THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 17

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5.

In the Legislative Council on Thursday the Commissioners Act Amendment Bill was put through all stages, Progress was made

with consideration in committee of the Electoral Bill. ELECTORAL BILL. The Electoral Bill was taken in committee. Tfhe Hon. Mr RIGG moved to delete the added 28 per centum to rural population. — Lost by 19 votes to 5. At clause 15, Mr RIGG moved to amend the definition of contractor by limiting the application of the phrase to "written" contracts or agreements. — This was lost, i but by request the clause was postponed. Clause 61 was amended to provide that the general roll shall be closed on April 15 instead of June 15. Progress was tihen reported.

In the House of Representatives on Thursday the debate on the Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill, which proposes,

among other changes, to authorise increas-

ing th© margin for advances on leaseholds, occupied the whole afternoon. In the evening much more business was got through than has been the case for some time past, the bill limiting the rate of - interest, the Coal Mines Acts and Mining Acts Amendment Bills, Land and Income Tax, Law of Evidence, and Medical Officers Registration Bills all being advanced a stage. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

The. Hon. C. H. MILLS moved the second reading of the Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill, which provides that the funds paid over to tihe Public Trustee may be reinvested by the superintendent on mortgage/ and increasing the limit of money lent to three-fifths of the value of tlie securities, instead of one-half. He explained that the amount derived by the department from the Public Trustee on account of his investment of funds was considerably less than the department could obtain from itself investing the funds. Mr MASSEY urged that the proposal in' the bill regarding the investment of capital could only mean doing away with the assurance fund, which, he eontcnded._ ought to be continued, so that the office" would have something to- fall back union in easo of losses being nude. As to the limit of borrowing, he pointed out tl'at the effect of the present proposal was that they would be lending on the goodwill of the tenant, although several members contended that the goodwill did not belong to the tenant, but to the State. He would like to see a clause inserted in the bill enabling the department to _ advance money to wageearners who wished to become their own landlord*. He believed that would be better than the scheme proposed under the Workers' Homes Bill.

Mr MILLAR considered this was only a bill to collar the sinking fund. He objected to such a proposal, and also to the provision, tfcal tbe limit of money lent should be raised to three-fifth I.1 '. At present threefifths was the limit on the freehold, and leaseholders would now be put in the same position.

The Hon. W. HALL-JONES asked if it was good business for the department to borrow money at 4- per cent, while it only got 3^ per cent, from the Public Trustee. Surely it would be better to reinvest the sinking fund on mortgage. The security would he za good as if the funds were invested by the Public Trustee.

Mr HERRIES wanted to know how there could bo any necessity for collaring the assurance fund, seeing that the department still had power to borrow £800,000. Also, he asked why the amount lent had so largely decreased last year. There was a general complaint through the country that rhe department would not lend money, and that settlers had to go to the private money-lender. Mr HOGG said it was. a proper thing to withdraw the money from the hands of the Public Trustee and reinvest it on mortgage, and so do away with the pressing necessity for borrowing money from abroad. The proposal was an exceedingly wi^e one. # After considerable debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices.

MINING BILLS.

The Coal Mines Acts Compilation Bill (Hon. J. M'Gowan) was read a second time. The Mining Acts Compilation Bill passed through Committee with verbal amendments.

SECOND READING.

The Property Law Bill (which has already passed the Legislative Council), was read a second time on the voices, and the Land and Income Tax Bill, a sessional measiire, which eonta-ms no alteration in the pr«snt law, was read a second time.

LIMITING RATE OF INTEREST. The Hon. W. HALL-JONES moved the second reading of the Excessive Rates of Interest Prevention Bill. He stated that a perusal of the Mercantile Gazette would show that excessive rates of interest wero being charged, and he urged that any details of the bill could be better dealt with in committee. Mr MOSS said that under the bill every

building society would have to close its doors, and it would force the less rapacious of the money-lenders out of the field. His idea was to give a magistrate absolute power to review all loan transactions. Mr AITKEN pointed out that high rates of interest were charged or> the notec, of hand. These were not even mentioned in the measure. That was a class of borrowing in which the charging of an excessive rate should b© prohibited. Mr REID said history showed thai legislation against usary had always been nugatory.

After a brief debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices.

OFFENSIVE PUBLICATIONS.

The Hon. Mr M'GOWAN moved the second leading of the Offensive Publications Bill, which provides that mere ignorance of the nature of an offensive publication is not excusable. Mr MASSEY heartily supported the bill. In the larger centres of the colony a class of newspapers was springing up which catered to the lowest possible taste, and some of them were not fit for any decent man to take into his home. If the bill would cheek that class of publication it was worthy a place on the Statute, Book. The 'second reading was agreed to on the voices. Th© bill passed through committee with verbal amendments, and was put through its final stages

MEDICAL REGISTRATION

Sir J. G. "WARD' moved the second reading of the Medical Officers Registration Bill. The bill, he said, dealt with the qualification foe registration, and was designed to

prevent^ the registration of medical men

from other countries who have had easier tasks in gaining diplomas than medical men who qualify under the colonial law.

