N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 37

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11. In the House of Representatives the debate on the Public Works Statement was continued. The Hon. Mr M'GOWAN, in replying, said he bad to compliment Mr Massey on what was a sensible speech. Referring to tourist roads, he reminded Mr Maesey that he bad advocated the making 1 of a tourist road to an ostrich farm. It wae intended to use water power for mining and agrioultural purposes. The Minister added that it was the aim of the Government to do the best possible for all districts. At 1.40 c.m. the motion was carried, and the House went into Committee of Supply. The first item (Public Works Departtaent, £21,000) was passed unaltered. Progress was then reported TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12. In the Legislative Council, The Factories Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. . PREVENTION OF MONOPOLY. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Flour and Other Products Monopoly Prevention Bill. The Hon. Mr LUKE eaid he approved of the bill, •which would- be more preventive than operative. The Hon. Mr GEORGE said he did not think the bill would have much effect on prices, but he would support it. The* Hon. Mr ANSTEY opposed the bill. He said that the duty on wheat worked out at id per loaf. The bill, he predicted, would be unworkable. The flourmillers had a monopoly in New Zealand, but they bad not yet developed "ring tactics. Ac a matter of fact, the margin between the price of wheat and that of floor was less since the trust had been formed than was the case previously. The Hon. Mr RIGG said the bill would do no injustice to the farmer. He supported the measure because it would have <t good effect in protecting people from the operations 6t monopoly. The Hon. Mr KELLY declared that jAricea would jump up and down too rapidly for the bill to be of any use. The beet way to give the people cheap bread would be to take off the duty altogether. The Hon. Mr WIGRAM said there was little doubt in bis mind that the particular emergency which the bill had been designed to meet had gone past, and that would be his reason for opposing it. He did not think the measure, even if it were passed, wouM ever be put into active operation. The Hon. Messrs Beehan, M 'Cardie, Marshall, and Loughnan also supported the bill. In replying, the Hon. Dr FINDLAY •aid the bill bad been well received by the great majority in the House, and when that wae so it was not wise to treat any reform aeked for with ridicule. The bill would let daylight into things. He instanced what had occurred in Christchurch tho other day at the agricultural implement inquiry. A widespread but wrong impression had been removed, and in this way a (Treat deal 'of good had been accomplished. The masses could not suffer a neater wrong than to labour under a blindfold sense of injustice. The bill was read a second time, and committed. Olaueee 1 to 5 were passed with verbal amendments, and progress was then reported. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12. In the House of Representatives, The Hon. Mr M'NAB gave notice to introduce the Stock Act Amendment Bill. BILLS. The Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. Tne Railway Improvements Authorisation ■*«■ put through its final stages after some discussionBUTTER EXPORT BILL. The Hon. Mr M'NAB, in moving the second reading of the Butter Export Bill, explained that the measure was introduced on account of complaints from England that butter contained an excess of moisture. Two inspectors had made inquiry into a shipment of butter from New Zealand, and the complaints were found to be to a certain extent justified. The bill provided that where butter for export contained more than 16 per cent, of moistura the person exporting, or attempting to export, would ba- liable to a -fine of £50. It had been found that butter contained from 21 to 234 pe r cept. of moisture. Mr ELL said he did not altogether agree with the bill, as it did not protect consumers in New Zealand, who were compelled to pay from Is to Is 2d per pound for butter containing the largo amount of water stated by the Minister. Mr HOGG pointed out that even 16 per cent, of water meant that the consumer paying 1b for a pound of butter paid 2d out of that for the water which the butter contained. He urged that protection should be given to New, Zealand consumers. Mr LANG pointed out that settlers who made their own butter had not the necessary cooling machinery which would enable them to get the water out of the butter, the same a* could be done in the factories. Mr LEWIS pointed out that under the Pure Food Bill the Government had power to make regulations that would protect New Zealand consumers. After further discu6aion the second reading wan carried. The House then went into committee ©n the bill. Mr MASSEY said that in some portions of the country, and particularly in the Auckland province, he was informed it was isrposaiMe to keep the proportion of water below 16 per cent. Mr ELL urged that the provisions of the bill should apply to butter for consumption in -New Zealand. Mr LAURENSON moved an emendment to provide that anyone commits an offence who sells, offers for sale, or exports any butter which contains more than 16 per cent, of water. The Hon. Mr M'NAB pointed out that the bill was not at all a matter of philanthropy, but the offering for sale of butter containing: over 18 per cent, of water in England wa3 punishable by fine, and case* had come under notice where butter described as from New Zealand had been the subject of Police Court nroseoutions. The amendment was negatived by 54 TOtea to 10, and the bill wae reported with-*

