PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8933, 25 September 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

legislative Council. Pet Press Association. Welmnotom, September 2-t. The Council met at 2.30. The Hon. Rigg asked the AttorneyGeneral who is responsible for the following standing advertisement appearing in Reynold’s newspaper, and especially misleading reference to laud grants contained therein as jegards N.Z.—“ Assisted passages to Australia, £5; to Queensland, £6; to Hew South Wales, £6; to Western Australia, £10; to New Zealand, free Mtl grants. Apply at once for ap Jications form and full particulars jo the nearest Oook’s office.—Thos. tsok and Son, chief office Ludgate pjfcus, London, E.O. The Attorney-General said the advertisement must have been inserted jjcsomo private person, and Governpent knew nothing about the matter. The Attorney-General moved the jecond readng of the Statutes Repeal gill, to remove from the Statute gook a number of enactments that from their nature would flud no place in the consolidated statutes in L, Council. The Hon. Wi Pere appealed to the Attorney-General not to further ■complicate the laws of the colony, tint to arrange that those referring particular matters should be kept together. The Hon. Wi Pore wont on to refer to his boisterous disposition when he was in the other House, but said he had now qualified liiinsolf to become a member of a House whore the membership consisted of gentlemen. If that Oharatjer observed the interests of the Maoris licTwonld say this was indeed a Chamber of righteousness, adding, “I appeal to you, the Hon. Mr Ormond, to protect your Maori people, sad if .von neglect to do so I’ll break your nose. ” The Hon. Rigg having drawn the attention of the Acting-Speaker to the objectionable words, the Hon. Wi Pore said there was no intention to offend his friend, and he withdrew the expression. The Bill was read a second time, aud referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Police Offences Bill No 2 to protect business houses and trades from certain devices adopted by the loss scrupulous, who K t up in f |ie sIl °P window’s that they supplied the Governor with mods. The Bill also made it unlawh to use other people’s names in connect ion with the naming of animals, objects, etc., or to'send tout Imims summonses or legal notices. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Iu the Pure Food Bill the At-torney-General moved a proviso to (lie clause compelling bread to be the weight- specified. The proviso left it to the Governor to regulate what bread should be exempt from the provisions. The clause was adopted, progress was reported, and the Council rose at 5 P-m.

House of Representatives

The House met at 2.30. The Imprest Bill was brought Idoiva by message from tlie Governor. Mr Massey said he would like to fake the opportunity of referring to the question of travelling expenses sutl allowances in the public service, prominent attention had recently b'seii drawn . to a specific case of ‘ravelling allowances which were pail to au officer all the year round, mtl other cases had been referred to. The public wanted to know about the matter, aud lie thought that a roramittee should be set up to go into the whole matter. He comiilaiuod of the delay iu- bringing lown the Public Works statement, is it kept local bodies in doubt as to what money would be available, and 10 thought thev should know this at ; he earliest possible moment. Mr J, Allen drew attention to tire necessity of reducing tire time limit for the registration of the birth of ihildrcu, in order to check infant lestructiou. . J Mr Fisher also referred to the lecossity of travelling expenses jedug investigated. a Mr Arnold urged that the Government should give au iudication as to ftrlien the Public Works Statement Ivon Id be brought dowu. I The debate was interrupted by the 1.30 adjournment. I The House resumed at 7.30.

Mr Herries wanted to know exactly That the Exhibition had cost, and aid he hoped to see, before tiro sesiou was over, a full account as to nhat the Christchurch Exhibition id cost the colony. It began and nded with a scandal, and a Royal lominission should enquire into _ it. bother tiling ho wanted was a full :eport of what the Civil Service ;®t. Another question which would iave to be settled before the end of he session was the railway cmilorees. Everyone knew that there fas discontent, not only with the sy bat with the hours of working iscvcral of the departments. Men (ere going away from the colony to sek service elsewhere because of the letter conditions prevailing. If lotbing was done to allay the dis;onteut there might be a repetition of the marine strike.

