PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1861, 15 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. The Council mot at 2 80 p m. In moving for a supplementary return of nalivo lands, waste and unoccupied, Mr Ormond proceeded to travorso tho land polioy of the Government. The debate was adjourned until Tuesday, on the motion cf tho Hon. 1\ K. MacDonald. TRAINING SHIPS BILL.

This Bill was read a third time tied passed. The Registration of Bittbs Extension Bill and Opium Prohibition Ao! Am ndmoot B'll were reported from Oommittoe unamended and passed. The Juvonilo Offenders Bill enl Sale of Explosives Bill war 6 reported from Oommilteo with verbal amendments, and tho Counoil rose at 4.40.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Honso mol a* 2 30 p.rn. FIRST READING. Tho Divoroo Aot Amendment Bill No. 2 (Mr LaurensoD) was introduced and read a first time. RIDDIFORD’S TRUSTEES. The report of tho Petitions Committee was rendered, recommending the position of tbo trustees to the favorablo ooußidoration of tbo Government. Mr Whford explained that Mr E. P. Bonny and another wore trustee* for b piece of land granted on certain conditions »u the town of Petone. Their case was that wberea* had a private individual been the purchaser of this land the stamp duty would havo boon £1 10s, but being a gift from a rioh person tho sum of £l3O was levied. Tho Solicitor-General, in advising in this oaso, bad confessed to a doubt, and had given tbe Tax Collector tbo benefit of it. Sinoe then tho judicial decisions on tho duty leviable on Rifts have removed all doubts on the subject. Two of these wore oolonial—(Stout, 0. J„ in re Adams; Oorper, J,, in re Raid), and the third was English. The tax had therefore olearly beeu wrong'y leyied. The wealthy, Mr Wilford urged, are obary of making gifts in this oouotry, and the penalisirg of tho prsotioa was not likely to enoouroge it. He hoped tho Government would through the estates recoup this inadvised levy. The Hon. J Carroll sad (he Government was prepared to consider the whole of the oironmstanoos of tho case. The House adopted tbe report on the voioes. SPECIAL COMMITTEE-STAMP ACT BILL

Tha following ware appointed a committee for dealing with the Stamp Act Amendment Bill: Messrs Aitken, Baum?, McPherson, Hon, Millar, Reid, Remiog ton, Ross, Wilford, Symes, Izard, and Hon. J. Carroll (mover), TEMPORARY CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES. The Hon. the Premier moved that in jca'ordacoa with standing order No. 200 a .jsftalof two members be appointed to eel is ttmporary chairmen of Committees when by the Ohairman of Commiitees, ibis panel to c nsist of Mr Fiatman and Mr Wood. He said that oom pliaooe with the standingorder will obviate difficulties whioh had proved most ineoo VBnient in the past. He referred to the long experience of Mr Flatman in politics, dating back to the days of the BouihOanlerbflry Board of Works, and the extensive municipal experience of Mr Wood at Palmerston North, as evideooe of the fitness of those hon. members for the position. He added a eulogium of their high character and impartiality. The salaries for thess positions would be, he aonoluded, provided for by a Bill to bo broQght down presently, adding that it was hot intended to increase any salary hitherto paid. Mr Massey thought it wrong to enforce 4 standing order that had fallen into disuse. He considered the proposition of the Premier nnnsual and unnecessary, and objeoled to the salary payment as increasing the number of paid parliamenlaty offices on the Government side and under the oontrol of the Government Ho mentioned to Ministers the Ohairman of Committees and the Whips. The Premier pointed out, in reply, that !ihe standing order is mandatory, and that oontinnanoe is no exouse for disobedienoe. He bad learnt that the Ohairman of Committees was under the control of the Crevernment, and he denied that the Whips were paid with publio money, and explained that the amount to be paid to the deputies would be the same as before The House divided, Ayes 44, noes 23. The motion was oarried. The following is the division list: — Ayes (44): Messrs Barber, Barclay, Bennett, Buddo, Carrol), Colvin, Davoy, Dillon, Duncan, Ell, Fosvlds, Graham, Gray, Greenslade, Hall, Hall-Jones, Hanao, Heke, Hogan, Hogg, Hornsby, Houston, Izard, Kaihau, Kidd, Lanronson, Lawry, MacGowan, R- McKenzie, MoLaohlao, MoNab, Miller, Mills, Ngaia, Parata, Poland, Ross, Ssddon, Sidey, Stniih, Biallworthy, Ward, Wilford, and ' (23); Messrs AitkeD, AHisoD, J. Allen, Bollard, Fisher, Fraser, A. L. Fraser, W, Hardy, Herriea, Jennings, Kirkbride, Lethbridge, T. Mackenzie, Massey, Major, Marnier, Poole, Reid, Remington, Rhodes, Rutherford, Tanner, and Thomson.

