GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Waikato Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 3469, 22 September 1894, Page 8

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THURSDAY.

The Council meb at 2.30 p.m. On the motion for going into committee on tlie Shop and Shop Assistants Bill, Mr Reynolds, considering that the people did not desire the measure, intimated his intention of opposing it till public opinion W!H more pronounced. The Bill was committed. On the interpretation clause, Mr Reynolds moved an amendment, its effect being to exempt shops in which no outside labour wa3 employed from holiday closing, his argument being that compulsory closing would entiil great hardships upon feeble people and widows, Messrs Rig? and Jenldnson hoped the fato of the Bill would be decided at once.

Mr Shrimski supported the amendment, as did also Sir George Whitmore. Mr McCullough, in supporting the Bill, said it w;iuld be] discourteous to the House and to the Labour Bills Committee if the Council were to reject the Bill before discussing the letter's amendment?. Mr Jennings pointed out that many small shops were kept by women whose husbands were in constant billets.

Mr Swanson supported Mr Reynolds' amendment, urging that great hardship would be entailed on many deserving persons and the public if small shops were closed.

Mr Jennings said it was the wish of the shopkeepers in Auckland that the Saturday half-holiday should be observed. Eventually Mr Reynold's amendment was carried by 17 to 13. Sir Patrick Buckley said that as the amendment struck at the vital principle of the Bill he thought it better that progress should be reported to allow him to consult his colleagues. This was done, and the Council rose. FRIDAY.

The Council mot fit 2.30 p.m. The Tramways Bill and the Hastings •Borousfh Loan Validation Bill were passed through their final stage;!. Sir Patrick Buckley moved the second reading of the Government Railways Bill, which originated in the House. Mr Stewart could not oppose the Bill, but regarded it as a retrograde step. He congratulated the ex-Commissioners on the manner in which they had conducted the railways during the last five years, and expressed the opinion that the country, excepting those producers who desired that their produce should be carried at ruinous rates, entertained the same opinion, Mr Rigg supported the Bill. He thought the railways never shoald have been placed under irresponsible control, and the present system of conducting the railways was gross nepotism. He did not altogether like the ptoposed Board of Appeal because the decision of the Board was not final. Dr. Grace spoke highly of the services rendered by theiex-Commissionew', and was opposed to the resumption of the railways by the State. • Mr Pharazyn protested against the assertion that public opinion clamoured for a change from the present system, as was evinced by a protest from nearly every Chamber of Commerce throughout the ceuntrv.

Mr Jennings warmly supported the Bill. The late Commissioners had refused to run trains for the convenience of the public. The railways were primarily started to open up the country and not for speculative purposes, and here the Commissioners had failed in their duty to the people.

Mr Bnwen considered the best plan to be that the State should resume control of the railways rather than leave them in the hands of the present unsuitable Commissioners, but at the same time he paid a high tribute to the work accomplished by the late Commissioners at an exceedingly trying time. Mr Reynolds did not oppose the Bill, but at the same time spoke highly of the late Com missioner »' services.

Mr Kerr supported the Bill because he believed every State department should be administered by the Government. He folt convinced that the best interests of the working-men would be conserved under the Bill. Colonel Whitmore hailed the Bill with some degree of satisfaction, as the railways would be directly under the control of responsible lunds. He considered that if the late Commissioners had been retained there would have been no need for the Bill,

Mr Kelly supported the Bill. He had always been opposed to the railways being alienated from direct State control.

MrKichardson had nothing but praise t > say, with regard to the administration of the late Commissioners, but thought it a great mistake to have appointed the Surveyor-General, Mr McKerrow, as Chief Commissioner. He should vote for the Bill.

Mr Bolt supported the Bill as he believed public opinion demanded that the railways should be resumed by the Government.

Mr Stevens defended Sir John Hall's Ministry, of which ho was a member, in creating a non-political Board to work the railways. The country at that time de manded the appointment of Commissioners in order to do away with political patronage. Many of those who then voted for the change in railway management were now anxious the State should resume control of the railways—notably, the Minister for Lands, the Minister for Libour, and Mr Lawry, the Government whip.' The Bill he fancied would prove to be entirely uncalled for and of great danger to theSUtn.

Mr Jenkinsnn strongly supported the Bill and accused Mr Maxwell of incompetency and unfairness, not only to the working men but also of lisloyalty to his late colleagues. His idea was that the State railways should be run for the purpose of opening Up the country and benefitting settlers rather than with a view of paying interest. ;

The debate wns interrupted by the dinner adjournment. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Jenkinson, continuing his remarks on the Government Railways Bill, urged that many of the crooked lines should be made straight, and suggested that the Government should have- traction engines at country railway stations to feed the Government railway lines. Mr Shrimski thought it ill became a late servant of - the Government railways to speak so ill of the service-from which he had earned his bread. It still less became the hon. gentleman to act the part of detec-

tive and spy out two officers of the Railway Department for drinking in a hotel when, as he said, they should have been in their offioe.

