PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 232, 12 October 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

The Council met at 2.30. p.m. The Maori Antiquities Bill was read a second time.

Toe Royal Visit Expenses Bill was passed through committee without amendment, read a third tira», and passed. In committee on the Money Lenders Bill, consideration of clause 3 (re-open-ing of transactions of money lenders) was continued.

Hon. Lee Smith's new sub-clause was carried in the following form " where it appears to the Court that any person other than the money lender has shared in the profits of, or has any beneficial interest prospec tively or otherwise in the transaction which the Court holds to be ha»sh and unconscionable, the Court may cite such person as a party to the casa, and may take such judgment in respect to such person as it miy deem fit. After a lengthy discussion the definition of " money lender" in clause 3 was finally passed as follows, " for the purpose of this clause, but for no other purpos°, the expression money lender includes any person who lends money for interest at a rate including any payrrenr, or deductions, by way of premium, fine, or foregift, exceeding ten per cent per annum, notwithstanding the definition csntained in interpretation clause 2." On the motion of Hon Lee Smith, a, new subclause was added, providing that no person is entitled to apply to the Court for re-opening a tiansacttoo, un'ess application is made within-six mouths of the transaction being c OSt) ■',

The Bill waR then reported with amendments. JLhe Trustee Amendment Bill was reported with a now clause, passed on Hon W. M. B'lfc's motioi relieving a trustee from any greater liability in respect of tHo shares then attached to the original holder. The Council rose »'., 4.20. p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thitrsday, 10th October. Evening Sitting. (Continued from yestarday.) Amendments made by the Council in the Mortgages of Land Bill were agreed to. The Fisheries Encouragement Bill was read a first time.

The Cornwall Park Du'ies Exemption Bill was read a second time, On the motion for committal of the Factories Bill, the Premier s*id employers generally were satisfied with its proposals, and employees could not reasonably object to them. With re gard to the hours of labour for wome* and childrea he thought tho House should fix the principle that they should not work more than 45 hours a week. Mr Hu'cheson agreed. Mr Houston protested against the provisions. He said great injusticwas being done in trying to enforce this measure in country districts. Mr Bollard supported the Bill. The Premier, in reply, said the factory laws had improved the condition; of workers, and had not been detrimental to employers. The Bill was then committed. Mr Massey moved an amendment to fix the number of persons working together to constitute a factory at not less than three, instead of two. The word " two " was retained by 34 votes to 21, Mr Smith hflj tha 1 ! railway workshops and factories should come under the Act. The Premier paid the objection to this was a constitutional one. If the Government shops were brought under the Act a Government servant '(the Inspector of Factories) could order his Minister to spend money ? The Premier said he would be will I ing to accept an amendment which would give inspectors power to inspec Government factories and workshops and report. As a mattor of faot they were doing so already. In sub-section 3, in the definition of "factory," an amendment was made with the object of excluding Harbour Board picking sheds from the operations of the Bill, Clause 2 was then agreed to. Clauses 3 to 7 were passed unaltered.

I At clause 10, a new pro vis i was added, to the effect that in case of a J first failure to register no prosecution sha'l be instituted without p'rmission l of the Ohief Inspector. At clause 18, regulating the hours of employment of women and young persons, Mr Willis said this reduction lin hours o? women and young persons to 45 p?r week was going to ba a serious thing for employeis. Tbe clause would seriously affact printing offices in which boys assisted on machines.

Mr Horni-by said the recent awards of the Arbitral ion Qou.rt would oripple the printing business in Now Zealand, and would m?an the introduction of machinery, where formerly men weiv> jomployed. Eventually a mo:ion to strike out the fiub-section was negatived. Clause 28 was amended to provide that piyment of wages shall be made in full at not more than fortnightly intervals,

Ia reply to inquiries, the Premier said the Government would see if it cau}d. arrange for payment of railway hands fortnightly or weekly if the cost would not be too great. The Bill was then reported with amendments, which were agreed to, and the House rose at 4.35 a.m.

The Housp met at 3,30 p.m. Friday, Uth Ootobbr,

Mr Napier gave notice to ask the Premier if he would bring down a Bill imposing a duty on bulk timber.

Mr Flatman gave notioe to ai-k the Premier if in view of the Federal tariff he would, without delay, arraoge for a line of steamers to run between New Zealand and South Africa.

Mr G. W. Russell gave notice to ask 1 he Premier what steps the Government p-oposed to take to m«et the case of our small farmers as the outcome of tha Federal tariti".

