PARLIMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 8

PARLIMENT.

: the council. local bills. When the Legislative Council met at 230 yesterday afternoon, tfe Local i t Committee reported on the hatch 'to th? 11 BlU ® whic ° *>? d been referred to the committees on Monday. I n €a ch in? c , om '^ tt < !e ,recommended that £n -n i •' lllowe(I to Proceed. The ' s , Iri , ! be Presented for second read, nig to-day. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave no- ■ tico to move that the standing orders bo suspended so as to allow of Local Wills, after being reported by the committees, .being.passed through all maming stages at one sitting. STATE BANKING.' ' tli^ri 3 - 0 "' J ' T ; (Otago) asked tl e + Chairman of. the State Bank and G ' lr ro nc y Committee when the report of the committee was to be pretented.to- the Council. . 1 tw 6 ? n " X ? ELLY ' in reply; 'said ' that as far as be was personally concerned, lie would hive been prepared.- 1 io Jot the'report on the table a.week ?go. a lie report had been delayed owing to the difficulty in getting the evidence from the printing office". He would call a meeting of the committee for to-morrow (Wednesday), and tha dhtely wou ld be attended to ' imaicy SECRET COMMISSIONS. The Secret Commissions Bill was pttS through its third reading stag? £5 passed without discussion. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. Speaking on the third reading of th« National Provident Fund Bill, the Hon. J. E. JENKINSON (Wei- ; hni+ T.n expressed the opinion :thafc better benefits could be- offered to conHo 'rtM™ Ff r e offered in the Bill. wa- fh : the Public Trustee tn vori +? surtable sour ce in which hpft«T H T^ 6y - Would noi bo better, he asked, to put " the wholescheme into the hands of the Govern- ' menfc Insurance Department, if the Gov. sS^fhA —j] ■ disposed to' subsidise the friendly societies. He believed the friendly societies could carry out the provisions of the Act cheaper than any Government Department, but, Tniin-nn Vi th ° u Eht Government Insurance Department would' be best W? W M k ' Ho might also be able to provide some scheme of insurance against unemployment! He was totally opposed ■ to the State aiding any fund whereby pensions should ba granted .to persons who were able to help themselves.' < Tll a Hon. J. BARR (Canterbury) ex* pressed the opinion that the Bill woul<? have to come down at an early dat< for modification. At the same time, he agreed with the principle of thfl 'I;' which was a family man's Bill • • The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said'he ' recognised as fully as anyone that ? e i - i Y- as - . th ? .beginning; of a species of legislation which would, be improved* as the years passed. We must wait and see what experience proved in tha operation of the Bill.. If the Govern, ment could be more generous to con-' tribmors to-the scheme it would be .so* In ttfis measure the State was offer*' mg better results than could be obtained from any Friendly Society. or any other- public institution. He. had' no doubt that there was a useful career' v before theßill.. He was-not sure that the administration of the measure should not be placed .in 1 the hands of the Government Life Insurance Department, The. suggestion in this direction mad< "by ' ;Mr._ was well worth consideration and he proposed to ask tha Government to consider the suggestion before next session began. • reading was agreed' to r a»i the Bill was passed. TARANAK! SCHOLARSHIPS. ' •The third reading .of the TaraaiaH Scholarships Endowment Bill .was agreed to without discussion arid the Bill waa passed. NEW ZEALAND LOANS AMEND' MENT. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL move<2 tlie second .reading, of the Nerr. Zealand. Loans ,Amendment Bill which, waa agreed, to withput, discussion. The Committee.': stage iof .the . Bill was'sei dowm for to-day. , OLD ACE PENSIONS. In moving the second reading of ths Old Age Pensions. Amendment Bill; - ■ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL briefly outlined the principal provisions of the ' measure. The second reading waa agreed to without discussion. HARBOURS AMENDMENT. In Committee on , the Harbours : Amendment. Bill,, : • The Hon. J. ANSTEY. moved : an amendment' to have the borough franchise instituted at elections in combin- ' ed districts'. . This was rejected by 16 votes to 14.. •A new sub-clause