ESTIMATES. * In committee on claoae 6, Working Railways Department, the item working railways, £1,720,000, Mr Allen complained that Bbeep are sometimes lost in transit, and wanted to know the oanset Meaara WiHord, Bollard, Arnold, and Hornsby pointed ont the need (or better classification, the latter nllnding to the » widespread discontent " in the Depart* ment. t Mr Wtlford said that sufficient discrimination is Dot shown on the sheets between responsibility and freedom from

it. . i The Minister said he was surprised to hear of tho “ widespread discontent,” especially as he had never found railway men backward in advancing thei: grievances. He explained that a classification scheme for tho casuals promoted to the permanent department last year was gottingnoar completion, He promised to consult his officers in the matters of wages and grading. He deprecated violent charges. Ho nrged hon. members to bring complaints to him rather than bottle them up for the House, and promised them careful consideration and justico. , MrKirkbride raised a local traitic question. Mr Laurenson advocated the cause of men who had been 20 years on tho casual list) Mr Hanan quoted from paylists to show the need for alteration. Mr Massey voiced a local traffic grievance from Huntly, where the traffic f s growing greatly. Ho complimonted the Minister on the further classification he had announced Ho urged the Minister to favorably consider the case of the numerous station masters in tho service drawing small pay, ±IBO to L2OO a year, working long hours, 0 in the morning till 8 at night, and carrying heavy responsBuddo took the same line as to the station master and complained of the shortage of trucks. Messrs Bollard and Poland of]acted to j.—tbelow rate of pay in the case of the rail- - .-”>7 olerks. . , . , ... that depos.Miniater explained, in reply, 'hat to seoure poliOl-iect is large and complicated ißgiatered with hieuons oSeotiDg tbo railway the Life Assurance Go.general taxpayer, and end secondly aubieot tothld deal with it in the benefit of the polioyholder!>’ght be found opeD Boo 'ety. The provision , Aot of 1873 for the registratiofibo suparannuawaa repealed by Aot No. 37, 18'yiiuarial report tbe registered policies are a co-° n d North diminishing number aDd will dipdy seemed entirely in the comae of time. Tbi'S was astbe information the Government’ dirooto s to the question. . added that it would be undesirable tqght to go the above polioybolders policies iime> Government office except in the ordil offiaers way. and he ...Where members of the Railway Depslion in ■tnent invent or oompleto any oontriyattuagad ....'entirely at their own expense, they o' | |hortttoß|« ' ’

