PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1244, 28 September 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOUSE, THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND COMMENTS. The House met at 2.00 p.m. The PEIME MINISTER gavo notice to ask leave to introduce tho Methodist Church-- of New Zealand Bill. Mrs. Bevan, widow of tho late Mr. John Bovan, cx-M.P., wrote thanking the Houso for its vote of condolence upon the death of her husband. It was ordered (hat tho letter be placed on record. , ■ Tho PRIME MINISTER elated that the gentleman appointed to consider tho plans for the new Parliament Buildings (Colonel Vernon) had completed his work. As ho was leaving for Australia aS f m » n i. I ;'^ (k y- jt was Proposed, in order -that his recommendation might bo received, that a representative committoo should bo set up and, as the Houso was sitting, ■it was proposed to have a •iarliamentary Committee. This Committee would recoivo tho recommendation anc, at tho saiuo time, tho closed or ()«Ued letters wjiich had accompanied tho plans would be opened. At present the assessor, did not know the names of those who had sent in the plans that ho -hadJioon • dealing with. It was proposed that tho Committee meet that afternoon, and that it consist of:—The bpoakcrs of both Houses, both Chairmen ot Committees, tho Leader of the Opposition, the Attorney-General, the Mmis- ™ , fOT II Railways, Minister for Public Works, Mr. Iraser, M.P., and tho Trimo Minister..

Tho Hon. R. M'KENZIE moved that tho Committee be set up as suggested. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) raised a point ot order as to whether tho Houso had power to set up what was practically a joint Committee. ThePRIMEMINISTERsaid tliat the simplest way wouKl be not to put tho resolution at.all. ■ On behalf of tho -GovenrtnenT he' invited ' tho - men' he had nanttd to meet in his toom at 5.30 p.m.' Ihe;Committee, having received tho re-' commendation of tho assessor, would report to tho Executive, and the Executive would have to consult the Houso before' doing anything. ;■:• LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Sis days' leave of absence wore granted to Mr. A. W. Hogg (Mastorton); .four days-to Mr. C. Half'(Waipawa), and six (lays to Mr. F. Mandcr (Marsdcn), all on Ue .ground of ill-health. SUPERANNUATION SCHEMES.

■ Mr. 7as. ALLEN (Bruce), when a petition was being discussed, raised tho question of tho right of public servants un-ilen-.thOrProvincial Governments to count tor 'superannuation purposes their ser- ■■ ■"» under those administrations. Mr Alloa said that civil servants in tho Railways and Education Departments and.in the police foreo were excluded from conferred ou all other servants ot tho public of including in their service tho period of employment under any, Provincial Government and under tho railway commissioners. The PRIME MINISTER said tho proposal involved an important question, involving tho stability of the whole superannuation fund. Such an'extension concerned, all those who were responsible for the'success of the fund. He promised a careful investigation of tho matter. The Hon. T. MACKENZIE said the hon. gentleman forgot that tho Teachers' Superannuation Act had been passed beforo the Civil Service Superannuation Aot.■• -A man could not expect to come within tho .operations of both Acts. The" hon. gentleman'was asking for concessions that he f. had not considered. Teachers were dot lighted with the scope and provisions of r the' Teachers' Superannuation Act. But • : if claims liko the present wore allowed it meant a reorganisation of tho '-entire scheme. The Government was asked to tako! notion because an officor retiring' with'a, pension of about .£5 a wemk was. not .satisfied. Where was tho injustice in a ease like this? Mr. Jas. Allen: I was not referring to him at all. , ' . The. Hon. T. Mackenzie said tho mom'ber'for Bruce had attempted to undermine what was. firmly -'established, and ivas giving entire satisfaction. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. REQUEST EOR COMPENSATION. Tho adjournment of the House was moved in order to discuss Ministers' printed replies to ouestions. Mr. J. T. HOGAN (Wanganui) asked the Prime Minister whether he would consider tho -advisability- of ' compensating James Jenkins, of Wangamii, for loss oi' 6uperanttuation through, inaccurate railway records, ne stated that Jenkins had proved before a Committee- of tho Houso that _ his. claim was a just one, and his petition was referred to the Government lor favourable consideration. The PRIME MINISTER said Jenkins claimed to have been continuously in thn JJ2P J l°L th £ Eailwa y Department since 11 ii • lle Departmental records showed that his continuous servico commenced in 1883. His request, therefore, could not be complied with. Mr. Hogan raid he did not intend to let the matter rest. He would mlvi.se Mr.' Jenkins to petition tho Houso again.