was added by tlie Attorney-General to prevent double voting by shipowners arid 'payers of dues at elections. Sub-Clause 7 of Clause 13, which provides for the date of elections was deleted and replaced by a' clause . reading that elections shall be 'held on the dny appointed for ' the election, of members, of borough | councils. In Clause 16 covering the qualifications of representatives, and providing that f'no person other than an elector of,a local authority entitled to vote at an election of a member of the board shall be capable of being elected a member of a board," the words "an elector of a local authority" were deleted and tlio word "person" inserted. 1 " Subsection .F. of Clause 16 caused some discussion.. This subsection, deals with disqualifications, and reads: . —Any person concerned or participating (otherwise than as.a member of an incorporated company in which there are more than : twenty members and of which he is neither a director nor the general manager) in any. contract with, or; work to be done on behalf of, or the supply of goods for, the board, If the payment exceeds £5 for any one contract,, .work, or supply,' or : £10 altogether in any one. year if more" than one contract, work, or supply. The Hoii. J. E. JENKINSON moved that the limitation of membership be reduoed from twenty to ten. This he subsequently withdrew;. • • » Tho ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved that the limitation of £5 be increased to £25, and that of £10 t0.£50. This »'os agreed to. The schedule was amended to profide that representatives of,'payers of lues need not themselves by due pay- , !rs. This amendment applies:only to Auckland, Lyttclton, Bluff, ,t)tago, and Wellington Boards. . v The Bill was reported with, amendnonts. ■ " LICENSING BILL. ;Consideration of-the Licensing Bill ri Committee was postpone^'until 2.30 his afternoon. The Attorney-General aid he had only completed his final evision of tho Bill and- the proposed .mendments at 7 p.m., aiifl-owing to he.pressure at tho Printing-office, the upplemontary Order Paper was' not yet vailable. He was anxious 1 that tho mendments should be in tlip hands of ho members before the Bilj'-was com- " ' litted, and he, therefore, asked that he Committee stago of tho .'Bill should ' e. set down'for 2.30 on Wednesday. 'his was aereed to,

PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. v- V.'Tto Publio Revomies Bill was put "«':":■' -through its Committee stage, and was ■f |. ■:■■■. -£nally, passed without- amendment. -. ';: V. LAND DBAINACE. v . , Attorney-General moved tho 5ec- ...:.: fend reading of the Taicri land-Drain-- - :;. ago Bill. ■ Tho debate was adjourned |at 10.25 p.m., on tho.mbtionof thcHon. '■-■;, V. Austey, and tho Council rose.

THE HOUSE.

; MORE NEW BILLS. t ; "When tho House resumed its sitting yesterday two news Bills were read t ' first time— ■ ' ■ Dentists Amendment Bill. ; Public Health Amendment Bill; '.'■'.' „:Notice was'given of the.intention tc • ;: '-' •introduco'tho.SlauKhteriiig 'and'lnspection Amendment Bill, and Monopolies ■-Prevention Amendment Bill. (INALIENABLE LIFE ANNUITIES. ; , The; Statutes Revision Cdmnuttec, tc Which the Inalienablo Life Annuitief Bill.was referred, reported on .the Bill .••■.. yesterday, with a recommendation thai .it be allowed-to proceed as printed. The 'committeo passed' tho following resolution.: "That a hearty vote 'of thanks .;•■ be passed to the chairman (Mr. Hanan) ,- for the.':courteous and.obliging niairaei in.which he.has conducted the various meetings of'the committee. ... ."■ CODJDUCT OF ELECTIONS, ' THE BALLOT BOX, v ;.::/. VOTING- SYSTEMS DISCUSSED. >, '•'..- >'In-nibving the second reading of tho ■': • ■ 'Legislature Amendment Bill, ' ■ ;|: ;Tho PBIME MINISTER said, inter ■'.■'"■" J»nj.'.t]iat..;.it-Tras.impossiblo'' ,; to got 'thoroughly satisfactory rolls under the i- present system of compilation..* . f Mr.Massey Regrets belay. '^M^vMAS^EY'said.ho regretted.that tho Bill had been brought down so late . m | .the'session. Ho thought, it should ■■■■'■■' '-■ e bP O? TRn^ T unhl "<?xt session. . .. U?e impossible, because much of the > - -..