THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

FINAL STACES. After The Dominion- went to press yesterday morning, tho Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, Thermal Springs.Districts Bill, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, and the Factories Bill were' all passed through their final stages. ■■' "■. ■.■'■.-' ' ■ ■;■ . i l'Jio\House roso at' 7 a.m.;'' SECRET COMMISSIONS BILL. Upon , the resumption.of the sittings, of the' House of Representatives last night, certain amendments recommended by the_ Governor in regard to the Secret Commissions Bill.were adoptetl. ' '• i OTHER , : . ;> > Tie.amendments ; nificle • JativerCdiinoi] 'iii , 'the.fEducati'oo:!£inenil-, .'■■'■ ■■• ••"■.. '. r ■!>'/'■■'■l .',,'-'■■-' ■■.':;'; : . ■'.!•' : " ■■

ment Bill, .Public. Holidays Bill, and Wellington Harbour' lpmpowering Bill were agreed to. .... "', ..,.'• . WELLINGTON MILK SUPPLY BILL. AMENDJIENTS. ADOPTED. •Mr. M'LAREN .(Wellington East) moved that 'the 'amendments -'made' by tho Legislative Council in'the-.Welling-ton City Milk Supply Bill'bo agi'eed to. Air. HERDMAW, (Wellington .North)' moved as an .. amendment ■ that" tho Houso do not aerce with the omission of Clause 22, which. Stated:'.'.' Nothing in this Act shall afFect any'company or person carrying oil- '.business, as distributors, and sellers of milk'at tho , time of tho passing of the Act whoso premises are declared suitable for the purpose bv the Minister for Public Health." *■ -•■''.■ - ■'■ -. i

Mr. FISHER <AVe'llington" Central) secondeil the amendment. : '

Mr. MASSEY , said that ho agreed with the. amendment. - Under tho Bill there would bo two, sets of inspection, so far. as suppliers wero concerned. The Hon. -T... Mackenzie:. You can't have too much inspection.-'" Mr.' Massey: Oh, can't you.! Mr. Mackenzie: Not so far as milk is concerned. - ■--. . •-.-'( In- tho course of further remarks, Mr. Massey" said the effect ,of tho duplication of inspection would be to increase the price of -milk; ■ ' Tho Son. T. Y. DUNCAN- .agreed with Mr. Massey. One inspector would be humbugging • the other. The'MINISTER" said that if tho Council would take ' up the inspection 'whero , it drew its supplies of'milk, the Department would not interfere. Mr. Herdman's amendment was lost by 34 votes to 29. -. ■ • • . ...; ■ ; For- Mr. Herdman's amendment (29)-.—Allen, Anderson, Bollard; Buch-" anan, Clark, T. Duncan, J. Duncan,] Field, Fisher, Fraser, Graham,. Greenslade, Guthrie, -Hardy, Herdman, Her-' ries, Hine, Lang, .Malcolm, Mander. Massey, Ne-wman, Nosworthy, Okey, Phillipps, Scott, T, E. Taylor, Witty, and , Wright. -. : • ■ . Against the .a-mendment (34): —Arnold,- 'Brown, Buddo, Buston, Carroll, Colvin, Craigie, Dillon, Ell, . Fprbes,. Hanan," Hogan, Laurenson, Lawry, Luke,' Macdonald, R., T. Mackenzie. M'Laren, Millar,- Myers, Ngata,. Parata, Poole, Rangikiroa, Reed, Seddon,. Sidey, Smith-, 'Stallworthy, Steward, E. Hs Taylor, Ward, and Wilford. ■ . '.-... .'"•.-.

Mr.' HERRIES '(Tauranga) then moved that exception be taken >,to the amendment, in regard to Clause .17,. his object being to provide.-{dr.; a'single form of inspection. ...-.:'. •'"■-. -'.. .

The amendment ..was rejected •by 35 votes to 32. •-. ■ .■:•;,■ ■■.'.•.■'. ■■.■,..'■,.' '...-.

For Mr. Herriesls amendment (32) :— Allen, Anderson, Bollard, Clark, J. Duncanj T. Duncan, Field, Fisher, Fraser, Glover, . Grah-cn, Greenslade, • Guthrie, Hall, Hardy, Herdman,; Herfies, Hine, Lang, Malcolm, Mander,. Massey, Newman, Noswortlty, Okey, Phillipps, Poland, Ross, Russell, Scott, and Wilford.

Against the amendment (35) : nold, Brown, Buddo, Buxton, Colvin, Craigie, Dillon, Ell, Forbes, Hanan, Hogan, Laurenson, Lawry, Luke, Macdonald, R. M'Eenzie, T. Mackenzie, M'Laren, ' Millar, _ Myers, .Ngata, Parata, Poole, E-angihiroa, Reed, Sed,don, Sidey, 'Smith,' Stallworthy, : Steward, E. H. Taylor.T--E. Taylor, "Ward, Witty, and Wright.

