THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 8

THE HOUSE.

NATIVE LAND CLAIMS BILL. A CLOSE DIVISION. Tho llotiso of licprcseniatives continued its sitting yesterday morning until 3.35 o'clock, but did not make any groat headway. At 1.35 the discussion upon the Government Railways Amendment Bill was concluded, aud tho Bill re;ul a second time. Tho Ifousp then ui'nt into Committor upon the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill. Throughout tho sitting tho attendance was thin. At 1.50 a.m. thoro were 23 members in the House, of whom only about one-half were sitting up and appeared to Ijo alivo to tho proccodings. Half an hour later tho Aiunber present had increased to 28 v

At 3 a.m. thoro wore 22 members in their I places. At all times during tho sitting restful attitudes wore in favour with a majority of those who in tho House. The new clause, designed to prevent aggregation of Native leasohold lands, which was summarised in The Dominion yesterday, was added to the Native Land Claims Adjustment BiLl after an extended discussion. Mr. HERKIES strongly opposed tho clause, and was supported in his opposition by Messrs. Massey, Field, and Nosworthy. The motion for tho second reading of the clause was carried on a division liy 22 votes to 22, the Chairman giving his casting vote with those who had voted for the clause. The Hon. A. NGATA, who was in charge of the Bill, staled that he would j-efcr tlio clause to tho Solicitor-General for further consideration, and would not carry it further at that stage. Tlio House roso at 3.35 a.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. Tho House met again at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Tho printed replies of Ministers to questions were circulated, but the usual two hours' discussion did not take plaos. Civil Service Classification. Tlio PKIME MINISTER stated in reply to Mr. M'Laren that there wns no provision in tho Classification Act for taking a ballot of Civil Servants as to the classification b?ing brought into force; but under Sub-section (1) of Section 7 of tho Consolidated Act any officer may appeal for a reconsideration of his classification, and a month is allowed him to do this after the publication of the suggested classification in tho Gazette Mr. HERDMAN nsktd the PostmasterGeneral whether there is any special reason why, in the Post and Telegraph Department Classification List, 1911-12, on page '42, tho following apparent anomalies should appear:—ln Class XII a head messenger with six years and five months' services receives a salary of per annum, whilst another officer with 21 years' service receives a salary of Xl7O per annum only; again, in the second grade, an officer with thirteen months' service receives a salary of .£l3O por annum, and is placcd senior to a man with five and a half-years' servico drawing a salary of .£llO per annum? Sir J. G. WARD repiied that owing to tho importance of the position, ho had decided to raise the grade of the head-messc-ngership of the General Post Oflice. Five messengers in other parts of the Dominion precede tho officer selected, but none of theso had the necessary training for the position, and they received Gd. a day c:;tra, equal to .£0 2s. 6d. per annum, for length of service. Head messengers at tho principal offices wero specially selected men. The officer with 21 years' service received in addition to salary 6d. a day for length of service. He was only considered suitable for promotion in his particular position, at a second-class office. Tho officer drawing JCI3O per annum did not receive that salary until February 4 Ho was at present receiving .£l2O. His numerical seniority over the officer below him was duo to tho fact that the officer below was transferred from another class owing to medical reasons. The latter, however, had the special advantage that if he gave satisfaction in his new position and passes the required examinations, he coutd receive promotion at any time. No complaints had been mad? by any officer concerned." Mr. HERDMAN also asked why No. 2-H (Correspondence' clerk Old Age Pensions Department). Class VI of the Post and Telegraph Classification List, with only two years eleven months and twenty-nine days' service, is receiving a salary of ■£2-15, and is placed above hundreds of other officers in the service, some of whom . have served over thirty years; and (2) | whether the officer above referred to is a ' temporary clerk or has, witli two years eleven months and twenty-nine days service only, been mado a permanent Civil Servant? Sir J. G. WARD replied: "(1) Tho officer referred to had permanent service of about six years in the Property Tax Department. Ho resigned, and was later temporarily employed in the Old Ago Peusioiio Department on May 25, ISO". Ho was permanently appointed to that Department on April 2, 100 S. When the Post Office took over the Old Ago Pensions Department, in 1909, there was a clear understanding that no officer was to suffer by the transfer. On his transfer to tho Post Office, No. 2-11 was classified in accordance with the importance of his duties. (2) The appointment to tho Old , Ago Pensions Department in IPOS was made under Section 3 of the Civil Service Reform Act Amendment Act, ISST. ! No complaints have been made by anjofficer concerned." Preference to Unionists. Mr. GLOVER asked the Minister for ' Labour whether he will make provision ' in tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill for compulsory preference to unionists, and thus check the cancellation ol' unions ? Tho Hon. J. A. MILLAR replied; "I am not aware that statutory compulsory preference would check tlio cancellation oi unions. At all events, I am afraid that timo wil'l not permit of the consideration of such an important question at this stage of the session." PUBLIC RESERVES. Tho Public Rit»crves and Domains Amendment Bill passed through Committee without further amendment. REPRESENTATION REPORTS. The Representation Commission's Reports Validation Bill was read a second time, and committed. No amendments were made. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Tho Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, which provides for the extended use of stamp-recording machines, was amended in Committee to give tho Minister for Telegraphs power to license wireless telegraphy on ships registered in New Zealand. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. TEACHERS' RIGHTS OF APPEAL. Tho second reading of tho Public Servico Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill was moved by the Premier, who said that tho proposal to have contributions to the superannuation fund paid into the Post Oflice Savings Bank would save .£750 a year, through economies in administration and additional interest. Clause 3 would do away with disabilities in the way of "broken time" affecting employees in tho workshops of the Public AVorks Department and other employees, in connection with the superannuation fund. Clause 5, providing for transfers of officers, under certain conditions, to the Civil Service from other branches of the Government service, was to remove a difficulty which was an unforeseen result of recent legislation. At present it was impossible- to transfer an officer from tho Post Office to the Treasury, or from the Defence Department to the Treasury, though it might bo very desirable to do so, and such transfers had been made in the past. Clause G was to prevent the practice of counting travelling expenses as part of salary when computing superannuation allowances. This had been done by some education boards, and it imposed an improper additional burden upon tho fund. lie would move a clause in Committee to give teachers a right of appeal in cases of transfers. Ho thought teachers should bo in as good a position in this way as members of tho Public Service generally, who could appeal to their Minister. The appeal of a teacher would, of course, bo to the Teaclicrs' Appeal Board, but it would first go to the Board of Education. During the discussion, several members urged that teachers who had failed to join tho Superannuation Fund should now bo alio wit 1 to do so. The PREMIER, in his reply, said it was against tho best interests of the Superannuation Fund and those benefiting from it to allow any section of public servants to conic on to it without proper examination of the whole position. There were a number of requests of the kind from difi'erent Departments. An actuarial report on the fund was being prepared. Tho second reading was carried on tho voices. "WASHING-UP" BILL. The second reading of tho Reserves and Other Lauds Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill was moved by thoPrimo Minister. , , Mi'. MASSEV said ho understood that tiiq '|V\nc*nriro r Pi mKnr Company*., Ltd.* (

I which was to bo granted, under Clause 11, tho right to construct two miles of tramway, was an offshoot of tho Taupo 'limber Company. Ho was afraid that tho proposed authority to lay tho tramway "along any road or street" would bo unfair to local bodies. Tho Hon. R. M'KENZIE said that the roads hail been mado threo chains wido on purpose. Tho PRIME MINISTER said ho did not know whether the Tongariro Company was an offshoot of tho Taupo Company or not, and ho did not know what that had to do with tho clause Tho Bill was read a second time, RAILWAY EXTENSION. AND A LITTLE EXCITEMENT. The second reading of tho Railway Authorisation Bill was moved by the Hon. R. M'Kenzie, who said it made provision for carrying on railway extensions at tho present rate for the next two years. Mr. B. DIVE (Egmont) moved lo add to tho motion, "And that tho Houso is of opinion that the Opunako branch line should be included in tho schedule of railways to be authorised." He said lie could only suppose that tho Opunako branch had been omitted for political reasons. Mr. 11. J. H. OKEY (Taranaki) seconded the amendment. The PRIME MINISTER, in opposing the amendment, spoke on tho Iwrrowing question upon familiar party lines. Ho said a circular was going round that tho Government's loan powers amounted to eight millions in ono year. -An Opposition member asked whether the statement was not correct. The PRIME MINISTER replied that I tho suggestion of tho circular was that tho Government wanted to borrow eight millions in ono year, and that the Oppo- ' sition must be put in power to prevent it. He then quoted a statement by Mr. Malcolm, as reported in tho "Otoki ; Mail," lo the effect that Mr. Fowlds had said there had been abuses in connection with the Government. 