PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1847, 30 August 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. The Ooucoil tnet at 2 80 p in. Hon. Mr Bigg moved for a return showing too number of Chinese immigrants daring the year ending 81st Marob, 1906 and since, and the number of Chinese who left the colony during the same period. The motion was oarried. The eleotion of Chaitinan of Committees was held in camera, and resulted in the ohoioe of Mr Reeves. The Attorney-General paid the usual compliment to the successful candidate, and was followed by Mr Smith, late chairman, in the same strain. Sir Maurico O'Rouike moved the scoond reading of the Divin ty Degrees Bil 1 , to enable tbo University of Nsw Zealand to confer drgrees of divinity. Ho explained that it provided that tha Senate should frame a curriculum of divinity degrees. It was not to favor any particular denomination, but to suit all religious deDomina-

tion?. No rel’gious test was to be imposed on professor, Icoiarer, or student The study for degrees could be either at au affiliated institution or privately. j On the motion of the Attorney-Qtnsia' | the debate was adjourned until to-' . morrow. i

Mr Louisson having spoken in reply to the debate on the motion for the Address-in-Keply, the address was agreed to, and the Council rose at 4.10 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j . , ta-ga-l The House met as 2.80 p.m. Liave of absence for a fortnight was given to Mr E. G. Gollen on urgent private affairs. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time: Habitual Criminals (Mr Sidey). L .udiess Natives (Mr Carroll), Stamp Act Amendment (Mr Carroll), Fire Brigades (Mr Carroll), Local Government Subsidies (Sir J. G. Ward). QUESTIONS.

The replies to the questions were eircu lated. Among these are the following The rumor that the State Fire 10-ut-

anog OfSoe intends to join the Fire Insurance Underwriters’ Association has no foundation in fact. The meeting of Parlhment has been fixed for the ocnyenienoe of members, and the alteration suggested to ths meeting early in May would necessitate the ohaoge of the close of the financial year to the end of December.

The question of mskirg further provision for sanatorium patieut3 at Rotorua will bo considered on completion of the new bath building now in oourse of construction. The Government have every desire to afford facilities for the indigent poor who might be benefited by the use of these sptings. Io the matter of telephones the attitude of the Department, so far from being conservative is of the most liberal character. There is hardly any township or hamlet now in existence in the oolony ihaf has not telephonic communication, and many places have it where there is neither hamlet nor township. The Government will not introduce legislation to abolish special juries, as the present law, which was passed in 1898, and which provides that do case or inquiry shall be tried by a speoial jury unless all parties consent thereto, or unless in the opinion of the court or jodge expert knowledge is required, is quite tuffijient to protect the interests of all classes of the public. ‘ The dislocation of the ’Frisco mail service is due generally to the ’Frisco earthquake, and partly to a recent maritime strike in that city. The Friendly Societies Bill will be circulated at an early date. The Government Railways Superannua tion Fund is applicable only to persona who'were permanently employed in the Department in any oapaoity at the time the Act came into operation, and to such other persons as have from time to time been put on the permanent staff since that date. Although the exigencies of the work of the Daparlmcnt may necessitate the employment of oertain members of the casual staff for a considerable period, such persons are nevertheless liable to be paid off at any time should the work slaoken No alteration which would disturb the foundation of the Government Railways Superannuation Fand Act could be agreed to without the concurrence of every contributor to the fund, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in the direction indicated.

Is is not expedient to set op a committee of the House to inquire into so large a question as the general tffect of ihe treaty of Waisangi, nor will it serve aoy material purpose to refer it to tho Native Affairs Committee. The Government is not aware of any native difficulty in any wide sense that needs to be ended ap3tt from the general question of. the best method of bringing unused native lands into occupation, either by the Maori owners or by Europeans. The proposal to establish a free law bureau has been mooted from time to time, and up to the present there does not appear to be aoy very great demand oa the part of the public for the creation of suoh an institution at the public oxpense, nor has tny practical scheme yet been worked out. I shall be glad to give every consideration to aoy suggestions on the subject whioti the honorable member may feel disposed to make, r The question of introducing regulations to enable effect to be given to the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Aot is at present under consideration, so that full effeot may be given to the provisions of the Aot. It is not intended to make any ebaDge in the existing practice as regards the payment of jurors in criminal cases, as there is no reason to suppose that the present scale is either dissatisfactory of inadequate. The question of altering the scale of payment to jurors in civil orses is now engaging my attention, but thero are difficulties in the way, as any increase m the cost must either be borne by the Consolidated Fund or else fall upon the parties to the suit. If time will permit this session an amendment in the Shearers’ Accommodation Aot will be introduced, providing that the inspector can insi.-t on prepsr accommodation ba’ng provided for the ordinary station and farm hands, as well as for the shearers. „ . ’ , , . It is not deemed advisable that any alteration shou'd bo mide in regard to compensation cases, as up to the present time the Arbitration Court has been able to deal with them in a satisfactory manforecasts are sent to nearly all sports centres Inquiries will be made at

