AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11754, 3 October 1902, Page 7

AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING.

WELLINGTON, October 2.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT. .v- Shortly after 11 Messrs O'Meara and Ell joined in the discussion in opposition to the BiiU. .

Mr Gilfedder also opppsed it. Mr Pirani relieved Mr McNab in the chair, and endeavoured to limit the scope of the debate with a motion that the chairman leave the chair at noon.

Mr Fisher moved to report progress, so that the Speaker's decision should be obtained on Mr Pirani's ruling. The matter liaving been referred to the Speaker, and it being explained to him that the debate had proceeded in an orderly manner, he expressed concurrence with such .conduct, and said he would leave the chairman to interpret the rultes of debate in a liberal spirit. Mr McLachlan hoped the House would see the matter through and grant the de-benture-holders something. At 1 o'clock the debate was still proceeding- , . At 10 minutes past 1 a motion that, the chairman leave the chair was lost by 32 to 8. Sir Joseph Ward said statements had been made during the debate that were absolutely contrary to fact. The legislation could not Lave ban introduced at an eai-lier date, and the attitude of those who were obstructing the Bill had not been in any way • /provoked by the Government. The Government recognised the serious responsibility of the position, and he asked members of his party to stand by the Ministry and see the end of the obstruction so far as this Bill was concerned. The honour and creaiu of the colony were at stake, and m this . the Government had taken the i

only course consistent with the honour of tho country. ■ At 20 minutes pas* 1, after nearly nine hours' discussion, the short titlte of the.Bill was agreed to on the voices. MIDLAND RAILWAY.

In committee cm the Midland; Railway Petitions Settlement Bill, at 1.30 a.m. Mr.. Fisher moved an amendment to the clause to piwide that the sum of £150,----000 should be paid over three months after Ist December^ 1902, by which time the people of the colony would have had time to consider the proposals) in the measure.

Sir Joseph1 Ward said lie was prepared to accept the amendment, providing that the sum should be paid oni January Ist. Mi. Fisher, however, adhered to his amendment, and discussion proceeded on the lines o fthe previous nine hours. At 2.30 Mr. Fisher's amendment was lost on the voices, and, oil Sir Joseph. Ward's motion, the d'ause. way altered to provide that the stock debentures! or securities ■raised to provide : the £150,000 shall be raised at par and bear interest at- 3per cent. . rt On Sir Joseph Ward's motion, a new clause was added, providing that receipts for of the. money shall be obtained from the receiver, the attorney in New Zeaiand of the company acknowledging that such securities are received in full satisfaction of ail questions and grievances raised by the petition of the parties receiving the siame. At 2.40 the Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to. On the motiion for the third reading, Mr. Fisher entered a protest against the whole transaction, and he was quite prepared to accept the verdict of his constituents on the attitude he had taken on the Bill. Mr. Hornsby also entered a la<it.. protest against the Bill. Small requirements of back-block settlers had bsen ignored, but when it came to a question of detractors of the colony, £150,000. was deemed not too high a price to pay. Mr. Barclay, contended that but for the social and titular rank of the petitioners their petition would not have had the attention it received. Mr. Ell urged it was no* because of the social fank of "tut petitioners that so much attention had •been paid "to their representations, but because of their power to injure the financial credit of the colony. Mr. O'Meara explained! his opposition to the measure -was that it should, not have f been brought in in tihe dying hours of the .sfeesion and before the constituencies had been consulted upon the subject. Mr. G. W. Russell submitted that doing a simple act of justice to the debenture holders ■of the railway would not in any way prejudice votes that had passed for roads andl bridges already this session, and it was absurd in the opponents of the Bill to advance such an argument. Mr. Massey denied the insinuation that the Opposition had entered into-ar compact with tihe Government to support the Bill. The Opposition hlad supported the Bill because the honour of the colony was concerned, not legally, but morally, and Mr. Hogg complained "that tihie Bill had been sprung upon the House without warning and within a few hours of the close of the sessionl. Mr. E. M. Smith said the action of the cctony so far in regard to the Midland Railway had been very prejudicial to its financial interests. SiLr Joseph Ward, in reply, said the question of the Midland Railway had been before the country for. years. .He. denied that there had been any delay in. connection with the bringing;in of the Bill, or that the construction of reads and bridges wouJVd be in any way prejudiced by. the vote proposed in the Bill. He did not think the Liberal party -would sanction wholesale robbery which failure to grant the concession to the debenture holders involved. The Government had taken the responsibility of terminating a contract and seizing the railway without appeal to the constituencies, and why should not the Government adopt such a course now in bringing to a satisfactory and final Conclusion a difficult matter. The consideration that actuated! the Government in bringing down the Bilt was a sense of responsibility and a conviction that in discharging a moral obligation they were acting in the best interest sof the colony. The third reading was carried by 5.0 to 9, and the Bill passed its final stages at 4.50, Speaker Q'Rorke complimented the House on the manner in which the 'prottracted proceedings had been conducted. The following Bills were reported from comnMitte, and passed their final stages: — Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, Pharmacy -act Amendment, Tauranga Educational Endowment Reserves Bil, Inebriates Institution Act Amendment, Military Pensions, Municipal Corpciratiore and Puibac Health Amendment and Railways Authorisation Bill paused through committee. The Hoiuse rose at 5.J0.

