PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1875, 3 October 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

ritKSS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, last Eigh:

The Couooil me! at 2 80 p m

The Fire Brigades Bill was road a third time, a id pnssed. The Habitual Criminals and Offenders’ Bill was re-oommitted. The Attorney-General moved to add the word " prison " before tho word 11 re l formalory ” in various olausos of tho Bill Tho Bill was reported ns amended. Tho Now Plymouth Borough and Taranaki Sohool Oommiseionors Exohange Bill was road a third timo and passed. Hon. R, Reeves moved tbo sooond reading of the Regulation of BJlnmy’s Bill, providing that liquor may bo sold on any day or any time when either House is sitting, providing that no liquor is sold a'iter ono hour from tho rising of tho House of Representatives at any sitting, and that no liquor shall bo sold from 11 p.m. on Saturdays until 8 a.tn. on Monday?. Tho Attorney Genera! oppesod tho Bill, contending that it was nnneoessary, and maintaining that tho present law was beneficial. Hon W. Boehan supported tho measure, asseriiog that tbo Aot was passed to oonform with tho outory of tho temperarcs party at the moment. Hons, Thompson, Smith, Baldoy, Jonrs, Jenkinson, and Marshall opposed, and Hod. Mr Carnoross supported tho B which was rrjsotcd by 12 to 10. The Council adj jurnod at 8.15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Houso mot at 2.50 p.m. PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Ohurob Property Trust (Canterbury) Act, 1879, Amendment Bill was read a third bine.

The Roman Catbolio Bishop of Auckland Empowtring 8.1 l wa3 read a third time.

ABSENCE

Leave of absence was given to Mr Izard for a wtek on account of illues*. FIRST READINGS.

The Saifloldiog 10-prctars Bill, Lcosl Bjdios Loans Amendment Bill, Land and Income A'-sessment AoS Amendment Bill, Viotoria College Act Amendment Bill, Agricultural Imp'emmt Impo'tttion Ba!e and Mauuf tc'ure Act Amendment Bi I, Experimental Dairy Sobool Bil 1 , and Wai mate Agricultural Reserve Bill were read a fi-Bt time.

RECIPROCITY TREATY. The Obairmao of the Esten-ion rf Ojmmerce Committee brought up the Committee’s report on the treaty to the effect that the Committee, while rtcognising the desirability of establishing reciprocal arrangements with Australia, are unable tn recommend the H ;use to ratify the reciprtc Sy treaty handed to it for investigation, because in their opinioa the advantages oflEjred ate out-weighed by the aaorifioos imposed. Oa the motion of the Premier, oon Bideration of tbe report was deferred until l next sitting day, tbe debate to be opened

GOVERNMENT ADVANOEB TO SETTLERS.

Mr Massey, referring to aa item on the Order Paper, " Advanoes to Workers’ Bill,” oomplimonted the Government oo having adopted the suggestion made by him in Committee.

Tne Premier replied that the hon. member’s suggestion waa quite impracticable, while the Government proposal was part of a whole definitely blooked-out before that suggestion had been made fi Ths Bill was read a third time and passed.

LANDLESS NATIVE 3 .BILE This Bill was read a third. MINING ACT. 1 The Mining Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee. . WOBKEBS DWELLINGS ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The Minister for Labor explained the reason for raising the limit of qualification from £156 to £2OO a year to be to increase the demand for the 77 houses now in the possession of the Department. As a matter of fact there were in hand now a large number of applications from workers drawing between £156 and £2OO ; very few from those drawing less. Mr Massey objected to the Bill, as it was contrary to the spirit of the arrangement proposed last year which was to benefit the smaller workers. He would not oppose the Bill, but he thought it would be better to leave the men of four pounds and upward a week to rely on the Workers Advances Bill just now added to the Order Paper. Mr McLachlan agreed with the Leader of the Opposition. He did not like to see the Government recede so soon from the position taken up last year. He criticised the homes built at Petone as the most grotesque collection of houses he had eyer seen, with small rooms, small win-, dows, and too many conveniences. Mr Arnold endorsed what had fa'l.n from the member for Ashburtm about the characier of the houses, He had known many Petone workers who had m tde ip thair inlnde to take up those houses v.h j had ohaDged their minds as soon as they had seen them. He blamed the Depa tmsnt for bnyiag unsuitable lanl, and rejecting suitable. The objso) of the workers’ dwellings policy was the assist aooo of the poorer laborer in the oongasied diatriote. Mr Fisher would oppose the 8.11 as subversive of the whole policy of aiding the poorest workers in congested districts He thought the remedy for the evil which had been done would be the setting up of a new special board, augmented with the wants of the olaas requiring teiief. The Lind Purchase Board knew as muoh about these requirementi a 3 ho know about astronomy. That Board bad been “swindled.” at Petone, and the Bid was an attempt on the part of the Government to make the best of a bad bargain ; but the right thirsg would be to exhaust the ohances of tho lower piid men before takiDg up the £2OO a year men. Mr Bollard thought a man with £1 a week did not require any help to get himself a home, though he would vote for the Bill. Me Barber regretted the nead of ths Bill. He would support it only if confined to the laud at PetoDe. Mr Wi ford oritioised the stylo, and denounced the disregard of the local by-laws shown in tho buildirg. He deolared the deposit too high, giving that as tho miin reason for the Petone failure. Ho suggested that in future one day’s wage would bo the minimum of rent in all these oases. Mr Ell, while defending the Bill, traversed tho whole oaso which had been made out against the Petone building’. Ho Baid they were in a busy, suitable, and pleasant locality ; that thay ware bn It in various styles as ordorod by the House, and provided with larger and better venti lated rooms than soores upon scores of working men’s bomes. He thought the largi number of up-to-date conveniences very much to be commended, not o<ptioUßly oritioised. He denied that the windows wore small, and those advantages were offered at a reDt below anything within reaoh of the workiog men anywhere elee. The only f.ult was, in his opinion, that there wero not room enough for large families. Tho roason for the failure of these bouses was chiefly the unreasonable and wild criticism to which they had been subjected. Mr Bourne supported tho Bill* He thought it should be confined to Petone, and suggested that in Petone the men should supply their own designs. Mr Hanan defended the designs and the architect?. Mr Tanner regretted what had happened, and did not like the contsntion of the remedy to the wtoli system, Mr Pcolo did not like the departure from the original arrange n: nl. Mr Reid thought municipal authorities ought to have power to borrow under the Act.