out amendment, read a third time, and passed. DEFENCE. The Hon. Mr M'NAB, in moving the second reading of the Defence Act Amendment Bill, explained that clause 4 provided for the selection of captains of corps instead of election by the men. This was in accordance with customs prevailing in other portions of the Empire. Clause 5 provided for the placing on the reserve of men at the expiration of three years instead of five years. Other amendments in the bill were machinery amendments. Mr JAMES ALLEN expressed disappointment with the bill. He agreed with the clause providing for the selection of captains of companies, as it was the right thing to do, and would be good for the country as a whole. He hoped the Minister would consent to come other mode of dealing with fines than that proposed in the bill. He added that he was pleased to see the proposal to set up a reserve force. The second reading was carried by 46 votes to 20, and subsequently the bill was passed. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS moved the second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill, the provisions of which have been explained in the report regarding the bill when passing through the Legislative Council. The bill transfers control of licensed homes for the care of infante to the Education Department, and makes special provision for the care of childrenwho are committed to the care of fostermothers. Mr Fowlds made a special point of the fact that the department had a staff specially adapted to looking after young children, as would be required under the bill. One point in the bill was that if a parent or relative of a child failed to make payment for it the department would pay the foster-parent the ocst of its maintenance, and another point was that the oocupier of any house wherein a child was born alive wae compelled to notify the registrar of births of the fact within 48 hours in a city or borough, or within seven days in any other cases. The second reading wae agreed to on the XOiCee - OTHER BILLS. The Animals Protection Act Amendment was read a third time, and the Hotpital and Charitable Institutions Bill put through committee. A LOCAL BILL. The Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. * PRESENTATION TO MR .LETHBRIDGE. The members of the Opposition party met in Mr Maseey's room at the supper adjournment to-night, and made a presentation of two handsome silver salvers to Mr Lethbridge, M.H.R., for his daughters, one of whom was recently married, and the other of whom is about to be married. The presentation was made aa a token ot the esteem in which Mr Lethbndge, one of the- most respected and popular members of the House, is held by the party. CHINESE EXCLUSION. The Chinese Immigrants Amendment Bill provides that it shall not be lawful for any Chinese to land in New Zealand until it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Collector (or other principal officer) of Customs at some port in New Zealand that such Chinese is able to read a. printed passage of not leas than 100 words of the English language, (selected at the discretion of such collector or principal officer, provided that any Chinese who is dissatisfied with the decision of the collector or principal officer shall have the right to appeal to a magistrate, who shall administer such further test in reading the English language as ho thinks fit, and the decision of the magistrate shall be final. Any master of a ship who lands, or permits to land, in New Zealand any Chinese who has not fulfilled the requirements of this act ehall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £50. Any Chinese who lands, or attempts to land, in New Zealand without having fulfilled the requirements of this aot shall be liable to the 6ame penalties, and may be dealt with in the same manner as if he had landed, or attempted to land, without payment having been made, as provided by section 5 of the principal act. STAMPING-MACHINES. The Post Office Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Governor's Message to-day, provides that the Postmastergeneral'may, on receiving such security ac he deems fit, issue to any person recording machines for impressing upon packets and documente the sign of postage values, and recording the amount of such values. These impressions will be valid for the prepayment of postage* and of charges on telegrams. The amount of postage values so recorded will be collected from the users of the machines. The machines may be used for stamping receipts. The penalty for fraudulently impressing a postal packet or document with any impression intended to be mistaken for one made with a machine issued as provided is a fine not exceeding £100, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 13. In the Legislative Council, The Hon. Mr BAILLIE moved— "That it is desirable that the Government should take into consideration during the recess the desirableness of preparing legislation to provide for the sanitary inspectio.n of all schools and colleges (private as well as public), and for the medical inspection of school children. The Hon. Mr GEORGE seconded the motion. The Hon. Dr FINDLAY said the matter was one of very great importance. It had not escaped tho attention of the Government, but the suggestion that all children should be systematically examined would, if carried into effect, involve very great expenditure. At the same time, the Government had not overlooked the matter, and perhaps by next session it might have some proposal to lay before ParHament. The motion was agreed to. COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE. The Hon. Mr CALLAN continued the debate on the Hon. Mr Loujjhnan's motion—" That, in order to effectively defend the Dominion against possible enemies, it is imperative that ell ablebodied adult males should be trained to use arms, and instructed in euch military or naval drill as may be necessary for the purpose." He did not see why Jh§ touil

