N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3103, 3 September 1913, Page 30

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26. The House met at 2.30 p.m. VOTE FOR IRRIGATION.' The Irrigation Water Supply Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message. In reply to Mr Russell the Hon. Mr MASSEY said the Bill proposed to appropriate a sum of not more than £IOO.OOO in opening up lands for settlement in arid territories, principally in Central Otago. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. The House then went into committee on the Public Trust Office Act Amendment Bill During the discussion on the short title the Hon. Mr HKRDMAN, in reply to Mr Russell, declined to disclose the evidence taken by the recent Public Trust Commission, that evidence having been given under a distinct promise that it would be treated as confidential. The Minister admitted having seen the evidence, and Mr Russell protested that as a member of Parliament he had as much rigid to see confidential evidence as the Minister had. Mr M’CALLUM moved to strike out clause 25, indemnifying the Public Trustee in oases where he accepts in error but in good faith any written statement or statutory declaration as to birth, death, Marriage, or where a matter of pedigree or relationship or other matter of fact upon which the title to any estate or any part thereof may depend, the section to be retro-active to the passing of the principal Act. Mr M'Callum contended that this protection should not be given to the Public Trustee unless the Minister was prepared to protect private trustees in the same way. Ha claimed that the House should not pass retrospective legislation of this kind without knowing more about it. The Hon. Mr HERDMAN contended that the clause was necessary for the efficient working of the office. There were cases pending at the present time into which the element of doubt entered, and this clause would enable the trustee to settle these cases more expeditiously than would otherwise be the case.

Mr VEITCH suggested limiting the operations of the clause to the smaller estates.

The MINISTER said he was prepared tg make the dause operative only in

estates not exceeding £SOO in value. He was also prepared to strike out the retrospective part of the clause. The Opposition was scarcely mollified by those concessions, the contention being that the smaller estates were the very ones that ought to be exempt from the operation of the clause, that discrimination between the large and small estates would be fatal to the business of the office, and that if one class of estates was exempt then all should be exempt. ,A division was then taken on the question of amending the clause in the direction suggested by the Minister, the voting being Ayes, 41; Noes, 19. The clause was amended. Mr RUSSELL then moved an amendment to provide that the clause should not absolve the Public Trustee from any liability which he would bo required to discharge if he were a private trustee.

On a division the amendment was lost bv 44 votes to 16.

' The Bill was reported with amend ments. /

PENSIONS BILL.

The committee then considered the Pensions BUI, which was passed through with machinery amendments.

The House rose at 0.50 a.m. GENERAL PENSIONS

A return giving an estimate of the cost of providing every man and woman in the dominion with a pension of £26 a year cn attaining the age of 65 years was presented to the House to-day. The estimate is £l/271,400 per annum, being the amount that would be payable to 48,900 people of the age of 65 and over. The return was ordered on the motion of Mr U!:oy. LIBERAL BY-PLAY. In discussing a contentious clause m tiie Public Trust (Office Bill this evening Mr R. M‘Galium stated a supposititious case. “Suppose,” be said, “that I am entitled to a legacy of £SO and the Public 'trustee pays it in mistake to my friend the hon. member for Avon. ’ “ lon’ll never get it back,” said Mr Russell amidst loud and hearty laughter. “ What is my legal remedy?” continued Mr M'Callum. “ Now you are done,” said Mr Russell, and the laughter was renewed. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. The Hon. J. A. Millar haa asked for a return showing the total number of dismissals made By the Public Service Commissioners, such return to show in detail (1) the total number of dismissals in each

department separately; (2) the salaries paid to such officers; (3) whether such officers were temporarily or permanently employed; (4) the reasons for such dismissals; (5) the total number of appointments made by the Commissioner, each department to bo shown separately; (6) the salaries (minimum and maximum) paid to such officers; (7) whether permanent appointments or not, and (8) the reasons for such appointments. LOAN FOR RAILWAY STATIONS. Mr J. Craigie is asking the Government whether, in view of the great urgency for new railway stations and extensive alterations to railway stations such as are required at Auckland, Wellington, Timaru, and other centres, it will consider the advisability of submitting to Parliament this session a proposal for a special loan for that purpose.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27. The House met at 2.30 u.m. THE NEW HEBRIDES. Replying to Mr G. M. Thomson, the Hon. Mr juaSSEY said that morning, in company with the Finance Minister, he had had a long interview' with Lord Emmot (Under-secretary for the Colonics) respecting the New Hebrides, and especially with regard to the condominium. MENTAL HOSPITALS. (In repl} 7 to Mr Dickson, the Hon. Mr RHODES stated that the Mental Hospital at Auckland was overcrowded, and it w T as also very difficult to obtain nurses. That state of affairs was not peculiar to Auckland, however, but existed right through the dominion. The Government had sent to England for nurses, and so far 25 had come out- He hoped next year to be able to provide further accommodation at the mental hospitals NEW BILLS The Bluff Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Sir J. G. Ward) and the Water Supply Act Amendment Lill (the Hon. Mr Herdman) -were read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions Ministers said : That the Government had for some time past been advising the proprietors of butter factories to pasteurise all skim milk before returning it to the suppliers, but it did not consider the present time opportune for making this reform compulsory. That out of the total number of teachers (3212)' who received graded salaries 2434 would, if Parliament passed the short Bill to be introduced presently, receive the double increment from January 1 next. A measure giving a general increase of salaries required careful consideration, but such a measure would be introduced next session

