PARLIAMENTARY

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 11875, 30 September 1902, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 29. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr W. Kelly for the remainder of the session on account of illness in his family. BILLS PASSED. ; The following Bills passed their final stages : —Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill, West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill, Accident Insurance Companies Bill. THE LAND TITLES PROTECTION BILL. On the motion that the Land Titles Protection Bill be committed, Mr Ormond spoke in, support of a measure to afford protection against frivolous attacks against titles to lauds to be extended to Crown or private persons by the natives. Mr Tomcana looked- upon the Bill as placing the Maoris at a disadvantage com-, pared with Europeans. In raising the question as to titles obtained for nativejands. Mr Taiaroa thought that some of the cases which had been brought by natives were frivolous, but there were others that required investigation. °

The debate was interrupted by the 5 p.m. adjournment. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The debate was continued by Mr Pitt who admitted the necessity for "a provisos such as was contained in the Bill in the interests alike of the natives themselves and the holders of land whose titles mi«-ht be attacked. a The Bill committed, and reported without amendment. THIRD READINGS. The Solicitors Bills of Costs Bill, Licensing Committee and Poll Bill were read a second time and subsequently passed their final stages without amendment. The Companies Act Amendment Bill was committed.

Mr Lee Smith moved a new sub-clause to clause 5 providing that evens- director who fails within 14 clays of due date to pay'a call shall cease "to be a director. The effect of. this amendment will be that no shareholder will be ab'e to evade payment of calls 'on account of a director having failed to do so. The motion was agreed to and the Pill read a third time and passed. TIED HOUSES BILL. The adjourned debate on the motion to po into committee on Mr Rigg's Tied Houses Bill was-resumed by Mr Jennings, who defended the committee to whom the Bill was referred from the charges made by Mr Bigg that the committee had shown bias and attempted to suppress evidence in favour of the Bill. Raf erring to the provisions of the BiH he quoted the evidence given before the committee by witnesses that it would ruin them. Mr Louisson reviewed the evidence given before the committee in proof of his contention that the recommendation of the committee that the Bill be dropped was justified. At 12.10 a.m. Mr Twomey moved the adjournment of the debate, which was opposed by Mr Bigg. Mr Lee Smith ard Mr .Tones, who uraed that there should be a settlement of the ques'ion. as there was a possibility of its not again coming tip this session. Mr Twomey's motion war. carried on the casting vote of the Speaker. THIRD READING. The Waimarino County Bill was read a. third time and passed. The Courxjil rose at 12.30 a.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 -p.m. FIRST READINGS. Sir J. G. Ward introduced the Methcdist Church of Australia and New Zealand Bill, giving statutory power to change the name of the Wesleyun Church of New Zealand, conssquent on the union with the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australasia. The Bill was read a first time. The Asssts Realisation Board Lands Bill was introduced by Sir J. G. Ward and read a. first time. The Poisons Importation and Carriage Act Amendment Bill was introduced by the Hon. Mr Mills and read a first time. PETITION. The Railways Committee reported on the petition of William Cague, of Waiwakarau, who prayed for compensation for loss and damage by flood-water dammed up by the railway formation adjoining his property. The Committee referred the petition to the Government for consideration.

Mr Thomas McKenzie urged that this was a case in which the Government should grant compensation. Mr Jackson Palmer considered that if the Government gave compensation in this case it should do so in all other cases of a like character throughout the colony. NEW BILLS. The Military Pensions Act Amendment Bill and Railways Authorisation Bill wet* Introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. THE MINING BILL. A new clause in the Minim; Act Amendment Bill was brought down by Governor's Message. It provides that where a mine-owner gets protection from being fully manned the men employed shall lis wages men. Tlie clause, "the Hon. Mr McOowan explained, does not. affect mines worked by tributers. The new clause was agreed to. THE STAMP BILL. An amendment in the Stamp Act Amendment Bill was brought down by Governor's Message for the purpose of removing the ambiguity of tlie language in clause 14, which imposes stamp duty on contracts for sale of equitable interests. After considerable discussion, in wliich objection was taken to the amendment on the ground that the proposed tax would press heavily on the poorer classes. th« Hon. Mr Carroll moved to withdraw it. The House a creed to this course. AMENDMENTS AGREED TO. Tlie amendments made by the Legislative i Council in the Inspection of Machinciy

Bill and Bank Holidays Bill were agreed to. COLLEGE SITE BILL. Sir J. G. Ward moved the second reading of the A'ictoria, College Site Bill, which has passed the Legislative Council.—Agreed to. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. The Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill wa< received fr.m the Upper Mouse, and read a first and s-.-nniil tiiiu-. 'Hie House adjourned at 5.45 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. HOUSE AND COUNCIL. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Accident 'insurance Companies Bill were agreed to. | POISONS BILL. The Hon. Mr Mills moved the second reading of the Poisons Importation and Cauiage Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill provided that notwithstanding anythirg in the principal Act it shall be lawful to imp..it or .vend to any poit or place i:i New Zealand sheep dip in powder, although containing arsenic or the compounds of arsexic. i? securely packed in wooden boxes. STATUTES COMPILATION. It was decided to concur with: the resolution passed by the Legislative Council instructing the Solicitor-General to compile (under the Statutes Compilation Act passed this session) the Education. Act 1877. Licensing Act 1881 and Municipal Corporations Act 1900, with their respective amendments.

