EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14844, 9 December 1913, Page 9

EVENING SITTING.

I The House resumed at 7.80 p.m. I RANGIORA DRILLSHED BILL. The Rangiora Drillshed Site Vesting Bill was read a second time without debate. TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES BILL The Hon. A. L. Herdinan moved the second reading of the Temporary Employees Bill to enable the .Public Service Cotpmissioners to retain in the Public Service certain temporary em- ■ Sir Joseph Ward contended that the Bilt would not do what was intended. The Bill should contain a provision empowering cue Public borvico Commissioners to give permanent employincno to any temporary eleiK whose services ■•vere, in his op.mon, necessary to the public service. . , Mr G. M. THOMSON put in a plea for the casual employees in the raLway eervice, who, he was sorry to see, were excluded from the benefit of the Bill. Mr PAYNE chided the- Government with preaching political purity and yet appointing as messengers in and about tne House active political supporters. Mr G. W. HTJ-SSELL described the Bill as the most impudent back-down they had yet seen Ministers make. They had declaimed against the condition of the Public Service, but the report of their own Commissioners had falsified their condemnation, and now they were bringing down legislation which would destroy tho effect of their Public Service Act, which had been introduced for tho purpose of purifying the Public Service. Ho could only assume that the Bill was being brought in to secure votes for the Ministers or U The e Hon. A? L. HERDMAN, in his reply, denied that the Bill had been introduced at the instigation n* the Minister of Marine or himself in order to get votes. The Public Service Commissioner had recommended that this provision should be made in justice to a large number of r«°ple in tnc P«"? I,c Sorvicp. The practice of appointing temporary clerks, as was done in the past, had a most demoralising effect on the Public Service. Mr RUSSELL: And now yon are eoitig to make these men permanent. Mr HERDMAN, continuing, said these appointments would not be mnde in the same way as in tho past, and the position of those permanently in the Service would not be prejudiced by those so appointed. The second reading was earned on the voices. TRADE MARKS BILL. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN mored the second reading of the Patent Designs and Trade Marks Act Amendment Bill as passed by the Legislative Council. The motion was agreed to without debate. FIRE BRIGADES BILL. Tho Son. F. M. B. FISHER margd tne second reading of the Fire Brigades Bill which has. been passed by the Lesnslative Council. Sir JOSEPH WARD opposed the Bill generally, and particularly that provision which proposed to make insurances with Lloyd's pay a fair share towards the upkeep of fire brigades. Incidentally, he suggested that all Govern,

ment buildings should Ixs insured turough the ckiste ifire Insurance Department. Tho Bill was read a second time. LAND AGENTS BILL.

Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved the second reading of the Laud Agent* Amendment Bill. The Bill was read a second timo. HARBOURS BILL,

Tho Harbours Act Amendment Bill vras road a second time on the motion of the Hon. F. 11. B. FISHER, without discussion.