Parliament.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12595, 2 July 1904, Page 5

Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 10OJ. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Hon. W. M. Bolt (Otago) resumed the debate on the Addross-in-Roply. Regarding monopolies the only satisfactory way to deal with a wealthy . monopoly was for the State to take possession of the trade at a price advantageous to the community. Hon. F. Trask (Nelson) favoured the continuance of the leasehold system. Hon. C. Louisson (Canterbury) said ihe appointment of a Royal Commission- on - the land question meant drjlay for an indefinite period. Hon. S. T. George (Auckland) expressed* himself strongly on the importance of taking steps tending to augment the strength of the naval squadron in, Australian waters. lie would like to see an invitation given to Mr Chamberlain as well as Lord Roberts to visit the colony. The proposal to set up a High Commissioner was a move in the right direction. ' Hon. W. Beehan (Auckland) would ■ support the appointment of a High I Commissioner if it did not mean keeping an Agent-General as well. He strenuously opposed the freehold. I The debate was adjourned, and the Council adjourned at 4 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1901. The House met at 2.30. LEAVE. Three days' leave of absence was gTanted to Mr G. Fisher on account of indisposition, and four weeks to Hon. W. Hall- Jones on account of urgent ' [private business. ! FIRST READINGS. The Fire Brigades' Bill and Payment of Members' Bill were introduced by I Governor's Message, and read a first I time. The Lamps on Vehicles Bill (Major) and Farriers' Bill (Major) j were read a first time. HOURS OF MEETING. j It was unanimously agreed that for four weeks the House on Tuesdays and Wednesdays meet at 10. '.',{) a.m., and rise at 10.30 p.m. MIDWIVES BILL. Mr Seddon (Premier) moved the second reading of the Midwives Bill, to provide for the better training ofmidi wives and to regulate the practice of midwifery. It was the first of a series of measures that would be introduced by which he hoped to give Ivgilsative effect to the proposals for preservation of infant life that he had recently placed before the people. During last ten yearg no less than 20,487 children of five years and under had died in Now Zealand, and of thin number 15,7G7 were under the age of i ono year. The number of cases of death of the mother at child-birth was alao very large. Such deaths were particularly to be deplored, and something should bo done to diminish Ilu> number. By this measure they would ensure a large supply of»nurscs who had made a special study of this particular subject. ft would cost £."0 a year for the training of each nursn. The matter, however, should not be looked at from tho £s d point/ of viow, but from the point of view of their duty to humanity. His scheme contemplated having the nurses drafted to all parts of the colony, particularly in country districts. No qualified midwife would be shut out under it. Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said he approved of the bill rather than opposed it. The registration and training of nurses was quite right. Ho pointed out that no appropriation was made for the establishment of State maternity homos r<>forred to in the bill. Mr J. H. Whitefonl (Auckland) also spoke. HHr J. Bollard (Eden) supported the bill. Mr Thos Mackenzie (Waikouaiti) in supporting tho bill complained of ih<lack of telephone facilities in the bark block districts, which had frequently resulted in loss of life.

Mr A. W._ Jloqg (Miistci ton) snyovst•^(l that provision should be made foi the establishment of maternity ward-; in connection with country hospitals. Sir T. 10. Taylor (Christchurch City) thought that the public generally would appro\ e the proposals contain ed in the bill. Messrs Bennett, Biuldo, Rutherford. Jennings, Hanan, Witty, ll all, C. G. Thomson, Kirkbride, blander. Davoy, Major, Graham, and Allison expressed warm approval of the principles of the bill. In the course of his reply, Mr Seddon said he was not opposed to assisting existing- maternity homes. providing that they complied with the conditions laid down by the Government. The extension of telephones in outlying districts was a question of national importance, but only a certain amount of money was available, and the Postmaster-CJcneral had been deluged with applications. Where, however, people penalised themselves by going "out back" he thought the House would be wise in giving a spo-i vote for telephonic extension. i The second reading was agreed on the voices. FEDERAL STEAMSHIP CONTRACT. Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for Commerce) laid on the the table the agreement entered into between the Government and the Federal Steamship Company for a steamer service between the colony and west coast ports of Kngland. He said some members v.ere under an entirely wrong impression regarding this service. Tenders•■>\eie publicly invited in New Zealand and Australia, and the Agent-General m London was also communicated with. Four tenders were received, one of which was withdrawn. The tender accepted contained the best conditions obtainable for the colony, in addition to which the cost to the colony was nil. It was stipulated in tho contract that freights from west coast ports of England to New Zealand should not exceed the then current rates from London, and \ ice versa. Up to that time the rates to west coast ports of England A\ero2.j per cent, higher than to London. The Government had been trying to get rid of the higher impost, and had now succeeded in doing so. The Minister went on to say that the colony could not afford to pay the subsidy that would be required to prevent the steamers calling at Australian ports, und if these were excluded from the iti nerary of the steamers. New Zealand would not get a South African ser- ■* ice, for four times £30,000 a year. The colony could not afford to pay for a direct service. He pointed out that nearly a million poundsworth of produce had been sent from New Zealand by the Federal service. It must be borne in mind that this producehad gone to ports that had never hitherto been open to our producers, and he was assured by an expert that the opening of additional outlets had put half a crown per head on the value of sheepin New Zealand. .Mr Massey said the people ol the colony regarded with great susoicion the agreement that had been entered into. He moved that the agreement be referred to the Industries- and Commerce Committee. Sir Joseph Ward said he had not the slightest objection to Hiat course being adopted. Mr J. Duthie (Wellington City) contended that a service to the west of Kngland which landed our produce there in throe or four months' timewas of little value to tho produonr^. Mr Seddon objected to the migoes tion that the Government had done anything improper in accepting th(best tender, and it was wrono to make such a charge. Mr H. D. Bedford (Dunedin City) urged the necessity of inducing tho Federal Company to take its steamers right up to Manchester. After further debate the agreement 1 was ordered to lie on the table, and to be referred to tho Industries and Commerce Committee. REFERENDUM BTLL. Mr Seddon moved tho second read ing of tho Referendum Bill. He said tho bill was practically the bill of last year, except that clause ](> provided that the act shall not apply to any bill or legislative proposal dealing with tho constitution or abolition of the Legislative Council. Sir Willaim Russell (Hawke's Bay) opposed the bill, as he believed it was altogether wrong in principle. He did not believe 55 percent, of the electorof the colony would take part in the referendum. The Legislative Council, had never resisted tho will of the pe< pie when that will had been oxprosspressod at a recent general, elect ion. The second reading was carried by 34 to 1 1 . The House rose at 1.20.