PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 216, 19 September 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEE FBESS ASSOCIATION.

[PER PBBBS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. After the Telegraph Office closed yesterday morning discussion was continued on the vote for the Colonial Secretary's Department. A proposal to reduce the salary of the Under-Secretary was negatived by 32 tb 19 Sir Joseph Ward expressed the opinion that all Government Departments should be classified, and increases made automatically. Several members protested against increases for the higher salaried officials. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that nine-tenths of the increases were in the smaller salaries. Considerable debate took place with reference to the vote for Minivers' private secretaries. Mr. Seddon said, judging by the work these officers did, there ought to be two sets of secretaries. The vote was passed unaltered. Strong objection was then raised to late sittings. The Ministers complained that no progress had been made that evening, but eventually a motion to repsit progress was carried by 25 to 23, and tbe Bouse rose at 2.15 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 18th September, The Council met at 2 30. The State School Children Drill Bill passed its final stages. " I The debate on the second reading of Hod. A. Pitt's Cigarette Smoking by Youths Prohibition Bill was oontinuqd. Hon. Pitt said he'was agreeable, if necessary, to reduoe the age prescribed, and to abolish the whippiLg provision. After further debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices. Hon. R. H. Reeves moved tbe second reading of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1881, Amendment Bill, lotteries and sweepstakes. The Minister for Education supported the Bill, and Hons. McLean, Jones, Louisson and Bowen opposed, and the Bill waa thrown out on division by 17 to 13. T'.e Arbitration Court President's Validation Bill was passed through all its stsgels, and the Council rose at 4 55.

SOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDHMDAY, 18TH SIFTEKBDt. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A Bill to remedy all technioial defects in the appointment of tbe president of the Arbitration Court was introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. Mr. Seddon said he had found on Saturday that tyfr. Justice Cooper should have been gazetted President of the Arbitration Cou.t, and this Bill was merely to remedy that defect. After some discussion the second reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voiced. The Bill passed thtoogh committee with slight amendments, and was read a third time and pissed. The Acting-Speaker, read ,4 communication from the Auditor-General, who state 1 that in accordance with amotion 9 of the Public Revenues Act he forwarded for the information of the House a copy of correspondence relating to the difference of opinion between the Audit Office and the Treasury respecting certain payments under the Old Age Pensions Act. Mr. Seddon moved that the correspondence be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. The sum of money inmrivad was a mere trifle, but it was a question of law, involving the power of the Colonial Treasurer to extend the time for payment of old age pensions beyond the month allowed by the Act. He (Mr. Seddon) had authorised the payment of certain ove due pension instalments, and the Auditor-General hid challenged the payment-, but he (Mr. Seddon) was supported by the SolicitorGeneral. If he did not have power to make these payments it meant that some of the recipients of parsions would have to go without some of their instalments. After a shore discussion Mr. Seddon's motion was agreed to. The Stamp let Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message and retd a first time. Its is a Bill to amend the law relating to transfer of shares in mining companies and to alter duty payable on such transfers. Iq rrply to questions Mr. Seddon stated that the Government did not propose to amend the Workers' Compeosition for Accidents Aot in the direction of exoluding racing clubs' from its provisions; that an amendment of the Military Pensions Aotj would be introduced this session; that | it would be mr«t> unwise to < x'end the borrowing facilities of looal bodies; that 00-operatbe workmen in Government employment are not insured j against accident! accident under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act. In reply to another question Mr. Seddon said he drew last year as salary £1375, and as traveling allowances .£485. Tbe latter sum included .£225 for expenses to the Commonwealth he had receive! £2OO house allowance, but he had not received twopence for house allowance last year. The House ros? at 5.30,

HiVBUINQ PITTIHO The Hou'e resumed at 7 30 p m. Amendments made hy the Legislative Council in the State School Children Drill Bill wen agreed to. Mr. Pirani's School Attendance Bill (No. 2) was considered in committee. In Clause 4 the oompulsory echool age was reduc d from flf een to fourteen years. Sub-section 4 of the same clause, which provided that the residence of the parent or guardian of a child must be more than four miles from the nearest school before exemption from attendance can be granted, was amended by making the distance two miles. Glauses 11 and 12, relating to compulsory attendance at native sotaools, were struck out. A new c ause was inserted providing that the Minister for Education may fftur time to time make regulations governing attendance of M <ori and half-oast') children. Mr. Meredi h moved a new clause that truant inspectors under the Act shall include members of the police force, but this was lost by lost by 31 to 14.

Th 9 Bill was repirfc'd and the third reading s*-t down for Wt*dne*dny nex l ;. Mr. Buddo's Counties Ac*. Am»nd mem Bill, relating to the South Waimakiriri R'ver Board, was paseed through committee without amendment and was subsequently put through its final stamps. Hon. Major Steward's Sta 1 u'es pilation Bill, Mr. R. MoKetzie's Min-I ets Bights Fee Reduction Bill, and

Mr. Hogg's R*bbit Nuisance Aot Amendment Bill passed their final stages. Mr. Barclay's Shop and Bhop Assistant Act, 1894, Amendment Bill mi recommitte i. On Mr. Barclay's motion a new clause watt inserted providing that all chemists' shops may be opened (or the supply of medicine or surgical appliances only between 7 and 9 o'olock on the evening of the day appointed for jthe weekly half holiday, and any chemist may on tbe afternoon of anon day supply any medicine or surgical Appliances which maybe urgently required, having opened his shojffor that purpose o.ily. | Tbe Bill was reported. and pal through its final stages. ; Mr G. W. Russell's Eight Hon* Bill was further considered in omb* mittee. ' Clause. ft was amended eo a* to include amongst thosp exempted persons on farms, rune, and sheep stations. Mr Hornsby moved that tbe chairman leave the chair, The motion was carried by 21 to 18. the Bill thue being killed. Mr Fo»lda's Cycle Board Bfl) «m further considered in oommifctee.