Mr Barclay said there was no hurry to aooept Petone as a proof of failure. At that placs tho workers wore dependent as longstanding industries (sic), and had made their own arrangements, whioh oould not bo disturbed! Tbo old system would bg found very auoooaafuUa otbe^

places. Ho thought, moreover, the I’otono dosigns aomowhat too olaboralo nod expensive. Thoro ought to bo solid comfort, not sscnDgoutility, lie would not allow his Inch in tho system to bo diuungcd booauso he thought a few oottsges not just what ho thought thoy ought to to, That was after nli the main thing; 10s and 12a as ns Potocc wore hotter than 17s and 18s, bu' tho roots ought to bo oven lower Ho would liko tho Bill to bo oenfiuod to theso particular cottages. Mr Hogg bnd “ dnmnod tho tuoasuro with faint praiso ” Inst yonr, and ho would damn it wish fainter now ; yet ho would support tho Preoror’s attempt to got over a hard legacy. Ho agreed with Mr Ilanru that tho beat plau would bo to acquire sites for tho working mon, and let them build their own houses. Too Hon. Mr Millar, in reply, poioted out that tho principal Aol was just what (ho workers had naked' for. Too lato

Minister for Labor was very koon ou tho subject His ideal was that every man should h.vo his own house in his own ground. To realise this ideal had provod so bo a lilt e more expensive than was at first nnlioip td. As to tbo suggestions for purchase of land in towns, ho asked hon. members to show him any land at a fair prioo. Ho road from tbo Evening Post an advertisement offering land at

jGIO per foo‘. In futuro thoy would nover bnvo suoh laud ns that, Tho Deportment wou'd take great caro to have tho houses lot ns thoy wore built beforo building. They would also havo less orna mentation than at Potono; but if hon. m-mbeis wanted larger rooms they inu t inoroaso the limit of cost prescribed by the Ao). As to building their own houses, his ooilonguoa’ Bill noticed that day would enable tbo werkora 10 do that, and there-

fore would bo a valuable adjunot to this measure. Ho recognised tho value oi tho suggestion to sot up a special Board, and thought such a thing might be sot up as a board of ndvioo to the presout Land Pur-

chase Board. In tho matter of applioa

tiocs nothing is asked for deposit, aod as to tskingovor a house all a man has to pay down is one pound. Tho Bill was read a second time on tho voices, and tho House rose at 5.80.

EVENING SITTING. Tho House resumed at 7.30. Tuo Fire Brigades Bill aud tbo Taranaki Sohool Board Empowering aud Exeharirr Bill were reoeived with amendments, a.d the latter were agreed to. Tho Jubilee Institute for tho Blind Bill was read a second time on the voices.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS BILL,

The Minister of Public Health moved the second reading, emphasising tho faot that the orux of the Biil is the soventh danse, requiring that every p.-ivato hospital sha 1 have a qualifiod modioal practitioner as manager and a nurse. Tho Bill was discussed briefly.

Ia reply, the Minister intimated that be would be glad to me3t many of tbe suggestions made, but the orux of the Bill, as he bad explained it, would bo tho ment. Ho mentioned that a Bill was ready ooveriog tbo whole question of hospitals. Tho Bill was read a second time on tho voices,

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS The Tourist and Health Eesoits Control Bill was taken in committee. Mr Massoy again raised tho pcict of order on which tho Chairman had ruled last week, that tho Bill could not go on. Tho Chairman exp'ained that he had mado a mistake on that oooasion in ruling that a Bill providing for an appropriation to bomide was itself an Appropriation Bill.