COAt'MINES-.P r lUi QUESTION'Iife VENTffiATION/: ? v In Commiitee'on. the.-Coal. Mines Amendment'Bill,- . : Clause 3 was. amended to read that applicants for certificates of service- as underviewers •or firemen and deputies must have occupied' 'tlio not less than twelve , months during - the preceding three years.' - '' • Tho Hon. R. jtf'KENZlE.hioved as an amendment to Clause 4 that no deputy' shall act as for nioro than .14 days. Originally it was provided that the term, was to devolve upon authority- to be given by. the. inspector... ; Td meet objections to his amendment, the Minister compromised by increasing the period for which a deputy, might take charge to 21 days, and the Houso approved. There was some discussion as regards Clause.s, whibh lre'latey.'.tb';ith.e.3xten : sion of the compensation for death .or injury,: but after ; the clause had been fully explained it was passed unaltered-. Mr. ALLEN. (Bruce) objected to the proposals-in Clause G/whichwould mean that the/ amount 'the brown coal-mines would have to "pay to the sick, and accident fund would be doubled. • He said that this class of : mines were hardly paying their way. ' - Mr. Brown:. The 'extra, payment of one farthing per ton on 48,000 tens would bo only £50. ■ . ; •■•• ■ Mr. Glover: Well, we will put it on beer.. (Laughter.) , ' Mr Brown:' They would be ruined altogether. • :' '.' " : The Hon.. R. .M'KBNZIE said that he was' prepared to omit tho ' lignite mines. The amount that would be received- from these mines would not be worth collecting. ,. As' regards'.the brown coal-mines, he would not exempt them, for there was just as much- danger in those mines as in bituminous mines. Mr., WITT.Y (Ricearton) urged... the Minister to stick to his.. Bill, for if a mine could not pay : a half-penny a Con towards a sick fund, it should close up. Mr.; M'KENZIE- said ho wonld' not niovo.to amend his 8i11... Mr. TAYLOR, (Thames) said that the extra royalty- was- badly . to strengthen.the sick funds in regard tomines. . . -~ ■'.-., ... Mr. POLAND (Ohinemuri) contended that the'whole of the siek funds should' bo consolidated into a Dominion mine. Mr. Massey: Would tlie Denniston people agree? -' Mr. M'Kenzio: Tliey would not. Mr. POLAND. (continuing) said that tho additional royalty' of one farthing would giye the owners" an excuse for putting up coal Is. per. tpn.

Mr. ALLEN moved as aa 'amendment that lignite mines be exempted from tlie proposal. 'Tho .'amendment was lost on the voices. • The-Hon. Mr-'GUINpiSS moved a new clause amending .tnC principal Act by providing that the ISO cubic feefof air per minute which lias to be provided for every person "shall sweep, uiidiminisbed along the airways to each working face where men are employed." . Mr. Guinness, said the principal .Act did not specify where tho men wero employed. ' - ■ The Hon. R. M'KENZIE said he would bo very pleased to accept tho Amendment if it wero practicable, but lie was advised by the inspcctiiig ; engineer that it was impracticable. Mr. GULWESS said tho miners guaranteed that this could bq done. A practical answer to the Minister's s,uccgestion was that a sufficient quantity of air should be put into tho miiio to allow 150 cubic feet to reach tho face after allowing for leakages. Mr. M'KENZIE suggested that as a Royal Commission was being set up during tho recess to inquiro into the whole question of ventilation in mines tho matter misfit stand over till then. Mr. T. E. (Chrisfchurch North) said ho would support anything that went in the direction of m'oro effective ventilation: Ho' referred to tho number of diseases to which miners were liable, some' of them permanent. Mr. ANDERSON (Mataura) ■ suggested that an experiment" should bo-niado at tho State'coal mine. - ■ Mr: M'KENZIE said, tho Stato coal mino could not stand any more experi-' ments—it had i enough burdens to hear already. He still. maintained" 'tho amendment was impracticable. ' There would be a fortune in any .successful Bchonie for equalising . the ■ air in ■ Mr.'. GUINNESS ,said the Minister Eaß ' settiuE ÜB. a bogey. Tho clauEe

did not; suggest-''there should, bo an equal distribution of air. The-clausb. was rejected by 38 votes to 31..' - j . - ■ . A Ministerial Defeat. The Hon. 'A. GUINNESS moved a further clause- to empower tho Gover-nor-iii-Comicil- to mako regulations providing ■ that whore more than twelve men , were employed' suitable sanitary 'arrangements, dressing and' changin" rooms, and bathhouse should be ptovided. Ho pointed out that men came out of thei-mine dripping and perspiring, and it was necessary for their health that they should have a chance of _ getting a change of clothes - before going home. The MINISTER said that Sub-section 28 of 'the principal Act mot tho case. It provided that where six men wero employed underground the inspector might call uiwn tho mineowners to provide suitablo dressing and changing rooms. No mine.of consequence in Now Zealand was without such accommodation. .' • -