servico. Ho brought o recout circular about tho paymont of oilowaneoa to the notioo of tho Minister. Mr Gray referred to tho disoroponoios of wage systoins. , Tho Houso adjourned for dinner at 5 oU EVENING SITTING. Tho Houso rosumod at 7.130. Mr Massey suggested tho uso of motor oarriagos in connection with the railways. Mr Wilford asked for some change in tho constitution of tho Appeal hoard. Mr Ell wanted tho ohargos on tho ocnvoyonco of racehorses to bo raised and tho wages of tho railway mon improved. , . , , ~ Mr Fish or thought tho highly paid officials ought to ptoduoo bettor railway stations at Wellington and otbor places. Mr Thomson found fault with 15 miles an hour on long linos as too slow. Tho Mioistor explained that tho constitution of tho Appeal Boards had boon I adopt d nftor very careful consideration ; I that tho sp od of trains was tho outeomo of much careful thought on tho part of experts o? tho sorvico dealing with tho oomplioHod conditions ; that motor oars have boon otdorod for tho Auckland railways ; that tho building of bettor stations and tho rise in tho freight for raoshotsos would bo kept steadily in viow. Mr Hogg complained of tho want of fool-wnrmots on tho Northern linos. Ho thought tho Southern linos wero well supplied. Tho Minister said fooGwarmors land been ordered. Mr Gray oomplained of tbo smoko milsauoo in tunnels, and tho Mioisiersaid that instructions have been given to mako an estimate of tho cost of o'ootric motive power in tho Lyttelton tunnel. Morsrs Flntman, Dillon, Remington, and Hon. T, Y, Dunoau voioed local train grievances. Mr Hogan dft-oiled from personal experience tho anomalies of sbo o'assifioatiou system, while ho was glad to hear tho Mioistor say ho thought 5s a day too little for a man. Mr Horries comparod tho accidents on tho British and New Zealand systems; F-italitios, 1 in 1015 in Now Zealand, 1 iu 15-17 in Britain; injuries, lin 14 to 20 in New Z;aland, 1 in 150 in Britain. Tho Minister explained that the discrepancy is duo to tho difference of com pilation. In Britain the reported a o - deuts wero confined to tho rolling stcok, and no injury was reported that did not incapacitate tbo injured for five days or more. Whereas in New Zealand tho workshops wore inoluded, and every injury was reported. Ho explaiced as to the rate of us a day oomplainod of tha

tho clarification was known well enough, and the weekly average for employment accordingly was 303. Messrs Hall and E G. Allen voioed

local train grievances, Mr Tboirnon advocated an automatic system of points (the Minister interjsoted that one was under consideration), and obeapfr excursion tickets. Mr Baumo complained that the medianios in theservioo are paid a less minimum than those outside.

The item £1,750,000 passed uoaltsred at 8 50.

Class Vl. Item: Publio buildings, £37,222 —The Minister explained that the sum was nearly £IO,OOO more than last year bcoanso of the greater requirements for renewals and mainieoanoe. After a discussion on various local buildings, Mr Baumo moyed tbat the item £2OOO for a courthouso bo reduced by JSI.

After some discussion of the need for a new courthouse at Auckland, the amendment was lost, and the item passed unamended.

The item, Government domains £I4OO, passed unaltered. Maintenance of roads, £2s,ooo.—The Minister explained that this is for the maintenance of main roads.

Mr Massey congratulated the Minister on doing the tight thing by making the tremfer.

Mr J, Allen asked why the Minister did not go one stsp farther and transfer the ordinary roads. Tho Minister replied that the control of these roads when finished was with tho local bodies, which have to keep them in order. The item, after further discussion and complaints of reduoed expenditure, passed unaltered, making the total for Glass VII. £64 437.

Class 8. printing and slationery department, L 41.888, passed unaltered, Immediately after tha supper adjournment was taken at the usual hour. Class 9, stamps and deed department (1) stamp depaitment LlO 05-3; (2) land and dsed3 registry L 23 511 ; total L 33.564. Vote 1, passed unaltered. Vote 2: On this vote Mr Baumo moved a reduction of th 9 first item, salaries, Auckland, L 550, by LI 10e to affirm the principle that the whole vole should be under the control of the judice department. The amendment was los‘, after a protest from Mr Ngata against the poor salaries. No. 1 was passed unaltered. No, 2 was the occasion of complaints ot‘ delays (by Mr Harries) in setting up the boards, and against the appointment of judges to the Land Court without a knowledge of the Maori language and customs (by Mr Fraser). Mr J. Allen cou'd not see how with judges at L4OO it was possible to secure the talent necessary for speed and aocuracy in the settlement of the great native problems. Reform had been promised for 20 years, and still it was "Taihoa.” Mr Jennings and Mr Remington denounced the low salaries (jpaid to men discharging large responsibilities. Mr Remington wanted to know why last year’s promises to buy large blocks of Native land had not been kept. The Minister replied that they had been kept, but the blocks could not be cut up and roaded for settlement in a single year.