PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13438, 9 November 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Nov. 8. The Council met at 2.30 p.in SEA FISHERIES'. The Sea Fisheries Bill was read a, first time. FINANCE. Mr Pugg gave notice to move "That the Government be recommended >Lo introduce a. Bill to provide for efficient, means for utilising the credit of the dominion, in times of panic so as to rosilore public confidence.'' , POLICE OFFENCES. The amendments made by the House in the Poliesi Offences Bill were agreed to. INFANT' LIFE PROTECTION. The Attorney General moved the second reading of the* Infant Life Protection Bill. Mir George seconded th-a motion. Mr Collins heartily supported the Bill. It was desirable to put infant, homes under the control of the Education Department andl the Bill ensured the; greatest care being exercised in the selection of foster mothers. Mr Paul approved of the Bill. He said that flip rich people of this country did not live up to their responsibilities. If these people did not do so the State would eventually relieve them of that responsibility. Several other members approved of the Bill which was read a second time on the voices and committed.

At the instance of the Attorney-General it was provided that the Bill should come into operation on January Ist, 1908, •Clause 5 hvas amended on the motion, of the Atomey-General by striking out the requirement's for a license, and leaving the power of granting applications: in the hands of the Minister.

Sub-section 2, clause 9, was amended by making payments "in-respect of the maintenance of illegitimate children, compulsory until they liave reached,-the age of 15 years instead of < 14. 'The Council • adjourned, ati- 5 p.m. till 8 p.m.. . ; -r ■:"}': ''''•:■''".. ;■ ' ■ /'•'.'■ On the Council resuming clause 8 was on the motion,. bfr'-Mr" Collins amended ta direct that in- case of an infant's death in a foster home the coroner shall secure a report .from a, registered medical practitioner as \ to the cause of death, the holding of/;a post; mortem being left trj the coroner's .discretion..f , //'. .::.■..... On the motion of Mr Beehan sub-clause 13 was amended to ,cause the surname of a fatlie'r to be'registered as the surname of an illegitimate infant. . , ■■i Clause 15/waS/3truck tfut. . ;

"Mir Callan moved' a new clause giving Magistrates power to exclude the public from a Court during the hearing of under the Industrial Schools Act. With these and other amendments of a less important character the Bill was reported, read, a third lime and passed. The Council rose -at 10.5 p.m.

HOUSE 'OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS.

The Hon. Mr McG-owan gave notice to introduce the Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill. 'T'lxa Hon. Mr Millar introduced the Ctago Presbyterian Church Board of Property Act Amendment Bill and it was read a first time.

The Piem'er introduced the Parliamen tarv Executive Titles Bill. POST AND TELEGRAPH^

