i^ »rovid«- iha< if a bill oi les-is-lativ" ;>rono:al :•> m ecf"d b^ a iefr<-eiid»Mii it shall noi be ag?)n submitted for tl.i'-c vesrs. unions at least 10 000 i-Ifctor- -;w'Ti"-.t its subui'^iOM by potirmr <o Prvliaru^it _- On tx-et x -e iroti'i.i" o! Cip'Ki'i RTSft ELL "10 OQO " wa- --truel: 'in nu! »h< nu,'berfixed »t 1C u'--- cr-r.t o c -„W ih« clcc-ors on tlie c!"floni :nl(. In ciaa=f 15 loi. 1 bil' s wnn adilod to i'~o bills zv wliica r. i«fi-renuu:ii i- rot io aDiilj. Ciacisc 3. vvh cl) .'.ad b- -n ,jo-.ti.oiK'd ho:.-i the last sittinti, was a^'dt-d to wit'i uii-in-portant amondniPEt_. I* bel- cur when a hu\ i« tc be c'ecnicd rejtcted by cithei House. On tie motion oi Mr HJIi'.RIES, a ii^w cii.tuo Vi«m idJ<:J io tLe bill i-i.' siLi'-dv

j tliai in w-i' of anj bill being *übmittcd to a. lofeii'HCiUiii A codj of -uch bill sh^'l be ported for public inspection m eveiy po^t office in tin- colon \ 34 days before tho tak.i n of tin- poll. 'I'm bill wa l fiicn reported with amfii'. 1- : "i -.'t- which wcic -oi down for cousic'cra- • '> > in-inorrow. , BILLS PASSED. ' Tli ■ Cyanide Process l'\ton-ion Bill. Public Health Act Amendment Bill. O!i no-c Immigrants Act Amendment Bill, and Accidents Compensation Bill were r<>portod from comm-ttce and nut thiough llifii final ■-tages. DISTRICT COURTS. Tlie Hon. J. M'GOWAN moved the second readni" of the District Court* Act Amendment Bill, which extends the jurisdiction of District Couits in certain cases. Mr HERRIKS urged that^ the power of District Court judges should not be mcreafted. unless their status was improved and they wore made independent of the Administration. There wa- another objection to the bill iv that a Grand Jury was not summoned in the case of District Court?. Mr HOftli strongly supported the bill, and contended it would ha\ c a very beneficial effect. Mr WILLIS said that if they expected District Court judges to do more work they should grivp them a hifrher salary. Mi" HORNSBY expressed tho opinion that it would be a good thing for New Zealand if tb_e whole of the judiciary could be made independent of the Government of th*) day. The position taken up by Judge Kettle at Masterton recently was unassailMessrs WILFORD and NAPIER also 'poke. Mr MONK urged that a District Court judge should be appointed " during good behaviour." Captain RUSSELL said he agreed entirely with those members who had suggested an increase in the salaries of District Court judges, and that they should hold their positions independent of the Government of the day. He exprps&ed the opinion that if the best men were to be secured the salaries of District Court judges should be at lf»ast £1000 a year. If District Court judges were made independent of the Government the responsibility would be thrown upon Ministers of being extremely careful in their selection of men to fill those positions. Until that was done then the cKities shotild not he increased. He therefore moved a hostile amendment to the effect that the bill be read a second time that day six months. Mr SfiIDDON said that if the bill was not proceeded with it would not affect the Government in the slightest. If it was thought by such a motion to force an increase of salaries upon the Government that was another matter, but he declared if .ludge Kettle had not been on the District Court bench this motion would not have come up. He went on to express the opinion that all magistrates should be moved periodically, as he believed such changes would bo to the advantage of judicial administration. Mr Seddon had not concluded hi? remarks when the debate was interrupted by the hour of adjournment;. .MR CARNCROSS APPOINTED A WHIP. The Government have appointed the member for Taieri (Mr W. C F. Carncros«) as one of their whip*, in place of Mr Morri£on, whose health will not permit him to continue in the office he has held for pome years. In selecting Mr Carncross the Government heve made a very popular appointment, and the position may even lead eventually to his inclusion in the Cabinet. Two membeis of the present Ministi-y were formerly whips-. When Mr Carncross vacated his old seat on the left of the House and took up his quarters behind the Ministerial benches he received a round of applause. LINCOLN COLLEGE. This morning Mr Meredith asked the Premier if it is the intention of the Go\ eminent to introduce a measure enlarging the s-cope erf the operations of the Agricultural Lincoln, po as> to