PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 196, 14 September 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

(PER I'll ESS ASSOCIATION.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thursday, September 13,

The Council met at 2,30 p.m,

Hon. E, J. C. Stevens moved " that it is expedient the Council should be informed during the present s&ssion, and afterwards annually, until the maturity of the debentures, of the amount of the debentures remaining in the hands of the Bank on the 31st March last before the giving of such annual information." He said his solo object was to prevent the Legislature from forgetting their position in regard to the debentures.

The motion was agreed to on the voices.

The Separate Institutions Bill (Hon. W. C. Walker) was read a first time. Tha Government Valuation of Laud Act Amendmont Bill was considered in Committee. In Clause 2, the definition of improvements was amended by the addition of a proviso that the payment of rates or taxes should not be deemed to be a contribution within the meaning of the definition. Hon. J. D' Orinond, as chairman of the Select Commit'.ee on tho Bill, moved to make the definition of " unimproved value" read "unimproved value of any piece of land to mem tlie capital value thereof ltss the value of the improvements thereon." The amendment was lost by 18 votes to 13, and the definition as printed was agreed to. The Clause as amended was agreed to. Clause 15 was amended so as to provide for the hearing and determining of objections by an Assessment Court specially constituted, iosleid ol by stipendiary magistrates. Conse quential amendments were nude, including the insertion of a new clause giving the right of appeal on points of law from the Assessment Court to the Supreme Court. New clauses were inserted giving power to the Valuer-General to increase an assessment, or if the ownor did not consent to the increase, to acquire the land. The Bill was reported with amendments.

Toe Criminal Code Act 1893 Amendment Bill was further considered in Committee, and progress reported. | The Council rose at 4.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TriuasDAY, September 13, The House met at 2.30 p.m. ' Mr. Fowlds gave notice to ask if the Government would give a bonus- of £IO,OOO to any company with a paidup capital of £60,000 who were prepared to manufacture kauri gum into marketable varnish. NEW BILLS. Tho Thames Borough Waterworks Account, Mokau Harbour Board, New Zealand University Act 1874 Amendment, Limitation of Working Hours Representation Act Amendment Bills were introduced and read a first time. PETITIONS. I The Petitions Committee reported,' recommending that the petition from 530 Chinese, all over the colony, urging that the importation and sale of opium be restricted, be referred to the Government for consideration.

On the motion of Mr. Guinness, the petition was road, Messrs, Guinness, Ell, Mewlitli, and Steward commented upon tho injuiious eflbc's of tli.i drug, and urged the Government to give etl'ect to tho piayer of the petition.

Mr. Ward said the GovernraanS were fully alive to the desirability of restricting the importation and sale of opium, and in'imato] tliay intended to introduce legislation with that object, if not this at any rate next session.

i The Premier, in lvply to a question, said lie regretted that steps had not been taken in the past to reserve rifle bub that instructions would, in surveying Crown L inds, be given to make resorves suitable for such purpose, and, further, that efforts would be made to acquire ranges in suitable localities. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Mr. Ward said that instructions had been given to Sir E. Poynter, R.A., to prepare a design for the new universal penny postage stamp, a condition being that it should be emblematical of Now Zealand being the first country to adopt universal penny postage, and difl'using the benefits of that system throughout the world. Ab-enco of the Queen's head on the stamp would not, he thought, be construed as want of loyalty 011 tho part of the colony. Replying to further questions, Ministers said that representations would bo made to tho Board of Tradowith regard to the propriety of introducing into the examination of musters and mates, an examination in iirst aid to the injured. Tho Government did not intend to discontinue the issue of leases for coal mining with a view to future uses of the State. The policy of the Government with regard to such leases was, that in cases where lessees did not woik the mines to the best advantage of the community, the State would determine the lease. With regard to fires tlut are alleged to havo been caused by sparks from railway engines, Mr. Ward said that tho Kailway Department had the bost possible appliances for preventing sparks from The [ Department could not ba loaded with [ the responsibi ity of fires alleged to liavo been caused by such sparks, and I that if it were desired that the Governsnout should lake sue.'!: a l'tvp n.-iliili: the Consolidated Fund shouid hear the ! cost. That a iiill was in preparation to regnlato the weight of sacks of wheat. That a Bill to amend the !)ld Age Pensions Act, with a\ iewto meeting some of ihe anomalies of tho Act. would lm introduced in a few days. Tho liousj adjoun el at 5.30,

EVISNING HTI'INU. The lloiisb r.-fusiied at 7..';0 p.m. 'i hj Pr-.v;i ij luluslii il Sjiioald laspoction Bill, iatio-ni-m by Gov.iiiot'r. Mossago, was Mud a fit-si tiuiu.

Tho Pi'tmiu sni.i itu opportunity WOuld bo givoii to dir'l'llrS the Bill mx ■veuic. Ho was hot uwsra t hair ,-t <;■ ■ j>!uiont ■ 1 enquiry a«u buuu liuld ii, i-SDi, una tin ii.ui no tvoorti of it, but ho projioaed to to Uw Uoh. W,

P. Heaven, who was said to hava held an enquiry, asking for information on the subject.

INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION. Mr. Seddon moved that thi amert-. linenta in the Industrial Cooalkwr" and Arbitration Bill made in Committee be agreed to. Mr. Massey moved that tha Bill be recommitted with a view to tha amendment of Clause 87, in the direction that in any award the Court shall taka into consideration the local or apeaial circumstances. As it stood he considered the clause was simply an attempt to get at Auckland manufacturer* who had facilities better thania any other part of the colony, for the manufacture of clothing. Mr. Collins hoped Clause 113, would be struck out, a* by that the Bill would apply to railway and postal as well as all other departments of the Btate. Mr. Herries supported tha reoommittal of the Bill for tin purpoae of amending Clause 87. Mr. Pirani said the hard and fait rule of a colonial award would previa disadvantage to some pardons of th« colony where the cost of living wu higher than in other districts, Mr. Millar asserted that, so far, colonial awards had gives great Milfaction. There was no reason wby a different rate of wages should obtain in Auckland and Dunedin. Mr. G. W. liussell contended that there could be no logical objection to including Government employees is tin Bill. Surely men employed in railway workshops and printing offices employing a large number of people should to exempted from laws to which private employers are subject.

Mr. Guinness could not understand wby Government work people should be exempt from the labour ltwi of tho colony. He objected to the propoaal to make awards colonial, in so far as local circumstanoes and condition* wan ignored in any award that might to made.

Mr. Fowlds said the difficulty came in when it won proposed to make one law for the whole colony. It was not a question of Auckland possessing better machinery for the manufacture of clothing than other parts af tbo colony. The auperiority of the Auckland manufacturers lay in the fact thai they hud a .superior (system of carrying on their business, and a better organisation.

Mr. Wilford slid the railwav employees did not wish to come under the Act, us they would lose many advantages which they enjoy. Mr. Arnold approred the amend* ment. * *

The House adjourned at 10.30 p.m.