PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 860, 2 July 1910, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

A long discussion arose in the House on T hursday on the Premier moving that the report of the Accident insurance Company be laid on the table. Mr T. Taylor (Christchurch North), said the time had come when the Government should take over the business of accident insurance as a State monopoly. : Since the Department was instituted a saving of bad been effected to people by the reduction of premiums. Messrs Hardy (Selwyn) and Wright (Wellington South) opposed the idea. Mr Massey said State Monopoly was as likely to be mischievous as any other monopoly. The State Department had been run at: a loss and the proposal tha f the Government should not lend money to people who did not insure in the State Department was monstrous. Other speakers having addressed 'he House on the subject, Sir P* Joseph Ward said the Government ’ r ad all along realised that there she ild be free scope for private erne-prise in the Dominion. The Government X«ife Department was not intended to drive other Comr des out of business, but to

ensure reasonable rates of in1, *urauce. The country would * lever Government Fire Dipartmim to out of business. Pi ivate companies refused to accept insurance from the State Fire Department, and if the State did not take insurances from other Companies it would mean practically the death of the State Department. Referring to accident insurance, the Premier said there were great risks in making accident insurance a State monopoly and the State Department could not now undertake the whole business. Some effort in this direction would be made this Session in a legitimate way, but the Government had to bear in mind the responsibilities connected with the proposals made by Mr Taylor. . On the motion that, the House A go into Committee of Supply, Mr ■ lander (Marsden) brought up the ■ ‘mestion of the Ilelensville northH|- td route and moved that the ■* >use disapproves of the deviation ■ v ora the Eastern route originally . aorised.

Mr Pearce seconded and gave ' «ason for supporting the original

route and Mr Mauder’s demand j for a po»A' , j-.ion of inquiry to go i; Into tbe alternative routes. I In a division the amendment V s lost by 42 to 24.

w The House went into ComL mittee of Supply and passed a rem. • .olution providing for a sum not -receding ,£713.000 for the public 1; .’tvice for the year ending 31st ■- March, 1911. L The House having resumed Committee of Ways and the Imprest Bill was read a time and on the motion for second reading Mr Massey

fcoved that when returns were

for they should be provided "us soon as possible. He complained of delay in the matter Sir Joseph Ward said he would I reply to Mr Massey on the third ", reading. The amendment was lost by 37 21.

RIVATE MEMBERS’ BIEBS

||‘ When the House resumed its R tings at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday, £ otice was given of intention to isk leave to introduce h number of lills, including the following : Half Holiday for Miners in Gold and Coal Mines (Hon. A. R. Guinness). Elective Upper House Bill (Sir Wm. Steward). National Sick and Accident Insurance Bill (Hon. A. R. Guitiuess). Gaming Act, 1908, Amendment Bill, 1910, and Bookmakers’ Abolition Bill (Mr Newman). Sale of Goods Amendment Bill (Mr Witty). Mutual Insurance Amendment r Bill (Mr Dive). * Johnsonville School Reserves Bill (Mr Luke). Marriage Act Amendment Bill (Sir W. Steward). New Zealand Society of Musicians Bill (Mr Sidey). Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill (Mr Field). Repeal of the Second Ballot (Mr Fisher).