PARLIAMENTARY

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3144, 19 July 1901, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY

l*«r Prana Associate u WELLINGTON, July 18. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. The Petitions Committee reported upon petitions from the-warehousemen of Auckland and Christchurch against their being included in the Shops and Offices Bill. • These petitions were both lefeired to the Labour Bills Committee. ' YOUNG PERSONS PROTECTION BILL. Mr W. C. Walker in moving the second reading of the Young Persons Protection Bill, said that it was much the same as : last session’s, measure, but in the present Bill the power of issuing search warrants -with respect to suspected houses was confined to the Magistrate and not shared by Justices of the Peace. The Bill would be a great preventive of criminal' tendencies, if its administration were put into proper hands. Mr McLean opposed the Bill on the ground of the bad effect on the future of children dealt with under it. If passed it would probably remain inoperative like the Inebriate Homes Bill. Another inoperative, measure the C.D. Act should be enforced.

Mr Scotland said that the Bill was much required in Auckland. Mr Shrimski defended Auckland, and considered the Bill too drastic.

Mr Bowen spoke of parental laxity, and supported the Bill. Mr Jennings opposed the Bill. A brand would be put on children which would never be removed.

Mr Lee Smith thought that parental opportunity should not be limited. Mr Twomey supported the Bill. There were people about who would take advantage of loitering children. Mr Pinkerton opposed the Bill. Mr W. C. Walker said that he understood that the Magistrate would make inquiries as to children brought before him under the Bill. The hearing would not be in open court. The second reading was carried by 20 to 6.

THE SOHOOL ATTENDANCE BILL. The School Attendance Bill, extending the school age to 14 years and compelling an attendance of 3i days per week, was read a second time on the voices; The Council rose at 3.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The following is the conclusion of our report of Wednesday’s sitting: ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL

Mr E. G. Allen opposed the Bill, and Mr Ell supported it.

i Mr Thomas Mackenzie moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Massey thought it a pity that a straight-out division could rot now be taken on the Bill, as it was almost certain that Major Steward would not have an opportunity of bringing it forward again this session.

The Premier said he would vote for the adjournment of the debate. He had fixed early hours, for the days on which Government business was taken, and private members should be treated in the some way.

The motion for the adjournment was carried by 53 to 18. and the House rose at 1.20 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A PETITION. A petition was presented from R. G. Knight, of Wellington, praying the Government to grant perpetual leases of land to all people who have seven children and upwards. NOTICE OF MOTION. The Premier gave notice to move that a respectful address be presented to the Governor, asking him to petition the Secretary of State'for the Colonies to hold an impartial enquiry into the remarks made by the Governor of Fiji with regard to the Government of New Zealand taking away the land of the natives. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS BILL. The Land for Settlements Act Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. WELLINGTON HARBOUR BOARD BILL. Mr Wilford moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbour Board Act, 1879, Amendment Bill, to increase the country representation on the Wellington Harbour Board. The motion was agreed to on the voices. WOODVILLE COUNTY BILL. Mr O’Meara moved the second reading of the Woodville County Bill, which, he said, would merge four local bodies into one, and considerably lessen the cost of administration. The motion was agreed to on the voices. THE INVERCARGILL RESERVES BILL. The Invercargill Reserves Leasing Bill was read a second time. BILL WITHDRAWN. Mr Hogg withdrew his District Courts Act Amendment Bill, as the Government had a similar metisure before the House. THE CYCLE BOARDS BILL. Mr Fowlds moved the second reading of the Cycle Boards Bill, which is intended to enable cyclists to tax themselves for the purpose of making and maintaining cycle tracks for their convenience. He urged that cycle roads formed by the Boards in outlying districts would be useful for footpaths for settlers in winter time, and would give cyclists better opportunities to see the country, and would generally b« the beginning of an era of better roads. Cyclists in all parts of the colony had pe- • titioned in favour of the Bill, which was permissive, and would only be brought into operation by all the cyclists in a district being practically unanimous. Sir Joseph Ward complimented Mr Fowlds on having introduced the Bill, which if passed would do an incalculable amount of good to a large number of people throughout the country. He would cordially assist him in passing the Bill. Mr G. W. Russell thought that the Boards would be likely to expend the money near towns, and that the interests of country cyclists would be neglected. The districts proposed were too large, and the taxation proposed would cause more dissatisfaction than did the dog tax among the Maoris. Mr Palmer hoped that the Bill would *be made a good workable measure for cyclists, but he saw no reason why cyclists, more than any other section of the community, should be taxed to provide good roads for themselves. Mr R. Thompson failed to see why eye lists in outlying districts should be taxed to provide bicycle tracks for residents in large centres.