of the Dominion should not serve for at least three or four yeaTs as Volunteers. The Hon. Mr COLLINS advocated the drilling of children at the schools as soon as they Had attained the age of 10 years. When a lad was 14 he could be trained to the use of the rifle. He also advocated the delivery of lectures by members of the Defence Council before 6chool children on their duty to their country in the matter of defence, and there should also be a system of keeping records of the health, etc., of children. Thi6 would enable us to work up to a national standard of health. The motion was lost by 21 votes to 4. BILLS PASSED. The Flour and Other Products Monopoly Prevention Bill was further considered in committee, and reported with machinery amendments. The bill was read a third time, and passed. The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, Sea Fisheries Bill, and Bills of Exchange Bill were passed. In the House of Representatives, In re»ly to questions, Ministers 6tated: That the Government, during the recess, would consider the advisability of introducing legislation to increase the graduations of income tax. —That it appeared hopeless to 'try to do anything for clerks. Legislation had been brought forward to try to help them, and they had petitioned by hundreds that their relations with their employers should not be disturbed That the sale of newspapers by children was difficult to regulate without undue harshness. The question would receive due attention. That inquiry wa« being made as to the best means to adopt for the prevention of fires on wool ships, and it was hoped that a bill would be submitted next session. That it had been arranged that +he Stationery Department would pay postage upon auoh publications as the Year Book, to enable purchasers in other parts of the Dominion to obtain these at the same cost as Welliiijrton residents. This does not apply to Gczettes and other publication* issued at short intervals. CHINESE IMMIGRATION. The PRIME MINISTER, in moving the second reading of the Chinese Immigrants Amendment Bill, stated that it was proposed to restrict the immigration of Chinese by means of an education test, the Chinese entering being required to submit to a test of 100 words in English. If an immigrant was not satisfied, he had the right of appeal to a magistrate. Another provision was that a penalty of £50 wae imposed on the captain of any ship allowing Chinese to land in New Zealand without authority. The bill was read a. second time, and subsequently put through committee. DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT. The PRIME MINISTER, in moving the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill, explained that the bill repealed section 11 of the act of 1904, which made it practicable to obtain a divorce on the ground of desertion (by collusion) in six months. Suoh cases had been 6o numerous, he eaid, that they had become a public scandal, and this bill was introduced to put a stop to suoh proceedings. Mr BARCLAY, in opposing the bill, eaid that if the present means of obtaining divorce was done away with, then persons who sought a divorce would resort to immoral methods. Mr BAUME, in supporting the remarks of Mr Barclay, said he had had many cases himself, and in all his experience he knew of no case of collusion. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and later on put through committee. Mr LAURENSON moved an amendment to make it grounds for divorce when the respondent i 9 a lunatic and has been continuously confined as such for seven years in an asylum, and in the opinion of two medical men and the medical superintendent of asylum he or she is unlikely to recover : provided that -no divorce shall be granted if it appears that the respondent's lunacy is attributable to the misconduct of the petitioner. This was agreed to by 33 votes to 11. Mr WILFORD moved a new clause to provide that where the respondent has been found guilty of raking the life of the child or children of the respondent or petitioner, and has been sentenced to seven years' penal servitude or upwards, it shall be grounds for divorce. This was agreed to on the voices. The bill, with amendments, was then reported. BELLS PUT THROUGH COMMITTEE. The Co-operative Dairy Companies Bill, the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill, and the Post Office Aot. Amendment Bill were put through their Committee stages without material amendments. CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY COMPANIES. The Hon. Mr M'NAB, in moving the second reading; of the Co-operative Dairy Companies Bui, explained that provision was made under the bill for companies to purchase surrendered shares and reissue them. The bill, he added, had been asked for by shareholders, suppliers, and directors of companies. The second reading was agreed t:> on the voices. BEER DITTY. The Hon. Mr MILLAR, in moving- the second reading of the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill, explained that the provisions of the bill were that hop beer containing under 3 per cent, of alcohol should not pay excise duty. The bill also provided for the issuing of a license on the payment of £1 for the manufacture of hop beer. Clause 8 provided that no beer should be removed from a brewery, under section 32 of the principal aot, except to a warehouse or other placo authorised by the Minister of Customs for the storage of j beer. Mr HANAN explained at length the position of the beer depots near Invercargill, and strongly urged that no-license there should be given a fair trial, and that no devices or unfair methods should be tolerated which interfered with ite effeotive operation or thw-arted the will of tho people as expressed at the poll. The depots should certainly be removed. Me MILLAR, in reply, explained that he desired to end the position in Invercargill, where breweries had practically defied the Customs Department. He added that he would either abolish all depots or none. The second reading was agreed to on the Toicet.