In moving the second reacting of the Post and Telegraph Classification Bill, the Premier explained thai .the. classes had been reduced from 32 to 17. consequently promotion would be more 'mpid. Clause 5 provided for an efficiency test- before passing fiom one cla.ss to another. Referring to offices which were under junior postmasters' he explained that if an office grew rapidly the postmaster would have to give way for another officer with longer service when the office-itself was raised to the higher class. The maximum salaries of the secretary and .superintendent of electric, lines weep being jaised to what the Government considered was a reasonable figure for the' responsibility and work of these officeir.. Referring to the first class of the clerical division, he explained that the offieeis would not be promoted 1 to the class merely for the purpose of placing them there, but would be promoted as the supervision of the iseivice i-lemauded. Refeiriug to messengers, the Premier said that boys entering the service at 16 years would at the end of 12 .years be receiving £220. The total amount involved under tho changes was £7OOO for first year, and £3700 yearly afterwards. The .proposal he added were made as a measure of justice to an important branch of the service* which deserved well of the' public. Mr Massey end'oieed freely the principle of the Bill, and urged that ii the State was to attract the best men they must see that the servants were paid in accordance with their responsibilities, and promotion was forthcoming. If the .service was not satisfied they could hardly expect it to be effi- - 'cient. The Bill was largely a technical one, and he thought it should have been brought down earlier. Even now, though they were within a fortnight or ten days of the end of the session, he urged the Premier to refer the Bill to a committee, so that they could go thoroughly into it. Mr Hanan, in supporting the Bill, was pleased to eea that ability was to be recognised. Hitheito many petitions had only length of seivice to recommend them. Mr Jennings introduced the subject* of country post offices which were carried on by" storekeepers. He contended that £5 was too little for the sei vices rendered. „.,,,. Mr Hornsby regietted that the Bill had not been brought down earlier. It was not rigbt to ask postmistresses in country towns to discharge the dutieb for the miserable pittance they leceived. If the country was able to grant concessions such as sending 4oz. letters for Id to the public then it was up to us to increase the salaries of lower ranks ot the Postal and Telegraph Department. Mr Arnold said he had not been able to go thoroughly into the merits of the Bill, but he would do so later. 1 The Premier said that Mr Massey must , have overlooked the work the Govern- | ment had done during the session when he urged that the Bill should have come down earlier. Replying to the suggestion of Mr Massey the Premier said that an opportunity already existed for a boy entering on tne lowest rung of the/ladder to to the top. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. , * RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION. The Premier in moving' the second reading of the? Government Railways Depart* ment Classification Bill, stated that criticism had been, madtj that other Departments were better treated in regard to salaries. The average salary in the Railway Department (not including cadets) was £2OO per annum, £177 in Post Office, and £215 in the Civil Service. Including cadets the averages were railways (which included a far larger proportion of cadets than other departments) £149, Pobt Office £152 and Civil Service £lB5. In committee he would move that cross-ing-keepers in busy districts and blacksmiths on special engine work and men in charge of steam rollers, should receive 6d per dav extra. He explained that the Bill provided that no married man should receive lees than £l3O a year, and. that no officer over 22 years of age should receive lo»s than £IOO a year. As to the second division he was willing to place them on, the same level in regard to privileges, allowances and hours as the first division. The

total extra, expenditure upon the Bill amounted! to for tlu- first year £84,772, and with the addition of overtime, £106,272.

Mr Mnssey, referring to the Premier's comparison between the RaihVay Department and Post Office and Civil Service, eiiid it was not fair comparison, as it did not give the hours worked by the men in each department. The officeis of the Railway Department did not complain so much iui tho matter of pay as of. hours worked. He protested against the rushing through of the Bill, which lie argued should have been brought down at an earlier stage to allow of it being understood bv members.

Mr Wilfordl congratulated! the Government on the Bill. • For the •first unie the Department waa dealt with generously and for the first time for many yearn the men in the loco, branch had got an increase. He commended the Government to consider the case of iron machinists and blacksmiths, and congratulated the Government on having increased labourers' wages from 7s 6d to Bs. Mr Hornsby said he would reserve his remarks on the details of the Bill for the committee .stages. He contend'ed that differentiation had taken place in the ca.se of the rank and 1 file and 1 the highersalaried officials in regard to entering busine.?.s outside the Department. He instanced a case of an official in reoaipt of £6OO a year who had a sheep run, but nothing wars said by the. Department on the matter, whereas in the'.'lower ranks those who might keep a fruit or confectioner's shop had been compelled to give up their business. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. (Mr 'Homsby resumed the debate. He urged-that enquiry should be made into the allegations regarding wrongs that the rank and file suffered at -the hand® of higher of trials.