The House "resumed at 7.30. NATIVE LAND LAWS. The Native and Maori Land1 Laws Amendment Bill passetl through, committee with technical amendments. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. The Workers' Com>per.»atiQn far Accidents Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 4, dealin^ with the application of the Act to agricultural labour, was altered on Mr. McNab'® motion to read as follows: "From and after the commencement of this Act, the principal Act shall apply to the employment of workers in agriculture.' The Hon. Hall-Jones moved a. new clause to protvide that the liability of tihe employer shall commence one week (m----fitead of two weeks) after the accident. This was agreed to on the voices. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. The Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill passed throguh committee. FACTORIES ACT. The Factories Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. The How. Hall-Jones said it was with very "Teat regret that he had to announce to "the House that it had been decided to drop .tfhe clause proposed at a previous witting relating to the half-holiday for shops and factories in smalt boroughs. Next session they would either have to pass such a clause or make the Saturday half-holiday apply to both shops and factories. ' - . Mr. Herries objected to the clause being withdrawn, but on a division the committee, by 36 votes to 24, agreed to the withdrawal. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser moved a new clause to provide that flection 31 of the Factories Act shall not apply to dentists. This was carried by 27 to 24. In the .course of a debate that ensued it was objected that unless the system of raremiums were allowed to dentists those who wished to learn that profession would have to go outside the colony. On the other hand it was objected that if premiums were permitted to be charged in one profession they ought to be permitted in all, and the result would then be that the higher professions would be closed to children of poor men. ~ _ At 10.45 it was agreed, on tue Hon.

Hall-JonEs's motion, to rqpiort progress. FINAL STAGES. JTiifl following Bills were put through their final stages —Piailways Authorisation, Native and Maori Land Laws Amendment, ■Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment, and Wailii Hospital District. A COMPROMISE. It was announced that an agreement had been com.9 to between the two Houses; on the points in disptite in the Companies Act Amendment Bill).

A Bill to amend the law relating to the width of main streets in townships was. introduced by Governor's message. Mr Duncan explained that the Bill provided thait wherei, under sipecial circum-. stances of the .case, it is in the opinion of the Minister inexpedient that the main street or streets of any township laid off on private land or on Crowm lands should be of a width of 99 feet as provided by section 17 of "The Land Act, 1892," he may, by notice in the "Gazette," authorise the laying off of such main street of such less width (but not less than:66 feet) as be thinks fit. The Bill passed all its stages. .The House then resumed, the considerar tion of the Factories Bill; in committee, and on the Minister's motion it was decided to drcip the clause relating to' dentists which had earlier in the evening been proposed by Mr A. L. D. Fraser.