GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 488, 16 September 1899, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

«. . LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THURSDAY. The Council met at 2 30. IWCTORIBB ACT. On the motion fjr the committal of the Factories Act Amendment Bill, the Hon. Mr McLean said the measure had been drafted in a mo°t one-sided manner. When the head of the Labour Department was before the Labour Bills Committee, he admitted that the Bills were compiled on the basis of resolutions passed by the Trades and Lit our Councils. Mr Rigg contended that the previous ppeaker had misrepresented Mr Tregear'a evidence, which hid e'early si.own that both employers' and employees' sucgeati"i>s litid received (qual cor sideration. Mr Macgregor looked upon it as extraordinary that the order piper should be u intiiuially filled up with nothing but Labour Bids. Apparently the time was approaching when the resolutions passed at the Trades Uoion meetings would take' the force of law. Mr Bolt thought the reflections on the Trades Unions were quite unjustifiable, moreover there was no evidence to show that the Government paid undue heed to Unionists. Mr Fraser defended the cause of Unionism, but could not believe that the Labour Department gave so'e attention to union representations. Mr Bonar entertained opinions similar to thosn voiced by the Hon. Mr MeGreeor, his belief being that these labour measures were foisted on Parliament without due consideration. Mr Pifikcrton could not see why Trades Unionists should be debarred from asking for relief and protection from Parliament.Mr Jones had no doubt that in framing the measure, care was taken to see that it provisions met whatever difficulties exited. On goitig into Committee the Bill was passed with amendments recommended by the Labour Bills Committee. The principal clause in the Bill, which is very short, is one providing that no person shall employ in any factory or workroom auy woman or girl for more than eight hours per day nor for more than 45 hours in the week, nor between six in the evening and eight in the morning. FRIDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FRANCHISE REFORM. On the committal of the Municipal Franchise Reform Extension Act Amendment Bill, the Minister fur Education moved the addition of a new clause providing that any person enrolled on a burgess roll on any qualification shall be eligible for election as mayor or councillor. Mr Shrimpski protested against this, but the Minister explained that the clause was only proposed to clear up some ambiguity which at present existed. The Council on division agreed to the clause by 27 votes to 12. The remaining clauses were passed without amendment. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. CULLEN TRU.ST. The Committee reported on the Cullen Trust Bill, recommending that it lie on the table. KAOBI GUM. The Kauri Gum Industry Act Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. MONDAY SITTINGS. The Premier moved that on Monday, 25th September, and for the remainder of the session, the House shall sit on Mondays at 7.30., for the transaction of Government business only. Mr G. Hutchison hoped, if the motion was carried, that the Premier would not press his oilier motion allowing new business to be taken after midnight. Mr J. Allen thought it was too early in the session to ask members to sit on Mondays. The time of members had been so much taken up by work that they had not time to study the question of Federation. It would be best to extend Parliament another mooth rather than impose such hard work on members. Capt. Russell had no objection to sitting on Monday, but objected to taking new business afcer midnight. Mr Pirani said Monday night sittings were always a failure until near the end of the session, which was not in view yet. Mr" Moore thought it too early in tho session to extend days of sitting. Mr Massey pointed out that the work entailed on members had been unusually heavy this session, aud objected to further demands being made upon them. The debate was.interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30. The debate on the Premier's motion that the House ait on Monday evenings was continued, and on a division being taken the motion was carried by 26 to 21. The Premier's motion that the Standing Orders be altered to enable new business to be takeu after midnight was carried, but is to apply only to Monday, Wednesday and Friday. HjVCTORAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Piemier moved the second reading of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which provides that a person by reason of absence from the colony, or by reason of not having voted, shall not be deemed to be disfranchised, if the absence does not exceed three years, or if he has not previously left the colony. It also provides that at a polling place less than 50 votes are recorded the ballot-box shall be sent to the principal polling booth for counting, and a penalty for returninp officers and registrars if not properly counted. The Bill is generally supported, but objection is takeu to the provision that the ballot-boxes where less than 50 votes are recorded shall be opeued at the principal polling booth. The adjournment of the debate was moved by Mr O'Meara at 11 p.m., the object being to bring on fresh business after midnight. A division was called for, the voting being : Ayes 22, Noes 22. The Speaker gave his casting vote in favour of the Ayes. The debate was consequently adjourned till to-day. FRIDAY. THE WRIGG CASE. The Premier made a statement regarding his promise to give an opportunity to discuss the Wrigg case. He asked tor a postponement in order that the evidence might be printed and circulated amongst members, which was agreed to. ANSWERS TO dUESTIOSS. Replying to questions, Ministers paid that thuy had received no communication expressive of feelings of indignation folt by the people of New Zealand regarding the punishment meted out to Dreyfus by the authorities of FraDce, and did not think it would be wise for the Government to interfere in the matter. With regard to the House allowance to non - commissioned otrieers recently procured from England, it was not proposed to make similar allowance to other drill instructors in the colony. That the Government had received no communication from the Tuapeka Agricultural Society asking that legislation be introduced on same tinea as the Conciliation and Arbitration Act to enable farmers'' organisations to fix a yearly minimum paying price for farm produce, in the same manner as prices are now fixed by the Conciliation and Arbitration Court for Labour Unions and Industrial Associations in towns The Premier said the question was put in a sarcastic manner. However, he pointed out that there was no parallel between the price of produce and the fixing of a rate of living wage.

That to make fortnightly instead of monthly payments to railway men would entail an extra cost of £20,000. There were advantages connected with monthly payments, and no demand had been made by the men for fortnightly payments. That facilities would be given for the discussion of the Imprisonment for Debt Bill and the Small Debts Assignment Bill ; also that a Bill would be introduced to protect small debtors against ruinous added charges and expenses in Court cases. That the evidence in the Mahanga Bay explosion had been sent to the Imperial authorities with a view to e'iciting an opinion as to the cause of the explosion, and that until a reply had been received it had not been decided whether or not a departmental enquiry would be necessary. That communications had been received from Mr Witheford in regard to a impiovel Pacific mail service. The Government had also had direct communications from the company who at present had the contract, indicating that they were buildiug vessels that would enable the mails to be delivered in London in 26 or 27 clays--. Some time would elapse, however, befoie the new service could be but the Government was alive to the advantage of the service and would when the proper time arrived endeavour to arrange for its initiation. That a leport had been received from the Captain of the ketch Envy, in reply to a statement that the vessel lfcft Wellington for Auckland in an uuseaworthy condition. The report stated that there was no truth in the statement. It was not intended to make Wellington a port of call of the 'Frisco mail steamers until the railway between Auckland and Wellington was completed, but that efforts would be made to prevent delays in delivering the mails South after their arrival at Auckland. The House adjourned at 5.30.