Mv Massey maintained that the point which seemed to be in dispute ought to be cleared up once for all. For his own part he had no doubt. The Premier said he had no doubt either, and cited a case. Mr Massey cited a case also, adding that the Bill dealt with Crown Lands, and Crown Lands had been held to be in this connection equivalent to money. The matter was reported to the Speaker. Mr Massey cited the case of Mr Herdman’s Service Bill which Mr Speaker himself had ruled would require introduction by Governors message. He added the argu ment that Crown Lands sre always treated as moneys of the Crown. He quoted a decision of Mr Speaker Monroe in an alteration of a duty schedule in a case moved by Sir J. Vogel. He quoted a decision in which “ acres and money ” were placed on the same footing. The Premier pointed out shat in th 9 la i t the application wa3 to the *' appropriation” of land in the Bill under review. There was no appropriation of either in this oaso ; no new appain'.men's were asked for, and no provision was made for payment of existing offieers, but only to be made in the ordinary way, Too laud clause did act provide for sale or dealing with land (public reserves to wk), but plaoed them under tbo control of the Department, and the charges for which power was given did not come under the head of appropriation, fch3y were moneys levied as other people. Mr Speaker ruled that (1) the clause authorising the eppoinlmmt of a manager was under an appropriative clause for a specific fixing of salary. As lo the s cond point as :o moneys to be appropriated the olause in question would not in itself be cf aoy authority therefor to the auditcr, and was not an appropriative clause. In Mr Eerdmaa's oase there was a clausa declining validity on the reoommendation cf the Govcroment. There'ore ho had held that at the presentation of a Governor’s message the Herdmun Bill became an appropriation Bill, but not otherwise. In this case there was no eueh provision. Be (erring to the contention as to the dealing with lands in clause 5, which had been passsd by the Commitiee, and altered so as to give the control to the Minister (not general manager), that only transferred the proceeds to the consc.l'datod revrnua wi.hout being subject to the authority of any private parsons or local body. There was no oppropriation. The Bill was committed aga'm. Tae balance of this c'au3a passod unaltered. A new elaus9 was added enabling various reserves and soanery prosorvatioo spots t:i be brought under the control cf (he Department. TOWN DI3TSIOTB BILL, This Bill was committed end was passed through Committee, amended by limiting the scope of the measure to a population of 1 not less than 500,” and substituting the general teim of “ Local authority number twenty.” A motion to report progro33 was moved at 10 20 -ayes 33, noes 47. The motion was lost. Mr E.l moved bis amendments : 1. Sections 17 and 18 of the p.incipal Act aro hereby repealed, 2. The quolificaticcs of an elector shall bo tboso proscribed by the Municipal Corporations Aoi 1900 io el.ct.rs under'hat Aot. 3 (1) Tuo members of the board shall bo elootrd by tbo electors of the district in tbo manner prescribed by tho Local Elections Aot 1904, all the provisions of which Act shall apply ; (2) every such elcotor sha'l have one vote and no more. 4 S.o.ion 19 of iho pri. oipal Act is hereby amended by repealing the words 11 from tho aforesaid oleotoral rolls of ridings or countis,” and also the words 11 and shall enter therein tho number of votes which each el-.ctor is entitled to.” A disoussion on tho franchise arose, and lißt.d Rome t’me, ending in a divisionayes 41, noes 16. Tho new olause wa3 read a second time. Mr Herries moved to report progreß?. An important amendment of great momoot to local bodies having been made, postponement bad become nicresary. A long discussion enauod. Mr Masrcy protested that an important a'tcra'.ion of this k.ud ooglr only to be hrooght down in a general boil government measure. Mr Herries urged that tho amendments were too crude lo be passed as they stood, He said the Govcroment, which had practically accepted tho movomont, Bhould agree to report progress, to put tbo proposals into Bhape. The House, ho con aidered, ought to bivo on opportunity of I consulting its constituents. Mr Bsid followed with similar argu mints against taking tho eocoiul reading of tho scocnd chuse, Ho dilated on the division on the first, and ins sled on the importance of consulting the constituencies on the result. After more disoussion tho Premier poiDted cut that as tho proposal of Mr EU only applied to tho small districts mentioned in the Bill, it was wondorful to ce ao much panic on the other aide, a

On division—aye a 14, uoos 42 tho motion to report progress wns lout. Mr flrrrirs unved n further amendment to cliuiso 1 to add 19 to the numbers i lcroiti. S;r Joseph Word string no ohimoo of progress, proposed thnt if tho nmonduiont vvoro rrjootod ho would tigroo to report p •t'groaa. Progress was roporto.l nooordiuglyi nnd tho Houso adjourned at 12.10.