■.wort .contemplated would havo to-be : . ' ■ done- before'nest'session ' .' '"•■' M?S f ey:: v' en i-? n to argue, that '■■'." ■• *" OS B-P«'Ple. who did .not ' take: the ;- .]f«blo to-vote, should not. bo tho. objects./of the expenditure of public .;■ monoy. in.enrolling them.: Many complaints.'Aycre ; 'made to him . on a preriu not oil the; Toll,' \ m \ the-, suggestion ..:.;:' was that the; weTo pa .' ■ ,a^ /on.enrollinS-voters for : -onepar v. In reference,to: the- Premier's -■♦f™"n^r tha --' £ ? me <? f tho.work under .. .thoßill must ho, donebefore next ses- ■■ "■' ■'■:• *E? ni - ] -°J°T l] l hat . a largo measure'had ■ : beeii iiitrpduced,.and; passed; in /tho'ses-'' . .sion just Jnor; toone cener'al. election '■■■■■-■ of,the change ,w^the ;; paper, "in. the interest of , ..secrecV:; He hoped, tlie'iiacf: position .; '.regarding ; custody 'of ballot ;P anc?s after ■'•■'- ■:n n'-S- r'f" '?i e a | cerfcai . ned while tho '■'S* 3 ¥-T 'Mouse..lt.should.be . ';wade perfectly-clear : that nobody could ; g e , th . 6 . b a!'ot': papers, afterwards. ". The ; l-* l^^.,. rolls of,tho Dominion .wore' . .-; in a very bad state. He had met with -' wlio/shoudbeqn it, .and: tliero were ! •", ■[ ••^^ of^ada^ so ?iP?oplo:ou,the. - ;;The Secoritl Ballot.' ";, :■;•'" ■ ; ; ' ?^)f " S M# ; '^^Mfilwtprovft. IvUsT^ ll^ oft hoseco.ul ballot ■:. s);,stprp, though,it was well-known' that ••.-.' fe"; slightly through i at :M JW» flection. When there was- an. ,: Vii unscrupulous 'party,',-iri' power, -it" was •' ■■ipSWM;impossible. part'v-in, :. ; a. minority ; to .wiu'.aVby-election^nto! ! fe«, : or P!,WiO Worts . *%?. as lf ..%,?.ouscience troubled* biin, ■--.■. t l?! s -oonjiectiO n .,SIr,.]iIa eS ey: quoted '■ ii'y eSU '- tS °L an - Qfficial Report , vctodemsing tho second ballot system, . aiid c,ted opmious favourable to the . Hare, system'm Tasmania. 'Pronortiorinl / ■,-' ■■'$;Maori Election Incidont. ; ' ' :^^regretted:tl ra t-tließilli proposed Bo advance,-jn regard :te the Maori elec- .'■ 2 ons ; .'t f special Nativo representation to be perpetuated,- there ..should be . .warMaorrrol!:. He had: watehed tho'-poll-"?A u a a J a 0", election, and had seen •■-:' ".'S a tr 8 ° ? f ,"regularities we're possible. , .Ho. had ;lieard thrit at "onb< cW . Maori'women voted and then went home, changed 'into the attire of;their-;masculine, friends, came , 'Jack, and: voted ;agaii),;. It.was possible .\-tqt a Maori to vote-at half-a-dozen I . '^Places.;; Ho was strongly ; ofopihibn ••■'? a ;'. 1 sep ? ra^ ■ .'Maori.,, representation ~.;... ; xshotild cease. . ' ■' ■.:■'• -i v of Vofors. ' ■■■'■" si Malcolm Yciut:ia)"aa- ','■'. . adoption of voting machines. Hie .chief, need-m electoral reform was : an.:eltectivo check to roll-stuffing, which .'■ '-w-as; particularly rile in connection. with :. 4 lcc '"fA"g Polls .Finger-print .'evidence f r f .'availed of fo^.this: purpose. ,:W 0 .,? 1 1 Provided' that the. onus ,of -pfoof should .bo'on the objector.to'a name on the roll. 'Ho-held, that it should bo. on .the person, enrolled. ''■ -" • '•'■'*Em '^ ; -•', W ■" OYellington ■' . ™Uth) approved of the now ballot paper :. _ ..for city .-electorates, "but'tlwught that ■-' - a £ ™ all , co ' un *. r y Polling places, "the officer in charge would be able easily to discover -how each:-, person voted. 'Ho . .emphasised the, importance of appoints .iflg.■ competent, .returning officers, and there was great trouble and ' , ■ •■?"."i."? 1011 ai some -booths owing to" tha •■ inefficient men who were appointed last .elections -..■.-:..;.. .-"..,'.. . : - J ' : A NDERSON : fJlataura) :«aul. that a candidate could not treat v.- ;an elector-to': a'cup of tea on election .day, hut on the day. after ho could ■■• O . vc !i e avon and eartlr to get him a milet in tho Government servine. Ac- , ,tipn; o f the latter sort should bo providedagainst. ;■ Tho member'went on to speak in favour of proportional represeiitation, in condemnation of tho socond ballot svstem. ' ■- " + W r^'- ;J -' Sfe WABD,. (Waitaki) said . that . tl ? c 4 r ?, T ' ore fi ™ or six thousand yo t es returned as "informal"'at every '- general oleetion. - This could be avoided ; ■;■ by hising; voting machines, but the expenditure would be too largo There ; was"- a 'simple and -effectivo alternative. :lhe'voter could drop a card'bearing his-number, but enclosed in an envelope into a box—one box for each candidate ■bemn pjape.d.; in, each; enclosure in the booth.. 