GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2548, 8 June 1882, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

([PBESS ASSOCIATION TELBSBAM.] LEGISLATIVE COUNOIL. t Wednesday, June 7. 1 QUESTIONS. r In reply to Sir G. Whitmore, The Hon. Mr Whitakbr said the Govern- • ment had not intended to alter the rule by > which it was neoeosary to stamp all deeds re- ' lating to the purobase of Native lands before submission to the Frauds Commission. RAILWAY TUNNELS. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Stevens, it was agreed that the Government be requested to make enquiries respecting the latest improvements in the ventilation of railway tunnels, with a view to improve ventilation of the tunnels on the New Zealand railways. FOREST LANDS. The Hon. Mr Chamberlain moved—- " That the Government should be directed to prepare maps and full information for the public of the forest lands in New Zealand." The motion, after debate, was rejected, as the Hon. Mr Oliver said the survey maps gave all the information. WBST OOAST REPORT. The debate on the Hon. Mr Hart's motion as to the West Ooast Commission report—- " That the Council should appoint a committee upon it," was resumed by Sir Geobgb Whitmobe, who defended his aotions with respeot to the military operations in 1868 and 1869. Finally the motion was withdrawn. FIBST BBADINO. The Corrupt Praotioes Prevention Aot Amendment Bill was read a first time. BILLS. Various Bills were considered in Committee, and the Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVES. Wednesday, June 7. The House met at 2 30. " HANSARD." The report of the debates committee recommended the issue of a daily " Hansard," or if not, that "Hansard" be issued four times weekly. The report was ordered to be considered tomorrow. QUESTIONS. Eeplying to Mr Seddon, The Hon. Mr Bolleston said a vote would be asked for the purehase of diamond drills and rock boring apparatus. These would be hired out to local bodies foi use on easy terms, and the Government would enquire if these machines could be manufactured in the colony. Replying to Mr Moss, The Hon. Mr Bbyce said the tenure of , eight acres of land in the borough of Parnell, , supposed to be an endowment for a Maori , hostelry, was vested in the Minister of Lands and the Colonial Secretary for the purposes mentioned.

Replying to Mr Tawhai, The Hon, Mr Bbycb said the Government did not propose repealing clause 55 of the Native Land Court Aot, 1880. Replying to Mr Barron, The Hon. Mr Dice said the Government did not see the necessity for the amendment of the Adulteration Prevention Aot, by making provision for the sale of 21b and 41b loaves, as the purchaser might, if he thought fit, demand that they should be weighed in hia presence. As regarded fanoy bread, they did not think it was possible to make any provision for testing their weight, as the name " fancy " itself implied they were all manner of weights. The Government thought, however, it might be advisable for the police to take oognizance occasionally, so as to provide for the better enforcement of the law.

Replying to Mr De Lautour, The Hon. Mr Bolleston said the Government did not approve of the proposals of the Otago school commissioners to offer pastoral leases for five to fourteen years of large tracts of country included iu their endowments. The Government, however, was not responsible for what had been done, and they were alive to the necessity of getting these endowments administered iu harmony with the waste lands laws of the colony, and for that purpose a Bill would be introduced with the view of enabling the Government to check the evil.

Replying to Mr Driver, The Hon. Mr Rolleston said a Bill would be introduced dealing with the various reserves in Otago and Southland, with the view of having these lands thrown open for settlement under the Amended Waste Lands Act. Replying to Mr Hutchison,

The Hon. Mr Dice said the sum on the estimates paid for Imperial pensions was refunded to the colony by the Imperial Government.

Beplying to Oapt. Mackenzie, The Hon, Mr Johnston Jsaid theibusiness done at the goods shsd, East Gore, was not sufficient to warrant the appointment of a Bhed keeper. Beplying to Mr Weston, The Hon. Mr Bollbston said immigration proposals making arrangement for the reestablishment of female emigration, would be brought down. FIBBT SHADINGS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—Waikato Confiscated Lands (Mr Bryce) ; Repeal of Sharebrokers Act, 1871 (Mr Sheehan). PUBIJO ACCOUNTS. The following motion, moved by Mr W. Thomson, was adopted .-—"That it be an instruction to the public accounts committee to enquire into the circumstances connected with the handing over by the public trustee of from £3OO to £4OO belonging to the estate of the late Mr John Johnston, Waiwera, to a relative of the deceased, on behalf of deoeased's children, and to report as to what should be done with the money, or whether a portion of it may be available for the support and education of the younger children." ADUMBBATION AOr. Mr Hutchison moved—" That it is very desirable that the Adulteration Prevention Act of 1880 should be amended in the direction of making more stringent provisions to prevent the sale of adulterated articles of food and drink." Carried. WESTPORT COAIi TBADB. Mr Munbo moved—" That a Seleot Committee be appointed to consider and report as to what aotiou should be taken to improve the facilities for shipment at Westport, in order to fully develope the coal export trade of that port ; the committee to consist of Messrs Johnston, Maoandrew, Fergus, Fish, Allwright, Wright, Levestam, Hutchison, Levin, and the mover." Mr Peacock moved, as an amendment—- " That it be an instruction to the committee to report on all harbors in the colony contiguous to coalfields," Mr Maoandbhw argued that the motion was of sufficient importance in itself to engage attention without saddling the enquiry with all other ports in the colony. He considered that the coal deposits of Westport were, of themselves, sufficient to pay off the whole of the national indebtedness.