OTHER BILLS. J The Post Office Act Amendment and Statutes Repeal Bill were read a second time. PARLIAMENTARY AND EXECUTIVE TITLES BILL. j The PRIME MINISTER moved the 1 second reading of the Parliamentary and Executive Titles Bill, which provides for the abolition of the title of Colonial Trea- j surer and for the substitution of Minister ' of Finance in its place, the abolition of the title of Colonial Secretary and the substitution of Minister of Internal Affairs, and the substitution of member of Parliament for member of the House of Representatives. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. THE POOR CLERK. Mr Ell asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention had been drawn to ! the statements of clerks published in the j Dominion of 31st October, that the average wages of clerks employed in insurance companies were £1 5e to £2 per week, and, if so, will the Minister consider the advis- j ability of introducing legislation next see- j eion fixing a minimum wage for clerks. Mr i Millar said it appears hopeless to try to do anything for clerks. Legislation has , been brought forward to try to help them, and they have petitioned by hundreds that their relations with their employers should not be disturbed. TRAINING IN RIFLE SHOOTING. In reply to a question in the House today, Mr M'Nab stated that the Council of Defence is giving consideration to the question of encouragement and training in rifle shooting. The facilities for instruction have been much extended lately, and will in due course be made more inclusive. An officer has also been recently appointed to super- I intend rifle clubs alone. There are 180 ' rifle ranges in the Dominion, with a large ' number of targets on some of them. The ! sohool Cadet movement is controlled by j the Department of Education. The con- • cessions made at present to defence rifle clubs are an increase of free ammunition up to 120 rounds annually, while each member is allowed to purohase 100 rounds at the very reduced price of 5s per 100, and the issue of free railway passes to the , annual meeting of the New Zealand Rifle ; Association, and also for competitions in districts up to 100 miles. Members are also allowed to earn a marksman's badge. Clubs, in addition to a course of dan- | firing, drill at least once quarterly, and submit to discipline on the rifle range. They are also allowed to purchase arms at bare cost. One thousand pounds annually is voted for the expenses of the New Zealand Rifle Association, and many rifle clubs now compete. Four hundred and fifty pounds is also voted for competitions In various centres of the Dominion, opeii to the public, at which rifle clubs and public school Cadets may compete. Five hundred pounds ie about to be expended in obtaining champion belts for competition. The capitation ojf Defence Cadets has been raised to 12s 6d, and an additional annual allowance of 50 rounds of free ammunition granted. Municipal bodies have now. under section 361 of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900." legal authority to encourage rifle shooting. It would help very much if they would assist. Tho questions raised by the hon. gentleman will receive I the further and continuous attention of the J Council during the recess. The inducements have thus this year been much increased. PAYMENT OF TEACHERS. To-day the Minister of Education was asked whether he will arrange that the staffing of schools and salaries of teachers he this year arranged and paid on the basis of last year's average attendance in cases where the same has been seriously affected through the prevalence of epidemics, euoh as whooping cough, measles, and influenza. The Minister of Education replied: "I will take the. position into consideration when all the returns for the year are in the department, and the effect of the existing regulations has been ascertained. It is very unlikely, however, that with the provision in the regulations for substituting: certain quarterly averages of tho previous year, there will be any seriou* effect on the staffs and salaries for 1908." Mr Fowlde entered into a long explanation of the present system. TEACHING TEMPERANCE. In answer to a question regarding instruction on temperance in our State schools, Mr Fowlds to-day 6tated : "It is my earnest desire to promote this subject in every possible way. Provision for it is made in the syllabus, under which it is in the power of teachers to treat the suhjeot very fully. Probably the existinpr provision in the syllabus will be strengthened when the next j revision takea place. The School Journal will afford much help to the teachers in dealing with the subject." TAIERI DRAINAGE. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Taieri Land Drainage Bill, reports that it has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. SUFFERERS FROM BUSH FIRES. In answer to representations made as to the non-apnearanoe of any sum on the Estimates for the relief of the sufferers from the Catlins bush fires. Mr Malcolm has been advised by the Minister of Lands that the necessary provision will be made j as soon as the Government ie advised of the i amount which will be due to the sfcttlcre in question. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 In the Legislative- Coune 1 !, The Hon. Mr MAHUTA presented a petition signed by a large number of Maoris praying that the Native Land Bill <-.hould be held over till next «oesion. MANUFACTURE OF CALCIUM NITRATE. The Hon. Mr KELLY moved that tho time has arrival when the Wate»-power Act of 1903 should be put into practical opera- j tion, and that the Council recommends that I the Government should, during the recess, consider the propriety of establishing the manufacture of calcium nitrate by the process invented by Professor Birkeland, and thus provide the farmers of the Dominion with cheap nitropenous manure. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL prom;:ed to bring the matter before the Cabinet, and , said the difficulties in the way of cony- i ing out euch a scheme were chiefly financial. Tlie motion was agreed to on the voicei. FACTORIES' ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Factorie-s' Act Amendment B'U v>d* committed. , Clavse lune wat au.crdcd on the moticn ,