I Mr Meredith said that the Bill required considerable modification in committee.

Mr McGowan supported the principle of the Bill, and would vote for the second reading, but thought an amendment desirable in the direction of providing that the money collected in a particular district should be expended in that district. Mr Bollard, Mr Wilford, Mr Pirani and Mr Witheford supported the Bill, and Mr Flatman opposed it in its present form. Mr Fowlds in reply said that he would accept reasonable amendments in committee. He thought that the Central Board would take care that the country districts received a fair share of the expenditure, but he was prepared to accept an amendment in committee to provide that any district could, upon petition, be excluded from the provisions of the Act if it was not being justly treated by the Central Board.

The motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices.

THE STATUTES COMPILATION BILL.

Major Steward moved the second reading of the Statutes Compilation Bill, to provide for the compilation and printing of Acts of Parliament with their amendments, which he believed would be of considerable* assistance and benefit to the public. Mr Wilford said that there could be no question ns to the necessity for an innovation of this kind. It would be of especial value and assistance to Justices of the Peace. Major Steward had compressed into a short and comprehensive measure everything that was required. Mr Palmer spoke of the necessity for a Bill of this kind.

The motion for the second reading was agreed to on the voices. THE PEDLARS AND HAWKERS BILL. Mr Houston moved the second reading of the Pedlars and Hawkers Bill, to provide for the licensing of pedlars and hawkers. The principal feature of the Bill was the provision that licenses shall be issued only to British subjects who have resided in New Zealand not less than twelve months. This clause was directed against Assyrian hawkers who did a great deal of harm in country districts. After a short in which considerable opposition was shown to the Bill, particularly in regard to the proposed inclusion of commercial travellers within Its scope, the second reading was negatived by 30 to 24. ' The House rose at 5.30 p.m. . The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. STATE SCHOOL DRILL BILL.

The State School Children Compulsory Drill Bill was committed. Mr Pirani moved that the word “ compulsory ” in the title of the Bill be omitted.

A long discussion followed, in which the question of military and physical drill in all its bearings was exhaustively dealt with. Finally an amendment to strike out the word compulsory was carried by 30 to 24. In Clause 2, which made it compulsory to tench military and physical drill to boys and girls attending the public schools, Mr Millar moved an amendment to provide that the clause should apply only to physical drill, thus deleting military drill from the provisions of thy Bill. After considerable discussion, Mr Millar’s amendment was agreed to on the voices.

Mr Atkinson moved an addition to the clause to the effect that every Board may at its discretion cause military drill to be taught to boys over the prescribed age. The motion was negatived by 43 to 13, and the .clause as amended was agreed to. In subsequent clauses all reference to military drill was struck out, consequent on the adoption of Mr Millar’s amendment.

Clausa 6 was struck out, and in its place was substituted a section providing that “ upon the principal of the school being satisfied that any boy or , girl is nnfit to perform physical drill, exemption shall be > granted.” The Bill was reported as amended, and the third reading set down for this day week. THE EIGHT HOURS BILL. Mr Fisher continued the adjourned debate on the motion for the second reading of Mr G. W. Russell’s Eight Hours Bill. He supported the principle, but would have more to say in committee. Mr Field said that if the Bill was passed, it would paralyze the farm industry. Mr Lethbridge opposed the Bill.

Mr. Arnold considered the Bill most unsatisfactory in its present form. It would not accomplish any good. He hoped, however,’ that it would have the effect of directing the attention of the Government to the question. Mr Atkinson thought that the details pf working hours should be left to the Arbitration Court.

In replying, Mr Russell said that he believed the legislature could reasonably restrict the hours of labour of farm labourers, but at the same time he recognised that the sentiment of the House was against their inclusion in this Bill, and he had no desire to force the House on the point. He would accept reasonable amendments in committee.

On a division, the second reading was carried by 25 to 17.

The House rose at midnight,