Mr Shbehan oontended that they had a large number of coal deposits in different parts of the colony, and on that aoaount it was most important that contiguous ports should be looked to. For that reason he would support the amendment. He would suggest, as an addition to the amendment ' That the committee be further instructed to report as to the best means for further utilising the colonial coal for public works purposes." Die motion was carried. IMPOBTATION OF COAL. Mr Mimuo moved for, a return showing the quantity of coals imported into several parts of the colony, and showing separately the total quantity of coals exported from Greymouth and Westport during the twelve months ending 31st May, 1882, for colonial and intercolonial consumption. It was stated that the information would bo given in a general report on the coalfields. SITTING DATS. Mr George moved—" That after Monday nest the house sit on Monday evenings." The Hon. Mr Komestoit opposed, alleging that the exigencies of the publio service demanded that Ministers should have the whole of Monday to themselves. The House divided. Ayes, 24; noes, 46. Motion negatived. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING BITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. EMPLOYEES XIABrXITY ACT. Mr M. W. Sheen moved the second reading of the Employers Liability Bill. It was based on the English Act of 1880, adapted to the requirements of the colony. Mr Dabgavtixe seconded. He detailed the history of the English law on the subject,

and went on to say that a measure of thiß kind was abselntely neoessary for the eolony, There were scores of instanoes oE the hardships occasioned by the want of such legislation. He instanoed a case at Auoklaud in which a man, after protesting that the machinery waa not safe, got injured for life, and yet he had no redress. Again, the selfsame machinery was doctored up, and subsequently it was (he means of killing another workman. There was no redress in either case, as tho doctrine of common employment was set up. What the Bill aimed at was that workmen

should have the same protection as the outside public. That, shortly put, was all the Bill aimed at. Mr Bathsath stated the law on the sub-

ject as it stood, pointing out that the negli genoe of one workman gave no redress to another, even although he were engaged in another department and at other work. He could see no seme of natural justice in an arrangement of that kind. The law as it stood was a great injustioe to the working daises. It was their duty to place the liability as between employer and employed on a better footing. A measure of the kind must be passed sooner or later, as the working classes were bound to agitate on it from time to time until it was secured.

The Hon. Mr Bolleston considered the

principle of the Bill right, but would like to study the details at more leisure. He instanoed clause five, as to the limitation of liability, and said he had doubts how far it should be given effect to. He suggested that it should be referred to a Select Committee to oonsider the whole matter.

Mr W. M. GKBB»>greed to accept that suggestion.

Mr Holmrs considered it a moderate Bill, and would give it support with the amendment introduced that the workman's own unskilfulness and negligence shonld relieve the employer. With that amendment he would be prepared to support the measure. Mr Connelly saw no necessity for referring the Bill to oommittee. He wanted to see some limitation to the liability. For example, the oase cited by Mr Dargaville was not a oase in point. There the workman evidently was aware of the defeotive state of the maohinery, and hiß going to work it implied negligence on his part, for which he should be excluded from claiming compensation.

Mr Swanson took exoeption to the liability indicated by the previous speaker. He mentioned a case in which a man who wrought at a defeotive maohine told him that if he refused to work at it he would have been disoharged. He thought a case of that kind should be entitled to redress.

Mr Lbvbstah was also of opinion the Bill did not go far enough. In many oases a pecuniary penalty would not meet the justice of the case.

