GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14521, 17 August 1911, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Per Press Association,

WELLINGTON, Aug. 16, The House met at 2.80 p.m. ltepiy.ug to questions Jdiinisters stated timi reports upuu olaiuia of old soJdx'i'd heard by .Magistrates lvoio now being compiled, aud it was hoped to have tueiu ready at an carry date, when tho Government will tous.der how best to give effect to them. A v.gorous policy of attorestation was being pursued, and a great extension of tree planting operations is coowuiplated. Tno Government was carefully ibserving the lesuits of the State note issu© in tho Commonwealth. The demands for cordite and for small arms at present are too small to warrant tho heavy initial expense tor plunt ,eto. The question of establishing a State clothing factory will bo considered. / The whole question oouceraini: tho employment of shunters is at present engaging the Minister's attention. The basis on which the railways superannuation fund was established will not permits of the benefits of ;he fund being further extended by, the proposal to allow persons to continue their contributions after their retiremeut foom the service. The Government is not prepared to hand over to three irresponsible men (two of whom are railway employees) the administration of the railway which is the largest; of the State Departments. The freight on imported timbers could not be reduced. The question of the pay of railway men is now engaging the Minister's attention. An actuary is at present engaged oh an examination of the publio service superannuation fund, and expects to have his report ready next month. The educational syllabus is now under eons.deration, and any rearrangement will follow generally the lines suggested at the last conference of inspectors. It is not intended to make any money grant to members of rifle clubs from New Zealand when they desire to attend meetings in New South Wales. It is not at present intended to Temove tho preferential duty fronV plant aud machinery required for borine for petroleum. The proposal to transfer to local bodies in whose districts unoccupied Crown lands are situated, such lands being inalienable endowments, could not be entertained. The question of extending the guarantee of Id per pound to mart season s shipment of apples is under consideration. During the discussion on answers to questions Mr Massey stated -that the way old soldiers were treated was a disgrace. He ' was quite prepared to vote 10s a week to all veterans "ho could prove service during the Maori WaJß ' DAYLIGHT SAVING. In the evening, Mr Sidey moved' tn© second reading of the New %&>\xbA Mean Time Bill, which was before the House last sess.on as the Daylight Saving Bill. The measure provioes that on the last Sunday in September at 1 a m. all clocks in the country shall be put on to 3 o'clock, and on the last Sunday in March all clocks shall be put back one hour. He pointed out that already one •of the Australian States had followed the hint from the Bill, aud similar Bills were before the ether States of the Commonwealth. At the present time a large portion of the public opinion in New Zealand was in favour of the proposal, and a petition was to be presented to Parliament, for which athletic bodies were mainly responsible, in support of the Bill. It would contain some three or fo,ur thousand signatures, and would be one of the most representative and influential petitions ever presented to the House. Th carrying into effect of the provisions of the Bill wero extremely simple, and nothing need be altered by the clocks beinsi altered. Mr G. M. Thomson said he oould not support xhe Bill. ' He would like t» hear what milkmen and those engaged on morning newspapers had to say about it. The best scientific evidence, taken by a committee of the House last session, was against tho proposal. Mr Fisher contended that such a measure would benefit the working man, and allow him to get out with his children in daylight. It would also benefit school children in the matter of home study. Mr Poole stroiigly supported the Bill. Its economic aspects in the matter of the saving of light, taken with its athletic and amusements benefits, were in favour of the measure. After some further discussion the Bill was read a second time. GAMING AMENDMENT BILL.

Mr Jennings moved tie second reading of the Gaming Amendment Bill. He stated that as jar as country clubs were concerned with the racing commissioners report, the reduction of permits had given the greatest dissatisfaction. The allocation of permits, to his mind, had not been done in a fair way. The Bill appealed for the mercy of the House to tho clubs mentioned in the Bchedule, some of whom have been in existenco for over twenty years. The Racing Commission had reduced racing by 43 and trotting by 11 days. His Bill only asked for an increase of 14 days. Country clubs had suffered severely. Metropolitan clubs were reduced four days, country clubs 39, aud seventeen of them had been wiped out altogether. Last year's Gaming Act had resulted in increased gaming and sent it into towns, as was evidenced by the extraordinary increases in totalisator receipts. He was of opinion that the issuing of permits should not be left in the hands of the Racing Conference; they should be in charge of the Minister. Mr Forbes regretted the necessity for the introduction of such a measure. It showed what could happen when powers were delegated to boards. The Racing Commission had not carried out the wishes of Parliament. Thoy had reduced the days of country clubs, where betting was not heavy. The purpose of tho Gaming Act was to reduce gambling, and instead of doing that it had reduced the amount of sport. Mr Field held that there was a necessity for reduction in the days 'of racing, but not of such a sweeping nature as contained in the Commissioners' report. It had been understood that clubs holding only one meeting a year would be preserved, but that had not been done.

Mr AVright was forced to the opinion that the whole system of borso racing revolved round gambling. Ho thought that an extension of time should be allowed those clubs wiped out by the Commission to enable them to wind up their affairs .without loss. He considered the Commissioners were justified in any action they had taken.

Mr Colvin said that tho Commissioners went out to the Wostport course at night with lamps, and then recommended the wiping out of tho club, which had been racing for forty years, and which had never had a complaint against it. Mr McDonald considered that very great injustice had been done to country clubs throughout the Dominion.

Mr Taylor siiiil lie was never sijssij'ijmc lioi'ho "racing, bub the present debute had shown Unit tlin wljulci system 'if racing-' was centred round tho gambling machiiio. Ho was thoroughly disappointed with the Coramesionors' roportj the wholo idea of which hud been to centralise and add to the wealth of Metropolitan Clubs. Mr JPearce supported the Bill and Mr Pool© opposed it, though ho was in favour of a complete redistribution of permits. As a protest against the increase of totalisator permits he must oppose the Bill. Mj Scott supported the Bill, and Mr Glover did likewise.

Other members spoko for and against tho Bill. Sir James Carroll said, #itb regard to the finding of tho Commission, ho did not disagree with the opinions expressed by some members. The Government had to stick to the Commissioners'; findings because they had entered into a contract to give the Commissioners findings twelve months trial.

Several other members having spoion, Mr Jennings said he was propared to accept any reasonable amendment tho House would propose. The House divided, and the second reading was carried by 35 to 16. Tho ;on!y Canterbury Club named in the schedule is North Canterbury. The House rose at 12.65 a.m.