Mr. GUINNESS, said.the sub-section did. no.t touch' .bathrooms or sanitary arrangements, and moreover it was left to' Jhe' discretion of the'mining inspector. .Ho affirmed the inspectors wero not ..insisting--upon dressing houses being provided. Xh» clauso was read a second 'time by 41 votes to 24: '

For tho amendment (41):—Anderson Arnold, Bollard, Buchanan, , Clark, Dayey, Fisherj Forbes, Fraser, Glover, Graham, Guinness, Guthrie, Hall Hanan, Hardy, Herdman, Hordes, Hino, Hogan, Hogg, Jennings, Kaihau, Lang,. Lawry, M'Laren, Malcolm, .Mander, ; Massey, Newman, Nosworthy, Poole, . Rangihiroa, Ross, Russell, Steward, T. E. Taylor, J. C. Thomson, Wilford,..Witty, and Wright. . 'Against'the amendment (24): —Allen, Buddo, Buston, Carroll, Clark,, Dillon, T;. Duncan,'. J. Duncan, Ell, Field, Laurenson, Luke, .Macdonald, R. M'Eenzie, T. Mackenzie, Ngata, Okey, Parata, Reed, Scott, Seddon, Smith, Stalhvorthy, l and Ward. After an 'interesting discussion, in whjch the attitude of the Government towards tho House in the-matter of legislation-; was reviewed,' a motion to report progress was carried on the understanding , that the Bill would be brought down again.

MiNINC-'AMENDMENT BILL. In Committee on the iuining Amendment iiUl Ulauso 7 was strues put on the Minister's-motion' and replaced by a provision that; every mine inanagex, 'where' more than twelve men. are employed above ground o'r ! more than six nieii beloiy. ground, at ■one time, shall hold .a mine -manager's certiheate. Some'-discussion took place on "the period which should,bo allowed wardens in which- to dispose .. of applications. Clause 15 provided that all applications for .mining,.priviieges should be finally" heard and decided by the warden within six months after the application except where the warden, with the consent of the Minister, extends the time: An. amendment by Mr. Anderson (Mataura) to deloto the words "with the consent of the Minister" was lost. The clause was then adopted. - ;-Mr..-JTJASElWWakatipu) said that under, the proposed gold duty for the' beneht of the Hold-Miners' Relief Fund one" company would have to pay seven hundred and another company seven thousand a year.. ■. ■ ■ -' Mr. Boss: Which.company is that? Mr. Eraser-The Waihi. ••. Mr. Rossfi.-Jt-mil cost: them two thousand.../. .jl. . :; -.-.'-

■MSsiSbi)dN-(Weßtiand).moved : an amendment excluding alluvial gold from .tho ; dutjv • . • •• ■•.

Tho MINISTER, said he would ■'accept this on the. understanding that the men producing- alluvial gold woiilcL not receive benefits from. the. fund' "" ..' Mr.. ,8.. H.. TAYLOR, (Thames) .ob--jected-to .the clauses reJaUnc to gold stealing;..- -It was not right to. put a brand on : . the miners who were honest and upj-ight workers.--V- ~, ~ .. .The Hon; R. •M'KENZIE: said that the honest 'miners' had no .'objection 'to : tl]e clause.. '.The'.receivers were' more responsible than the miners. 'Ho recognised that. innocent minors might be aggrieved; If the clause could bo amended that would be done! . '." '

Mr. POLAJJD (Ohinemuri) said, that so far as he knew-there was no goldstealing going on, at the quartz mines.- ' Mr. Tayh>r.\vNot.at the.Thames -at any■'rate: ■■••'■ -''•• - ,•■ "■':- : .. • ■ ■,-.

' Mr. Poland also remarked thai tho miners were, opposed to the clause _ The. MINISTER said that he thought it .would, be. better to report progress at that.stago and the Bill would cbmo up again. ... . Progress was then reported-'on- the Bill. REGISTRATION OF METAPHYSICIANS. . ."New Zealand Suggestive ■ Therapeutists" is the title of a Bill promised by Mr. JBana'n, which has just ■ been circulated, and which has certainly no chance of being considered, this session. The Bill proposes to establish an association of suggestive therapeutics' in New .Zealand, consisting of •• associate, honorary.,,' and professional members, the latter, ■, of ■ whom shall bo registered as metaphysicians.' No' metaphysician, unless .a .duly qualified medical practitioner, shall be "'permitted to'perform any surgical operation, prescribe drugs, powders; or lotions in his practice. Persons entitled to bo registered must bo over 21 years of age, and cf good character, and have engaged for five years .immediately prior, to the passing of the Act in- the practice of suggestive therapeutics. Thereafter admission of professional members : shall be by examination by a board consisting' of the Chief Health Officer, the Government Biologist, a Stipendiary Magistrate and two metaphysicians.

The Native' Affairs . Committee has recommended that the Westland and Nelson. Native Reserves Amendment Bill be not proceeded with -this session.