That it was not intended to amend the Defence Act so that public halls erected without Government assistance by the residents of a town, and which had been used on one or two nights a week as drill halls, shall when taken over by the Defence Department under the Act be paid for, and the proceeds utilised for the erection of another public hall. That no bungling had occurred in connection with the supply of uniforms to the Territorials as alleged by the member for Grey Lynn. ■That no discrimination whatever was shown against Homan Catholic school children in so far as conveyance by rail was concerned. The regulations laid down the conditions under which free school tickets were issued, and anyone could obtain such tickets on complying strictly with the provisions of the regulations.

No hindrance was placed by the department in the way of high and technical schools teaching wireless telegraphy, provided that outside “ aerials ” were not erected. In some cases such schools had applied for permission to carry out instructions in wireless telegraphy, and it had been granted subject to the installation of such apparatus indoors as would not interfere with public corespondence between the coast stations and ships at sea. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. An Imprest Supply Bill for £829,000 was introduced by Governor’s Message. Mr SIDEY objected to the introduction of an Imprest Bill on private members’ days. That was the third time this session that it had been done. He said some explanation was due by the Government. Mr MASSEY said the Government had been advised that it was necessary to put an Imprest Bill through at an earlier date than usual, owing to the amount put through last time being short of requirements. They could not take an Imprest Bill to-morrow, because there were distinguished visitors in the country, and the Governor proposed to entertain them tomorrow evening, and ho proposed to ask the Hones to adjourn at 5.30 to allow of the function being satisfactorily concluded. He would tell the House that there would be at least two more private members’ days this session.

After a long discussion on the naval policy the Bill was read a third time. The House adjourned at 0.15 a.m.

THURSDAY. AUGUST 28

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m

The Imprest Supply Bill No. 3, allocating £829.300 as supply, was introduced and passed through all its stages. The Roman Catholic Archbishop Em powering Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Hon. C- Johnston.

In reply to the Hon. Mr Hardy the Hon. Mr BELL said that in most hospitals the eight-hours’ system was in force. Proposals for increasing the pay of nurses were under consideration, and a scheme of superannuation was also under consideration, but this was a matter of some difficulty. INFORMATION DESIRED.

The Hon. Mr EARNSHAW moved that there be laid upon the table of the Council a return showing the names of all persons who had been appointed surveyors of ships and inspectors ot machinery from and including the appointment of the present

chief surveyor and inspector of machinery to the last inspector appointed, together with : (a) The length of apprenticeship served, when and where; (b) total sea service (foreign, coastal, and dredge), together with the date of such separate services and ratings held during such time and separate services; (c) Board of Ti’ade certificates held, and the number, date, and place of issue of same; (d) other certificates held; (e) dates of appointments to department; (f) certificates gained since first appointment, with dates; (g) commencing salary of all appointments, and dates on which all further increments were made to salary, with amounts; (h) names of all inspectors appointed to which public applications were not invited; and (i) the qualifications demanded for candidates for the position of surveyors and inspectors of machinery by the British Board of Trade, Lloyds’ register, British Corporation, Bureau Veritas, and the leading boiler insurance companies of the United Kingdom—the National Manchester Steam Users, Vulcan, Ocean, and British insurance companies.

The Hon. Mr JENKINSON opposed the motion, as it to some extent cast a stigma on some of the employees of a public dedepartment. He thought the council should not grant, such a return. On the motion of the Hon. Mr LUKE the debate was adjourned till next sitting day, as there was no time to discuss it thoroughly before the Council had to adjourn to meet the British parliamentary party.

The Council then adjourned till Wednes day, September 3rd.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES

The Hon. Mr Fraser said, in reply to a question, that the Public Works Estimates could not be completed for a month or six weeks. It was proposed to renew the usual grant for roads and bridges. LOCAL BILLS. The Christchurch Electrical Supply Bill (Mr Davey), the Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr Allen), and the Borough of Mornington Tramways Act Amendment Bill (Mr Statham) were read a third time and passed. The Wellington City Empowering Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr Herdman) was read a second time. DEERSKINS.

