PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 61, 26 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.'* Wellington, October 25. The Council resumed at 2.30. A number of local Bills were received from the House and pas .ed their final stages. The Governor s ainendment in tno Shipping ar 1 Seamen’s Bill as passed hy i!ie House w;fs agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, after which the Council adjourned until 2.30 to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES, TO QUESTIONS. Ministers, replying to questions, said there is no provision in the Classification Act for taking a ballot to enable civil servants an opportunity of expressing their opinion for or against the classification to lie brought into force, but under section 7 of the Consolidated Act, any officer may appeal for reconsideration of his classification. The Government has fully considered the question of resuming leases and starting State iron works, but while recognising that there are many arguments which may ho urged in favour of this course, there are also drawbacks to it. Present holders of rights havo spent considerable sums of money in maintaining leases and trying to get capital to work the deposits, and as a court would probably award ‘them such moneys on resumption, this would add to the cost of establishing State works, and might equal the amount of the bonuses saved ■ by commencing such works. Tho Government thinks the proposals in the Iron and Steel (Industry Bill are fair, while the rights of tho State are safeguarded under the Bill. The Minister for Labour is not aware that statutory compulsory preference would check cancellation of unions. At all events, he is afraid that time Mill not permit of consideration of such an important question at this stage of the session. Mr. Buchanan road a letter of appreciation from the Stock and Agricultural Committee addressed to Mr. Frank La wry, who is retiring from politics after twenty-four years in tho House, and who was for twen-ty-one years chairman of the committee. Sir J. G. Ward and Messrs. Lang, I’. Y. Duncan, Bollard, Witty, Myers and Hcrries expressed regret at the decision of Air. Lawry to retire, and passed encomiums apropos of tho excellent work performed by him during his political life. Mr. Massey' asked tho Premier if ho would, to expedite business, proceed only with those measures which have been partly dealt with, and not deal with anything further. THE GENERAL ELECTION. Sir J. G. Ward said there was a certain amount of work' to he done, and lie was going to ask the House to do it whether it takes to the cud of this week or to tho end of next. It might be necessary to ask the House to pass the necessary legislation to enable the general elections to take place after the middle of January. As things were going now, it was absolutely impossible for him to estimate when the elections eonld take place. At the present rate of progress the first ballot would take [dace just prior to Christmas, and I the second during the holidays. There | was a certain amount of work on tno Order Paper which must be done. He would not drop those Bills which had not been dealt with so far. The present Parliament, p.xpfrpd, w Qp.. November 1, and ho Avoiild like 'td'imy to those, mom hors on his side of the House that their constituents would nonour and appreciate them for staying to finish tho business of tne House.

A letter of appreciation of Mr. Parata’s services' in the House was recorded by the Native Affairs Committee ana endorsed by Sir Joseph Ward and others. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill was reported without amendment and read a third time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Representation Commission's Reports Validation Bill. Ho explained that under the existing law writs for the elections were issued on December Ist and were returnable on December 29. He was considering an amendment to provide that where districts were too large to hold a second ballot within seven days, there should’be no second ballot. Ho had not yet made up his mind on tho matter. His desire was to have all the second ballots taken on the same day. The Bill was read a second time and reported from committee without amendment, and the House adjourned.. EVENING SITTING. In the House in the evening the Post and 'telegraph and Representation Commissioners' Report Validation Bills were read a third time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the. second reading of the Public Service Classification Superannuation Amendment Bill, winch provides that all moneys payable to the superannuation fund shall be paid in first to the post office account. The postmaster then pays when directed by the board all moneys properly payable out of the fund, tho balance being paid over to the Public Trustee. This, the Premier stated, would effect a saving of £750 per annum. Provision was alsi. made for the transfer of officers from one department to another, in committee, lie proposed to move an amendment to provide that reasons lie given to teachers for transfers to inferior positions where the pay was lower than previous appointment. If reasons are not satisfactory teachers could appeal. Mr. ' Allen asked that teachers should he admitted to the fund who had failed to enter the fund within the prescribed time. Sir Joseph Ward, referring to tho petitioning teachers, said that until the actuarial report upon tho public service generally had been received, ho was not prepared to make a statement. Then the whole position would be reviewed. The Bill was read a second time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill. Tho measure was, ho said, generally known as the “Washing-up Bill,” and various clauses could he discussed in committee. The Bill was read a second time. Hon. R. McKenzie moved tho second loading of the Railway Authorisation Bill, providing for the construction of railways authorised. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Mr. Dive moved an amendment that the House is of opinion that tho Gpunako line should be added to the schedule. Sir Joseph Ward said it was not possible to provide for this lino this session. Ho said a circular emanating from the machinery of tho Opposition was being sent round the country stating that the borrowing power of the Government for the year was

eight millions. Yet Mr. Dive came along and asked for a further expenditure. .Mr. Massey: “1 know nothing of it.” Mr. Massey, continuing, said if his party had had anything to do with 1 the circular lie would have known it. He did not believe there was any circular. Mr. Dive’s amendment was lost by 41 to Hi. ' Wellington, October 26. After midnight the Dill was read ;a second time on the voices. A Dill to provide military pensions was introduced by Governor's Message and read the first time. _ in committee on the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Dill an amendment was introduced providing the right for teachers to appeal against transfers. r lhe Bill was reported. 'J ho Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill was considered in committee. The Dill was reported with minor amendments. _ • The Railways Authorisation Bill was taken in committee. Mr. Pearce moved an amendment to strike out the provision for an extension of the Midland Railway, as an indication that tiic Opunake lino should be proceeded with. Mr Pearce’s amendment to the Railway Authorisation Dill was lost by 44 to 12. The Mining Amendment Bill was then taken. Mr Poland moved a new clause providing that sufferers from pneumoconioses shall come under the Workers’ Compensation Act. ' .The Minister could not accept this, though he sympathised with it. It would mean*an increase on the gold duty from Is to Is Gd per oz. r J ue Speaker’s opinion was obtained as to whether this was an appropriation clause. He ruled that it was not. The Minister said the clause would wreck the fund in six months. On a division it was rejected by 25 to 22. The following Bills were then read a third time :—Public Service Classification Superannuation, Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Public Bodies Empowering, Railway Authorisation, Mining Act Amendment, and Government Railway Amendment. The House rose at 4.40 a.m.