PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3625, 22 August 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. • .. ' WELLINGTON, August 21. , LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READING. The Gaming and Lotteries Bill, 1901, was read a first time. RETURNS. ■'.. Mr Ormond moved for a. return of all the sire horses imported by the Government to date, with their cost landed in the colony, their class, where each horse is stationed, and the fees. He said that there were many better horses in the colony than those- which had been imported, and doubted whether there had been sufficient care in selecting the horses. The Minister of Agriculture said that the horses had been selected by the best man in the Government's service, and the horses had been carefully chosen with a view to introducing the best new blood strains. • He promised to furnish the return asked for. Mr Ormond's motion, asking for a return showing the quantity and nature of the lands purchased under the Land for Settlements Act was further discussed and carried. BILL PASSED. The Wellington Harbour Board Act, 1879, Amendment Bill, passed its final stages. THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS BILLr A motion by Mr W. C. Walker, that the Cotincil do not insist on itß amend-ments-in the Land for Settlements Act. Amendment Bill was carried. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. In the absence of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Mr Guinness took the chair. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Three days' leave of absence was granted to Mr Witheford on account of illness. .NOTICE TO INTRODUCE. Mr Carroll gave notice to introduce the Maori Lands Administration Act Amendment BilL FHtST READINGS. The Greytown Reserves Vesting and Disposal and Enabling Bill, and the Levels and Waimate Counties Boundaries Bill were introduced and read a first time. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to a question, the Premier, who was asked if he would consider the advisability of amending the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act with a view ofmaking it clear as to whether farm 'labourers came under the provisions of the Act, said he was quite satisfied that the Act did not apply to that class of labour, and that it was owing to the action of self-interested insurance agents that an impression to the contrary effect had been spread amongst farmers. Other Minister* replied to questions.stating that funds were not at present available for establishing -an iron foundry at Hillside workshops ; that an effort would be made to have the native names of railway stations correctly spelt; that enquiries would be made as to the necessity of erecting a lighthouse at Oeo Point, Taranaki; that the question of the pay and hours of ser.vioe of attendants at lunatic asylums was under the .consideration of the Government. In reply to the question—How is it that 81 artisans and 1062 labourers are employed on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, while only 18 artisans and 404 labourers are employed on the Midland Railway, 9 artisans and 248 labourers on the Blenheim-Waipawa line, and 36 artisans and 484 labourers on the Otago Centra! Railway," Mr Hall-Jones said that the facilities for placing men on the ground and the importance of the work were the reasons why the North Island Trunk Railway was-so fully manned. . Other .questions elicited answers that in the event of the Government acquiring 16,000 acres of the Lyndon estate, a report wou).d be obtained on the advisability of reserving land for a railway from Culverden to Hanmer Plains; that the Native Land Administration Act passed last session would shortly be brought into force. The House Tose at 5.30 p.m. RABBIT NUISANCE BILL. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee on Mr Hogg's Rabbit Nuisance Act Amendment Bill. In reply to Mr Meredith, Mr Duncan, Minister of Lands, said that he did not think the Bill was required, and that if it passed, rabbits would become as great a nuisance as they had done in the past, and that • great depreciation in the value of pastoral property would follow. He believed that under the Bill it would be impossible to get a conviction against an owner of property who neglected to deal with the pest. He moved to report progress on the Bill. Negatived on the voices. On the; clause which repeals Section 9 of the Babbit Nuisance Act, 1882, • and enacts in tits stead that if in the opinion of the Magistrate an occupier fails to take steps to 4estroy rabbits he shall be liable to a penalty, a discussion: at some length ensued, s ; , Captain; Russell contended that it would be a retrograde step if the matter were left to a 'Magistrate to decide upon evidence adduced only whether rabbits were

a nuisance, and that the drastic provision of the present Act in accepting the_ evidence of the inspector was necessary to

prevent the spread of the evil. Mr McNab objected to the provision in the Act of 1882. making an inspector's evidence final as to whether or not rabbits existed on "a property. In spite of all that had been said against the Bill he hoped it would' pass. Mr T. Mackenzie thought it contrary to the spirit of British law that a man should be fined upon the unsupported" testimony of an inspector. He was of opinion, however, that as the export trade in rabbits increased the nuisance would thereby be kept within bounds. Mr W. Fraser was opposed to anything

that would detract from the Department's effort to stamp out the rabbit nuisance, but thought that the power vested in the inspector was too drastic Major Steward said that settlers were

of opinion that legislation with respect to the suppression of rabbits was now no longer necessary, and were strongly opposed to the anti-British policy of condemning a man unheard.

Mr McGowan thought that the question was one of sheep v. rabbits, and believed that so long as it paid settlers to export rabbits it was more than human to expect that vigilant steps would be taken to destroy them. After considerable discussion that portion of the clause repealing section 9 of the Act of 1882 was struck out, upon Mr Hogg intimating that a new clause making a general provision for the repeal of the conflicting portions of the principal Act and its amendments would be added to the Bill.

Clause 2 as amended was agreed to. A new clause was added on the motion of Mr Hogg, to provide that after: one month from date from conviction! if, in the opinion of the adjudicating • Magistrate, the occupier of land has failed to take diligent steps for the destruction of rabbits, • a further penalty not exceeding £2O per month and not less than £5 may be imposed. * A new repeal clause was also added in accordance with Mr Hogg's intimation. The Bill was then reported. LOCAL BODIES LOANS BLLL.

Mr Palmer moved the second reading of the Local- Bodies Goldfields Public Works and Loans Bill to facilitate the construction by local .bodies of public works in goH'-mining districts and the raising of money therefor. He thought that the Bill should go before the Public Accounts Committee, and, therefore, moved the second reading pro forma. Mr Guinness, acting-Speaker, pointed out that as this was a loan Bill it could only be introduced by Governor's Message. It could not be introduced without the consent of the Crown.

Mr Palmer said that he had brought the Bill under the notice of the. Speaker, Sir Maurice O'Rorke, who had told him that it could be with. Mr Guinness retorted that he had nothing to do with any private ruling. He adhered to his ruling that the Bill could not proceed without the consent of the Crown, bub in order that hon. members might have an opportunity to further consider the matter he suggested tße postponement of the second reading. Mr Palmer adopted this suggestion, and the second'reading of the Bill was postponed for three weeks. EIGHT HOURS BILL. ' >

A motion.for ihe .further -.consideration in committeeof Mr G. W., Russell's Eight Hours Bill was negatived' by 32 to 20. SHOPS AND SHOP-ASSISTANTS BILL. Mr Barclay's Shops and Shop-Assistants Act, 1894, Amendment Bill'was further considered in committee.

Clause 4, which proposes, to give demestic servants' a weekly half-holiday, was discussed at. great, length. ~..; ..... Eventually Mr Barclay agreed to abandon that portion of the Bill relating to domestic servants, in order to save tie rest of the Bill. - '<■..■■ Clauses 3 and 4 were thereupon struck out. . . . Clause 6, which provided that the Act should be incorporated with the Shops and Shop-Assistants Act, 1894, and its amendments, was also struck out. The Bill was then reported with amendments. The House rose at 12.15 a.m.