Dr Newman to-day asked the Prime Minister whether he would direct the Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce to try to find some market for the sale of deer skins. 'lt was believed that a valuable export trade could be built up. In reply the Prime Minister said it was understood that there was no market for deer skins in Australasia. The High Commissioner was being asked to ascertain whether a market existed in Europe, and his reply would be published when it was received.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29. The House met at 3.45 p.m. LOCAL BILLS. The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr Millar) was read a third time and passed. The Church of England Trusts Bill (Mr Statham) was read a second time and referred to a select committee. The M‘Dongall Trust Estate Bill (Mr Lee) was read a third time and passed. PANAMA EXHIBITION. Mr RUSSELL asked, without notice, what the Government was doing with regard to representation at the Panama Exhibition. The Prime Minister replied that the matter was still under consideration. Inquiries were still being made, but up to the present no definite decision bad been arrived at. THE ESTIMATES. The House then went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates, the item. House of Representatives (£9250) being taken. The item was passed immediately" on resuming after the supper adjournment, and the committee took up the discussion of the items embraced by the departments of Finance, which were passed without lengthy discussion. On the Railway Estimates Mr RUSSELL protested against the whole of these Estimates being taken under one vote. He asked what the Minister intended to do to improve the position of the men in the first division of the service, and what he proposed to do about the second express train to Auckland?

The MINISTER replied that the train would he resumed on October 1. Mr RUSSELL said that unless it could bo used for the Exhibition traffic it was a doubtful proposition even then, and he complimented Mr Hurries upon his courage in stopping the waste that was going on while the second 'express was running. In reply to Mr Russell the MINISTER said he hoped to satisfy the employees in the first division. He was bringing down new regulations and a new Bill with a new schedule, which he believed would he satisfactory to both the House and the railway servants. With regard to suburban traffic, he said it would cost between £3OOO and £4OOO to do all that was required in Wellington, while there were heavy demands in other parts of the dominion, and he proposed to borrow sufficient money next year to meet the demands all round.

Mr HERRIES said he hoped to have a system of alarm bells at level crossings, and he also hoped to secure the assistance of local bodies in the matter. If he fell in with the wishes of members the cost would amount to something like two millions for the installation of the necessary appliances. The railway vote was passed unamended. The House rose at 1.50 a.m. MEMBERS’ EXPENSES.

Mr Laureneon, in making a plea this evening for the payment by the State of tho expenses of private members in visiting public works, said thao if such assist-

ance were granted to members thousands of pounds would be saved every vear. Ho instanced the Canterbury, Westland, and Otago Central' railways, and said that if the members had seen the localities before the linos were commenced they would never have been started. “ IF 1 WERE MINISTER.”

Dr Newman, in a contribution of complaints regarding the railway service, tonight said " I wish I was Minister of Railways for a week, I would alter these things. I would call in my officials and say : ‘Do this within three days or taka y’our dismissal.’” —(Laughter)" “It is simply-intolerable,’’ he added, “that these things should continue. All that the Minister has to do is to say the word and it will be done. I suppose they are waiting for this heaven-sent general manager.”—(Laughter.) COOLIES FROM FIJI*. Mr Young has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether the Government will enter into immediate negotiations through the Imperial authorities with the Government of Fiji with a view*to seeing if it would not he possible to compel those persons and corporations who have been responsible for the importation of Hindoo coolies into the Islands under the authority of the Fijian Government to return them to India at the completion of their labour contracts so as to check in some measure, if not altogether abolish, the migration -of coolies from Fiji to New Zealand. IMPERIAL DEFENCE. COMMITTEE.

Mr Myers is asking the Minister of Defence whether it is the Government’s intention to appoint a permanent representative on the Committee of Imperial Defence in London. ENCOURAGING SHIPPING.

Mr Okey is asking the Minister of Industries and Commerce whether hia attention has been drawn to the increase in the cost of freight between the dominion and the Old Country, and whether he will endeavour to encourage additional shipping lines to come to New Zealand and participate in the increasing trade of the dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. Public and private Bills are likely to engage the attention of the House of Representatives during the greater part of this week, and it is unlikely that consideration of the Estimates will be resumed before Friday. On Wednesday the House will be occupied with private Bills, the Prime Minister having promised that two more days will be set aside for their consideration before they are permanently set aside in favour of Government business. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND BILL. One highly important measure which is due to be introduced this week is the Bank of New Zealand Bill. The opinion is general that the jiresent relationship between the Bank and the State will be retained in its main features, but that the shareholders may possibly be granted some additional representation on the directorate.

Other Bills due this week are the Land Bill and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. Reports likely to be presented include those on land, labour, prisons, and the first report to Parliament of the Public Service Commissioners. THE RAILWAY STATEMENT.

The Hon. W. H. Kerries (Minister of Railways) stated to-day that he was not in a position to say definitely when the Railways Statement would be introduced, but that it would probably be brought down two or three weeks hence. The projected Native Land Act Amendment .Bill is likely to be introduced about the same time. Another piece of legislation that Mr Kerries has in hand is the portion of a Rating Amendment Bill dealing with Native lands. Amongst other things it will amend the machinery now existing in connection with the collection of rates on Native lands, the aim being to reduce the difficulties now experienced by county councils and other local bodies in collecting Native rates. JOTTINGS. Sir Joseph Ward stated, on being questioned this evening, that he had no announcement to make on the subject of the Opposition leadership.