PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2176, 4 September 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 'The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PROTECTION OF INFANT LIFE. Dr. Collins moved, —“That it is desirable that the provisions, especially in regard to inspection, at . force for the protection of infant Wo bo taken into consideration by tho Council.” The mover said N.A. had done a great deal for tho protection of infant life, but it was possible to do more. Tho Act of IS9C was an act- * uiirable measure, and resulted in go° a work being done, but it was defective las regards the matter of inspection. Tho police, ho maintained, though conscientiously doing their duty, were unfit for the position, because there were many things required which were beyond their capacity. There were questions such as ventilation and sanitary requirements, ascertaining the condition of the body of the child, etc. IVliat was necessary was the 'appointment of trained nurses as inspectors. Another point was that the keeper of a home was very often dependent upon money received for infants, and this did not tend to proper care of children, and if tho police were to be in any way concerned in the administration of tho Act it should be in the direction of preventing infants being removed from a homo when it was against the interests of the child. Receiving homes did good work, and for many years tho Industrial Schools Act had been working satisfactorily. He was opposed to a big institution, and thought tlie great essential was home life for unfortunate children. With regard to milk for children, lie advocated that municipalities should control tho supply, and milk should be properly tested from tho cow to the baby. Dr. Findlay said the subject was of such importance that the Government for some time past had been considering the best way in which to -further protect infant life, and he would indicate the direction in which the Government intended to move in the matter. It was one of tho most important social questions which modern civilisation had to face, and it was the duty of the Government to protect those whoso helplessness was not their own fault. He quoted largely to show infant mortality and decrease in birth rate, and said the great increase in infant mortality was due to causes that could bo avoided. He felt that the present method of inspection was undesirable, and that homes should be under tho supervision of trained nurses. The system of homes resulted in hard bargains being made for the care of the child. Apprentices were protected and dressmakers were protected, but bargains could be made for the protection of infant life under the present law. The Government intended to put an end to police supervision of homes, and transfer it to the Education Department. He was of the opinion that an officer of the Department should have a say in the choice of a home; that the State should re-

ceive the money from the parent of a child, and pay it to the foster mother ; that the State should also have a say in the choice of a home; and that there should be inquiry into the death of every child who had been in such a home, whether it died in or after leaving the home. Tho debate was adjourned until next day.

THE LATE HON. W. JOHNSTON. The Attorney-General moved, — “That this Council place on record its high sense of the services rendered by the late Hon. W. Johnston, and an expression of sympathy with the relatives.” The Council rose at 4 p.m. out of respect to the memory of deceased.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PROTECTING INFANT LIFE. In reply to Mr. T. Mackenzie, the Premier intimated that control of registered infant homes under the Infantile Protection Act would be transferred to tho Education Department. Authority had already been given, but it would require legislation, which would be introduced this session.

THE LATE HON. W. JOHNSTON. The Premier, referring to the death, of the Hon. W. Johnston';-' traced inis connection with Parliament, and eulogised his qualifications and services rendered to the colony. He moved, —“That this House records its regret at the death of the Hon. W. Johnston, and places on record its high sense of the faithful services rendered to the colony by deceased and .the loss the country has sustained by his death; and that the House expresses its sympathy with deceased’s relatives.” Messrs. Massey and Stevens also spoke in eulogistic terms of deceased. The Houe adjourned at 3.30 p.m. ‘until 7.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE TARIFF. The House went into Committee

on "the Tariff Bill. Mr. Millar said it was desired to amend the item “boots, etc., Is 6d per pair and 15 per cent ad valorem, ’’ so that it should not take effect until after the 31st October, 1907.—The amendment was agreed to. Class B—furniture and household furnishing—was agreed to unaltered. At class 9—cliina, glass and earthen goods—Mr. Aitken urged that preference should be given to British manufactures in glass. Mr. Millar said the’ reason preference was not given to British-made glass was that a combination existed in England and it was impossible to procure glass except from one firm (Pilkingtons), and it was represented to him that Pilkingtolis were putting up the price in consequence of, the preference which has existed. Mr. Aitken. said the British confhination was -lor self-protection against American,' Belgian and German glass. Mr. Hardie said Belgian glass was much cheaper than British. He urged that preference should bo given to British manufacture. He asserted that glass of British make was cheaper now than ever before. Mr. Millar said he would consider the question, when dealing with the preferential tariff. Mr. Barher said they were not •keeping faith with the utterances of the Premier when in England as they were reducing the duty on glafcs to' foreigners by 3s per hundred feet and. to English manufacturers by only 2s. The Premier said he had never mado statements that would support any English syndicate which would have a monopoly of the glass trade- in New Zealand and penalise people by reason of the extra cost that would he made in the erection of buildings. The member for Newtown* lie added,had taken no notice of the amount of preference that had ■ been granted British manufacturers when making