to whether arrangements oan bs made with the Postal D parlmsnt to accept them at local post offices where such offices exist at fishing centres. The potato doty will be con-uered when the question of tbe tariff is brought dowD. Steps have already been taken to prohibit the importtt'on of _ potatoes

effected with blight. The further question of preventing the planting of diseased potatoes will recsive consideration. A Bill will be introduced this session to amend tbe Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. > . There is no intention of introducing a

Fait Bant Bill. . The Government have not rrcetvej any communication from tbo University ot New Zealand recommending that free tuition at University Colleges be provided for ell persons who have obtained oredn at University examinations for junior scholarships. The matter has, bow ever, already bsen under the con eideration of the Dspartment for more

than four years, bat the groat increase in the expenditure for education in other ways bad led to the postponement of this matter. Indeed, first holders of free places in secondary schools wilt only now have reached the Btage at which they are ready for University education. The question of giving immediate effect to the principle involved is being considered by the Government. Applications for enrolmert on board the Sparrow mast be addresssd'to the Defence Department. .... The question of a redaction m the sheep tax is under consideration. Government have no intention of setting up a Boyal Commission to enquire into the fishing industry. The question of the

development of the fisheries is principally a matter of money, and the constitution of another department or of a board to control them would only iuoroaso tho oost of administration without beiug better ablo to improve tho fiibsrio?. The Maiiun Department is now responsible frr tbn control of tbo sra fisheries, aud if suilieient money is granted for their development and necessary logis'ation passed, especially in connection with working tho oyutor fcedp, it or.u do what is required. A great deal of money has been spent in tho last

few years on experimental trawling, importation of salmon and whito fi>h, and on tho establishment and maintenance of a marino fiah hatobory, and it is proposed tbat Ibo importation cc snob ova should bo gone on with, and tbat other suitable food fishes shall bo iniroduoed from Great Britain and Amerioa if possiblo. Harbor oonvooionors are under tho control of Harbor Boards, which havo thoir own regulations in regard to tbr. matter. The question of duties levied on articles required by fishermen will be considered when the tariff is being raised. The taking of trout at mouths of rivers will bo dealt finally at an early date.

A question asking for free school Boards was answered by quoting the answer given to Mr Field on Septomber Bth, 1900, to a similar question, viz, that the course purposed would bo very expensive ; that the books would bo inferior to those now supplied in such great variety ; that they would never be up to date, and that it is a matter for the Education Boards to deal

A adjournment was made on the motion of Mr Hurries {who obtained post ballot). The adjournment was moved for discussion of the replies The other balloted Members who spoke were Messrs Aitken, J. Allen, Sir W. Steward, Barclay, Kirkbride, AVilford, Laurenson, Arnold and Sidey. The Minister of llailwiiys, the Minister, of Lands, and the Premier replied and the House adjourned at 530 for dinner,

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 SO p.m. WORKER'S COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENTS IS9O AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Barclay moved the second reading of this Bill, basing his recommendation o r its provisions on the ignorance of tech • idealities which sometimes caused workmen to lose their claims. The law draughtsmen had approved of the sentials of the measures

Mi- Sidey congratulated the member for Dunedin on having got so important a measure to the second reading, and ap proved of the Bill

The Premier suggested reference of the Bill after the second reading to the Labor Bills Committee. Mr liutherford asked if the G overnment were going to take up the Bill After what had happened last year in the case of Sir W. Steward’s Bill dealing with the Legislative Council he would like an indication of the Ministerial intention.

The Minister for Labor thought the hon. member in charge of the Bill was going a little too far. It would be dangerous to dispense with notice Mr Barclay did not like the proposal to refer the Bill to the Labor Bills Com-

mittee, but be would of course accept the suggestion. He denied that the Bill proposed to abolish notice.