THE SUPERANNUATION FUND BILL. When the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Gnvennient Railways Superannuation Fund Bill came up for consideration. Mr Pnani asked whether the Council had not exceeded its right in reducing the contribution to be paid bv the men and thus increased the contribution to be paid to the fund by the State. He did this not with the object of imperilling the passage of the Bill, but becau.-e ho thought the House should jealously guard its privileges. Sir Maurice O'Rcrke. the Speaker, said that he did uttt. consider there had been any encroachment upon the privilege:; of the House.

In reply to questions. Sir J. G. Ward stated that the revenue that would have been derived from the men's continuations in the first year under the scale as fixed by the House was £35.200. while under the amendments made by the Council it would be £33,0C0. He" thought it safe to accept this. Objection was taken to the action of the Council in striking out the proviso to clause 14 to the effect that if the business of any railway company is taken over by the Department the continuous service in the employ of such company of any contributor shall be deemed to be sen-ice in the Department. On the other hand it was pointed out that the Government employees now ir.< the service would begin to contribute to the fund at once, whereas the employees of any private company would be able to ctmie in after the lapse of years and secure the increased benefits of the fund.

After some discussion it was decided on Sin J. G. Ward's motion to disagree with all the amendments made in the Bill and a conference -was set up to consider the points in dispute between the two Houses. NATIVE RESERVE BILL. The Poukawa Native Reserve Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Hor.,. Mr Carroll said that it was not intended to proceed further with the Bill this session, but he desired to have it circulated during the recess. BILLS PASSED. The Victoria College Site Bill and Poisons Importation and Carriage Act Amendments Bill nassed their final stages. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones moved the second reading of the P.ublic Works Bill. He explained that its chief nir.visinn dealt with the width of streets which- had been formed for a lontr time and we-e less than 65 feet in width. The Bill provided that in the event of a sub-division of land abutting on a narrow street the b:>ildi»gs should be set back a disramu of 33 f;:et from the centre of 0:c road. M.irrr mightobject to tli.» nrr.vtsir.-i rcj-inng the conrent- of the Minister -if T,a"ds in such cases instead of that of th'.- local authority. In', he defended this provision as the better course.

Mr TTerH?s r.hjc ted tint <-lai>se 8 whi'-'i provides that oi'c< f :rr , s in dispute shall be referred to. the Mi-Nter of Lands, eivo the Minister the p-nver of a Supreme Ccurt Judtre. Mr Massey obje?te! to ths action of the Goveir-ment in bringing in a Bill of this importance in the dying hours of a session. Mr Sidey <-al'el attention *r- the difficulty which -would :-rko where a read line was in. one bnro'.iHi while the land to be subdivided was *n an adjoining borough. Mr Heke hoped that a tribunal would be set rp to assess the va!>'e of ail Maori lands to b<; taker under the Act. Mr Hutelie«nn desnibed the Bill as ferocious in some of its provisions. It affected not only subdivision, .but every other transartim in land. The Hon. W. Hsll-loncs : "I will bring it down to sub-division."

A long debate ensued, in she course of which several members urged that the Bill was of such iurjiortar.ee that it ought to be held over until next session, when it could be dealt with with greater deliberation than was possible at present. The Hon. V. Kall-JoJies, in replying.

said *hnt his idea was that compensation should be pijd for eveiv inch of land taken, and he would vote in that direction. . The second reading was agreed to on the voice*. HIGH SCHOOL BOARD BILL. The New Plymouth High School Board j Bill was re-id a second time. I COMPENSATION* FOR ACCIDENTS BILL.

The Hon. AV. Hall-Tores moved the committal of the Workers Cor'n»;:satJnn for Accidents Act. Amendment Bill. He raid tint there appeared to be a ceneral leelincr among the farming r«nim»;n:ty tint agricultural labourers came under the operation of the Act ard as a Tcsult agricultural labourers were ccerally insured. This Act specifically included agricultural labourers and so s"et at rest all doubts on the point. With resard to the other provisions of the Bill he explained that if a man met with an accident and was not incapacitated for more than fourteen davs he did not come under the Act, but if his incapacity extended beyond fourteen days he was entitled to compensation from the date of the commencement of his inespneitv.

Mr Masser complained that the proposed chmsc'was not on the same line* as the Imperial Act on the same subject. The farmers- -were quite prepared to come under tie Act, but they objected to bsiiu: plat el in a worse position than the British farmers with whom they had to compete. Mr McNab, in answeTmg the objections to claims for compensation takimr precedence over mortgages, said that if they did not have that provision a man had only to work with a mortgage to get quit ef "the priority and, therefore, 'of the liability. The" debate was proceeding when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.n».