Contract and Day Labour. Mr:''p.''M'LAREN (Wellington East) asked for inquiry into the legality or otherwise of .the action of the- Auckland Harbour Board in letting contracts. for blasting and. excavation without callin" iot tenders: < ■ ■ • ° Tho Hon. J. A. MILLAR submitted a letter from tho board stating that all such work had been (tone under clulv advertised contract or by day labour. Tho latter had been found to bo tho cheaper method. Alter-t-ho completion of one contract tho contractors wero employed by tho beaTd from time to time for similar work at a fixed price per day "Tho maximum paid them lor this daily ...hiring has been „CG Ms. per day, and the amount now beine paid is £1 15s, per iday.,They are paid only lor such time as they'work, awl'their operations are trrniinablo at: any time on receipt of a day':; notice. The board's solicitors hayo advised,', that .thore is absolutely no doubt as to tho legality of tho boards position." ■•■•■'. Mr. M'LAREN said the letter of tho law might have been complied with, but tho intention of tho statute had been, in his judgment evaded. Some .£II,OOO worth of work had been let out in this way to the torn mentioned 111 the answer. The'information implied that the board had carried on by a peculiar system of day Jabour. A board might goon indefinitely 111 this way, .and not allow other contrac tors to enter into competition at all. The Act snould bo amended so as to prevent such occurrences in future. Mr. A. M. MYERS (Auckland East) said he understood that tho contract had been duly advertised. ■ -

Compensation for Lost Tools. Mr. D. M'LAKEN desired an explanation of tho iacl that, when payments were made to .compensate , carpenters at the railway workshops,' Wellington, for tools destroyed in tho recent lire, nonunionist.l received higher payments than unionists. Tho Hon. J. A. 1 MILLAR explained that, in cases whero' the tool* were insured with tho Carpenter.-.' Union, ' tho amount insured for was deducted from tho torn! loss. Mr. M'LAKEN expressed himself as di&Batishcd with the explanation. The system followed had a tendency to discourage thrift, and also involved discrimination against unionists. In fact, the reply admitted discrimination. he Hutt Railway. Mr. WILFOED said ho could not under. s '' l 'i.i "'nyndvantages had not been taken <ji the lluft railway improvement to run faster trains. A great deal of money lad bran spent, and tho line was capablo of carrying trains at 50 miles an hour, yet there was no improvement. There was perhaps some weakness in 'the traffic management. Rents of Railway Houses. Mr. PEA ECE asked tho Minister for fiailways "when the Government increases tho pay of all railway employees, 05 stated in the Budget, does he intend to (increase the rental of employees' houses owned by t,ho Ilaiiway Department,

. as it is alleged ho did on the last occasion when die employees' wages were raised.-" Tlio Hon. J. A. SULLA R rpplicd: "The rentals of railway heusos are assessed on a low capital value, and'arc. so iixed Uint in no instance does the house occupied liy an employee exceed in rental a sum equivalent to a day's pay. A review of tho rentals charged indicate that they do, not pay tho Department. In manv instances members ot the .Railway Service are at present occupying houses worth more than the rents they are charged, and it may from time to timo be necessary to review the rentals of these. The I alteration that was made on the previous occasion referred to was for the- purpose of enabling employees to have tho benefit ot house-rent taken into consideration in computing their superannuation allowance; for instance, instead of a member getting a wage of 7s. or 7s. Gd. a day and a house at a tablet station, he was paid at the rato of Bs. 3J(I. if married, and charged t'bo assessed rent for a house, and his superannuation allowance would in the first instance be based on a rate of 7s. or 7s. Oil., whereas in tho latter caso it would be based at Bs. 3Jd. lho alteration was made to confer a benefit on the stall'.

To Encourage Thrift. I Mr. NEWMAN asked the Prime Minister, "whether lie nill amend the National Annuities Act so as to enable a man whoso age is over forty-five years to secure an annuity, or a joint annuity for himself mid wife, at a price fixed by actuarial tables, without 'loading bej-ond a small sum for share of administration?" The questioner suggested that such a provision would stiraniato many men of limited means to put away small savings with a view to render their old afro and that of their wives secure from want. Sir J. G. WARD replied that tho suggestion would receive consideration in the event of tho National Provident Fund Act coming up for amendment. Canvassing the Electors. Mn GLOVER wished to know whether tho lrimo Minister was aware of the fact that certain persons were canvassing the electors to sum a list pledging themnnf? S 'l JPV'K Icca! «» d Dominion option at the forthcoming elections, and to use their influence to get others to do the samp, and wliether he did not consider this a breach of the secrecy of the .hallot. If this could be done on ■ one issue, might it not be extended in regard to. candidates* elections? , Sir-Joseph WARD said he was not aware that certain persons were canvassing electors-in tho manner stated, but if the practice did exist it could not be correctly described as a breach of the secrecy of the ballot. Accidents to Workers. Tho Hon. R. M'KENZIE, Minister for Public Works, stated in reply to Mr. J. Duncan that the usual custom of tho Public Works Department in cases of accidents to workers in Government employ is to follow the provisions of the Workers Compensation Act—that, is, workmen who are incapacitated for more than ono week are allowed half-pay during incapacity;' and, in addition to this, the Department renders first aid to sufferers, and if a doctor is summoned at tho timo of the accident the Department pays his feo, it also conveys the injured roan to tho hospital, and, if necessary for him .to he accompanied, pays tho wages of tho man accompanying him.