provide that a larger ni'mher of the boy a of the colony I might .participate m the benefits of tho scientific und piactical training given in that institution. He said the Premier hail already gi\en a promise to this effect. Mr Meredith referred to the excellence of the products grown at Lincoln College farm. a~ evidenced by the exhibits at the receit show in Chri«tchureh. He advocated broadening the fcape of the c illege. and expressed an ouinion xl at seine of the ordinary educational scholarships might be "worked in" in cvivßOtion with L nco'ln College. At present the sons of wealthy people who were living in Eaprland were enabled to enjoy the benefits of ijhe college and to get cheap board and 'odginv> there. This was an abtue such as ay.is never intended. Mr Sneaker I heie pulled Mr Meredith up for introducing j debatable mater into bis question. Mr Seddon, :'..r reply, ftated the object* of tlie college as defined .by act of Parliament. The Government, "lie said, felt that there v>as stdl y great dral to be dono in this respect. They mu.-t go on progressive line-. The mean; were provided, and it was a question -.f their application. He thought the time had come foi an inquiry and an oiit.rs> ohan«o ol tl-p management of Linco'n Collesfp. At presont the college benefited on'y a few. and tlieie were not even only , our own people. A? the income of the ! college was derived from the lands of the ] colony and endowment-, it wa« time the (•o'l^gc w?s put at the command of the f.T'mrrs 1 srn-. of New Zealand. Mr Meredith «>,ked if the Premier vo't'd kitroduce a m or siirp with that obi-JCi. Mr Seddon rppl'pil thni he vww'd n.;rro to refer the v.l'ol' 1 qie^iion to a t-elt i t <.oi.imittee or to the Lard* CummitTteo. GOYFRNME VT EM V.TS ', Aiv Ltuv ~-n.«on .--! ccl i'i> Mm i-toi <-f Jlail- ' V..U-. vl ether, orh'j tK'n^s beinn equal. \,e I ',ii •(> he fu'iiiiT V' f 'pciiul ( owsidrmtion ; to JO'V-ications of lads £oi appoiii^mear- ju fie l k -ii'uav Dtra. uin-nt v hen these Lds , M-" '.".oiaheis- of 1.-rge faanii^-. Mr L: uu'iii ■ hi : '.iiited out that -v tome c-a- r-~r -~ wheie I t)i ■ a. er-»e r-» )i fni.her ,>d Xwi m.iic in 3 fam.lv* i,"i [1 -,v ;.,,,] hillpts in th" deoartn-'onf vet ir »•'•»• "■ (^i-ies. Mii-ro rlen 1 wcr" cicii+ or 'v .f children none oi ''if fnuiilv coulii jret | into lii-» depavtine.it Hif .fos?pii Ward in I v ".''viiiij. nc 7 TinMpd tl'at -■imo c-otiaidcntion ; ni'pl't be 'limvu ;u; v re^a'-d to apu'ic^iit from '?"it' familic-. The pvicpal tbinsr v. as to ft Hi" b."it a !>. Lut. a1!a 1 ! things bc""-p eqi al. ' o-ne t '<r-idera n:n r.ng''t be sliown in th° I rase large f.vni'ies He agr«ed that it wouH ho '.vail to lh.ait the number of any ii.' family s 'curin<» appointineuts in the | (-iovornnif >;t ici to two. He mentioied j rhi't he ],cv <:uall> had little or nctii.in<> to ' Ca \ 1 k t.i. c a'j^cint^icuit; Lo ta_ i.,ilvjii'

service. They v\ltp made by the department largely on the avomuieuuition of members | of Parliament. A SUPERFLUOUS MEASURE. Tlie notation r°am^t Ujg Shops, and Offices, Bill co,:tinvc~ with unabated vigour ju l\.:*: iKivt". and not without result, i£ one i iiii iu<- 22 p > si 1 - tin"* peneial opinion among menib.us s«vni to be thai the thing i*. killed already. At la^i nigiit\ meeting o£ i warehousemen its piotf«t aeaui'-t the Shops I and Offices Bill a speaker rau*tically referred I to the peculianty oi a working man's Go< vormnent proposing under this bill to in* fit a^e instead of decrease rlie hours of labour (if warehousemen, and with regard to the o\ ertime clause of the bill, suggested that it mig-ht be as well if the Government were in the first instance to apply in effect the* old axiom that what is sauce for the goose is sauce tor the gander. In some of the Government departments he asserted the *-taff worked more hours at night t'-nn during tLe day. Consequently, if the Govern-* menfc deques to benefit any particular portion of the community of office-workers, ifc had better turn its attention to its own, departm-ents before attempting to interfere with its neighbours. In tiie Legislative Council this afternoon the Eon. 