Mr Sidey referring to promotion contended that all things-being equal seniors should obtain promotion first. Mr Hogg considered that it was an injustice .that youths over 'l9 years of age could not enter th©' service until they •were 24 years of age. '• He ■ was pleased to see that this disadvantage had been somewhat minimised. Mr Hogan urged that " complaint inspeelors" two for each island should be appointed- to travel about and obtain infoimation as to grievances' from thei men them reives, and report, to the head office. The Premier in reply said it was futile of members. 1o siijrthat mechanics- and blacksmiths in the railway service were not' as well paid as , tradesmen outside, tjliei fDtepartmenV. In Christ-church the minimum wane for'q. flifer wns 83 per day and In Dtined'n. th& maximum was 12s per day, whilst the minimum rate in the railway service; was 9s 6rl and the maximum l?s 6d per day. The Piemier also cited instances -of turners to show that those in. the railway rervic°. were in a batter portion than those outside. The Government hadl given .eveiry consideration to the suggestions that had made , and as tlie Government had ■ sriven notice to take over the Manawaut Railwny at what was considered* a proper lime ill would moan that the'fullest eorisideration would have to be given the officials of that railway when t)iey became. 'Slate servants. ' ' . The second reading was agreed to, on the voices. , THE PUBLIC SERVICE. In moving the second reading of "the Public Service Classification' Bill the Premier said, there was a, general opinion 'that the scattered departments of the Public Sendee should be brought tinder apne' organised classification* It was diffi- ' 'cult to devise classification, and it ,wa« not possible to give 'an approximate, idea of what classification of the Public Service wo"l'd mean. Under lhe'Bi'l rt n Pub* lie F«rvice Classification Board would bo established consisting 1 of a Minister of the Crown and such officers of tli.6 first division not exceeding' 10, 'as the ' Governor mav from time to "fane appoint. The fii"t, -division was confined to heids of thfl departments; the' .second . division.', would! be determined by J-he' Board: the third division consisted, of classes ,with .v minimum salary of £4O per . annum: ranging to a max'mum of £SPO per' ahminV. Officers of the: fourth division wb»ld alsrf hz determined .by the Board. The Bill

provided that permanent officers shall be nil those- who had been in the. service five yeai-s; continuously ( ' The Ma«sey said the Bill'contained the germ of what he bad advocated for* «. long time, the Public Service Board. Ru'b the present proposal' in this 'respect did" not go far enoueh. He looked forward" to the <ime when the Public Service Board'would have the solo right of recommending persons for appointment to Hie public service ' so that applicants who had a "pull" on some high political personage' would not "et appointment. For' that reason alone he did not approve of the Board rccomirfoiidiing and practically larrantrimg ifoa i.alari-s of public service officials. ThaH was ihe exclusive right of Parliament and slm"ld not be delesratei it" anyone.

The Premier in i-eply said be was auice prepared in regard .to the Board to remove wnv chance of political influence being used by members'of Parliament and was prenared to submit a. clause making it illegal for members of Parliament to endeavour to influence the transfer promotion of officers. fThis would Iv* better for the sm-ieei 'and the country and belev for members of Parliament also. He could not agree wi'h Mr Massey's sugpiaHion f hat the' Publi" Service ' Board - should hav.fl the sole rii-ht of making np-, pointmerot" to the public service. He. agreed with Mr Massev.that it was very undesirable to allow the Public .Service. Board to arrange salaries and siiti'danse. 8 of clause 7 Was included in the Bill for

thai, purpose. The second rending was agreed to on the voices. ' FLOUR, MONOPOLY. 'The Have -wen*- into Conttnittee on th?>'Flour and Other Products Monopoly Pre.- ■ ventinn Bill. ' ' ' •>• 10 n <bei motion of the' Premier clause 3 providing that the Oredr-in-Council remits linff the duty may be revoked 'noifc earlier , Ihnn four months wa.s restored to three months as contained in the clause before goinir to the Commercer Committed.' P The Bill was read a third,,time, and / passed.

FACTORIES. The House went into Committee on the Fantories Act Amendment Bill. , , " ' , lAib sub-clause. 2 of clnaw 9,which provides that in *i borough hiving a population of le«s than 5000 where, a 'factory and shop are combined under one manasrement it shall be sufficient compliance with the Act if the occupier of the.''factory .allows a lvalf-holidav on th° 'H'.utorv shops half-holidav in liem'of Paturdav, 5000 was stnick out and 8000 inserted, the foregoing only to apnlv" where th", bonds in the shoo Qxceed the hands in the faetorv. A. farther clause was inserted- that t™e-n-nvi<s:on sha'l not apply to cominerto districts. , . , The Bill was read a third tane and The Home adionrned at 1.40 a.m..