QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1525, 22 August 1912, Page 6

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS.

WORKERS' .COMPENSATION. THE DOMICILE CLAUSE, The Hon. Sir A. E. GUINNESS (Grey) asked tho Minister for Labour whether ho would introduce legislation, this session to amend tho domicile clause in tho Workers' Compensation Act so that deceased workers' dependents residing outside the Dominion might be entitled to compenSa The'Hon. Mr. MASSET (Minister for Labour) replied: "It is not quite correct to say that compensation is not payable to dependants of workers injured, if the dependents are not domiciued in New Zealand, as under Section 53 of tho New Zealand Act reciprocity has been established with Queensland, Western Australia, and Great Britain; and,it is also being established with South Australia—tho South Australian Act, recently brought into force,, containing provision for compensation for the New' Zealand relatives of workers "injured in that State. When any of the other A usl Lilian States arc Prepared to mnke similar arrangements, ae provisions of Section 51) of our Act will be applied, and an amendment to the Act is not necessary." Mr. H; POLAND (Ohinemuri), discussing tho question and tho answer, complained that the Minister had simply given tho Houso the usual Departmental reply: If other States won't do anything, we won't do anything—stick in the mud anil wait for someone else to do something. The matter affected mining districts more than any other places. Miners camo over to New Zealand to work leaving their wives and families in Australia until snch time as they (tho miners, could earn sufficient money to bring them over to New Zealand. But unless the irife could provo by a lei ter or in some other way that it' was the intention of the husband to bring her across a wifo could not claim compensation in the event of her husband's death. It would not affect tho insurance rate to bo paid by tho companies' by one shilling, because no inquiry was ever made as.to where a man employed came from. ■Mr. J. COLVIN (Bullor) endorsed the remarks made bv Mr. Poland. Mr. T. E. Y. SEDDON (Westland) said it would redound to thp credit of tho Government if they would take tho first step in this matter, for then the other States would come, into line. The Hon. W. F. MASSKY (Minister for Labour): explained that in New South Wales and Victoria no compensation was paid in respect of tho death of any' worker if his dependents happened not to be domiciled in New Zealand. To make the Act apply tn the whole world would open up a very largo question. What lie proposed to do was to put his Department into communication with tho Governments of New South Wales and Victoria, with tho object of sotting up a reciprocal arrangement. If this reply was in the affirmative, as he anticipated it would be, the difficulty would bo got over.

ST. HELENS HOSPITALS. The Hon. K. ir. IMIO.DKS, answering a question liy Jlr. Scildon. slutotl that tho Crorcriunpiit is not considering any altoratioii in the conditions under which the St. Helens Hospitals are constituted. The (|uostion of extending the scope of these institutions in tho direction of further assistance, especially for the settlers in the remote country districts, is, howuvcr, being considered. MARTINBOROUGH LANDS. Mr. BUCHANAN (Wnirarnpa) asked tho Minister for Lands whether lio would cause an inquiry to be made ns to the desirability of opening up for settlement tho most suitable of the Crown lands lying to the east and south-east of Martinborbugh, certain areas of which are now reserved as a (leer forest or sanctuary. Certain of these Crown lands, he pointed out, which were once covered by bush, have been largely cleared by fires, and are now suitable for settlement. The Hon. Mr. MASSEY (Minister for lands) replied: Full inquiry will at once be made into the desirability of utilising these lands for settlement purposes. DEFENCE PROSECUTIONS. Mr. nOHF/RTPOX (Otaki) a-keil Hip Minister for j)ef«nce whether he would stop tho prn.-cciiliun of lads lor refusing 'IVirilorinl service unlil "iicli lime ns the law is altered. This pnMpinii'menl. Jip nddefl, did iml. involve, as I ho Mini=l»r f-nm-r] tn ihink il did. dm nnn-puni?h-aiant o£ oSeud«rsi it ouly rucaut tho ,uost.