his deduction. , Class 9 was agreed to unaltered. At class 10 at the item fancy goods and toys, also sporting, gaming and athletic requisites not otherwise enumerated, inculding billiard tables and billiard requisites, hair and toilet combs, 20 per cont, -Mr. Massey, asked what was the Minister’s reason for reducing billiard tables from 25 t 0.20 I> °Alr. Millar explained that' billiard tables had previously entered under various headings—fancy goods, cloth, slate, etc. Billiard tables also came in as dining tables and it was to bring billiard tables under. one Mr. pleaded for cheap toys. Mr.- Hek© urged that playing cards shoUld.be prohibited so that the local ’ industry could benefit. Mr. Fisher urged that as greenstore could only bo cut and polished in Germany unmounted greenstone should bo allowed in free so as. to benefit jewellers who could mount stones hero. • Mr. Millar said the suggestion would defeat the objects of the duty: There were a' number of greenstone cutters, in the colony—in fact all the greenstone ornaments presented to the Duke of York were locally cut and mounted. If jewellers desired to send their greenstone to Germany to bo out and polished then they must bo prepared to pay duty on its return.

Mr. Seddon said representative jewellers who had waited on tlio Minister bad stated that the local cutters woro only ablo to make tan designs'—‘heart and bar. Further they were very crude and wasteful in their work, whereas cutters in Birmingham and Gormany having done this class of work for years, wero ablo to finish tlio articles without unduo waste. Ho urged that un- ; mounted greenstone should bo allowed U 1 Mn °Millar said tho duty would not in any way interfere with tho exportof greenstone, but bo was opposed to admitting unmounted greenstone duty free. Tho stono was got in the colony and there woro men capable of cutting it lioro, so ho did not seo why it should be admitted freo. Mr. Fisher urged that unmounted stone bo admitted at 20 per cent and a higher duty placed on mounted stones. . , , . .. Mr. Millar, quoting a local jeweller, who had appealed for tho removal ot tho duty, said tho head office of this firm was in Germany, and ho sent his stone there to bo cut and polished. Mr. Guinness said it was inconsistent to admit mounted and unmounted greonstoue at the same rate. ■ If mounted steno was allowed in free it would provide work for numbers of jewellers. Mr. Seddon moved an amendment to placo unmounted greenstone on tho free list. This was negatived by 3S to 26. Mr. Aitken urged that magic-lan-terns should bo placed on tho free list as they were used for educational purposes. Mr. Wilford said that as films for cinematographs wero on the free list he considered that slido? for magiclanterns should he admitted free. Ho moved an amendment to exclude ma-gic-lantern slides from tho 20 per cent duty, with a view to being placed on tho freo list. When under discussion Mr. Millar, accepted tho amendment which was agreed to. .Mr. Mander moved an amendment to placo sensitised post cards on the free list. This was negatived by 46 to 17. Mr. Hardie moved to omit tho following paragraph from “pictures, painting, etc., 20 per cent”:—“Note: Any painting, drawing or photograph in any medium having a value for duty exceeding £5 shall l>e. assessed for duty at £5 plus tho valuo of the frame and mounting if any and plus the valuo of tho canvas or other material upon which such painting, drawing or photograph is made.” He said the Minister was taxing the. poor man’s boots, but was allowing the wealthy man’s pictures in practically free under this provision. Mr. Tanner supported tlie amendment, which was accepted by Mr. Millar and agreed to on tho voices. Mr. Massey urged that preference be given to watches of British manufacture. Mr. Guinness maintained that if preference was granted to Britishmanufactured watches it would mean that we would get some cheap watches similar to German and Swiss

watches. He added that it would bo carrying out the intention of this Government to grant preference to Britain. Many watches from Swiss, German and American manufacturers were not what they were represented to lie, and we should grant preference to British manufacturers, who placed the proper material in the watches. Watches, 20 per cent., was agreed to unaltered. At paperliangings, which are at 15 per cent, until tho end of tho year, thereafter free, Mr. Aitken said these paperhangings could he purchased as cheaply hero as in the Old Country, and he did not think exemption from duty would in any way lessen tlio cost of tho erection of any building. He urged that if it was intended to bring these papers in freo they should do so immediately, as re-papering of houses was always done in the spring. He moved to retain the duty. This was negatived by 50 to 11. Tlie House then rose.