THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1591, 7 November 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE

TAIERI LAND DRAINAGE. The House met i at .10.30 'a.m. ' The adjourned debate on the-question that the amendments made'by the Legislative Council in" the Taieri Land Drainage Bill be agreed to; and -tho amendment proposed thereto that they bo disagreed with (Mr. C. Pnrata) was continued. The objection raised to the Bill was mainly on the ground that tho Natives' fishing rights were' not sufficiently safeguarded. In the end, the araend- ■ ments-made by the Legislative Council were disngrecd with, and Messrs. C. Tarota., R. M'Kenzic, B. Scott, and 6. M. Thomson were appointed a Committee to draw, up reasons., '"..'. ' . ' NAPIER HARBOUR. The Napier Harbour Board Amendment and Endowment Improvement Bill (Mr.. .T. Y. Brown) was put through all its stages. ORAKEI BILL. ' TALKED OUT. '. ■ The adjourned debate «on the second reading of the Orakei Atodcl Suburb Bill (Mr, A,. M. Myers) was resumed at 11.20 a.m., when only ten minutes'of tho allotted time remained. The Hon. Dr. Pomare, Mr. C. Parata, . and Dr. Te Eangihiroa, inefnbers representing the Native race, all entered. their protests.very briefly.against, the compulsory taking "of hind from the Maoris, and Mr* J. Payne talked out time. ■Mr. A. MV-Myers then moved, that the.

time should bo extended for ton minutes. The extension, could he granted only with" the unanimous consent of tho House, but Messrs. J. S. Dickson and J, Payne objected, amid cries of-"Be a Sport," and "Lot's have a vote," The Hon. W. P. MASSEY said that it must bo plain to, the member in charge of the, Bill that in. view of the strong opposition', to the Bill it would bo impossible for it to go through this session. Mr. A'. M. MYERS then asked the Minister whether ho would take steps to make tho reserve inalienable, so that the position would, not bo prejudiced before the Houso could deal with the Bill again. The Hon. AV. H. HURRIES (Minister for Nativo Affairs) said that the whole question of tho alienability or othonvifo of the block was st present beforb tho Supremo Court. His own belief was that thero was already a proclamation on the land, and it was his intention to take steps to ascertain whe'tlier 'tho Crown could not acquire the whole bloj^k. NAVIGABLE RIVERS, Mr.,G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) asked tho X'rimo Minister whether the Government would during the recess consider the question of having a report prepared as to tho navigability of eorao of tho rivers of New Zealand. Tho Hon. W. F. MASSEY.said ho had already made a commencement with tho proposal, aild two engineers were Mw reporting as to the best method of improving the Wnikato River, for navigation, The Government Would consider the question on. receipt of the report of spending sufficient money to deepen the rivet for steamers. Mr. G. W. Russell ; asked whether the Government would at the'same time consider tho advisability ;of the State putting its own steamers on the river. SUPERANNUATION. AMENDING BILL PASSED. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill (tho Hon. J. Allen) was N further considered in committee. -', . ; The Hon, J. ALLEN mov'ed to add new clauses to .extend tho benefits' of teachers' superannuation to .such University professors as became eontfibutors to the Superannuation-it'un'd, The new clauses Were qgreod to. Sir JOSEPH WARD U warua) moved a now, clause to empower the Minister to recommend, to tlie Governor-in-Couneil that the broken'time of any former employee of the Education Department who was. an-'employee prior to the'passing of the Act, but «ut of tho service at tho time of the Act coming into force, be counted for the purpose ' of assessing superannuation.- '■ ,; ,■ . ■The MINISTER,wouId, not 'nccopt the amendment, saying, that/ ho feared,ft' would overload the scheme, and it Woulc], abrogate the functions of the Superannuation Board.' The clause wuS rejected' on the voices. -The new ciauso. permitting officers of the defence.force 5 coinpulsorily. before reaching-the" superannuation age'.to draw; the amount of .their, contributions, with compound interest; was opposed, by' Sir Joseph Ward, who said that, this preference for one Department would 'raise a' storm of ■ protest in the-rest of.' the Civil Service.. Other members Also objected, find the Minister said he would not press the clause at. this period of the session, . , The clause, was 'withdrawn,., and; the Bill was reported- with amendments. • ■ . The Bill was. reaella third, time. ; ' V/ASHING.UP BltL;; .The Hon.■' Wl' lK< MASSEY ; raoved . the '■ second reading ef the Reserves itnd other Lnnds'Dispbsal- ahd,Public .Bodies' Em-. powering ; Bill. ..'He .said' this Bill was familiarly known 1 as tho/Wa'shing-up Bill. ■Ho explained that it. was purely a- D?