Mr M. W. Gbeeh, in reply, pointed out that under the Bill the injury must be oocasioned b/ a superior workman, and that no compensation was provided for where the damage was caused by a fellow workman or by the negligence of the workman himself. The motion was put and carried, and the Bill referred to a committee. DIBTEB3B AKENDMBNT BILL. Mr Holmes moved the seoond reading of the Distress Amendment Bill. The Bill was designed to .'protect the goods and chattels of persons found upon the premises of other than the tenant from being distrained upon for rent. There was also a clause enacting that property to the extent of £25 belonging to the debtor could not be distrained upon j the latter enactment extending a provision of the kind contained in the Debtors and Creditors Act. Ma Shbimski opposed the Bill. It would have the effect of defeating the landlords' interests altogether, as it would be an easy matter for the tenant to make out that the whole of his effects belonged to a thiid party. Mr Moss asked the Government if it was not intended by the Government to bring down a Bill for the abolition of distraint for rent similar to that introduced last session in the Legislative Council by the then AttorneyGeneral. Mr DkLautoub moved as an'amendment—- " That it is desirable the Bill should be withdrawn, and the Government be requested to introduce a Bill similar to that oE last session for the total abolition of distraint for rent." Mr Kwanson argued that landlords would act as the butcher and baker. When he found that he was not receiving his money he could immediately stop supplies, and in that way he oould conceive of a great hardship being inflicted on the tenant. Mr Pxke looked upon the law as it stood as a remnant of feudalism, which ought to be swept away at once. The landlord ought to have no more preference than any other creditor. The Bill did not go far enough, and he would support the amendment.

The Hon. Mr Dice said the Government had not yet made up its mind to bring in a Bill similar to that of last year. If the landlord wag to be in the same position as a shopkeeper, then he should have the eame privilege and bo at liberty to enter into possession and turn out the tenant. In that case it came to be a question which would be in the interest of the tenant, to be liable to be turned out on a moment's notice, or to allow the preference of the landlord to remain undisturbed. That was a complete answer to the amendment. The Bill as it stood was sound, and the property of third parties should be protected. The limit of £25 was also objectionable ; it was far too great. He believed that slight amendments might be made in the Bill.

Mr Moss said he was surprised to hear that the Government were not sure of the measure it introduced last year. The reason it was not pushed on was that time would not permit.

Mr Holmes said that if it was considered that the sum named was too high, he would be content to see it reduced from £25 to say £ls. The argument of Mr Dick was far from being sound. The landlord might experience some delay in getting his house back, but he was bound to get it back. The grocer and bootmaker, however, were in a much worse position, as they could never g«t their property back It had gone for ever. Mr Wtnn Williams pointed out that the landlord could not sue for his rent for three or six months, while the merchant was different, and could sue at once. The House divided on the original motion. Ayos, 51; noes, 33.

On the question that the Bill be now read a second time, Mr Sheijibki called for a division.

Ayes, 42 ; noes, 21.

Bill read a second time, and ordered to be committed this day fortnight.

BTIDBNOB AMENDMENT BILL. Mr Hutchison moved tie second reading of the Evidence Amendment Bill. The motion was carried on the voices, and the Bill was ordered to be committed that day week.

THB BIGHT HOUBS BILL. The House went into committee on the Eight Hours Bill.

Colonel Thimble moved as an amendment to the effect that workmen might be enabled to work eight and a half hours, so as to make good their time against the Saturday halfholiday. The amendment was lost, and the clause passed as printed. Mr Sutton objeoted to the Bill, pointing out that in the oase of wharfingers and others connected with shipping, these men had to work just as long as required. Shepherds and farm laborers were also instanced at. classes where the hours of labor could not be limited without manifest prejudice to the oommerce of the country. Mr Lbfestam moved that progress be reported, adding that it could be made a useful Bill, but in its present state it would secure no good purpoie. Mr Sheehan recommended that the Bill should bo withdrawn. This was a social question, and tbe people must work it out themselves. If it was to be a legal enactment, then the Government should set the example, and this House should follow suit. The men for whom it was designed could make their own eight hours movements, and they would take good care to do it. Mr Sbddon ana Mr Bracken opposed the motion, insisting that it ought to have been opposed at the outset, and not try to shelve it at this stage.

Mr Fbbgus said they had been told that the Bill was only intended to affirm a principle. That had been done. He did not think the Bill was calculated to serve the purposes of the working men. If they wanted to do the working men good, they would stipulate for a given rate of wages per hour. The whole proposal was the result oE a sickening sentimentality, which ought to be put down.' The knowing ones would bu careful to avoid it, and it would be the lees guarded class of hirers of labor who would be had.

The motion for reporting progress was negatived on the voioes.

Colonel Thimble moved an amendment affirming the principle of not allowing any man to reoover for overtime OTor eight hours per day, unlets he worked forty-eight hour* per week.

Negatived on the voices. Mr Lbtbstam moved a further amendment —"That no overtime be allowed, unices instructed by the employer in writing to work such overtime." Bfegatived on the voices. Mr Shddon moved—" That any agreement made under this Act shall be exempted from stamp duties."

Negatived on the voices. On clause 3,

Mr Shbehaw moved an amendment "'lhat domestics should not ba exempted from the operations of the Bill." The House divided—Ayes, 15 ; noes, 31. Colonel Tbimbie moved—" That persons engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits bs exempted." Note, 13; ayes, 13. Mr Sutton moved—" That sailors be specially exempted." Lost on the voices. The House was still sitting at 1.30.