NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 874, 21 July 1910, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

JUDGE SIM. AND "OBJECTIONABLE CONDITIONS." Reference to Mr. Justice Sim's remarks at the opening of the shearers' case before the Arbitration Court in Christchurch recently was made by Mr. \T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) in the House yesterday. Mr. Taylor said that recently, in the Arbitration Court at Christchurch, the judge showed 'signs of irritation, which suggested that he was overworked. If the conditions of his workwere so objectionable that be could not conform with the ' ordinary rules of etiquette as they were expected to be observed iii' Court, il- was open to him to give up the position. Mr. Taylor asserted that Mr. Justice Sim prejudged the cafe, and admitted that ho had been influenced by the newspaper reports he liad been reading. It would never do to admit that any' Court was right to prejudge a case, and allow the nuwspapcrs practically tu take tho place of the evidence that should come before the judge; HARBOURS BILL ' ' QUESTION OF FRANCHISE, i A deputation representing the New Plymouth Harbour Board waited upon the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Marine) yesterday to urge that the existing voting powers in connection with that body should not be disturbed in the Harbqurs Bill. It was pointed out tliat the new measure provides that where members of Ijoards are to bo elected they shall be elected on the municipal franchise. The last loan of the board had been carried on the distinct understanding that the franchise was not to lie disturbed. The Minister that he would not be in the least? surprised to see the Parliamentary franchise incorporated in the Bill before it left Parliament. Thero was no danger of townspeople foiling to recognise their. responsibilities. In Oaraaru and Tiniaru, for instance, the townspeople recognised that the prosper,ity of the country meant-the prosperity of the.town. No exception could be. made in the case of - .New,. Plymoulh or any other town; All the boards with rating powers must be similarly treated. In conclusion, Mr. Millar promised to look into the question whether the boards haying rating powers (about five_ altogether) could not l>e left out of the Bill. In aiiy case the progress of the Bill could not bo further- advanced , for ten days, or more. No invidious distinctions, could, however, bo, made. MIS-STATEMENTS. BREEZE IN TEE HOUSE. There was a rather warm passage-at arms during the debate ou the second reading of tho, Legislature Amendment Bill in the; House last night. The incident arose over the attitude which the Legislativo Council. took in connection with tho Advances to.' Settlers Act. On tho one hand the Prime Minister alleged that, the ■ Council had shown a disposition to kill the Bill, whilst Mr. Massey declared that there was'really no foundation for tho statement. . ..In tho courso of his remarks, Mr. Massey referred to tho fact that' gross . miS-statcments had been circulated as to the attitude of tho Opposition, in'regard to tho proposals in question. "That statement is a falsehood," he rethe courso of a reference to one of them. Sir Joseph: I think that those words should bo taken down. Tho Speaker: The Word "falsehood" must bo withdrawn. Mr.' Massey: Certainly I withdraw it. When I used the word I- was not referring to' a statement made by ,the Prime Minister, but to a statement made at the time of tho general election. There were a number 'of such mis-statements. Hon. R. M'Kenzio: About the dairy regulations. Mr. Massey : The dairy regulations wero thoroughly genuine. ' Resuming,. Mr. Massey said that lie had in his possession a pamphlet containing this and other mis-statements, one -of which was to tho effect that he had moved to have the rate.of interest increased, and he would take an oppor-tunity-later of dealing with them as they were" entirely contrary to fact. THE GAMING LAW. In the House of Representatives to-day the Prime Minister will; bring down his gaming proposals for discussion as follows:— . - - . ■ "That in the opiilion of this House the provision in the Gaming Act, 1908, relating to the licensing of bookmakers should he repealed." . . "That in the opinion of this House tho use of the totalisator should be prohibited by law." ■'"That in the opinion of this House provision should be made-by law for the reduction of the annual number of days of racing, and. also that the number of totalisator permits issued throughout the Dominion should be reduced by onehalf." - : ' " ; , - SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. \ The Shearers' and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act Amendment Bill,, presented by Mr: M'Laren (Wellington East), defines" at length "what shall bo held to be proper and sufficient accommodation." ' It is provided that buildings for the accommodation of shearers shall be distant not less than 150.feet from the shearing shed, and not less than 900 feet from any killing-yard or piggery. . Sleeping, cooking, and eating rooms must be kept .in a clean and healthy state by the employer. Sleeping rooms must be 9ft. 6in. high, and not more than two bunks in height shall be allowed. Fireplaces with proper chimneys, chaff or straw mattresses, proper light and ventilation, wooden floors, a boiler and .washing utensils,, and other conveniences are to bo provided by employers. No sleeping room lis to be used for-the cooking or .serving'of meals. A book of 'instructions on first aid to the injured, and a proper and sufficientlysupplied mcdioine chest shall bo'provided by every employer for the convenience of shearers. All medicine shall bo charged for at the nearest town rates, with the cost of carriage added, and, in case of accident, medicine shall be supplied free by the employer. co-operat/ve labour system. Speaking in the House yesterday, the Prime Minister ridiculed the idea of requests being made for so many Royal Commissions. "If we are going to appoint a commission to settle every little trouble that, arises," ho said, "wo might just, as well shut-up Parliament for tho next seven years." Sir Joseph went on to say that these remarks wero occasioned as a result of a suggestion that' a commission should lie set up to consider the question of co-operative labour. It had been stated, but lie did not believe it, i that in seme localities co-operative labourers did not get up untjl 12 o'clock. If New Zealand had not had the co-opera-tivc system there would have been times when the unemployed difficulty would have been acute both in the towns and the country. He would not-like to see any member run away with tho idea that enormous benefits were going to accruo by dispensing with a system which had a great deal to recommend it. "Cooperative workers," rcmnrked Sir Joseph in conclusion, "have done vc-ry good work in this country."