-.. partmental Bill to allow the Departments' to .carry through certain necessary, busi-'-] ,ness which they'had ho power to ;db but legislation. '. Ho explained. the: (12 clauses.of the.Bill.''- ■ ' ','■ ; six days a week: ; ; PROTESTS; AGAINST DELAY, \ •',. ! ' The Labour Bilk. Committee repbrted oil the Shop's and Offices Act Amendment'{ Bill, recommending that it.be allowed to proceed, i . '■• .'■ ■■'■ • -.•'• ,-■; . Mr. H. Gv ELL (dhristehiirch-South), expressed ' tlie hepe'th'at this Bill,, .intended to give hotel arid restaurant employees j a six-<jay Week, would be placed on." the 1 Statute Book during the'ipfeseht.session. Mr.L. M. ISIU V (Ciiristclmrch North) said that there seemed',to 1 be method in the extremely slow progress made bythe Labour Bills Committee on this BilL It would be inexoUgahle to block the Bill. Delaying it for twelve months might hiean delaying it fpr years.. Tlie Prime Minister had to,' recogiiise that in .this. he was iip against a, gigantic monopolj'. ...■:■. Mr. W. A. VE.ITCH (Wahganui) said." that, he was extremely disappbinted/'/at, the attitude of the. Minister for Babbur towards this Bill, Pull .and complete evidence had been taken by the Comtaittee ahd there Sas-no reason why the-Bill should not be passed-that session.; He urged the' Prime 'Minister to . take a' strong position and to enuneiate, as the policy of his Government, that no.worker should be asked' te work for more than six days in one week. '■'•'• ' .. i Mr. G. W. RUSSELL-(Avon) asked that the. House should be.-' given a chance to vote upon the Bill.. v •. ' Mr.-H. J, HVYOKEY (Taranafci) em-'i phatieally denied that the labour-Bills' Committee had been guiltv of any delay in dealing ivitE the Bill. -. ,'flie , Bill ■ had only Come before the Committee on j the previous Friday. 'In view of the number of as well as Jioteldesired to give evidence he considered that the Prime Minister be wise to hold the Bill over.- iNot a, single employee had come before the Committee to ask that the Bill should be passed. ■ Mr. Payne: The .eiaplcyers have threatened them, that's why. '■ ■~ -Mr. G. LAURENSON. <tyttelton) said that tho employees had so much evidence to bring forward that if they bad given it before the Committee the Bill would not have,had "Buckley's chance" of pass-' ing that' vfear. Mr. J. PAYNE..(Grey Lynn) said that tho action of the Prime Minister in turning down this. Bill On account of insufficient evidence,' was "the most miserable .'subterfuge, playing-, into, the hands of vested interest ever heard .of. in. the House." The reason that the employees had refrained from giving evidence was that the hol'elkeeper.s had threatened to employ girls as waitresses if this Bill went through. ' 1 ■ Mr. H, ATMORE (Nelson) strongly supported the Bill. Mr. J. ROBERTSON (Otaki) said that tho reason why the workers had not given evidence before the Labour Bills Committee was to avoid such loss of time as might give tise to the blocking of the measure. The question about evidence was purely a subterfuge. Ho appealed to, tho Prime Minister to .take no heed cf' hotel proprietors' opposition, and to go on with the Bill,••■ Mr. J. V. 'BROWN (Napier) said he was sorry to hear from, the member for Grey Lynn that if this, concession, were not granted, hotel workers would, vote for Prohibition. (Laughter.) They, would be voting .themselves out of a job? He thought the Bill. should apply to . boardinghouses as well as hotels, These boardinghousas .paid . no licenses, they were not subject to the same supervision, and they did not have to keep n meal ready for any person who same along at any hour . of tho dayJ Mr. Payiie: I. can't get'breakfast after nine o clock rvt Napier. Mr. Brown's If you can't get-up "before 9 o'clock you're not a worker atony rnte (Laughter.) Ho thought the Bill should be made universal in application, and cs* pecinlly it shouM apply to farm labourers 'and'hospital nurses. Mr. A. H, HINDMARSH (Wellington South) said it was the duty of the Prime Minister to give a lead, and not to pay so much attention to ft, section of .public' opinion. . Ho (noted as an amendment that tlie ; committal of the Mi bo made an order of (he day, to be set dowi'i for 5 p.m. .'. ■' Mr. H. POLAND (Ohinemiiri) seconded the motion. The Hon. ]?. M. B. FISHER (Minister for Marino), said he had first introduced the Bill into the House in 190", and it 'had been reintroduced into the House every ye.nr since then. The Bill had been held under by the late Administration, and the late Minister, the Hon; J, A. Millar, had said it was a piece of'classlegislation. He (Mr. KsheT). dissented from that view. He had.asked the Prime Minister-to introduce the Bill, but he learned-Inter from the Prime Minister that he had given .pledges that the Bill would not be put on the Statute Bo'ok until evidence had been taken, udoii it.