Mr Graham urged tho importance )f proceeding with tho railway in lis district. Tho {necessity for the ;omplction of tho North Island Main frank lino was no reason why other .uthorised railway works should be tarred.'

Mr Okey referred to the necessity ot kinging down the Civil Service Superannuation Bill, about wliicii Ktnbers of tho Service were hecomanxious.

Mr Mills pnt in a plea for the laims of Nelson anti Marlborough in lie matter of railway extension. Mr Gray adhered to his former pinion re the Exhibition and the rent waste of public mouey. To avo a man employed at £BOO a year, itting and smoking cigars, and ratchiug other men saw wood, which tonld scarcely pay for cartage, for he Exhibition had been a success lespito the management. The Premier said if a stranger ad been in the House that aftorioou and evening, and had not mown what was going on, he would ave assumed that there was cou'erted action in the matter of “rnggng” Goverrumeut. The whole fievance appeared to he that there tcre no Public Works Estimates bents the House, and that there were w proposals but ordinary requironeats to pay for the service of the 'onntry. At tlic rate the House was ioing t)i ß Public Works Estimates fonld come down about ten weeks ‘face, and after they had finished ja Laud Bill, Endowmonht Bill, fativc Laud Bill, Local Bodies Bill, lati-Gambliug Bill, Civil Service iaperannuation Bill, Civil Service Tassiflcatiou Bill, Railways Classibtiou Bill, Fire Brigades Bill, and Arbitration Bill, fad the Post Audit Bill. A Member: What about the Local Government Bill? The Premier said he had omitted hat, but the list quoted would be au adicatiou of the work before the louse. The proposals had been aade all round the House, which scant mauy million of pounds in Edition to the ordinary expenditure, ad which would burst the country 1 any Government attempted to give ffect to them. Last year Government had provided for £4,700,000, Minding renewals, and this year here would bo about the same ®onnt. In the debate there were % about twa speakers who had not the expenditure of millions in Mess of the amount Government Jald sanction. It was not fair to country that members should tom time to time expect Governmtnt to repel what would be inJtious in every way. As to traveljag allowances, he had given the Wfto full information as to Mr Wly, who had got £SO for certain Nt connected with the Commerce Apartment. That gentleman, as a man, had facilities for obtain•g information which others could He was neither a Golament servant, nor did he get helling allowance. Dr. Bell only d half pay while out of the colony, d received nothing on account of allowance. He deprecated ' attack upon a certain Judge and 66 manifest desire to bring him More a Parliamentary Committee. I the Exhibition, he asked if, assuming losses, would it not 1 to wait until the matter was r and settled? Mr Herries had d to the scandals connected lie Exhibition. Moneylenders hbed au unfortunate man who, ting his position, had appro - 1 some of the Exhibition and left the colony, and Gocut were urged to bring him under the assumption that must be some other scandal in ckgronnd. Government would irk the fullest enquiry as to peaditnre on the Exhibition, railways, before the session proposals dealing with the

railway service would be submitted. The Premier said it was not the duty of members to create a spirit of unrest. He asked the House and railway service to wait until his proposals w T erc submitted. On the question of the second reading of the Imprest Supply Bill the discusisou continued iu the House, aud the Bill passed through its final stages and was passed. , A message from the Governor, conveying the amendments to the Tariff Bill was brought down. The Premier explained that raw cotton would be admitted free if imported before 81st December next if it is shown that it was imported under a valid contract made before September 30th. Medicated infant t food would also be admitted free, likewise automatic air brakes, as it was not intended to give any one firm a monopoly. The Bill also pro ; posed that an ad valorem duty of an , article should bo defined as f.o.b. value, plus 10 per cent. Twentyfive per cent duty would he imposed on galvanised cup-headed nails in Schedule A, Class XII. Any painting, drawing, or photograph in any medium having a value for duty exceeding £2ft»siiould he assessed for duty at £2O, plus the value of the frame and mounting, if any, plus the value of the canvas or other material upon which"such painting, drawing or photograph was made.

The Council passed the ' Imprest Supply Bill through all its stages.