'ihere could then be no informal ' votes,;..and':tlie counting of the votes would be easy and quick. He also ad.vocated that. / the: duration :of Pariia- . me.rits sl/ould'b'e four year's'.' ■ In. Dofeitco: of tfi3 Sscsnd Ballot. ;..' -. Sir.../ Joseph Ward, in reply, quoted figures to.show that.a larger proportion of those eligible 'we're placed on the roll when' Government officers were em;ploy«l fd?'th'o purpose than had. since been tho: case, and tho revival of tie ■ old'system would be particularly advan- ' ; ' tageous! tb" people in tho country dis- ,. . triets. In regard to the second ballot, he would ask mcnibors who wanted ■,: a chang^jWhat's'tho matter with tho Parliament? Did tho. member for Mataitfa want the .system .clianged • to propofiional representation, so that , llataurai;|Could get a better member? ■ :!'.'■' '■'•'. Mr....'A'ij(ler,son: That isn't.'tho point, and yqui.'jiiiow it. ... -Tho.-Pnlno Minister, continuing, said that : thQ' experience , of . Queensland . . sbow.edi th'at the weakness of the coii- . . tingcii.fr system was that t the olcc- ' tors' failed to exercise.'their contingent votes. ~As to proportional it was useless te: Quote ".'■':-:.'.':■■■ :.\'S -• ."''■• -■ ' :

Helgiuni, because tho conditions were so unliko New, Zealand. In Tasmania they had been trying vainly to eifect reform of different kinds for the general benefit of tho people. Was that an encouragoriient to copy their electoral system? Ho bqlievcd the second ballot system had worked well in this country, and would work well. Its object was majority rule, and to avoid splitting of- the votes! ••'lt hud been said that tho second ballot gave opportunities for bargaining, but ho contended that a great deal ,of worse bargaining . had . gono 011 under tho old system, as shown by candidates who had no hopo of winning standing for tho purpose of preventing' the majority of elcclors being represented. J Tho .time had not yet . come for changing tho'Maori election ' and. representation system. Tho s'ccond reading was carried. LIBEL BILL. Tho. PRIME MINISTER asked leave to postpone tho moving of the second reading . of. the Libel • Amendment Bill until, to-dny. ■Mr. T. E'. TAYLOR (Christchurcli North) moved to postpone'the-Bill for a niontli—the object being to kill it. Ho said that his reason was that tho press of this country was : 'riot entitled to any further privileges .while tho Press Association had such a monopoly as at present. . Tho motion- was not seconded. WORKERS' DWELLINCS. MR, MILLAR'S NEW MEASURE. -The-Hon. J7 A. MILLAR, in moving 'tlio second reading 'of the Workers' Dwellings Bill, said that under it a man; upon payment of £10, would be able to have a house built for him. It did not make -provision "for tho purchase of houses already built by other people, as it was not desired ■ to have a speculative 'system 111 .tho form of a man putting up houses and getting workers to buy them with the aid of advances from tho Department. If tho Department could not at once sell a house it had built, it; would let it. Land had already been acquired, and they did nob want to keep it idle. Tho Minister proceeded to explain tho clauses, of tho .measure seriatim. Any : man,'married or. single, who was in the least degree saving, should be able to acquire a home "of'his owir. . ' ••••... - .. . Against Compulsory Taking. ; Mr. MASSEY, while 'supporting the principle of. the Bill, and. of advances to-workers, .objected strongly to tho powers of compulsory . acquisition of land as provided in the Bill. No mail's acre, would .bo safe: Ho .saw no necessity for comprtlsory taking. Mr. GUTHRIE (Oroua) said that, as tho Bill dealt, with land, it should have gone-to tho Lands Committee. Petone Workers' Dwellings. ' ■ Mr. M'LABEN". (Wellington. East) said, tho great difficulty . about, housing the workers was tho high, prico of suburban land,. and the inadequate transit facilities/ Ho. : thought that '.Clause 3 (compulsory taking, of land) was necessary for' tho clearing out of "rookeries," ami, putting "decent houses in their place—a thing which required 1 doing in all the chief centres. The land. could only .bo taken under the. Public Works Act, aiid there would, therefore, be ample protection for tho. owners. Ho, ..had inspected the workers'-, dwellings at Petohc,, arid he hoped the .'Government would not repeat tho .'.'pagoda" style exemplified there. Mr. Millar: Thoso. were .designed by a private architect —not by tho Department's architect'.. ' Mr,' M-'Laren -further- said that tho Bill would help " the better '• class' of workers,, but thoso- receiving 'lower wage.3 would ndt : .l)6-ablo, to tako advantage of it, • , - " - : Mr.