PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 2842, 21 October 1898, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

. o Per Press Association WELLINGTON, October 20. j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ! The Oouncil met at 2.30 p.m. MASTER AND APPRENTICE BILL. The Minister of Jttducatipn moved that tfhe Master and Apprentice Bill be re-sfcrred-to the Bills Committee ;

but it was agreed, on the motion of MiMcLean, tint the second reading be adjourn* d till Wednesday. OLD AGE PIiNSiOKS BILL. The dismission on the second readin? of the Old Age Pensions Bill was continued by Mr Jones?, who urged that it be passed as the performance of an act of justice to a deserving portion of the community. He combatted the argument that it would lead to borrowing, and contended that those responsible for the scheme were deserving of every credit. Mr Peacock, who had voted against the Bill last year, announced his int^ntiou oi supporting it, though he would have preferred to see a system of compulsory contributions initiated. Mr Shrimski held that the ultimate result would be destruction," as industrious people were to be taxed to support the improvident. The discussion was continued by Mr Rigg and Mr Taiaroa, both of whom supported the Bill. Ttie Council adjourned at 4.50 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Bonar regarded the Bill as unsatisfactory and immature m its financial aspects. He feared that if the system passed into law the country would be unable to bear the burden and the repeal of pensions would be inevitable. Mr Twomey justified the appropriation being made from the Consolidated Fund, and combatted the assertion that the Bill was merely an extension of the charitable aid system. Mr Downie Stewart looked on the measure as a direct premium on thriftlessness under which the hard-working men of the community would be taxed to support the lazy and improvident General demoralisation would result. Mr Bo wen expressed his intention of voting against the Bill, and Mr Montgomery regarded it with favour. The Council rose at 10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. AUCKLAND KLECTRIC LIGrHTIKG BILL. The adjourned debate on the motion that the report of the Private Bills Committee on the Auckland Electric Lighting Bill be agreed to, was rpsumed by Mr Millar, who opposed the Bill on the ground that the citizens of Auckland would be debarred from obtaining electric lighting unless they agreed to the proposals of the syndicate which waspromoting the Bill. Mr Holland opposed the Bill. The Auckland City Council desired to have power to submit to public competition the right of providing electric lighting. Mr Crowther opposed the Bill. He had received communications from the local bodies interested protesting against its passing. Mr Lowry contended that eight of the local bodies affected were m favour of the Biil, and at least eight thousand persons had signed a petition m its favour. The motion was negatived by 44 to 17. REPORT ON A PETITION. The Waste Lunds Committee reported on a petition alleging maladministration of the Laud Department m the Kaikonia district, and found that there was no foundation for the allegation. The Hon. Mr McKenzie moved that the report and evidence be printed. Mr Pirani said that the evidence of none of the petitioners, with the exception of the promoter of the petition had been taken. Mr Meredith said that every opportunity had been given to witnesses to appear, but with the exception of one witness no advantage had been taken of this opportunity. The motion was agreed to. The Premier move d that a copy of the report and evidence be forwarded to the official concerned. Mr Rolleaton thought that this was a mistake, as the Minister and not the, officers was responsible for the administration of the Department. The Hon. Mr McKenzie said that the allegations m the petition were against the. officers not the Minister. After further debate the Premier withdrew his motion. ANSWEHS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers, m reply to questions, stated that it was not true that an order had been placed by Mr Hone Heke, M.H.R., for 30,000 sleepers with a firm at Hokianga on behalf of the Government, and. that the assistant mining inspectors had been appointed by and on the responsibility of the Minister of Mines, who knew them to be competent miners. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION BILL. The Railways Authorisation Bill was introduced by Governor's message. The Minister of Public Works said that it provided for the construction of several sidings, and for the extension of the Helensville northwards line, the extension of the Whangarpi-Kamo line, and the extension of the Roxburgh line. Several members took the opportunity of advocating the construction, completion, and extension of lines m their respective districts. The Bill was introduced and read a first time. WAGEB PROTECTION BILL, • The Premier moved that the House disagrees with the amendments made by the Council m the Wages Protection Bill, and that Mr O'Regan, Mr McNab, and the mover be appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendments. After a short debate, the motion was agreed to by 32 to 21. The House resumed at 7.30 p m. DIVORCE BILL. A Message from the Governor was received, intimating that the Divorce Bill had been reserved for the Royal assent. LOANS TO LOCAL B'.DIKS BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Ameudment Bill, which he said was intended to provide that local bodies may be granted loans for the purposes of irrigation, water supply, or water conservation. The amount to be granted to any one local body was £100,000, and the amount to be lent yearly was not to exceed £250,000. Mr Buchanan urged that the rate of interest should be reduced, as the price of money had gone down since the original Act was passed. • The Premier— lf they can get better terms they need not come to usMr Hogg thought that the Bill should apply to Borough Councils m addition to County Councils and Water Supply Boards. Mr Fraser did not see that local bodies had any grounds for complaint as to the rate of iaterest chai'ged. They practically got the money at 3 per cent., the other 2 per cent, being for a sinking fund. Mr Bollard said that the House was going too fast m extending the borrow,, ing powers of local bodies. Mr R. McKenzie opposed the Bill, as he did not consider it advisable to give any local body power to add to its indebtedness to the extent the Bill proposed. Captain Russell contended that no specific reason had been shown for the Bill. He considered that the local bodies had followed the example of the General Government, and had borrowed largely and squandered the money. It wonld be folly to further extend the powers of local bodies m the direction of borrowing. Mr Massey thought that the rate of interest should be reduced, and that the present Bill should apply to Road Boards. Mr Wason said that the Bill was urgently needed m Canterbury. Injustice had been done to that district since ibe abolition of the Provinces. It was greedy on the part of northern members to object to the Bill, especially as the southern members raised no objection to a large -expenditure for the northern districts. Mr McGowan supported the Bill. Mr Rolleston considered that Captain Russell hardly understood the proposals of #je Bill, Security for loans was

