HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11739, 17 September 1902, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2..40. DOOMED INNOCENTS. Sir Joseph Ward aniade a statement with regard to Bills that were to be dropped thia session, unless the House felt disposed to sit until the en dof November. He moved; that the * foAlowing Government Bills be discharged from the Order Paper: Public Reserves Act, 1881, Amendment, Habeas Corpus Extensions, Produce Export, Land Transfer Act Amendment, Rating on Unimproved Value Amendment, Property Law Amendment and Criminal Jurisdiction of Justices. He moved also for the discharge of all private >miembers' Bills on'the Order Paper, with the exception of the following: Licensing Committee' Quorum (Major Stewardi), Absotlute Majority Vote (Mr. McNab), and Legitimation Act, 1894, Amendment (Mr. Lawry). He added that it was intended to introduce a few more~ Bills before the close of the session, among them being the Military Pensions, Naval Contribution, Ptost and Telegraph Classification Amendment (to make necessary increase in some of the . smaller salaries in the Department), and Land for Settlement. Mr. Jamesi Al'iten inquired whether the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill was to be brought down. Sir Joseph Ward said that was too big a job to be proceeded with this session. It would occupy too much time, .. as it would require careful and exhaustive consideration, It would propose a material change in the whole system of audit of public accounts), and would provide for the post-audit system instead of a preaudit. Mr. Massey asked what was the po«ition in regard to the Shipping and Seamen's Bill and the Land Bill, which were before the Select Committee. Sir Joseph Ward said! a ■decision would be come to on them when they were reported from the Committees. Mr. Massey inquired whether it was intended to introduce an amendment of the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, so as to make it ciiear whether the Act applies to agricultural labourers. Sir Joseph Ward replied that the matter was now under consideration. He hoped to be able to introduce an amending Bill. In answer to further questions as to. this Bill, Sir Joseph Ward stated that it would set at rest the doubts that existed as to the (position of farm labourers under the Act, and would define the time for whitl. a worker shall receive the benefits of the Act. A division was called for on three of the Bills. The Public Reserves Bill wa*s struck off by 35 to 18, and the Rating on Unimproved1 Value Amendment Bill was discharged by s5 to 12. The House, by-37 to 19, .refused to allow Solicitors' Bills of Costs Bill to be struck off. The motion for tie discharge of the other Billa mentioned by the Acting-Premier was agreed to on the voices. Sir Joseph Ward moved that the report of the Publio Accounts Committee regarding correspondence relative to the payment of a pension to the widow of the late Xieutenamt-Colonel F. W. Francis should be agreed to. Thia report agrees to payment of .a pension. Sir Joseph Ward went on to say that the impression sought to be created by some members that the law officer of the Crown merely gave such legal advice as the Government wished was entirely erroneous. To attribute bias to the Solici-tor-General was extremely unfair. The IaAV officersi of the Crown, Sir Joseph Ward said, were doing their duty impartially and to the best of their ability. He explained the difference between the Treasury and Audit Office in the Francis case as to the date when Lieutenant-Colonel Francis was first certified to be ill. Such difficulty woujlid be obviated in future by an extension of time under the Military Pensions Acjb from six months to twelve, and that would be done. There was no doubt it waa a proper thing to pay this pension. Mr. James Allen did nob, object to this pension, but he blamed Ministers for not having extended the Military Pensions Act last year. Mrs. Francis would then have obtained a legal pension, but there waa no doubt that under the present conditions the pension was illegal. Mr. Pirani pointed out that by the refusal of the Government to appoint an Attorney-General, who would be a member .of the Legislature, and therefore answerable for his political misdeeds, they were able to shift the blame in cases like t the one under review on to the shoulders

lof a perniMient official. He moved as an amendment that the Government be recommended to introduce retrospective legislation on the basis of the Imperial warrant, providing for the lapse of time' being extended to twelve months. * Sir Joseph Ward opi>osed the amendment, and urged that the House -should await the amending Bill, which, he had promised to bring down this session. Several other members also took part in the debate, which was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. • MINING ACT AMENDMENT. The Mining Act Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council with amendments, which the Hon. McGowan moved be agreed to. Mr. Guinness said some very important amendments had been inserted in the Upper House, and he woudi like to see them in print. He especially referred, to the alterations made in clause 8, relating to the hours .of work underground and to tie Arbitration Court awards. The discussion was adjourned till next day. The House rose at 5.45. The House resumed at 7.30. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. The Hon. Hall-Jones laid the Public Works Statement on the table. In reply to Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward stated !he thought it was desirable to take the debate on the Statement on Friday next. THE FRANCIS CASE. The debate on the FraEicisTca.se was resumed and carried on at some* length. The House camse to a division at 9.35. Mr. Pirani's amendment was rejected by 39_to 16, and Sir Joseph Ward's motion for the adoption of the report of the Public Accounts Oammittee was agreed to on the voices. PROGRESS OF BILLS, Unclaimed Moneys Acb Amendment Bill passed1 its final stages. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Second-band Dealers Bill were discussed at some length. The Hon.' McGowan moved that the amendments be agreed to. Mr. Atkinson amoved that the new clause i(l6 B) be not agreed! to, as it placed too drastio power in the hands of the Minister to grant exemptions from the operations of the Act. After discussion, Mr. Atkinisoni's motion was carried on- the voices, and the other amendments in the Bill were agreed to. Sir Joseph Ward, in moving the second reading oi the Land Tax a,nd Income Tax Bill, said he thought the"proposal to reduce the mortgage tax by one farthing in the & would commend1 itself to the House. After disteuission, in which several members criticised and opposed tile >propos.ed remission, the second reading was agreed to on the voices.