PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2239, 16 November 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

WELLINGTON, Nov- 10. PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIL ICA TION. . ... In Committee the Premier intimated that Judges of the Native Land Courts, Stipendiary Jla&s trates, District Court Judge., - ‘ gistrates, and Registrars of I' non J Societies were to bo included m “lie .1 «» rmuor clause 7 was amended to provide that tbo classification shall nave no effect unless approved by the Hoi so. The Premier moved an amend mont to increase travelling alloi' an cos of officers whose salaries are not less than £SOO to 20s per day, and officers between £3OO and £oooto 15s per day. Agreed, to on tbo v»i ces. Private secretaries of miiusteis are exempted from the limits imposed by th* clause. . , The Beer Duty Aot Amendment Bill was read a third time and pass-

Tho House adjourned at 2 a.an. and resumed at 2.30 this afternoon. general. Amendments made by the Council to the Hospital and Charitable institutions Bill and Loans to Local Bodies Bill were agreed to.■ l “® Commerco Committee reported on the shannon agreement,. -Uu> ieport was ordered to lie on the tabic. The Co-operative Dairy Companies Bill was read a third time and passed. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Aot Amendment Bill was read a third time by 60 to 7 and passed. CHINESE IMMIGRANTS.

At. "7.30 tho Premier moved the third reading of the Chinese Inmngrants Amendment Bill. Qlr. Hornsby moved an amendrnout that the third reading he postponed in order that the Government might reconstruct the Bill and impose a higher poll tax, namely, £2OO on overy Chinese entering tho country. . Tho Premier, m opposing the amendment, referred the member to the statement appearing in the financial statement, shoving that a high tax did not retard tho ontry oi Chinese, but that the most effective course was to impose an educational test. Tho amendment was negatived and the third reading passed on the voices. PARLIAMENTARY TITLES. _

At clause 4, members to be designated Members of Parliament, Mr. Herries called for a division.

The clauso was retained by 42 to 19, and the Bill was reported. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

The Infant- Life Protection Bill n-as taken in Committee.' A new clause, moved by tike Minister, was added, giving the Secretary of the Department the same powers as guardian so far as they relate to payment of an amount due for the care of a child. The Bill with amendments was reported. Clause 19, which provides, that notice of the birth of a child shall be given in the case of cities and boroughs within 48 hours and in other places within seven days, caused considerable discussion.

Mr. Herries pointed out that •many settlers could not manage to post a registered letter within seven days. The Minister agreed to extend the (time from 48 hours to-72 hours in .towns and boroughs and from 7 days to 21 days in the country. This was agreed to. The Minister moved a new clause to provide that the Registrar shall keep a register of the births of. which notice is so given, but the register shall be open for inspection by such persons only as are authorised by the Minister. He explained that it was merely desired to keep a list of births which should be kept from the public view until the ordinary registration took place. The new clause was agreed to by 30 to 20. LAND LAWS.

Amendments made by the Council to the Land Laws Amendment Kill were agreed to on Mr. MeNhb promising to bring down a further amend ment by Governor’s message. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went .into Committee qi Supply on the Public "Works Estimates. The first item was railways, class 28, total vote £77-5,000. Mr Mander urged that more money should be voted to the KawakawaGrahamstown line. Mr. "W. Fraser urged that the Minister should make some definite statement as to what was intended to be done in regard to the Otago Centra! railway. . Mr. McGowan, .in replying, stated that the best had been done with the money at the Government’s disposal, and a fair average had been maintained in allotting the money. Mr. Massey, urged that through tickets should be issued over the Main Trunk Line from Auckland to "Wellington, so that'passengers could utilise the route during the summer. He -was convinced that the owners of coaches would be only too glad to place their conveyances at the disposal of the Government to connect the two ends of the line. Mr. Hanan strongly condemned the vote for, the Lawrence-Roxburgb line. He regretted that it was not possible to get the vote struck out It was a shameful waste of public money.

legislative council. LIBEL LAW.' Mr. Sinclair gave notice to ask the Government whether it .would hrin" in legislation next session to amend tifc'inr.r of libel, and bring it into "line with-the English statute law in regard to the consolidation of fICtiO, TH&’FACTO RUES ACT The EuctoTies Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 15, providing for a minimum rate of pay for the factory workei, was amended to prevent employers ■from suspending workei s tor a tew days in order to avoid payment for h °Mr ay Carncross protested against clause 16, which, provides that, no premises the occupier of which is a pel ion of the Chinese raco shall hero •afer be registered as a factorL 'l proposal, he said, was most discredit, * h Dr. Findlay said the question underlying the matter was whether 0.. lace was to be brought into competition with one against win ill oiu r«.ct must go down. . Council Several members of tn» ucur strongly supported the clause. .1 was pouted out that the clause in PS preset premises oiv cunied by Chinamen (oieri .it tne afterwards came into occupation of a European) from being rogisteied as a fa The 7 Attorney-General moved to report progress in order to consult W M the Minister for Labor on the PO'.-t----thTho AttbrneycGleneral stated later he had consulted with the Minister for Labor about clause 16, and ascei4ained that tlie Hon. Mr. Miliar was of opinion that it was too drastic. rr„ £tho Attorney-General) accord intended, the «rcupmr of Center bo registered as a factory undef the authority Act This section shall not appiy a any person of the Chinese race who is" resident in INew Zealand at the time of passing this -tot. . , +i lc 3<£t. Rigg protested against, x-ue -modification of the clause. p After considerable discussion tte new clause moved by the Attorney General was agreed to by 2 2 votes to

4 'A motion by Mr. Rigg to exempt naturalised Chinamen from the operation of the clause was lost on tin Voices. The Bill was reported with amendments and P^, Xnge _ -rim Council decided to insist t «u