'W. Jennin?s presented an Auckland petition against the bill. OUR NEW COMMANDANT. Lieutenant colonel Robiu. who twice> met ; the new Commandant (Colonel Henry) in Suuth Africa, describes him as an excellent officer. wLose appointment is likely to give general satisfaction to the volunteers of the colony. Colonel Robin says that in recommending an infantry officer with a mounted experience. Lord Roberts took a step in the right direction. OLD-AGE PENSIONS. The report of the legistrar of old-age pensions for the year ended 31st March, last, laid before Parliament this morning, shows that the number of pensions in force on 31st March, 1901, inclusive of 1698 granted to Maoris, was 12,40b, representing a yearly payment of £211,965. During the* past year 2227 pensions were granted, 815 pensioners died, 227 pension certificates were cancelled (inclusive of 202 renewal claims rejected), end 65 2'e r9 ' olls lapsed through non-application for renewal. The total amount of pension money paid during the year was £197,292, and the cost of administration was £2415. Of the old-age pension districts Christchurch heads the list with 1215 pensioners drawing £20,501, Auckland coming- next with 1015 drawing £17,03!-; and then comes Dunedin with 929 drawing £15.938; Invercargill, 540 drawine £9278; Wellington, 496 drawing £8717 : Hokitika. 454 drawing £8561 : Greymouth. 467 drawing £8311. In 1899 there were 7487 pensions granted. There were 38- deaths, 6 pension, certificates were cancelled, and there were 7443 pensions in force at the end of the year. In 1900 the figure? were 4699 pension's granted, 786 deaths, 05 cancellations, 6 lapses, 11,285 in fores. As. previously men-, ticn^d, the principal items in the cost of administration were clerical assistance, £J209: contribution to po=t office. £500; salaries of registrar and deputies. £300. THE NEW DUNEDIN RAILWAY STATION. In answer to Mr Arnold, Sir Joseph Ward stated in the House to-day that the Government were making provision for the closing of Pt. Andrew street, and when the reclamation wfs finished, and that was done, tenders would be called for the new railway station at Dunedin. The work will be done by contract. ANSWERING QUESTIONS. A great deal of valuable time is wasted in the House in the aupweimg of questions, many of which it is only too aiiparent are put on the Older Paper to please constituents. Members alrtacly know full well what the answers will be. Many of the questions p 1 ° T are also about trivial matters that ghoul, scarcely interest Parliament. Mr Jackson Palmer is oue of the members who ha» come to recognise the wa«te of time that takes piece in answering such questions, and he is moving in the direction of getting the rop'ie= rtrintcd with the questions on t' c Order Paper. * SANATORIUM FOR CONSUMPTIVES. The Government have practically decided to establish a sanatorium for consumptives at Naeebv. in Central Otago. If it is a success, .and it is found that another sanatorium, is required, one will be built in the North Island. The Government are impressed with the -vaportonce of the matter, and ?re .- 'iting all possible information through the Health Department. MOUNT COOK AND THE HERMITAGE. Sir Joseph Ward, in answer to a question put in the House to.day regarding the shortening of the journey to Mount Cook, said it was possible to improve the present road and shorten it by Iwo miles at a coats of about £3900, and if stables -were biultj every 10 or 12 miles, and if a fast service was instituted, the journey could be done in fair weather in one dar. He presumed that the coach proprietors would require a very considerable subsidy, and the journey would s>lso be so tedious that it might noc suit tourists any better than the rrresent arrangement It was uctudble to shorten the journey from 96 mile* to about 77 miles by making a uew road for a part of the way. but Lake Pukaki would either have to be crossed by a -steam feny. or the upper part of the Tasman Rrver by a bridge. In tlie former case the road work would cost about £1400. and there would also be the cost and maintt uatii c "f the steam ferry. TLe other route, w'th n bridge at Biaemar. would cost £60Q0. Sir Joseph said it was evident rhnfc very large n'tris of money were invob "' in connection with any pv.ctical shorteniit, of the rui'te. Mt>)or Steward keens hammering away about a ieleyhcne to the Hpi'mitage. Mount Cook, and every year he set*, the same answer- tl.o co,t v ould be s'bciU £1400. and 1 !•' c re^fMi" £15 7>er annum. Or? of the chav P3 o f f Cook i- t\«t it i- one of the f"v T'l"»< f' s 1 ft v. Uv-ve a ir?ti can get »»vav f-om t ol en-ai>^ and the ordinary uc-r'-'es cl W'<-i'.' >- 'if- A .