PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 194, 8 September 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(PER PKESS ASSOCIATION.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, September 7. The Council met at 2.30. The{Criminal Code Act 1893 Amend- j ment Bill was further considered in committee. Considerable discussion took place on the interpretation of the clause, and an amendment to report progress was carried. The Council rose at 3.50 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Fbiday, September 7. The House met at 2.30 p.m.

The Thames Borough Loans Conversion Aot 1898 Amendment Bill was read a first time.

The Speaker intimated that with a view to expediate business for the remainder of the session the passage of Bills that had reached their second reading and which were deemed of sufficient importance to be proceeded with, would be facilated by the relaxation of standing orders nest week. In reply to a question, Mr. Ward said he saw no reason if the House was agreeable, why the session should not close about the end of the month.

In reply to representation on the subject, Mr. Hall-Jones said he would endeavour to have the university examinations held in centres at other than the four chief cities of the colony. On the report of the Stock Committee in recommending that the Rabbit Nuisance Act) Amendment Bill be struck out, several members protested, advocating that the Rabbit Department should be abolished, and the clause making the inspectors evidenoe final on questions as to whether or not a settler was taking effective steps to abate the nuisance struck out and the position of inspector should also be abolished.

Mr. Duncan replied, stating that rabbits were materially on the increase of late years. He considered that a great deal of the dissatisfaction with the Rabbit Act aroso through the want of tact on the part of the Inspectors, still the Act was necessary as it was evident by the faot that a great deal of Grown Lands had been rendered useless by the pest, and it was his intenjtien to give the Act another trial, under amended regulations, as to poisoning and inspection The Premier asserted that had it not been for the stringensy of tbe law upon this subject, he was certain that the country would, by this time, bave been overrun by rabbits. He was convinced from evidence in his possession that the law, as it at present stood, was I best suited to deal with the difficulty, and that if it were properly administered it would prove effective in the best interests of settlers. If the Act did .not work satisfactorily this year under different administration he would antertake to alter it.

The 5.30 adjournment then took place. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THB PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Hen. J. G. Ward moved that the report of the committee on the Public Health Bill ba agreed to. To mast a sugg istiin that was made in committee, Mr Ward ssid he would Iwe clauaa 86 al'erad in anotlnr pUc to prevent a conflict between the Sock Depirtment and the Pubii; tfe.ltli Depirtmo-it. ' Mr, lierries moved as an aineadraont that the Bill be recommitted with a view to clauses 83 to 88 baing amended in the direction of (infected animals being under oontrol of the i Stock Department. Mr, Hone Heke contended that it would prove a great hardship upon a setter having unknowingly a diseased animal in his possession to have to destroy the animal and also be liable to a fine of £2O. Mr. Ward contended that the public health was of paramount importance and the olausa was necessary in that interest. The amendment was lost on the voices an 1 the Bill read ia third time and passed. EDUCATION BOARDS E LECTION BILL. Mr. Hall-Jones movad that the report on the Education Board's Election Bill be adopted. Mr. Gilfedder Said the Bi'lwentin the right direction but did not go far enough, and he hopad that the franchise for electing members of Education Boards would, instead of being confined to members of School Oommi'tees, ba extended to the Parliamentary franI ohise.

Messrs. R, Thompson and Meredith congratulated the Government on getting through the Bill, but expressed the opinion that the householders franchise was unnecessary and njfc desired I by the people. The Hon. Hall-Jones agreed that the Bill was a distinct advance upon tha Act, and expressed the belief that the measure would prove acceptable to the people. I The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Industrial Conciliation And Arbitration Act Amendment was committed. | Mr. Herries moved, an amendment " That under the interpretation clause the word employer he held to inolude all employees of the Orown. The Hon. Mr. Seddon refused to accopt the amondment, which ha charactorisod as unconstitutional. If the Crown w.is included the Oourt make .sichan award as would incroaso the public cxpanditura, which would be agiiast all constitutional precedent. The Chairman held that as tho amendment (night increase the public expenditure without tbe sanction of the Grown tho amendment was not in oi'lV 1 .

Mr. Hurries moved a fuitbor amendment in t lio direction that tha Bill apply to ii'iy Govomuaont worker win fti it does not involve an increase in tlio appropriatiin. It p'yiti" to the statomont that the 0 )vern:uint (Hip'oy.iei wera ptid lens hu r,li s i •.uid"f oi'ivato •.-in^loyriir,

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I * ployment in tbo Government shops and the service generally, showed that the workers preferred Mrvioe with the Government, The railway men were quite conscious they had been treated well by the Liberal Government, and it would be a mistake to bring them into oodflirt with the Crown in a possible industrial dispute. In the case of any unfair treatment by Government employee! had Parliament to appeal to. Mr. J, Hutchcson contended thai the Premier had stated on the public platform that he intended te bring all Government employee! under the Bill and he regretted to see him go back upon that declaiation< He urged the Premier in his unlimited power to grant that aet of grace thus placing the employees of the State under the same conditions as thoee of private employers. The Premier denied that he had em stated that he intended to bring ell Government employees under the BiU. When he made the statement attributed to him he referred to the Eight Hour* Bill.

Mr. Horries urged that hif only object in moving the amendment waj to test the House as to whether thf* Crown employees should come undet the Bill. He recognised that it quite useless to move any amendment in opposition to the Premier, but he would have some satisfaction in placing his views upon record. 1 Mr. Ell said there was a very general desire among the railway employers to come under the Bill, and he ooutnuted the small wage paid by the Government compared with private employers. (Left sitting.)