PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2238, 15 November 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES press Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 14, CHINESE IMMIGRATION. The Premier moved tho second -rending of the Chinese Immigrants Amendment Bill. , ~ ■ Mr. Envoy said tho proposal would certainly restrict tho low ' class of Chinese, but many would bo able to pass the test, and the higher educated aliens were a greater menace than tho lower class. Ho regretted that it was not possible to prohibit tho entry of Chinese altogether. Mr. Fisher said that from 1903 to 1900 tho number of Chinese arriving in Now Zealand exceeded tho departures by 297, and there wore 55 Chinese women in tho Dominion. Ho stated that quite a number of Chinese were becoming a permanent chargo on the State as inmates of lunatic asylums, and others were in receipt of charitable aid. The Premier, in reply, contended that the provisions of the Bill would restrict immigration effectively, ns educated Chinese wore not coming into the country. The second reading, was agreed to on tho voices. In committee on tho Chineso Immigration Restriction Bill, Mr. Fisher moved a now clause to increase the poll tax from £IOO to £2OO. The Speaker moved tho new clause out of order. Mr. Davoy moved a new clauso to provide that the prolusions of this and tlio principal Act shall lapse on December Ist, 1917, aftor which no Chinese shall bo allowed to land in New Zealand. Tho Premier pointed ont that if the clauso was carried it would mean that there would bo no legislation placed on tho Statute Book at all, as the Royal assent would not be obtained. Mr. Davey’s clauso was rejected by 33 to 15. Tho Bill with amendments was reported

DIVORCE LAWS. Tho Premier, in moving the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill, explained that the Bill repealed section 11 of the Act of 1904, which made it practicable to obtain divorce on the ground of desertion (by collusion) in six months. Such cases had begjf so numerous, he said, that they hail become a public scandal, and this Bill was introduced to put a stoj> to such proceedings. Mr. Barclay, in opposing the Bdl, said "that if the present means ot obtaining divorce were done away with, then poisons who sought divorce would resort to immoral methods. Tho second reading was agreed to on tho voices. In committee Air. Hornsby moved an amendment that non-compliance with an order foi; restitution of conjugal rights shall not bo deemed to constitute desertion until it has continued for twelve months. Rejected by 33 to 3. Mr. Laurenson moved an amendment to provide for lunacy as grounds for divorce.

Agreed to by 33 to 1. Mr. AVilford moved a new clause to provide that where respondent has been found guilty of taking the life of a child or children of [respondent or petitioner and sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude or . upwards, it shall be a ground for divorce. Agreed to on the voices. BEER DUTY.

Mr. Millar moved the second reading of the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill. Clause 8 provides that no beer shall be removed from a brewery under section 32 of the principal Act except to a beerhouse or other place authorised by the Minister for Customs for the storage of beer. Mr. Hanan explained at length the position of beer depots near Invercargill, and strongly urged that No-. License there should be given a fair trial, and no devices or unfair methods should be tolerated which interfered with its effective operation or thwarted the will of the people as expressed at the poll., The depots should certainly be removed. Mr. Millar, in reply, explained that he desired to end the position in Invercargill, where brewers had practically'defied the Customs Department. He would either, abolish all depots or none. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. POSTAL STAMPING MACHINES. The Premier moved the second reading of the Post Office Act Amendment Bill, which provides for the use of recording stamping machines for postal packets, telegrams, and receipts. . Agreed to on the voices. The Bill was read a third time and passed _ PARLIAMENTARY TITLES. The Premier moved the second reading of the Parliamentary and Executive Titles Bill, which provides for the abolition of the title of Colonial Secretary and the substitution of Minister of Internal Affairs, and the substitution of Member of Parliament for Member of the House of Representatives. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. In committee, Mr. Fisher moved an amendment to strike out the title "Minister of Finance” with the view to inserting “Dominion Treasurer.” Negatived on the voices: The House adjourned at, 3 a.m. The House met at 2.30 to-day. EDUCATION ACT. Mr. Fowlds, iii moving the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill, said.it was practically the same measure as introduced last session with certain a del it ions, one of which was that.*,the. definition of “.public" : schools” included: high schools. Tlie age of candidates for junior scholarships was raised from 13 to 14 years, The Bill also provided for the removal-of certain ‘restrictions with regard to Queen’s Scholarships. Mr. Malcolm urged that more adequate remuneration should be paid to teachers. Mr. Poland said £BS per annum was not a fair remuneration for teachers. He adversely criticised tlie School Journal, and contended that it would have to be much improved if it was to supply the place of school books, ,Mr. T. MeKenzie contended that the conditions as to obtaining free secondary education are unsatisfactory. He urged that if a child passed "the necessary examination during any period /of one year- tlie child should be allowed to obtain tlie two years free secondary education from .the commencement of*the following year. The question of additions and extensions to schools .was considerably hampering Boards, and the Minister • should trust Boards in this direction. • Continuing, be urged that the llouso should insist on tlie question of education being considered fully at an early -stage of next session. He advocated that there should bo some certainty as to teachers’ salaries, and to bring this about lie suggested that schools should be classified so- that teachers could bo assured of some permanency of income. Mr. Herries urged that the many injustices under which teachers of Nativo schools existed should bo remedied. Mr. Fowlds, in reply, said that in regard to salaries he proposed to go into the matter and lay definite proposals before the House next session. That was not, lie thought, an unreasonable position to take up. Referring to tlie staff, he said there had been tlie same sort of scaro that was now being .raised in years before, hut when they came to consider the matter there was no case in which tlie staff or salaries had been reduced unless a falling off in attendance had taken place for two years. Referring to the School Journal, he said that he had testimony from teachers, .who were highly satisfied with, the publication. Continuing, he said ho could not go into the whole of the anomalies alleged to exist, but hoped to go into tlie subject in a comprehensive manner next session. The second reading was agreed to on tlie voices.

