PARLIAMENT.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume 17, Issue 850, 22 August 1896, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

Mr Pirani asked if the Government would introduce legislation to enable the provisions of the Shops Act relating to offices to be properly enforced in the offices in the colony. The Minister of Labor said it was well known that the Act was evaded in banks and many offices, and it was absolutely necessary in the interests of the clerks that the law should be amended to effectually put a stop to the sweating that now existed. Mr Seddon agreed that bank officials worked very long hours indeed, and added that practically banks and offices had set the law at defiance. An amending Shop Hours Bill would be brought down shortly, and he would be pleased if provision were made in it to meet the case of bank and office clerks.

In Mr Seddon's opinion, wherever the thrift of the people is concerned there should be Government control and a Government audit. This was in answer to Mr Pirani, who asked whether he would consider the advisibility of reorganising the Audit Department so that it shall nave oversight of the expenditure of all departments, and include in its function the audit of the accounts of the Bank of New Zealand and of the Estates Realisation Board.

In moving in the Council for a return to show the expenditure on the Otago Central to date, Mr Bolt said he believed it would be better for the colony to go in for a loan of five millions to carry on this and other lines, and so give employment to labor and by opening up the country create general improvement. The Hon. Mr Walker had no objection to the return, and said that the number of men now employed is 180.— Mr Jenkineon moved an amendment asking for the average cost per mile, which, he had reason to believe, had been enormous.—This Mr Bolt would not accept, while Mr G. M'Lean supported it as likely to bean instructive return. The line should never have gone in its present direction, and if it had gone another way it would by this time have reached Lake Wanaka. —Mr Stewart could not understand the drift of Mr M'Lean's remarks, and pointed out that in Otago there was in existence a League which was taking active interest in this matter. But he saw no objection to the amendment.—Mr M'Lean explained that it was a political line by its present route.—Mr Bolt said he objected to the amendment. A portion of the line had gone through very rugged country, while the remainder was not so mountainous, and for that reason the return would be misleading to the general public.— Mr Kelly favored the amendment as being only fair to the public—Mr Reynolds suggested the adjournment of the debate. —Mr Shrimski objected to this, and agreed with Mr M'Lean that the line was a political one on the part of the Dunedin members in another place.—Mr Jenkinson's amendment having been agreed to on the voices the motion, as a whole, was carried. Two Government Bills having reference to the tobacco law were circulated last week. The first of them is styled the Tobacco Act Amendment Bill. It alters the regulations in regard to the manufacture of tobacco within the colony, and also deals with the retail sale of manufactured tobacco and the making of cigarettes by hand. After the beginning of next year, if this Bill passes into law, no person will be allowed to retail tobacco in a borough without a license, for which £1 is to be paid. Any holder of such a license may obtain a warrant to use a tobacco-cutting machine, and such license grants permission to make cigarettes by hand on the payment of an additional fee of ss. Numerous penalties are provided for breaches of the Act, including forfeiture of the license for a second con?iction within twelve months. The other Bill amends the excise duties on tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, and snuff manufactured in the colony. The duty at the present time on tobacco is Is the pound, and on cigars, cigarettes, and snuff Is 61 the gjund. The only alteration made by the ill now brought down is in regard to the duty on cigarettes. This is increased to 3s (id the pound on cigarettes manufactured by machinery, and reduced to Is the pound if made by hand. Cigarettes manufactured by hand outside a bonded tobacco manufactory are exempted from duty. The Treasurer has brought down a Bill to amend the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, providing, amongst other things, that the Treasurer for the time being may, if he thinks fit, accept from any local authority the repayment of the whole or part of a loan, notwithstanding that the period for repayment has not expired. The provisions of the principal Act are extended to enable loans to be raised for the acquisition of public works. Loans secured by special rates are restricted by the conditions that the ratable value of Native land or Crown land included in any such special rates must be less than one-half the ratable value of all ratable property upon which the rate is levied, and the number of ratepayers upon whose property the rate is levied must exceed one. Additional remedies are provided in the case of default in the payment of interest, and the Act of 1886 is amended so as to allow of £250,000 per annum being appropriated for loans to local bodies —an increase of £50,000 on the amount at the present time provided for. Sir R. Stout's complaint that the salaries paid to many of the magistrates were too low was admitted by the Premier, who stated, however, that a large number of members would object to any proposals for an increase.