1 Mr. FOWLDS rose and denied having [ mado any such statement. \ . Mr. MALCOLM, said it appeared in nn . interview which ho could produce if he had time. .Mr. MASSET said ho had not seen the circular mentioned by the Prime Minis- [ ter, but it was a fact that the Government had authority to borrow eight millions during tho present year. This in--1 eluded authority to issue* one million of 1 Treasury bills. The Government should revert to tho practice of previous Minis- [ tries, and state the total amount whicli I they desired to borrow in any oao year. ■ He believed that -this country was going : too far, and too fast in the matter of ' borrowing. It could not safely ljorrow oven as much as throe or four millions - a year. The proper plan would be to reserve a portion of tho credit of tho • country. If this were done, an extra • million could be borrowed on occasion to 3 relieve pressure in a year of depression. ' Ho believed that the Opunake lino would - pay handsomely if constructed. Wlien f the Government was not prepared to con- - struct these branch lines it should allow : the people of the districts concerned to i construct them for themselves, retaining t the right to take over tho lines when it i so desiri-d. at actual cost. Mr. MALCOLM read tho passago from : Mr. Fowlds's interview, to which ho had > referred. It was as follows;—"Tho ad- - hesion of people attracted by hopo of . gain instead cf by principle had a para- - lysine effect upon a party." He had i not been pretending to quote Mr. Fowlds's 1 exact words, but this quotation absolute- . Iy justified what he had said at Otaki. I Mr. FOWLDS said that the words quoted could not possibly boar the construction put uiioa them bv Mr. Malcolm. i }\v. HERDMAN said that the Opposition held that information in regard to loans should bo supplied to tho House within a reasonable time. If business was conducted in a proper manner there ' was no reason why the information should not be supplied within two years i at anyrato. But they had to wait four , years. In the speech quoted by Mr. ; Malcolm, tho member for Grey Lynn had sair!: "The adhesion of people attracted by hope of gain, instead of by lovo of principle, had a demoralising effect on a party." This could only mean that the adhesion of people who 'hoped for loaves and fishes, for roads and bridges, for some political advantage, had a paralysing effect on a party. This was the plain i momiing to bo extracted from the speeoh. The Hon. A. T. NGATA contended that an impression was being conveyed to the peoplo that information was being , deliberately hold back by tho Government, which they dare not reveal. Mr. Jas. Allen; We havo never suggested anything of the kind. i Mr. NGATA declared that Mr. Massey's . speech in Auckland on the subject of ! the Mokau lands was an instanco of ob- ■ jectionnble Opposition criticism. The . "political Pharisee" (Mr. Massey) had thanked God that ho had never trafficked in Native lands, leaving tho inference to be drawn that men on the Government side had. Mr. Massey: Don't they? j Mr. N;;ata: Provo it! Mr. Massey: We proved it last year in the Hino inquiry. Mr. Ngala: Mr. Kaihau? Mr. Massey: Yos. The amendment was defeated by 41 I to IG. , The Bill was read a second time. \ MILITARY PENSIONS. A BUI to provide military pensions in lieu of old age pensions in certain cases was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time* ; STRATFORD-ONGARUE LINE. An amendment to the Railways Authorisation Bill was also introduced by Governor's Message. The Hon. It. M'Kenzie stated that the amendment was a new clause providing for a deviation on tho Stratford-Ongaruo line, which would shorten it by six miles and enable a saving of .EGO.OOO lo ha made At midnight there wero twenty-five members in the House, of whom about half-a-dozen affected a horizontal position. BILLS IN COMMITTEE. TEACHERS AND TRANSFERS. In Committee on the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Bill, The PRIME MINISTER moved a new clause, providing that any education beard, before transferring a teacher to another position, whether in the same or a different school, must give him fourteen days' notice of such intention, and tho teacher may then, within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice, object in writing, stating his grounds for so doing. If the board, after considering the objection, decides to maintain its decision, it must give notice of such decision to tho teacher, who will then have the same right of appeal as in a case of dismissal from tho service. Mr. GUTHRIE opposed tho amendment. It would result in somo teachers being discharged instead of transferred. Ho knew of no instances of hardship suffered by teachers on transfer. The clans? was added, and the Bill was subsequently reported, with other minor amendments. At 0.30 a.m. fourteen members wcro sitting erect. A few others were prono on their benches. The Reserves and Other La.nds Disposal and Public Bodies 1-mipbwerinn Bill was amended in Committee by tho addition of clauses affecting local matters in Canterbury and Waikato. In Committee on tho Railways Authorisation Bill, strong protests were made against the expenditure of more money on railway construction in tho South Island than in tho North. Mr. PEARCE moved to omit tho Midland Railway from the schedule of tho Bill with a view to inserting the Opunake line. Thirty-one members we.ro in tho Cbanil>er at 1.30 a.m. Five of them wcro rocumbent. The Hon. R. M'KENZIE said there was more than ,£200.000 worth of railways in (he North Island than in the South. This was not a questioa of one is'nnd against the other. Certain railways were Hinder construction, and had te bo "continued. The Government intended to push on with railway construction in the North Island as rapidly as possible. He believod the Midland railway, when completed, would lx> one of the most profitable in tho Dominion. Tho amendment was defeated by 44 to 12. No amendment other than the addition of the Stratford-Ongaruo deviation was made in the Bill. MINING BILL. The Mining Amendment Bill was then committed. The clauses relating to the oil industry wcro i>asscd with slight amendments. (Loft eittinsJi J