I’UBLIC HEALTH, Air. Fowlds, in moving.tho second reading of tho Public Health Act Amendment Bill, said ho had out out everything which ho considered of a contentious nature. Clause 2of tho Bill provided that two or moro Bonrd s could combine for the purpose of establishing a. sanatorium for consumptives. Clause 3 was to provide for eases where district Boards were required to provido hospitals for infectious diseases. Cliruso 4 was for the modification of apportionment of tho cost of maintenance of infectious diseases hospitals. Tlio clause enabled Boards to acquiro hind under tho Public Works Act, and clauso 0 gave power for tho district medical officer or medical officer appointed by tho Board to examine school children and report to their,.parents. The second reading was agroed to on tho voices.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council mot at. 2.30. . WATER POWER. Mr. Kelly moved, —“That the time has arrived when tho Water Power Act of 1003 should ho put- into practical operation, and tho Council recommends that tlio Government should during recess consider the ■propriety of establishing tlio manufacture of calcium nitrnto by tho process invented by Professor Birkoland, and thus provide tlio farmers of the Dominion with cheap .nitrogenous manure.”

Tlio Attorney-General promised to bring tlie matter before the Cabinet. Difficulties in tho way of carrying out such a scheme wero chiefly financial.

The motion was agreed to on tho voices. FACTORIES ACT. The Factories Act Amendment i was committed. Clause 9 was amended, on tho motion of tlie Attorney-General, to apply only to boroughs, road, and town districts having a population of less than 5000. As the J3ill camo from the House it applied to towns, etc., having a population less than SOOO.

The proviso limiting the operation of the section to places wlier 0 the number of persons employed in shops are greater in number than those in the factory, was struck out-. Air. George moved to amend clause 9 (which makes it illegal for any Asiatic to work for more than 4S hours in a laundry) by fixing the working hours in such laundries between 8 a.in. and 5 p.m. He said it would be impossible to distinguish whether Chinamen wore observing the law or not unless working hours were definitely limited.

•Mr. AlacDonakl moved as a prior amendment that no Asiatic or any other person should bo employed in any laundry for moro than 48 hours per week. Several speakers pointed out that the employment of women in factories was already limited by law to 45 hours per week. - The .Attorney-General quoted from St itutes t.O show that; the employment of Chinese in laundries was limited to 48 hours per week at present. There had, however, been uholesale evasion of tho law. He had seen documents purporting to be deeds of partnership in respect of Chinese laundries. Every one was an employer, and nobody who worked in them an employee. Mr. AlacDonald’s proposal was defeited 'by 15 votes to 8, and Air. George’s amendment (abolishing night work) was carried by 13 votes to 8.