Tho Bill was late—too late—in coming down, <irtd now, although ho Was a supporter "of tho Bill, ho was not going to ask the lender of the party to break that pledge, lie had brought down l.Jio Will for live years, when the OppoMtmn was in power, when thoy controlled the Labour Bills 'Committee, and not ono of thorn had ever raised a fingor to help him to put the Bill through. Not one of those who were now praising tho Bill, had ever spoken jn support of tho Bill when ho had introduced it. Mow progress had been made with this Bill in ithreo weeks of this session than over before. Ho thought the passing tho Bill was wolf ,in sight, lfc was very glad the Prime Minister dad brought down tho Bill, ami had promised to put it through next session. Tito Hon. W. IV JfASSEY (Prims Minister) said it was quite evident ffom the lonp debate that members of tho Opposition were, in no hurry to go homo. Mr. Isitt: Not at all, if you put this Bill through. Air. Massey said that in view of this ho regretted exceedingly that he had announced to tlifi House that. certain important Bills on tho Order Paper were to bo dropped'for this session to allow of the session being brought, to nn early close. There had been a suggestion that lie had broken faith with tho House in that he was not keeping a promise made to a deputation... lie read from a note, of his. statement to the deputation to show that lie had not given a definite promise to introduce a Bill in support of what the deputation had urged. He had said theff, ami lie .said now, that'he believed in a six days a week Bill,, but he knew tho House had a very heavy programme to put through, and ho was 'exceedingly doubtful whether the' Bill .eould be even introduced. Ho had given a similar answer to a question asked it tlie Mouse by Mr. Bfowrt. ■ He bad again . been asked to' introduce the Bill by the; member for Waugantii and other, members of the House, among them his j colleague, Mr. Fisher, but there had been a distinct understanding that, lie Was not.| pledged to place the Bill on the Statute Book this session. When he introduced the Bill he received telegrams from all over rW Zealand, from people .who wished to give evidence against, the Bill. It was by no.means a simple measure;'it did not stop' at hotels as had. been stated. ■Tho great majority of objections came, from Canterbury and from', the. .small'.. hotels in the North Island. In the. end.; he thought it would be necessary to allotf ! these-objectors' to bo heard, and he'had': promised .them that- the Bill would not be .put on the Statute Book this Session.-.! Bid honourable. members. ask „'tap , : <*l break his word to those people?' It had been said that the dropping of the Bill would mean that it could not come into- operation for three years, but the Bill would lie brought-down next session and it would -become law as boow na tho Governor signed it. He gave the assurance that-jioxt session.no. would bring down.a comprehensive Shops and 6fltcesi Bill',, .wlrieh ,|'puld lncludo clauses contained in' the present measure,, and those people who had 'communicated with him would bo-, given, an opportunity; to state their Case. That was'a fair and reasonable position .to- take tip. '■'•;■;.,:'. : Sir JOSEPH WARD CAwarua) said the proper thing, for the'Hbii'se to do would be to allow-the'Prime Minister, to carry out his pledge* ■ -.'■- . :. ■; The Hon.-A..L. HERPMAN (Minister for Jttstiee) said complaints were frtquently made against tlie rushing of legis-. lation through, and it was surely, fair, that no legislation slioold now bo riishe.d through changing"' the .conditions ■ under which hotel and should'carry on their -business,-. His. own_ ■ private opinion.,was that .all questions of holidays should be settled by' the Arbitration Court ftiid. not by the Legislature., ,-Mrv' J, ROBERTSON. (Qtaki) said- he. Had never meant to convey the. iiiipres-. sion that.tlie Prime- Minister had given a; definite prbmise that this .Bill would,: be ; rome' law this session. The Prime Minister had given no,..snob,..promise, ... Mr. H. G. DLL, (ChristohurOh. South)' ■suggested that the'' telegrams' received, had- been inspired, find he hoped that efen yet the. Bill would be-put through. . ■■ Mr. J. H,;. BRADNEY, (Auckland Wc.st) repudiated the suggestion that' the- Com' mitteo had'tried -to delay' the. .orogressof the Bill. : •.::■.' It had rmv; reached five o'clock and Mfv <a. .)., Anderson, who was called by MrSpeaker,' appealed .to the niember -for Wellington Smith'to'withdraw his amendment. He'offered tousit.down if Mr..Hindmarsh would.withdraw 1 . -.'Mr.'Hiiidmarsh did not retire his aniendipent,. and Mr. Anderson went oil.'. Qetieplly, he defended- the Government. ~-'.' Mr. G. V. PEAEC'E (Patea) said he rose to express,-his disgust,with certain .mem-■ bars bf -the other side,, "aiiid. particularly with the memiier for; Wellington who, ih order to get a. Tittle cheap politi- ■ «al advertisement, insisted-.On ail amend* ment which would be inoperatiTe if'carried. He objected to important Bills being.pushed at this late hour of-itlie-'sessioUi" The debate- was $ interrupted by the adjbiiritment. ";,-..,:-.■' '-.■!". When tlie Housercsunied at-7.30, theiii.-. terrupted debate, 'on the. Reserves- arid 1 Otlier lands disposal and Public Bodies' Empowering Bill ivas continued.' ' ■>'■' After; five minutes' discussion Hie second' reading was carried oh the voices,- and the Bill, was comniitted forth-vfith. . The' Bill' wns reported with, amendments, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. '■■'!'■■'■ / . . MONOPOLY'PREVENT lON BILL, The Monopoly Prevention Bill' (in, con*.nectiou with'. .agricu'l,tnra!, implements) was introduced '■ -jiy Governor's Mesj'sge, and read'a first tune. .'■„ SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES, '.; Tlie Supplementary Estimates,, were brought down by' Governor's Jtessage at 9 p.m., Y ..., , . . - ■-