LIQUOR AND FOOD. According to Mr. .T. A. Harian, M.P., the laws dealing with the analysis and inspection of liquor aro practically a dead letter. In tho House yesterday he spoke strongly of tho indifference of the Minister for Public Health in not actively administering them. "Under the present,conditions," he remarked, "it is open' to any unscrupulous person for private gain to adulterate or 'doctor' liquor, and sell it to unsuspecting persona witli immunity.. Such fraudulent and deceptive practices often do injury to consumers, and consequently should bo severely punMr. Hannn added that., it was

a grave reflection on the Department that the laws against adulteration both as regards liquor and food were not rigidly enforced .in the protection of the public. MR. FISHER ON.THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Discussing appointments. to the Legislative Council in tho House last night, Mr. Fisher said: "There is one member who has never contributed a word to any de-' bato since he has been'there, I' don't know how" often he has voted, but he is in the position of drawing from the country a pension of .£2OO per year—and for what? For absolutely nothing. Why, ho lias never rendered one ounce of public service, . and probably could not if lie wanted to." "TOO MUCH ELECTION." "There is a danger of too much election in this country," remarked Mr. Jennings in the House last night.. He went on. to. say that it had to be remembered that new conditions were arising in tho districts where settlement was bein<* pushed forward. The expense on small local bodies in particular was so great that if the. principle of compulsion were maintained in regard to them the present system must break down. JOTTINCS. Acknowledgments of votes of condolence passed by the House were read on Tuesday from Mrs. Trask, widow of tho Hon. F. Trask, Nelson, and from Mrs. Holmes, .widow of tho Hon. James Holmes, West- Coast-, and ordered to be recorded in tho journals of the House. A"-number, of teachers are petitioning Parliament to take into consideration the ■ necessity of " providing residences of teach-, ers with washhouses, baths, bathrooms, and necessary drainage requirements. "It is impossible to come within cooee— millions—of the voraciousness of some members," remarked the Prime Minister in the House last night, whilst referring to .tho demands which had been made for grants from the Public Works Fund.