In tho course of the discussion the Hon W. HALL-JONES said the bill would not affect the registration as it stood to-djjy.

The second reading # was carried by 49 votes to 14-. TREATMENT OF. PUBLIC SERVANTS.

In the House of Representatives this afternoon there was some very plain speaking by Government supporters on the manner in which unfortunate but deserving

public servants pro treated. One of the Petitions Committees, reporting to-day on the petition of Charles H. Harris for compensation for injuries received while in the Police Force and for his subsequent retirement therefrom, recommended that the Government should give the petitioner some suitable light employment, the committee being of opinion that the injury was received while in the execution of duty. Mr Millar complained that no notice had been taken by the Government of similar recommendations in past years. The Government could appoint an outsider in the State Coal Mines Office, but it would do nothing

[or a man injured in its own service, though he was a married man with a family.

I 'Apparently," said Mr Millar, "service in this colony does not count at all with the Government." Mr Jennings: "Not a bit, not a bit." Mr Colvin endorsed what MiMillar had said about the petitioner. There had been no more conscientious officer in

the Police Force. All the Government had done for him was to give him a temporary appointment as a messenger in the House. The Minister of Justice contended that the Government had done something for the man in giving him light employment. He objected to people using political influence to get billets, and in respect to the State coal mine, he had left the appointments to the departmental heads. The recommendations of previous committees had not come before him. Mr Donald ReicP pointed out that for three years the Petitions Committees had brought in a favourable recommendation, and it waa strange that the Minister had never had it before him. He asked what became of such recomrnenda-

tions. Apparently they were not considered, as they should be, by the Cabinet. There was evidently something remiss when such an admission had to be made. Mr Hogg said if the Government did its duty to its servants there "would be no need to use political influence. This man had suffered a gross injustice. The Minister of Justice should feel heartily sorry that he had made such remark? as he had made. — ("Hear, hear.'") The report of the committee was adoj>tcd.

A MINISTERIAL "FAUX PAS."

The Hon. Mr Mills's explanations of any bills he has charge of in the House are not very lucid, and as a rule when he talks there is such a buzz of general conversation that ho can scarcely bo heard. This afternoon when Mr Mills was explaining the Advances to Settlers Bill there were the usual cries of " Speak up ! " and " Can't hear." "Put some more- vim into it,"

interjected Mr T. Mackenzie, to which Mr Mills replied: "If the hon. member who is interrupting will only open his ears a little louder ho will hear." A merry peal of laughter greeted the Minister's " faux pas."

THE GOVERNMENT CANVASSERS.

Numerous complaints continue to be mada about the unfairness of the Government canvassers in connection with their work of placing 1 some names on the electoral roll and omitting others. To-day Mr Davey (Ministerialist) gave notice to a=<k the Gover"--vienti if there is any truth in the publish reir.ent that a large number of eleewa nad not been placed upon the Palmerston North, roll by the Government canvassers, it being stated that a no-license canvasser olaeed! 127 persons on the roll who had been passed over or missed by the Government canvassers, and that 80 per cent, of this number were in sympathy with the no-license movement. lEE GOVERNMENT AND THE LIQUOR!

TRADE

Mr Hawkins has given notice to ask the Colonial Secretary what were the special circumstances, if any, which influenced him in granting a now club charter, giving the right to sell intoxicating liquor in Napier, in face of the fact that reduction was carried by a large majority at -the last local option, poll?

TALKING TO HANSARD.

A striking commentary on the interest taken by members in educational matters was furnished in the House during the late stages of the debate on the Education Act Amendment Bill last night. At half -past 12, when Mr Hanan was speaking, there were only 11 members in the House,, and of this number five (including the Premier and the Minister of Customs) were either asleep or dozing. Mr Laurenson, who, generallyspeaking, cannot be exonerated from the common weakness of talking to Hansard 1 , waxed virtuously indignant on this occasion at_ the extent to which members had beem utilising the opportunity of addressing their constituents through this convenient medium. "If ever anything would make me vote for the abolition of Hansard, lock, stock, and barrel." he said, "it is what has been taking place this evening." He said that although it was well known that the bill was to go to the Education Committee, and that not a single vote or opinion would be altered by the debate, member after member had kept on "blathering" to Hansard for his full half hour. "I am tired of the whole thing,'" declared the member for Lyttelton. and a drowsy member murmured, " Hear, hear."

JOTTINGS.

Mr Arnold wants halfpenny posl-cat'ds al?o a vote for prospecting in districts dim" cult of access.