Sir Patrick Buckley, in his reply, said he lesretted Mr Jenkinson had made such an exhibition of himself as he had done thafc evening. He challenged that hon, gentleman to vote against the Bill in the same warm manner as he had spoken against it) and he to say he would never show himself again in Christchurch. Mr Jenkinson posed on every occasion as achampion of the people, but he Sir Patrick) assured him that the members of the Ministry had the interests of the working classes much nearer to their hearts than the hon. gentleman had. The Government would never place the railways in competition with private enterprise, and would not therefore adopt the suggestion to employ traction engines. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Gisborne Harbour Act Amendment Bill was committed and reported with amendments. The Shops and Shop Assistants Bill wiuf further considered in committee. In the integration clause, hotel bats were exempted from closing. An amendment in the same clause to conter a half' holiday upon persons employed in banking, insurance, or commercial offices was carried by 14 to 11. A proposal to exempt members of a shopkeeper's family from the provisions of the Bill was lost by 14 to 11. Inclause3, an amendment by Mrßigg to make Saturday the day {or observing the half-holiday was rejected by 20 to 3, (Messrs Feldwick, Rigg, and White). In clause 4: Chemists' shops may open on the day of holiday between the hours of 7 and 9. ■A. new subsection was added to clause 9, ite effect) being that a shopkeeper if he desiro may close his place on Saturday notwithstanding that the local authorities may have decided on another day. This subsection was carried by 12 to 7, Mr Ormond moved a new clause to the effect that all offices shall be closed not) later that 5 p.m. on every day of the week, The clause was agreed to on the voices after certain exemptions had been inserted such as shipping, newspaper, and tramway offices.

Mr McGregor remarked tbafc the Bill had been so torn about nobody would recognise it.

The Bill was then reported as amended. It was then agreed on the motion of Sir Patrick Buckley that the whole Billy re committed on Tuesday. The Council ro9e at 10.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, When the telegraph office closed at) midnight on Wednesday, Mr Reeves was speaking on Captain Russell's amendment on the Consols Biil, On division, the amendment was neeatived by 38 to 16. The debate on the second reading wa? then adjourned on the motion of Mr Montgomery, and the House rose at 1.20 a.m. THURSDAY, The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr R. McKenzie, Mr Seddon said the Mines Department reported that 220 men were under notice to leave the' Danniston coal minos, but 130. of these would again be taken on, leaving 90 out of employment. The reason was want of trade. At Mokihinui the people were very necessitous, but as to those in want 300 to 400 were nearer the estimate than 500, The output conditions of the leases of the mines in the Westporb district had not been complied with* and the Government had given notice to each of the three companies, the Westport, Cardiff, and Mokihinui, that unless these conditions were adhered to the leases would be determined. In reply to a question, Mr Seddon said it was the intention of the Government to introduco.a Representative Act Amendment Bill which would provide for the setting up of a special Commission to adjust the whole of the electoral boundaries of the colony,This adjustment would stand until there was an increase inthethe'populationsofthe various electoral district*. The Govern-, ment recognised that frequent chancres of boundaries by persons who had'no knowledge of the district was undesirable. The Bill would be introduced this session. The Government, however, did not expect to get it throughthis year, but hoped to pass' it before the next census was taken! Mr Montgomery continued the debate on the second reading of the New Zealand Consols Bill. A number of the members spoke on the question. In replying, Mr Ward reminded tho House that there was an almost unanimous opinion during the elections that something of this kind should be done to pat a stop to capital leaving the colony, as it had been doing for some time past. He denied that the Government could benefit by this money and the House evidently forerot that the appropriation would have to be taken before the votes were spent on public works as had been alleged. He disagreed altogether with Sir R. Stout that this proposal would convert the floating debt into a permanent debt. It had b«en said over and over again that the present Government were departing from the policy of the Ballance Government, but he would refer them to Mr Balance's budget of '9l, in which it was clearly hinted that a loan would be necessary. Every member of the Government knew that in all probability he would have to borrow, and were it not for the suscessful manner in which the conversion 'operations were carried on the late Treasurer knew that he would have come down to the House with borrowing proposals, He was prepared to have the Bill amended to the effect that any money that may be deposited under the Bill shall be entered in a separate account and laid en tho table of the House every year, in the same way as the Post Office Savings Bank account. That should remove any impression which the House might have as to the Government" using this money as they pleased. He was also prepared to strike out clause 7, providing that the money should be paid into" the consolidated fund, and clause 35 with reference to converting the money into stocks. This should remove many of the objections raised against the Bill. The motion for the second reading was carried by 39 to 23. Mr Ward moved the second trading of the Foreign Insurance Companies Deposit' Bill, which, after a short debate, wai carried on the voices, The motion to commit the Licensing Bill (along with several others) was carried by 32 to 22.

The Impaction of Machinery Act Amendwant Bill passed through committee without n.uch amendment.

The School Attendance Bill was com mitted,

Clause 5, referring to compulsory attendance, was altered so that a School Committee should compel the attendance of a child at school instead of the Education Board.

Clauce 9, truant' officer may prosecute, was altered so that the prosecutions may be conducted on behalf of the school committee instead of the Board.

