PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 27, 25 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, September 2-J. The Council met at 2.110 p.m. VARIOUS BILLS. The Mokau Harbour Board Bill was reported without amendment. The Aged and Infirm Persons Bill! was reported with technical amend-) mends recommended by the Statutes Revision Committee. The second reading of the Local Authorities Bill, to enable local authorities to make ample provision for! their older servants, was moved by Mr Bell. The debate was adjourned. , The Auckland Education Reserves Bill was read a second time. The Gold Duty Amendment Bill, j Waibou and Ohinimuri Rivers Amend-j ment Bill, and the Agricultural and ( Pastoral Societies Bill were put through their final stages. The Income and Assessment Amend-] ment Bill was read a second time, i The Council rose at 5.30 p.m. x HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. ELECTORAL REFORM. Mr Russell gave notice to move that in the opinion of the House it is de-l sirable that the Government should state its proposals for electoral reform of the House of Representatives prior to discussion on the resolutions moved by tho Prime Minister for the alteration of the constitution of the UppeHouse, the lavo questions being inseparably connected. PRISONS: AMENDMENT BILL. The Prisons Amendment Bill wms received from the Legislative Council, 1 with an amendment providing for the destruction of finger-prints in certain cases. j Mr Hordman accepted the amendment. 1 LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Land and Income Tax Bill was introduced,- and read a first time. , i THE COOK ISLANDS. i Tho Chairman of the Petitions Committee presented a report on the petition from Mr W. R. Reynolds, praying

for an inquiry into the administration of the Cook Islands. The Committee found that nothing had boon proved detrimental to the personal, character of Captain Smith or the administration of the Cook Islands. >1 Mr Escott thought that the time had arrived when the' affairs of Cook Island should be subjected to a searching enquiry. ' In spite of the report brought down by the Petitions Committee, he held that the appointment of Captain Smith to a position in Wellington was not needed, and added to the cost of the administration,' of-, the., Islands. j Mr Laurenson said that the Committee was unanimous on the report brought down. The petition was written by a man who had not a tithe of evidence to support it. He would be glad if the Government wmdd hold the most searching inquiry into the administration of the Islands. Ho',' pointed out that Captain Smith couldhipt be blamed; because some of the natives of the Islands had leprosy, ill the diseases prevalent in the Islands were introduced by white men, and spread like wildfire. I Mr Buddo said that Mr Reynolds’ evidence was not to be relied upon. During the hearing of the petition Mr Reynolds had stated, .in connection with his charge of drunkenness against Captain Smith, that he (Captain Smith )had been drunk one night at dinner. :■ ■■ ' ‘ Dr. Pomare said that ho was exceed-, ingly pleased that the Committee had been almost unanimous in its decision on the petition. He stated that when Captain Smith was appointed in charge of the Islands, he was receiving £6OO annually. When ho took charge ol the Islands he received the same salary, plus £IOO allowance. Ho was now receiving the sanio amount. With regard to the creation of a new office.

Ho said that it was necessary, in the interests of the Islands, as the administration had, in the past, been battledoored about from one department to another, much to their detriment. As to the statement that the lepers of .the Islands were contaminating food despatched from here, he pointed out that there were only 37 cases in the whole of the Islands, which had a population of 12,000. He could assure the House that no lepers were at large, that they know of. They bad been told that the natives of the Cook, Islands were “up against” Captain Smith, and that the Islands were “soothing with discontent,” but the chiefs of the Island had stated that the administration of the law was good, and they were all contented. THE LAKE COLERIDGE STRIKE. Replying to Mr Davey, the Minister said, with reference to the strike •it Lake Coleridge, that it was between the contractor and the men, and had nothing to do witii the Department. Die contractor had asked him for advice on the matter, but he had refused to take any responsibility in the matter. The strike had been brought about because the contractor had dismissed an engine-driver after receiving complaints from the men’ that lie was not certificated, and the, men now desired bis reinstatement' This the contractor refused to do; 1 hence the strike. Now the labourers refused to start unless the carpenters joined the Labourers’ Union? j Mr Milford: What are you going to do about it? Mr Eraser: Nothing. „ i THE PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. 1 The House went into committee on the Public Service Bill, and adjourned at 5.30, resuming at 7.30. The Public Service Bill was considered in committee. Mr Witty moved an amendment to provide preference for stores being