- -GLOVER- (Auckland Central) tho Billw, i{ i. ,L».. ■ >; ''Mr. 'WILFORDI '(Hirtt).i suggested' that -the workers' homes at Petone should'be offered at 10s. a week, in,stead pf '12s ; 6dr; The' ten tenants pf ; •the houses in. Patrick Street had written to him undertaking to find tenants, for those, now empty within six months if- tho rents were, reduced to 10s. a week'/- This-would-gjvo tho Government a good's,per cent.,on its outlay. If the tenants did not succeed in getting tenants for tho unoccupied houses, they were willing to. go back to :"t-ho present rent. He hoped tho Government would build cottages Wilford, Petone, to let for 10s. a week.- Cottages at that rent would be filled, and would give --the .Government, a. good return. Ho also, urged'that the -tenants- at-Petone should bo allowed to"'purchase' their, homes-on the-instalment plan, even if special legislation would bo, require'd. Plea {or tho Country Towns. Sir. NEWMAN-- (Manawatu) wished the Bill .success. Ho was particularly pleasedthat it provided for tenants, obtaining the freehold. -Ho hoped the Government's operations under the Act would ho Extended to the larger country towns. ' ' '' '• . : . Sir.. ELL"(Christchureh South), combating Mr. , M'Laren's architectural Criticisms, gavo ' figures', to show that the' rooms jii the houses erected by ,tho-Government were-of good size. He failed to see why a worker must live ■in house without' a bit of 'ornament oil it. Houses built by public authorities in ' England for workers' homes were often ,quito beautiful in appearance. Working men and : ,wives should not bo asked to put lip with the, sort of dwellings thoy had to,live in thirty years'ago. Tho walls inside should be -pla-stored, and there ■ should be a bathroom and other conveniences. This could not bo dono'for a relit of 7s; 6d. 4. week, and if wages could not be mado high enough to enable men. to pay for tho right sort of houses, tho only alternative iva's for. tho Government to subsidiso a fund for housing purposes. M.-. LUKE (Wellington Suburbs) said that tho realms why the ;municipali-t-ies had not tackled tho housing question were two —they had their primary work of providing public utilities to do; and .the Government hud, taken up tho workof housing. He approved generally -of the Bill. ■Mr. POOLE (Auckland West) supported tho Bill. Mr. LA WRY (Parnell), whilo approving generally of the Bill, urged that the .Government should pay latcs oil land acquired for workers' dwellings..." Mr. ,B"UICK (Palmerston) objected tc tho powers of taking land eonipulsorily, but approved of the Bill as .a,whole,, and especially of tho provision for enabling tenants to' obtain tho freehold., , . Mr. WRIGHT (Wellington. South) welcomed' the Bill, especially for the benefits it would confer on workers whe were earning £150 a year or less. Mr. CLARK (Chalmers) said the Bil would be one of the best measures foi the. workers that had been introducec for many years. Mr. HALL (Waipawa) said the maximum cost of' a" worker's hoW undej the Bill should be reduced froii] £60t to £400. Ho did not like t)io appearance of the workers' homes at Petone, They were full of corners that ought to be cut out. Thero was nothing uniform, nothing pretty, "nothing idea! about them. Tho Minister's Reply. Tho MINISTER, in his reply, said lie was not particular whether Clause • (compulsory taking of land) remainec in tho Bill or not- (Mr. Massey: Hear hear.) Thero was more land tmdei offer to the Government than was required in addition to what had already been acquired. 110 would not built on speculation to any extent, but whei -a man came along with £10 and askei to have a houso built, he would •be shov.-n tho plans to choose from There was nono empty, ex cent at. Petone, and the cause was