of the Attorney-general to apply only to boroughs and road or town districts having a population of less than 5000. As the bill came from the House of Reprepentatives it applied to towns, etc., having a population of less than 8000.

The proviso limiting the operation of the section to places where the number of persons employed in shops is greater thai those in the factory was struck out.

The Hon. Mr GEORGE moved to amend clause nine (whi£h makes it illegal for any Asiatio to work for more than 48 hours pep week in a laundry) by fixing the working hours in such laundries at between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. He 6aid it would be impossible to distinguish whether Chinamen, were observing the law or not unless tha working hours were definitely limited. The Hon. Mr. MACDONALD said he had no sympathy with the Chinese, but he had been asked to point out the position, in which a Chinaman was placed by virtue of this clause. He moved as a prior amendment " that no Asiatic or any other person should be employed in any laundry; for more than 48 hours per week." Several speakers pointed out that th» employment of women i» factories was already limited by law to 45 hours per week.

The Hon. Messrs CARNCROSS and TRASK opposed the clause, and appealed! for /air treatment for Chinamen.

The Hon. Mr PAUL said all the legislature demanded was that the Chinaman should live up to a decent standard of civilisation.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL quoted from the statutes to show that the employment of Chinese in laundries was limitcl to 48 hours per week at present. Thero had, however, been wholesale evasion of the law. He had seen documents purporting 1 to be deeds of partnership in respect of Chinese laundrisa. Everyone was <\n employer, and nobody who worked in them, an employee. The Hon. Mr Macdonald's proposal was defeated by 15 votes to eight, and Mr George's amendment (abolishing night work) was carried by 13 votes to eight. Clause 15, providing for the minimum rate of pay for a factory worker, was amended to prevent employers from suspending workers for a few days in order to avoid payment for holidays. The Hon. Mr CARNCROSS protested against clause 16, which vwidea that no premises the occupier of wUioh is a person, of the Chinese race shall hereafter be registered as a factory. The proposal, he said, wae most discreditable.

Dr FINDLAY eaid the question underlying the matter was whether our race was to be brought into competition with one against which our race must go down. Several members of the Council strongly supported the clause. It was pointed out! that the clause in its present form disqualified the premises occupied by China* men (even if they afterwards came into the occupation of a European) from being registered as a factory.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved to report progress in order to consult with the Minister of Labour on this point. Progress was accordingly reported. BILLS PASSED.

The following bills were put throug-hi their final 6taees: — Railways Improvement Authorisation Bill. Butter Export Bill, Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill. Defence Act Amendment Bill, and Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill. The Council rose at 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14.