Co-operative Works. The Hon. R. M'KENZIE, Minister for Public Works, gavo the following reply to a question by Mr. Okey on the co-oper-ative labour system-.-"(1) Detailed estimates are submitted by experienced Government officers with t'ho plans and speci:noaitwna of'all Government works before Jje starting .of the work is authorised. (2) I hero is a. very complete system of checking: .whether the work is carried out within the.Departmental officer's estimate, ,as no variation or alteration of the oric;inal plans is-permitted, until plans and estimates of proposed alterations are approved. The cngineor-in-chief or the inspecting examiners visit most works periodically. No expenditure can be incurred until the officer in charge receives the necessary authority. (3) In every ca?o where the cost of a work exceeds the original Departmental estimate the officer requisitioning for the expenditure must submit plans and detailed estimates of proposed alterations or additions beforo any expenditure is authorised." Pay of the Police. "A general increase to the pay of tho police will involve a substantial addition to tho annual cost, of the force," said the Prime, Minister, in reply to Mr.-Glover. Inquiries are now being made, and I hope to bo able to announce tho decision of the Government Ixiforo tho end of tho session." , : . . DECEASED PERSONS' ESTATES. . BILL AMENDED. At the evening sitting, the House went into • Committee on tho Administration Amendment Bill (Sir James Carroll). Tiio Bill is a short one dealing with tho administration of the estates of deceased persons.

Sir J. CARROLL "moved a new clause, empowering an administrator, when rejecting a claim against an estate, to require tho claimant to prosecute his claim against an estale within three months. Mr. A. I, HERDMAN (Wellington North) suggested that the time was too short, and should bo extended to six months, to date from service of notice. Several other members said tho time appeared to be too short. The clause was adopted without amendment by 35 to 2-1.

, Another now clause moved by the Minister, required the Supreme Court Registrar'to notify the Public Trustee of every application for administration of a deceased estate, and gave the Public Trustee tho right to bo heard on tho application. This clauso was adopted on tho voices. The Bill was reported as amended. ' GOVERNMENT AND SETTLERS. . MINISTER TO LEVY RATES. Oh the morion for consideration of tho amendments made by tho Committee of the Whole in tho Hauraki Plains Amendmont Bill, . Mr. MASSEY again protested against the- proposal, to.' give, -tho Government .power to levy rates on tho settlers for •the maintenance of the drains. He was :glad the Bill had been amended to present .the rate being struck.for two years, .but he thought the mainteuaiKo of tho drains should bo paid for out of tho projits of tho enterprise. Tho settlors would be satisfied if the drains, as completed, were handed over to them, and they would then bo prepared to assume the responsibilities of local government. Mr. H. POLAND (Ohincmari) also protested against giving the Government power to levy rates and spend them on the drains according to' its own ideas That was not a plan that should be adopted in a Liberal and democratic conntry, and he did not. think tho House would tolerate it in a- measure of wider application. Ho suggested that the measure should stand over.

ill- W. H. HERMES (Tauranga) opposed tho rating provisions as a breach of the Liberal principle of "No taxation without representation." The Bill, as introduced, would have given tho Minister power to levy rates even for new works. Mr. E, 1L TAYLOR (Thames) said it was lacking in tho principle of democracy to levy rates, on people without giving them a say in the expenditure of the money. The settlers must bo given control before they were rated, but he admitted that the work should bo under tho control of the Government engineers until the construction was finished. Tho scheme was a. magnificent one, but tho early settlers should not bo penalised to pay for benefits for thoso who would come after them.