-is:ccii =erviee would answo ill lire-eat re •iiirr-meuts. OIE^DING TEE IPOLICE OFFENCES ACT. \ ;r<i ' v \1 rf time \va spent over th» Pr'.ii? Of.' v'_(. rs Act Anaeu'l.neni Bi 1 ! in confji'i'lp' Hijv "f;«ruoon. anrl vh» v n it emerged! iroiu the on'.cal :-Oine nrporiatit amendments h.id bt'sn ny d-". The definition of a publio nlace nn- extended to iha'i <_'iveu m section 18 iv> the acl of 139 K which i« excee'sinqlv widev und a cit use va-- inserted fiiwi % magistrates the option of inflictine a rvviimim fine of ■fJ2O in the case of ob.T°ne, ui'iccont. or profane language, as agau<t>t the present law* ■which lea\e= no option from imprisonment. CONVERSION OF LOCAL BODIES' LOANS AsioJ Lj- ilr ZlilW if lie would iatrodns»

legislation to enable local bodies to borrow moneys under the Loans to Local Bodies Act for the purpose of paying off existing loans as they fell due, the Premier stated that converting local bodies loans into State loans was a matter for Parliament. He did not know what the effect would be outside the colony, though he sympathised with the position of local bodies. UNION OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. Mr M'Nab is introducing the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand Bill, the object of which is to protect the trusts of the Pre?b7teriaa Church of Otago and Southland. JOTTINGS. "Mr Massey (through Captain Russell) asked the Government to-day when they intended to lay before the House the return ordered last September showing the travelling expenses of Ministers for the previous financial year. Mr Seddon said he had no objection to the return being given, but did not say "when it would be laid on the table. "You are not everybody,' said Mr JaclrBon Palmer to Mr Hornuby, in the Rou^a to-day, and Mr Hornsby had to admit the eoft impreachment. The House in committee got into somciwhat of a muddle over the Police Offences 'Amendment Bill, and one of the members, in a "get-it-over" tone, suggested that tha unravelling should be left to "another place." The Upper House, to wit. . TJae annual petition from Samuel Vaile asking that hie system be tried on the New 2+ealand railways was^ presented by Mr Napier, and read by the Clerk of the House. The Minister of Railways mentioned that he had intimated some time a^o tc Mr Vaile that the department had agreed to allow the system to be tried on the Auckland section. Captain Russell wanted to know upon what ■conditions,- and the Minister agreed to lay the correspondence on the table. The Minister of Railways is being asked by Mr Guinness to give the necessary authority to increase the wages of men employed in the railway service so that the minimum wage shall not be less than 8s a day. Mr Laurenson thinks there phould be a regular dental inspection of the children attending the public- schools. The Hon. W. Hall- Jones is to inquire wjiether anything can be done in that direction. " You know absolutely nothing about tlve nortb ; I wish you would come up "there for a wiile/' remarked Mr Monk, when the Premier referred to the Bay of Islands electorate a>3 being next to Waitemata. The Premier has promised Mr Guinness that he will consider the advisableness of trringing in a bill again this session to prevent the importation of opium. Instructions have been given by the Minister of Railways to ha^e a plebiscite taken among the railway servants of the colony as to whether they prefer to remain under the classification scheme or bs registered under the Industrial Conciliation arcl Arbitration Act. Not a few members waxed facetious en the Chinese Immigration Bill. When the question of sorting out the members of a ship's crew from the resident Celestials in the case of a mix up was broached, Captain Russell thought a Chinaman could easily disguise Ihimself by.rfVPinc up hi« nigtail and T>!aein£ it- under a bclltopp3r or a ccclced hat. '* Brand them," was tha comprehensive suggestion of one hon. member (evidently us«d to stockyards), while Mr Hanan advocated ear-marking,- whereon it was proposed to make him eannarker-in-chief. ; Mr Guinness wants tc know whether the (Government will make provision on the Estimates to provide for assistance being given towards the immigration of girls suitable for domestic purposes. ; Ten thousand acres of the Blueeliffs estate. ' in Canterbury, have been offered for pale to the Government. The land will shortly be inspected with a view to ascertaining its suitability for settlement in small sections. j