Clause 11 was altered to provide that the penalties recovered under the Act are to go to the school committee instead of the Board.

The Bill was reported as amended, In committee on the Licensing Bill, clause 1, short title, was agreed to, and progress was then reported. The Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill and School Attendance Bill were put through their final stages, In reply to a question, Mr Seddon said the Financial Policy Sill would be taken in committee to-night. . Tho House rose at 2.10 a,m, ' x FRIDAY,

The House met at 2, 30 p.m. Mr Seddon gave notice to move that the evidence and documents of the Tariff and Industries Committee be treated as confidential.

The Tariff and Industries Committee referred the application of Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., to the Governmeht for their most favourable consideration. Tho applicant asked that the Government should grant a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £250 to the people of Taranaki to send one or more persons to England with ten tons of samples of iron to endeavour to form a company to work the coal and other mineral products of the colony. In reply to Mr O'Regan, Mr Ward said it was impossible just now to place before the House the present value and nature of the assets of the Colonial Bank and the Bank of New Zealand. The memorandum of amalgamation would not be referred to any committea until the proposals have been considered by the Government.

Capt. Russell pointed out that a meeting of shareholders was called for the 26th inst. and asked when the proposals of the Government would be brought down. Mr Ward said they would, be brought down before the meeting was. held. Hon. McKonzie moved the second reading ot the Lands Improvement and Native Lands Acquisition Bill to make better provision for the preparation of lands for settlement and the acquisition of native lands. It would, he thought, be generally conceded that of all the measures referred to in the Budget this would be one of the most acceptable. It was urgently necessary at present in acquiring land for settlement to provide for opening up such land by roads and bridges. The first portion of the Bill provided for £250,000 being spent on roads and bridges, and improvement of the land. The House would have full control of all money to be extended. The second part of the Bill provided for the opening up of the Native Land for Settlement. They had already under negotiation 780,000 acres in the King Country, 500,000 acres in the Gisborne, and Waiapu district, the balance of 130,000 acres of the Awarua block and 300,000 acres in the Wahganui district, He thought the House would agree that the Government had been doing the beat they could in the way of developing the country and opening it up by roads and bridges and he hoped there would be no obj3ction to the second reading of this Bill.

Mr Mitchelson did not oppose the Bill, which he thought was a very desirable one. He entirely agreed'with the proposal to spend £250,000 in acquiring native land. Sir Robert Stout said there was no mistake about this being a borrowing Bill for half a million of noney« He contended the Bill was an amendment of the Land Act and gave power to the Minister for Lands to allow any man to take up land on any terms be pleased, a most extraordinay pro« vision. Under the Bill there was no limit and the Government need not spend a penny in opening up Crown lands for sale. It was true the Bill was only for one year, but it meant that next year similar proposals would have to be made, Mr Seddon said it seemed nothing the Government could do would meet with Sir Robert Stout's approval. This Bill did not mean borrowing and he held the proposals of the Government were justified to meet the requirements of the colony and keep the people in the country. The people were leaving the colony, and the Government must take a bold course and.stop the exodus to Australia. He did not think half a dozen members in the House would oppose a Bill of this kind. Asto clause 4, to which Sir R. Stout so much objected, he pointed out there was a wholesome check on the Government in the House, itself, and in the Land Boards. A further safeguard was that every vote must come before the House-go that the Minister for Lands could not possibly spend this money at his discretion.

Mr Bell said the Government had done nothing to keep the people in the colony. The country was in a far worse position now than it had been for years past. Mr Pirani agreed that the Bill was wise in principle, but the area proposed to be allowed under it was too much. The Bill was calculated to d« much good. Mr T. McKenzie quite approved of allocating £250,000 for the purchase of native lands. He should assist in committer to make it a good measure. Mr Mills strongly supported the Bill. The Government generally brought forward something new, and were not afraid to depart from the same old groove that hitherto prevailed in the colony. Mr Wilson thoroughly agreed with the principle of the Bill, and believed there was no better way of spending money than by the purchase of native landß for settlement. Mr G. YV. Russell also strongly supported the principle of the Bill, but thought clauses 4,5 and 0 would lead to the worst form of gridironing that ever prevailed in Canterbury. Messrs Buchanan, Willis and Steven3 spoke in support of the Bill. Mr Buddo did not approve of such a large sum as half a million being used for the purpose laid down in the Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Messrs Smith, Thomson, Montgomery, McGowan, Hogg, and McGuire, supported the Laods Improvement and Native Lands Requisition Bill, and Mr Button opposed it,

Captain Russell said the .statistics showed that Mr McKenzie's efforts as regards pine ing people on the land were no more successful than the previous Minister's. The exodus which the Premier had referred to in the afternoon was due 11 tho fact that from the Noith Cape to Stewart's Island capital had heen alarmed by the policy of the present Government. That was one of the questions the Premier had promised to deal (vith the first day he took office, but he had not yet grappled with it, The Bill contained borrowing proposals which he wys strongly opposed to.

The Bill was under consideration when the Telegraph Office closed at midnight.