In defending the Labor Bureaus from an attack recently made on them by the Wellington Benevolent Trustees, the Minister of Labor said that if necessary he would have an amendment of the law to prevent the employment of " sandwich men," as they were only employed by business men who were too mean to advertise in the proper channels. He wonld not hesitate, in the eventof an infringement of the circular directing charitable aid boards not to employ "sandwich men," to direct a prosecution of the offending boards. Complaint was made by Sir R. Stout that the Minister of Lands had started a farm at Pomabaka without authority being given by statute.—The Hon. J. M'Kenzie said that there was no intention to start a State farm at Pomahaka, and that the senior member for Wellington had discovered a "mare's nest." All that he was doing was to improve the farm for the purpose of getting it settled, and he ventured to say that in twelve months' time it would be agreed that be had done good work. The trovernment are of opinion that the money required to fence portions of the railway lines of the colony could be much better spent on roads for the settlers. Complaint having been made by Mr Lewis that on the Saturday half-holidays tobacco was sold at hotels, the Premier promised that the Tobacco Bill which would soon be before the House would contain a provision that those who sold tobacco would have to take out a license for that purpose. Messrs O'Regan, Graham, Mills, and R. M'Kenaie waited on the Minister of Works on Tuesday night respecting the extension of the Belgrove-Motupeka seotion of the Midland Railway. While admitting that the deviation through Norris Valley waa one in the right direction, they urged that a deviation to Bromel Crossing would be a greater convenience to the settlers, and exreesed the hope that the Government would be able to grant the further concession sug J gested.—The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones pointed oat ta»t ta« Norrii Gully dtviatioa wm art

material, but the one to Bromel's would be against the terms of the Midland Railway contract. The matter would, however, be considered by the Cabinet. In conclusion, the Minister of Works gave the deputation to understand that the deviation would, if possible, be adopted. In briefly moving in the Council the second reading of the Female Liw Practitioners Bill Mr Bolt said that it appealed to the chivalry, common sense, and justice of members. On the motion of Mr Shrimski the debate was adjourned till Friday in order to give the Council time to consider the Government measure on the same subject. When the Divorce Bill was reached, the Speaker gave his ruling that he could not see his way to lay aside this Bill, as it was different from that previously thrown out by the Council.—Sir O. Whit-more repeated his objection to the Bill, and moved the second reading that day six months.—Mr Kelly looked on adultery as of much greater gravity in women than in men. This Bill would be the means by one act of infidelity of breaking up happy homes.—Mr Rigg, speaking to the amendment, said that it seemed to him that it was not happy homes that needed this Bill, but unhappy homes.— Mr Stewart suggested that as our marriage laws were decidedly unsatisfactory, and that as the procreation of children was one of the te aeons for marriage, those persons who had been married two years and had no children should not be compelled to commit adultery in order to secure a divorce, but should have the right to apply to a judge of the Supreme Court, who should have power after six months to grant it.—Sir G. Whitmore's amendment was carried by 20 to 11, and the second reading lost. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, through Mr G. W. Russell, are petitioning Parliament in connection with the freights on frozen meats and the insulation of trucks. Sir John Hall was yesterday examined before the Stock Committee on the subject. This Committee, who comprise both branches of the Legislature, are evidently determined to go into the question thoroughly, and have summoned the managing directors of the Mataura, Islington, and Belfast Freezing Works, the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and other experts to give evidence. The Agricultural and Railway Departments are both to be represented at the inquiry, which promises to be exhaustive. No sooner had Mr W. Hutchison got his Restraint of Incitements to Betting und Wagering Bill into committee than Mr 0' Regan moved that progress be reported. He contended that if the Bill became law it would make crimes of what should never be classed in that category, and legislation of this kind made Parliament look ridiculous. It was absurd to fine a newspaper for publishing "tips" eoncerning races. The motion was lost by 31 to 17.—Thereupon Mr Lewis moved to add " gambling," saying that if the Bill were to be passed it should be made to cover speculators in mining scrip, not alone backers of horses on the totalisator, and should deal with gambling in all forms.—Mr T. Mackenzie moved to report progress, saying that the wonder was that the mover of the Bill had not included the playing of marbles in his measure. It was playing with Parliament to bring in a measure of this character.—Mr M'Lachlan pointed out that Mr Willis, who was supporting the Bill, was actually engaged in the manufacture of playing cards. It appeared to him that there was no such thing as purity among members of Parliament.—The debate was kept going till midnight, the question being treated with the utmost levity, and then a motion te report progress was carried by 21 to 14. On the motion of Mr Collins, a return is to be prepared showing the cost of the compilation and printing of the New Zealand School Reader, 1895, and the number of Readers at present in use in the State schools. It was stated that (Queensland, following the example of this colony, proposed printing a similar Reader. Juniors under the age of eighteen joining the Civil Service are now compelled to serve three years in a volunteer corps.