ponement of that punishment until eueh timo as tho law was amended. Tho lion: Mr. ALLEN (Minister for Defence) replied: The proposed amending defence, legislation will be introduced at: the earliest opportunity. Till this legislation is pa.-sed. the law as it stands must bo complied with; but it is hoped Id make provision that anyone convicted, whether committed before or after the commencement of tho Act (if passed), who makes default in payment of any ftn« may bo committed to military custody. INSPECTION OF BRIDGES. Jlr. E. NEWMAN (Rangitikei) asked the Minister for Public. Works whether ho would this se«ion. introduce, legislation to provide for the inspection and contra! of all bridges built ami maintained privately as well as all public bridges. Tho Hon. W. I'KASEIt (Minister for Public Works) replied: To attempt to do what is suggested in the question would inevitably cause, great friction, and might eventually result in the Government having to relievo a local body of some of its most important functions. The wholo subject is having the careful connideraticn of the Government. KILBIRNIE POLICE STATION. Dr. A. IC. NEWMAN (Wellington East/ asked the Minister for Justice whether lip would establish a. police station at KilThe Hon. A. L. HERDMAN (Minister for Justice) replied: There are now two police constables stationed at Kilbirnie, an additional officer having been sent there at the eud of last month. It is proposed to place a sum on the Public Works Estimates for the current year for the purchase of a suitable site, and for tho erection of station thereon. CONCESSIONS AND ECONOMY. RAILWAYS MINISTER AND HIS PROBLEMS. Mr. ROBERTSON (Otaki) asked the Minister for Railways • whether ho intended to make the concessions on children's railway fares, which were. projected by the Mackenzie Government. Tho proposals were: Children under five to* tTavel free, children Iwtween five and fourteen to travel at quarter fares. The MINISTER replied that the concession .would ibe too costly, and that it was not proposed to make it. Several members declared themselves dissatisfied with this reply, and tho Minister, later in the afternoon, made a further statement on the subject. The principal matter raised against tho railways, Mr. Herries remarked had been .the refusal to carry children free as proposed in the Governor's Speech of the preceding Government. The Minister for Railways had to be hard-hearted because he had lo look after the interests of _ those who had money invested in tho railways. It was very easy, for a member toi get up and speak trom a humanitarian point of view, pointing out how desirable it was to encourage largo families. Ho quite agreed and would support any legislation to encourage largo families. At the same time he was guardian of the public purse in regard to tho railways, and his Departmental officers advised.him that such a change as was advocated in the Governor's Speech of tho late Government would cost between ,£40,000 and ,£50,000. Ho was not prepared at- tho moment to sacrifice that amount of money. Ho had before him some very large problems. The railway employees were asking for large increases of wages, *and in a great many cases he thought that their demands were just. Ho had to satisfy these officers, and lion, members e,ame to him asking for concessions in freights and fares. On top of all this came the demand for £19,(100 or ,£50,000 for the children. At tho same time ho was expected to produce a dividend at least equal to 3J per cent. Tho thing wa-s impossible. Ho could not <lo it. A Minister for Railways with the best intentions in the world could not accede to all the requests that wero made by humanitarians. A question had been rtiised by the member for Christchureh Ncrth with regard to the carriage of racehorses. Mr. Isitt was only half right, as usual. The rate referred to had been in existence for many years. Horses had for many years been returned from racecourses at half-rates. The trucks had to. be returned in any ease, and the railways made a large profit out of race meetings. Mr. Poland: The horses havo to go back, too. • Mr. Herries said thnt the concession wa.s only granted when horses wero returned to the place from which they had come. There had been a good deal of complaint about this. ■ ' Mr. Poland: They take good care to go back to the places they camo from. Mr. Herries said that, as Minister for Railways, he would be only too glad to have race" meetings every day if the railways got as many people tt> carry as at the time of the Grand National meeting' at Christchureh. Mr. Isitt: That is false political economy. Mr. Herries said that he was not speaking as a political economist, but as a Minister for Railways, who wanted to see a good profit.irinde/ on the railways. Tho lion, gentleman spoke, of course, from an outside point of view. When tho railway finances could afford it ho would be only too glad to assist people with large families, but he thought that other Departments of State ought to bo called upon to assist this desirable objoct. It was a. State affair, and tho Railway Department should not bo expected to carry everything. There wore anomalies in tho railway rates, and ho intended at. the first opportunity to go thoroughly into the question of removing those anomalies.