PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 207, 11 October 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

PBB PEKS3 AH3OCI/TION. *

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 10. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. In committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Hon. Bowen thought clause 8, forbidding canvassing, was dangerous and liable to evasion, and he moved to strike it out. Hon. W. C. Smith considered it highly desirable to forbid canvassing for payment, and . Hon. Jones also wished to retain that part of the clause making paid canvassers punishable. Hon. Twomey suggested letting the clause stand as a deterrent, Hon. Baillie said there was nothing qbjeotionable in canvassing, which was largely practised by newspapers before elections. Hon. Eerr considered the law could not be enforced se it should not be parsed. The words "or otherwise" were struck out, making only "canvassing " for payment" illegal. No further! amendment was made. I In committee on the' Manual and Technical Instruction Bill, to the associated <claeses which may be "recognised by the Act, was added a class established jointly by an educational body and an industrial union. Clause 7 whs amended to read "That the Governor may make regulations for the appointment of managers

of associated classes, and, except in the case of the four univor.-ity institutions in the colony, the powers of flppaintmient ?hall be apportioned between the controlling authority and the public associations joining in the establishment of • associated classes, according to the cost of maintenance borne by each," The other amendments were unimportant. : jln Committee on the Private Industrial Schools Inspection and Industrial Schools Act Amendment Bill, the Hon. Mr. Bolf« moved the deletion of clause 3, which set forth that no school would be approved, the management of which was in any way interfered with by any society outside the colony.—The motion was lost by 12 votes to 10. In clause 4, by 13 votes to 8, it was decided to strike out "as aforesaid." The effect of this will be that all private and local schools, and those indicated in clauso 3 will cease to exist under the Act, or to receive grants of public money.-—The Bill was reported. Tl\o Manual Mid Technical Instruction Bill was read a third time and passed. The Foreign Insurance Qoiß{£sifß Deposits Bilhyaa time. adjourned at 5 p.m. • i : EVENING SITTING. the Council resumed at 7.30 p.m iho'lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was committed. In the interpretation clause, the Crown and departments were excised frbm the definition of " employer." In elatiso 25 authority was transferred to tIW Board or Court to declare certain immstries related. By clause 24 an industrial agreement remains in force aftjbr, expiry, until superseded by a frffih one, except where the registration of \a union of workers bound by such has been cancelled. By clause 35 the Board of an industrial dis-. tritt shall not consist of more than five members. By section 42 the chairman or any member of a Board is disqualified if he is proved to be guilty of inciting any industrial union or em- ' player to commit any broach of an agreement or award. In clause 50 it shall be necessary for an industrial union of workers and a majority of the employers to apply for the constitution of a special Board of Conciliation to meet a case of emergency. In section 53, a Board is forbidden to produce books for the purposes of its Court. Clauses 56 and 57 were postponed. By Clause 87, the Court is empowered, on an objection to an award being lodged by a Union of employers or employees in another district, to ait and hear the objection, and amend and extend the award as it thinks fit. By Sub-Clause to Clause 97, an alien is disqualified from sitting on a Board or Court. By Clause 98, a majority of votes recorded is necessary to carry a propesal of an Industrial Union to refer a dispute to a Board, or make,an application to the Court. Progress was. reported, and leave obtained to eit again. The Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. The Council rose at 10.10 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Companies Act Amendment Bill was committed. In Clause 4—transfer of promoters shares—an amendment was made that promoters shares be not transferable until two, instead of three, years t after the date of registration, or, in tho alternative, until such Company shall have [paid a dividend on twelve months' operations. The Bill was reported as amended. In Committee on tho Animals Protection Bill, Mr. Lang proposed to add a new clause giving a settler or the owner of property power to give to another person an order to shoot over his property, Lost liy 33 to 23. Mr. Leais moved a now clause, that

any person found in tho close season carrying a gun within the haunts of native game shall, prima facie., bit doomed guilty of being in pursuit of game. Lost by 30 to 24. Mr. Houston moved a further now clause, that there be a close season for native pigeons every three yeanj. Agreed toby 24 to2l. Mr. McLachlan moved to include Pukeka. Carried by 25 to 20. Mr. Pirani moved to insort Kaka. Carried by 26 to 20. A further amendment proposed by Mr. Ward making tho season for Otugo and Southland from Ist April to 30th .1 lino, and iV>r tho North Island from Ist May to Hist July, was carried, j Ciausa 4—sto.its, w asels, etc., noi ; to bo liberated on certain islands, was| ; struck out with a view to inserting it.| , ■ .i;lUbbit Nuisanco Ac •, Tho t ill j rtv.s report od with amendments. | i i.;.) .'ii.::gagn; <_f Land JSill vas? com - f ; ?■■■At!diii)u movjcl to ic >ort mc-l^ .... _ 1,