distance from ilio railway station. Anyone who had put up a house in Wellington and conformed to the requirements of tho City Council would know that it could not be done much under £600. This maximum in the Hill included the cost of the land. 11 o did not want to build many at that price, but if a mail came along and wanted to have a houso of such a.price lie did not . wisli him to b< debattcd. No man who got a house under the 13ill would be receiving charity. Ho would he paying the same as to a building society. 'Die second, reading was agreed to. OUR; SHIPPING LAWS. LASCAR COMPETITION. QUESTION FOR IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. : The HON. J. A. MILLAR (Minister of Marine) moved the second reading ■ of tho Shipping and Scamer Amendment.. Bill. He explained thai m order-t-o-cope with tho'competition of low-priced labour, it was proposed to treat trade with Australia ami the Cook Islands as coastal trade, so far as wages, manning, etc., were concerned. We -ivcro following on the lines of the Commonwealth Navigation Bill, which had yet to receive tlio Royal assent-. Our Bill would have to receive this assent also. * | Personally, ho thought tlu whole question, of the right of Australasia to contract' its own ■ trade 'in its own. water was one which should be considered at tho forthcoming Imperial Conference in Eugland. Remarks by ,Mr, Massoy.' - Mr. MASSEY said ho knew-that tlic Bill could not be l passed without the ltoyal assent-. Ho had no sympathy with coloured labour or low wages, bul thero was a strong feeling • throughout the country that the Bill was inspired by • the Union Company, which was making use of i the State' in order tr; get rid of opposition. Ho agreed that seamen engaged- .011 vessels- plying between New' Zealand and the Cook Islands should-bo paid the current rate of wages ruling 111 New Zealand. Although he'/was, against coloured labour, 110 though't e it would bo a good thing for this country if wo . could encourage some of the large, companies trading to Australia to como to New Zealand. Mr. POOLE (Auckland West) said that if something was not done very soon our sea servico would he stolen from us by outsiders. He hopeel the Bill would -go Home with the Australian Navigation Bill, and be discussed nt the Imperial Conference, so that we might find'out exactly how wo stand in regard tq. cheap, Asiatic labour. Mr. GLOVER (Auckland Central) thought.-we should do all we could to keep. British labour clear of. Asiatic competition. Would It Slock Entarnrise?flilr. HERR-lES (Tauranga) said'that if we found the .Union Company introducing lascar .crews then it would bo quite right to bring down a Bill of the kind, but the question to bo considered was whether it .was wiso to block enterprise from reaching our shores. The whole question wa's a very important 0110, and. required very careful -consideration. Ho hoped the ■■ Minister would say hon ; he intended to enforce the provisions of t-lie Act-, also if 110 thought thero -was any. chance-of -the Kin;; absenting to the Bill. Tho PRIME MINISTER said tho measure , was introduced for the purpose of' preserving the ; mercantile marine, which..had taken 30 or moro years, to build'up. If wc did not preour todo frobi lascar competition it .was only a question of time before they, woujd eat .into tho very foundation of our shipping trade. To see local vessels manned by lascars was to see a reduction of wages to, those paid to lascars. , ,The Government did-not .\vjshijto,,,,do,anything ,to injure tho P. and' 0.; Company, but 'they wished to insure that- .they should compote 011 level terms with .New Zealand vessels in .the., intercolonial trade.,;..l.t .was,important tlijit any legislation we had should prevent lascars trading at a rate which-.meant'disaster to the white sailor and ruination tq his .wife and-family. ,Ho would bo glad to sco tho House put. tho, measure through unanimously, and so strengthen tho hands of the New Zealand representative at tho Imperial Conference. Mr. M'LAREN (Wellington East) heartily supported the Bill, and : congratulated the Government 011 bringing down, tho measure in. terms-of their promise tq. deputations. ... Denial of a Rumour.' The Hon. J. A. MILLAR, in reply ,to Mr. Massey;. said he could give - a most emphatic denial to the rumour which suggested, that tho Bill had been instigated by tho Union Company. Tho Government had. looked far beyond tho Union Company in this matter. - As to tho administration of the Bill, we would havo a reciprocal arrangement . with Australia that so long'as a vessel 'was trading, between,: New Zealand , and -tho Commonwealth, , Australia would see that' men wcro paid ' there, and wc would -see, to it at-'this 'end. ;If the Bill was passed unanimously it would greatly , strengthen tho hands of tho Prime Minister.when lie had to discuss it before the Imperial Conference. The second reading was agreed to. The House rose at 0.45 a.m.