Taa Bill was resd a second time, and referred ae proposed. GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND AUT AMENDMENT BILL Mr Kirkbrilo moved the second reading. He said that there wss much dia

satisfaction throughout.the colony at the high valuations made, The farmer was greatly handicapped by having so moot so many Government ofliaials arrayed against him under the present system. The Valuation Court was one, and the farming

community shrank from it. Ho mentioned an instanos of an owner wbo complained recently (bat he found the prooa dure more lika that of a criminal than a civil court. The proper remady was fo give the owners representation according to the principle adopted in the Compen-

sation Courts. The public could not be expected to have any confidence in a court exclusively appointing its judges The vcluers, moreover, always managed to keep objectots from going into Court, Toey never spent enough time over their work of valuation, and they unduly boomed the value, as was proved by the faot of the increase during the last three years of the unimproved value by no less than 28 miliuns sterling. Tnose valuers went through their districts in a oaroless fashion. They valued the good end the bad alike. They deolared they had no instructions, The proper remedies were classification o' the lauds, and the simphfication of the

system of valuing, Above all things the valuers should not be a'lrwed to a?k owners if they would Eceepi the value placed oa their lands, For his part he had answered the query by intimating that his farm was not for sale, and indeed ha would not sell at any valuation, in which he resembled his neighbor?, who, like him, were too old to pull up slakes and find

other farms. These high values were disquieting. In England at the end of the last century land fell from 30 to 50 per OBnt and good farms in some instances oould soaroely be let at all. That was what we had to guard against here. Moreover, this high taxation was frequently a tax on the property and a man’s labor. He oalled upon Mr LaurehsoD, Mr Eil, and Mr Fowldf, and others who wore a'ways objecting to thß taxation of labor to support this Bill. He mentioned the case of a ftiend whose intorest in a leasehold wbs valued at £35.000 by the DeparimsDt, who appealed to the Valuation Court, which reduoed his value to £21,750, and who very

sboitly afterwards sold that interest for JES7SO. After mentioning esses, Mr Kirkbride said that the utmost was squeezed out of ownors. As a remedy the Bill simply preposed to givo local bodies the power to appoint one of the assessors of the Court. The Minister for Lands said he did not intend to oppose the Bill. He had been enquiring into the matter, and had prepared a scheme exactly on the lines of the hoD, gentleman's Bill, which the present law permits. E’er his part he would have preferred to give the appointment of an assfS3or to owners, but bad found the difficulty so great that he fell back on jsbo local bodies os the hon. gentleman had done. Ho defended his predecessors from the Strictures of the hon. member, remindio° him tt the extraordinary fiili ulties in the way of establishing a Valuation Department. The instiuctions to the valuers were not to follow tho la-it sales at which va'uas of tenure were boomed up ondcly, but to cocsidor all the sabs, of which lists wore supplied. The endeavor wee to produce uniformity of valuations from tho North Capo to the B.uff, and things weio working out well. Ho de- , fendod the praclice of valuing cn the ! Sl iiiue value The valuations, ne felt ’ & 1 , Tfc WHS

3u:o, wera ncwbeie exoessive. AC was larcely a easo of d'saontaut oa the pare ot owners because Ihsy hai noS a reproaenta-

tivo on tlai Court. , M l ' Massey found the Mmis.oc s skV.o> meet fairly satisfactory. Ho eedarsea everything the member for Macukau said, aud he took exception to several ol the assessors appointed; single taxers, presidents of local labor orgamsatics, and such like wore most improper appoint, moots. He said it across the floor of the House in the hopes of emoadmant. Mr Fiatmaa was glad of the Bid, and still more glad of the statement of the Minister. The orediS, however, of bringing about a belter stats of things was duo to his side of thia House, which had trusted

the (Jovsrameui ouu • »•> Minister's statement proved. Ho would vo'.e for tbo second loading. Metb:s Buddo, T. MacKenzir, and 0. Mills followed, dealing with the subject 01 valuation generally. Mr Tanner urged that the Bill should be amended so as to enable the chairman of a local body to be appoiotod an assossoi

of tha Valuation Court. Mr Eil objected to the Bill, insisting that owners aro satieficd for the meat part, and that tba evidence of substantial objection ia much overrated, He thought the interest of tho land owners sufficiently

protected under the prerent system. * Mr Rutherford and Mr Witty supported the Bill. Mr Lsmenson opposed it, giving instances within his knowledge in which sales had been effected at prices greatly over the Department’s valuations. Messrs Major, Hail, and Alison supported the Bilk

I Mr Kirkbrido replied, expressing satis(notion with the statement of tho Minister. Ho replied part'oulavly So Messrs Ell aud Lsuronson, tho only opponents of the Bill, that tho proposed appointment of tho assessor was or, nil four with represent!'.lion of labor by assessors on tho Arbitration Gomt. JLvt'forriug to Mr Ell’s state mont that only 800 objections bed boon mtvio lust year out o! 02 000 valuations, be maintained that it proved his contention that the owners had no confidence in the one-sided Valuation Ooutt. Tfco Bill was road a sseoud tiino on tho voieoa. Tho House adjourned at 10.10 p.m.