The Houbc adi lurnud at 5.30 p.m. EVENING BITTING. The House rammed at 7.30 p.m. Id committee on the Mortgages of Land Bill, the House resumed on Mr, Atkinson's amendment to report progress, on the ground that it was too late to waste time on the measure this session. Mr. Ilanan supported the motion on the ground that it would lead to litigation. Mr. Atkinson said the Bill established a bad system of registration, which would prove dangerous. Mr. Ward pointed eut that the measure had been before the Statute* Revision Committee, and by them pat in such a condition as to make it workable, Mr. Napier said it was absurd that the time of the Heme should be taken np with the consideration of sooka measure at the close of the session when ae much important legislation still remained to be dealt with. Mr. 3,. Thompson characterised the Bill as simply a trap for the unwary, and hoped the House would not countenance sueh a misohievous measure. Mr. Barclay claimed that the Bill was a very good one, and merely provided for a simpler form of mortgage than existed at present. The motion to report progress was carried by 28 votes to 23. ;■ The Animals Protection Bill wa« , read a third time and passed. , The amendmonts by the Council on the Technical and Manual Instruction Bill were agreed to.

Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Representation Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill provided for six additional ambers. Looking at the greatly increased population since the Act wu passed in 1887, ho did not think any objection could bo raised. The fact that the number of Ministers had been ■'""rmyj was another good reason for an increased number of representative*. H« would probably be told that the constitutional course was that if then wai an alteration in the number of members there should be a dissolution, but lie contended that was not necessary, aa there was a precedent for effecting an increase without appealing to tho country. In his own opinion there ought to bo a greater increase that proposed in the Bill. Captain llussell said he objeoted to an increase in the number of because it involved an increase of members. Itfould not be denied thai, constitutionally, if the number of members was inoreased a fresh election ■— tfhould take-phflfl.., Ha - supported the reduction of the number of members to 74 under the impression that with few members the system of begging for roads and bridges would disappear, but in that hcpe ho had been disap- , pointed. He was satisfied that tin mattor would be discussed, and that afterwards a motion wojjld carried adjourning the debate for six months. Mr, T. Mackenzie contended thai lookjng at the hard work entailed upon a,.member for a country district, the. Question of ■ area and community of' interest should rant as equal in importance to the question of population, i Mr, Hogg saw no necessity for tho Bill, It had not beep asked for by that country, and if the people won satisfied with the present number of membars the House should not interfere. The addition of six members would proportionately increase the length of the session, and the amount of discus* sion, Without any impi ovement to legislation. If thti boundaries of elector*! * districts were altered, and the nuubsr of numbers were increased, there musk be a dissolution.

Mr. Monk said that in 1885, whan * [ reduction of member took plaoe the • peopla thought Vt would eonduoe to s oconomy, but as a matter of fact the , cost of Parliament was now greater [ than at the period named. He asserted , that the Premier would never have i introduced the Bill but that he wanted ■ an inarease in the salaries and number 1 . of members. He would vote for a dis- { solution if the Bill was carried. Mr. Hemes thought there should bo a larger increase than that proposed, | but was , prepared to take six as aa instalment. Mr. R. Thompson asserted that if < the representation was increased by only six members it would do mors harm than good, and he would prefer to ceo the old number, 94, ana that after the census was taken next year there should be a dissolution. Mr. McLacblan thought the most popular proposal would be to reduce the number to fifty instead of aa increase. Her hoped the bill wouft be defeated, t - , Mr. W. Praser-considered that six additional members- would not restore the equilibrium betweeu|the House and the increased number of Ministers, Until a prujKir system of local government wns passed, as the work of tho Houso largely consisted of that pertaining to a Board of Works, the number of additional members was not too large. Mr, Tanner said there murt be an increase in tho number, if the numerical relation of the House to the Ministry was to l>e maintained. He failed to understand that an increase in the number of members necessitated a dissolution. Mr. J'ir.mi would be no pu'ty to an increaso of iiiombers simply because Milliliters and their salaries were increased. It was utter nonsense to sty that an additional six members would improve either tho business or legislation. it was to bo regretted that in the dying hours of the seosioa a measure that was not required at the J preseut time should be introduced to tho disadvantage of mors important business. , Mr. Ell thought the area of ths country electorates was too unwieldly, and that the 28 per cent, allowance to cities should be abolished. The liouso adjourned at 10 o'clock.