given to goods of British manufacture. T 1 ic Ernie Minister said that the

amendment Avas not relevant to tho clause. Mr Russell held that there Avas an excellent chance for the Government to boat the Impend drum, of Avhcli they had beard so much from them. T|he talk of industry by tho Government Avas so much flapdoodle. CoAvspanke.'S Avere the thing hoav. Mr Massey replied that their policy AA’as not “talk,” . but “act.” Instructions had been giA’eu to the heads of Departments and the High Commissioner to gi\'o preference to British goods Avhere possible. That policy Avould bo carried out so long as they remained in office. Sir J. G. Ward said that the late Government in its tenders had ahvays given preference to British goods. In the matter of tenders for rails, preference had been given to British firms up to £1 a ton. V. Mr Herdman said that the amendment Avas foreign to tho question before the House. He could not agree to the amendment. , Air Aiyers suggested that as tho matter had been Ventilated and the> Prime Minister had announced that preference Avould be given, Air Witty should withdraw.

Sir J. G. AVard agreed in this vi'oav, and added that the Commissioner should not have poAver to frame regulations as to Avhere goods should be procured. f The Prime Alinistcr said that was not tho case, as all regulations AA - ero subject to the approval of the Governor or tho Government of the day. ... Mr AlcKenzip said that the lion just given made the matter worse. Air Hindmarsh could not understand Air Witty proposing an amendment Avhieh AA-as an odious Avay of being bounteous, nor could he understand tho country abolishing competition in these days of trusts. V Air Wilford said that in big tendering noAvadays it Avas extraordinary Avhat little variation one found in the lenders. That indicated that there was an understanding. Air Laurenson argured in favour of British preference, and showed what Ncav Zealand had tried to do in that direction. Every step this country could take hr the Avay of Aveldiug a. great Imperial preference Avas a step in the right direction. Air R. H. Rhodes said that the Post Office bad already given preference to British goods in more than, a dozen cases, and at somcAA’hat higher prices than those of other tenderers, l Air Bell agreed that there Avas a point at Avhieh the difference in the price betAveen goods of British manufacture and foreign goods had to bo considered. He favoured preference up to a point at Avhieh there could be reasonable! economy. , After further discussion Air Witty AvithdreAv the amendment. -The Alinister moved an additional | sub-clause, giving the Commissioner poAver to procure supplies independent of tenders, or -of the regulations made by the Commissioner.

This was agreed to. , The Minister moved an amendment providing that nothing in the Bill shall reduce the annual leave or the amount any; hi lowance, in - addition to -salary*-made-i6 ,! an officer of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Union under am‘ existing regulations. Mr Russelb aslcod why the amendment did not apply to the rest'of, the ser- ! vice. • ; Mr Veitch made a protest on similar lines. Ho could not see why the whole service should not be placed on the same lines as the Post and Telegraph. Mr Russell moved an amendment to provide that the clause apply to any other department outside the Post and I Telegraph Department. Mr Veitch held that the Bill contained a most iniquitous principle, and ho would support the amendment. They should he satisfied with putting a gag in the mouths of mcmlxws of the service, hut there was no need to rani it down their throats as the Bill proposed. The House divided on Mr Russell’s amendment, which was lost by 36 to 29.

Mr Russell voiced his objection to tlie exclusion of the Railway Department (which purchases huge quantities of stores every year) from the operations of the clause. The Minister, he said, had entered into an unholy agreement with the Post and Telegraph Department, because, the 'officers bad concentrated their forces from one end of New Zealand to the other. Mr Veitch urged that something should bo done for the railway servants, but he new the Minister would accept no amendment. The Minister, in reply, said that a temporary hand who had served five years could not now become a permanent member of the service. To references which had been made fo Ihe Post and Telegraph Department, to said that the conditions of employment, promotion and appointment were cn-i tircly different to those in any other branch of the service. The Post and Telegraph employees were working when other civil servants were not. The man who would be placed in charge of the service would be a reasonable man. He would deal with the civil servants fairly and justly. If he could get a man of that type, as ho believed bo could, the scheme would be a success. The House simply had to make special conditions in respect of the Post and Telegraph Department. He regretted that he could not accept the suggestion of Mr Veitch. Ho denied the statement that be had moved the amendment owing to the uproar made by the Post and Telegraph employees. Air Isitt said the measure was a one-eyed and one-legged partial enactment.

Clause .53 was amended to provide that promotions shall be made on the basis of an examination conducted by the Minister for Education. A clause was inserted providing for three months’ notice for every civil servant.

The Bill was reported with amendments and the House rose at 1 a.in.