amply provided for. Water supply was re essary for the development of industry and production, and the Bill marked the beginning of very great advancement m that respect. Mr Taylor said that there was a genera! desire for legislation of this character m Canterbury, as one or two seasons) ike the last one would strike a serious blow to the frozen meat industry and to the farming industry generally. Mr Moore contended that moneys borrowed under the Bill would not be spent on unproductive work, and would result m a large increase of railway and other revenue. Mr Meredith said that Canterbury had already shown itself earnest m providing irrigation. Mr Flatman said that caution wo aid require to be exercised, as the charge for irrigation works would be a yearly charge no matter whether the season was a wet or a dry one. Mr Pirani considered it was a pity that all the borrowing was not as this was, based on the principle of local responsibility. The Premier, m replying, said that if the" Bill had been introduced m the interests of Canterbury that district was entitled to it, but as the Bill was of general application there was no forcf in the contention that there was an immediate necessity for the expenditm-e of the money proposed to be lent under the Bill. The loss last season to the railway revenue through the railways not having the usual quantity of groin to carry, would pay twice over -the interest on the £250,000 proposed to be borrowed. The second reading was sgreed to. LAND DRAINAGE BILL. The Hon Mr McKenzie moved the second reading of the Land Drainage Act Amendment Bill, which was agreed to after a short debate. IN COMMTTTEB. The Government, Loans to Local Bodies .Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2, loans for irrigation, water supply or water conservation ; amendments were agreed to extending the power to Borough Councils and Road Boards where the Counties Act is not m force to borrow. A motion to include Town Boards was negatived by 34 lo 25. Me Hogg moved an amendment that loans for drainage purposes may be granted under the proposed Act. He contended that a water supply must have a drainage system to make it effective. The Premier pointed out that power already existed for raising loans for the purpose. The amendment was negatived by 38 to 19. Mr E. McKenzie moved to reduce the amount which may be. lent to any one local body yearly from £100,000 to £50,000. Negatived by 38 to 20 and the clause was Bgreed to. The remaining clauses were agreed to without alteration. ■ • Mr Laqg moved a new clause to provide that where the general revenue is sufficient it shall not be necessary to levy a special rate for the payment of the loan raised on the security of a special rate. Negatived by 41 to 22. Mr Buchanan moved a nevr clause to provide that the rate of interes t on future loans under the original Act and proposed enactment be 4i percent, in* stead of 5 per cent. The Premier said that if the amendment were agreed to he could not go on with the Bill. Negatived by 4?- to 17. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Land Drainage Bill was committed, and passed unaltered. The Natives Townships Act Amendment Bill was committed and passed unaltered. The Mining, Companies Acts Amendment Bill was committed and passed unaltered. The Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was committed. In clause 2, Mr G. Hutchison moved to exempt mortgages on land from taxation. Negatived by 33 to 27. Mr G. Hutchison moved to reduce the rate of the land tax from Id to 9-10 th d. Negatived by 41 to 15. The clause was agreed to and the Bill reported. In the Pharmacy Bill clause 1 was amended to provide for the Act coming into operation on the Ist January next. Clauses 2 to 26 inclusive were agreed to unaltered. In clause 27, qualification of a phar- ' maceutieal chemist, the provisipu that ; a person who has not leps than two months before the Ist January, 1881, carried on business as a chemist or : druggist, or a person who for not less than six months has acted as assistant, ' shall on application be entitled to be registered as a pharmaceutical chemist without registration, was struck out. The clause was agreed to ; and clauses 28 to 31 were agreed to unaltered. In clause 32 Mr Pirani moved an amendment to the effect that on the application of any person the Pharmaceutical Board may enrol as his manager the name of any fit person being a registered chemist —Agreed to. On the motion of Mr Sligo the clause was further amended to allow of friendly societies dispensaries being conducted by an enrolled manager. Other clauses were agreed to, and the schedules were under consideration when the office closed at 2 a.m.