In the House of Representative*, The Public Accounts Committee reported) on the Public Service Superannuation Bill, and recommended that it should be allowed) to proceed, with amendments made by tho committee.

EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT.

Tho Hon. Mr FOWLDS, in moving the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill, said it was praotically th» same measure as was introduced last session, with certain additions, one of which was that the definition of publio schools included high schools. The age of candidates for Junior Scholarships was raised from 13 to 14- ycarr. The bill also provided for the removal of certain restrictions in regard to Queen's scholarships. Mr MALCOLM urged that more adequate remuneration should be paid to teachers.

Mr POLAND said that £85 per annum was not a fair remuneration for teachers. He adversely criticised tho school journal, and contended that it would have to be much improved if it was to supply tho place of school books. Mr T. MACKENZIE contended that the conditions as to obtaining free secondary education were unsatisfactory. He urged that if a child passed tho necessary examination during any period of ono war that child should be allowed to obtain the two years' free secondary education from— th« commencement of the following year. Tho question of additions and extensions to schools was considerably hampering th« boards, and he urged that the Minister should trust the boards in this direction. Continuing, he urged that the House should insist on the question of education! being considered fully at an early stage of next session. H« advocated that there should be some certainty as to teacher** salaries, and to brintr this about he suggested that schools should be classified «o that teachers could be assured of some Permanency of income. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS, in reply, said that in regard to salaries, he proposed to go into tho matter and lay definite proposals before tho Houee next session. That' was not. he thought, an onreaenable position to take up. Referring to the staff, ho said there had years before been the samo sort of scare that was now being raised, but when they came to consider the matter thero was no caee in which the staff or salaries had been reduced unless a falling off in attendance had taken place for two years. Referring to the school journal, he said that he had testimt^Vy from teachers who were highly satisfied with tho publication. Continuing, he eaid he could not go into the whole of the anomalies alleged to exist, but ho hoped to go into tho subject in a comprehensive manner next s«ssio:i. The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

The folloviii"- billi hi-.c : pa^ed — Tajen Drainage Kill. Fisheries Conservation A<t Amendment. Canterbury Col We Endow - cation Act Ani<>miment. Post Office i'mssiinrnt. Public Ileilth Act Amendment. Kdufif.it km. 'Ira <o Pre-bvU-rian Church Board of Pioufiiv StatnUvs Repeal, Parliamentary ;in<l Executive Titli'S, Infant Life froteciion, Public Service Olaeeifieation, and Beer Duty AU Amendment Bill*.