The Hospital and ChariUbla Aid Board Bill (Bon Hull-Jones) was introduced and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward cave notice to intraduce the Public Health Amendment Cill No. 2. , Mr Seddon gave notice to move on Tuesday that a writ bo issued for the Patea scat. In reply to Mr Barclay Sir Joseph Ward s»id tbe railway service super-

onrmiitini and chsMficition schame was still under consideration.

In reply to Mr G. J. Smith, Sir Joseph Ward said the debate on the 'Frisco mail proposals would be taken on Tuesday or Wednesday next.

Hon. Hall-Jones moved the second reading of the Fisheries Encouragement Bill which extends the period during which a bonus will be paid for canned and cured fish; but p r ovides that the bonus shall cease altogether after 31at August, 1905.

In the short debate which ensued several members objected to the bonus ceasing. Brief references were also made to the Commonwealth tariff and the effect it might have on tbis industry. Mr 0. W. Russell advocated, in viev of the Federal Tariff, that the system of bonuses might well be extended to other of our industries. Mr Buddo said considerate alteration would have to be made in our tariff to meet the case. Mr Seddon s<»id New Zeiland would for a little while be inconvenienced by the new Federal tariff, and would suffer aom9 lo3f>, bat the colony would have to seek fresh markets and get steamers to carry produce to tbeie markets. He also said, " I hope to be •Able to announce to the Housa in a faw days what we intend to do in the matter. It may mean a lengthened session, but I consider the situation grave, and we will endeivoul to meet it. Further discussion followed.

The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

The Cornwall Park Duties Jfixemp<ion Bill passed through committee without amendment. Hon. Hall-Jones moved the second reading of the Education Beards Election Bill, which has already pissed the Legislative Council. It is designed to prevent scrutineers at such elections making known the state of the poll before its official declaration. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.

The Cook and other Islands Government Bill was considered in committee. At clause 2, " Lical laws and usages to continue," Mr Seddon moved an amendment ti provide that the Governor miy, by Order-in-Council, direct that any of [ the laws may be modified or repealed. Messrs Herries and Hogg opposed the clausa, which was agreed f o. At clause 3, by which the Governor-in-Oouncil is empowered to gradually introducß New Zealand laws into the islands, Mr Seddon moved an amendment to provide that the laws which had been put ipto force should ba reported to Parliament at the commencement of each session.

In reply to Mr Ell, Mr Seddon said he was prepared ti move later on that the Governor-in-Council should not have power to bring into force laws relating to the sile of alcoholic liquors. Mr. Collins moved to amend the clau-e so as to provide that the Governo- could only bring laws into forci " by and with consent of Purliim int." Mr. Seddon s'rongly opposed th : s and said if anything occurred he should not accapt the responsibility. After considerable discussion Mr. Seddon agreed to ro tpone the oltuse for further consideration. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.

Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Progress was immediately reported on the Oook and other Inlands Government Bill. The Oornwill Park Du'ie* Exemption Bill was put through its final stages. Sir Joseph Ward give notice that on Wednesday next he would move that the House resolve itself into committee of the whole to consider certain resolutions in connection with tho Vancouver, and Federal mail services. Mr Seddon said he had received a communication from Sir Maurice O'Rorke, in which he stated he was getting better slowly. He had hoped to be in his p'ace in thi Housa in the course of a few days, but his meJica' adviser insisted tha*. he should remain a short time bnger at his home. He, therefor?, a*ked the H-mss to grant him a fursber ex%'n*ion of leave. On the motion of Mr.Seddon he was granted a week's further leave of Absence. The Opium Prohibition Bill p«s>d through committee without amendment. In oommittee on the Charitable Institutions Biting Bill, Mr Seddon moved that the power to remit rates on charitable instituti ins sh mW only ap ply to any charitable institution occupying an area if land less than one acre in extent. Mr Pirani moved that the arm be one acre if within a borough, and three acres if outudn. Mr Saddon's amendment was agreed to on the voice', and Mr Pirani's amendment carried by 40 ti 7. The Egmoot National Park Bi 1 passed through committee without amendment.. j The Evidence Further Amendment Bill was parsed through committee without amendment. The Oook and other Islands Govern-' ment Bill was further considered in committee. j

Clause 4, allowing npp» a l from decisions of the High Court of the ia'a-ids to the Supreme Court o F New Zealand provoked a very long discusshn. Several members objected thit this Bill was too comprehensive in i(n character, and it would hive sufficed to havd j brought down a much less pretentious measure.

Mr Guinness pro'erted ag\inst the vesting in th) Gove'oor-in-Oouncil the power to determine wheu a Supremo Court Judge shouM go tD the islands to hear a case, and to select the judge. Ue moved au amendment to excise that provision from the chuse.