Tho PRIME MINISTER said despite ■tho Opposition's talk about savin" money, on occasions like this they were continually urging that revenue should bo thrown away. He could understand the anxiety of tho member for tho district, but when a leading member of the Omwsition was "hooked on" ho commenced to marvel at tho situation. Tho price which settlers would bo called upon to pay for their land after having been on it for about ten years would bo about .fiO or ,£'7, and, at tho lowest computation, tho land would bo worth .£2O an acre. No local body would carry out a drainago scheme for nothing. A sum of .£IO,OOO would still have to bo spent by the Government in complotinj the drainmgo operations. If the course advocated by the Leader of the Opposition and tho member for Tauranga wore followed, it would be necessary to set up two drainage boards, one for tno Government anil

■ oiio for the local representation of set--1 tiers. It was estimated that tins line estate would uUiniately cam- 500 settler*. ' It was proposed that they should each be called upon to pay about .I*4. per annum. Under the administration of a local bodv the settlers would be called upon lo paint least .£2 ii year more. These settler's would be Riven an easy, clear profit ot ,£lO mi aero on their lands, burely the country should bo permitted to complete tlio work on the Huuraki Plains. It the work were completed in two vcars, the settlers, not the 110 now on tho'laiid, 'but the 500 settlers it would eventuallv FF'7- '""ffht, «* up a board or two hoards if they liked. But they should be content to wait until local control would no linger conflict with a big Government drainage scheme. 'lira Hon. T. Y. DUNCAN (Oamaru) said it was scarcely fair to these settlers that they should bo called upon to take charjro of this work uutil it had boen completed. As yet it was impossible ,to R.I.V what expense they might be nut to m time ot flood. Probably' it would be best, eventually, to appoint one board instead of two. Mr. F. M. B FISHER (Wellington Ce ." l ' r ? l ', raovC( l that the Bill bo recommitted for the purno?e of reconsideriii" claus?s three and four. This was the second occasion this session on which the liouso had been asked to authorise a Minister to levy taxation without the people concerned being consulted. ' It simply meant that the House was gradu-Jlv-t e -- K lnoro and moro po,ver to tlle (Avon) defended tteßjll as it stood. It was not a caso ol taxation m the ordinary sense but a rate for the specific purpose of maintaining these water-courses and drains which must bo maintained if the land was to remain fruitful. The Hon. T. MACKENZIE, answering a reference by Mr. Duncan, stated that the laien. Drainage Act of last rear was in the main giving complete satisfaction. Mr. Jas. ALLEN (Bruce) said that were was considerable dissatisfaction among tho Taieri steelers in regard to drainage matters. Mr. Fisher's amendment was lost, upon a division, by 44 votes to 18. Mr. MASSEY said the Primo Minister was upset at the prospect of tho approaching elections, but even- time ho had got upon • his feet lately lie had delivered one of those screaming hysterical speeches. As to the Hauraki Plains _it was absolutely certain that the principle of this Bill was wrong, it was. taxing the people without representation. The settlers were quite willing to set up a drainage ■ board . at the proper time, but they objected to bcin*> taxed by the Government as was nroP*;?.™ L n _tM?_ Bill.

The PRIME MINISTER said he knew exactly what tho Opposition had been doing all the evening, and'he would tell ,the House about it. They had been stopping the House from getting down to Supply. They dare not deny it. Mr. Herries: I deny it! Tho Prime Minister said the Leader ot tho Opposition had discarded his land policy of two years ago. Mr. Massey dfnicd this. The PRIME MINISTER stated that during the past ten years 1G.715 selectors had taken up 4.5-ILBOS acres of land in this country. It meant that 6G,000 people had been put on the land iff these ton years alone. Putting people on the land was only half the work. In addition to opening and for settlement, tho. Government had lent millions of money to those who had taken it up. Mr Jas ALLEN (Bruce) remarked that the Prime Minister had made two absolutely irrelevant speeches that evening, fi j ,• Gentleman had complained that ,ho had been attacked by members of tho Opposition when ho was 11,000 miles away J\o attack' had beta made on tho Prime Minister, but it was true that his Government had been attacked. - It was a fair inierence from what tho Prime Minister had said that his colleagues wore-incom-petent to defend the Government policy. :J he fact was that the policy was indefensible, fho Prime Minister had recently accused him of misrepresentation. Ihis was the kind of bluster in which .tno.hoa. gentleman indulged when lie had no answer to make to sound, solid argument. ■ b I

: . The,, PRIME MINISTER made a long statement with intent to prove that Mr. Alien had misrepresented the position in regard to Treasury Bills. This led to a discussion between the Prime Minister and Mr. Allen, which was eventually put an end to by the Speaker who suggested that this interesting tion should bo referred to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration and report. The third reading was carried on tho voices. The House roso at 1.30 a.m.