PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2189, 19 September 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

* - Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. Air. Paul moved for returns .showing the number of cases iu which mnployors havo boon charged broaches of awards under tho Arbitration Acts smeo Alarch, 1904, tho number of convictions and dismissals, tlio fines imposed in oacli case; tno number of slaughtermen s strikes; and tho number of strikers in each industrial, district; tlio number of strikers prosecuted ; the number of informations dismissed and the reasons therefor; and tho amount of fines imposod and recovered up to date. The Attorney-General promised to have the return prepared unless tliero was some insuiierablo difficulty. SUPREAIE COURT PROCEDURE. Tho Attorney-General moved the secoiud reading of the Supremo Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill, to validate certain orders made by Registrars of the Supreme Court, who had been empoueied in certain cases to act in the placo o a .Judge of the Supremo- Court. Doubts had arisen as to the validity of the orders so made, and the object of tho Bill was to legalise tho action of tho Registrars. . . . Air. Sinclair was of opinion that | th: v had done acts which a Judge had power to do, but which not or- . theless no Judgo would porform, and | the Bill was apparently to validate - these acts. . . j Air. Samuel said the Bill only \h- [ tended to validato orders of Regis- • trnrs as if tho same had been made j by a Judge. It was to his mind a j

very necessary measure. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. PURE FOOD.

The Pure Food Bill was re-commit-ted for the purpose of . further cou.sidering certain clauses. The Attorney-General moved to amend tho interpretation of “drug” as follows:—“Drug means any substance or mixture of substances used by man as a medicine, whether internally or externally, and includes anaesthetics.” —Carried. Tiie Attorney-General moved to amend tho clause relating to the sale of bread as follows: “Every person commits an offence who sells any bread the weight of which at the time of sale is less than the seller represents it to be or less than the weight which the buyer demands; every person who soils any loaf weighing less tlm n four pounds but more than three pounds at the time of sale, shall be deemed to represent that it. weighs four pounds unless he states its true weight to the buyer at the time of sale : every person who sells any loaf weighing less than two pounds but more than one pound at the time of sale shall be deemed to represent that it weighs two pounds unless he states its true weight to the buyer at the time of sale.”

Progress was reported after considerable discussion, and the Council rose a 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions Alinisters stated that it is intended to bring down an amendment to the Friendly Societies Act this session; that it is intended to bring down a Railways Classification Act during the present session; that it is proposed to remit tho charge of 10s for travelling expenses charged by inspectors of weights and measures when inspecting shopkeepers’ weights and measures except in special cases, the question of returning forfeited weights and measures to be considered in the event of legislation on the subject being introduced at any time; that so far steps taken to sterilise all imported bones are considered satisfactory DESCRIPTION OF GOODS, Air. Hanan asked tho Premier whether he would introduce legislation on the lines of the Australian Commerce Act with the following objects: (1) To protect those traders who correctly describe their goods from comjictitors who by . false or misleading descriptions deceive the public to the disadvantage of the honest, manufacturer who may have established a reputation for good articles ; (2) to protect the public by requiring in cases where the proper maintenance of public "'health or public interest makes it expedient that manufacturers shall indicate on their goods the nature of ingredients or materials of which they are composed; (3) that the purchasing public shall know the actual country of origin of imported goods; (4) that the reputation of the national indus--ries of Nevi Zealand may be maintained and probably increased by insuring that New Zealand productions of inferior kinds shall not be permitted to masquerade under a description which is applicable only to the best quality-. . , The Premier replied: The work still to be done during the session is very heavy and no promise can be. given, but the jirotectfon of the public ts so .important that I • hoof 1 *to hayc 'su'it - , able proposals prepared during the recess to submit for, the consideration of Parliament next session. DISSATISFIED RAILWAY AIEN. U’hc in rrp!y to Mr. Qkey, stated: My attention has been directed to various statements which recently appeared in the press respecting dissatisfaction among railway employees. These statements require, howovtr, to be received with great caution. Where a large staff of men are concerned, such as the New Zealand railway staff, which numbers about eleven thousand, it must be •exjkk:ted that some grievances are bound to exist. "Where, however, these are represented they are gone in!o as closely as possible, and reasonable relief given. It is not correct that great unrest prevails in the servin'..', and the statement that “resignations are being sent in so fast. that the railways will be "run by the inexperienced or incapable” is an unwarrantable exaggeration. There are ca. es whero capable railway officers have taken up lucrative positions m other walks of life, but tho same may lie said of the officers in every State Department and also of smart men in private employ, who from time to tin) 3 aro offered better positions than those they occupy, and they conseqnhiely accept tlio offers. The great bulk of men who leave tho railway service are, however, men who have been on probation and have failed to give satisfaction, or who during tho probationary period find tlie railway work distasteful and leave to-take up other employment. There is no dearth of experienced officers and men in the railway service, and the great bulk of tho' officers and men now in the service will, I have no doubt, remain thero until they are eligible for retirement under tho Government . Railways Superannuation Fund Act.