PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 220, 26 September 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[FD HHB ASSOCIATION.] | ■ ■■— 4 ■— i HOUSE'OF REPRESENTATIVES. I [The following additional discussion' on che Estimates on Tuesday night was crowded out yesterday ."j Speaking on the vote for the Government Printing Office, Mr. Fisber urged there was no necessity to hurry into the purchase of either linotype or monolin-) machines and thus hurry printers to their doom. Mr. Willis said if such a gnat saving could be effected by the introduction of typesetting machines, it was time tbe Government did inquire into the matter. She Premier Said they must recollect that linotypes Had already replaced a large number of men. No injury had yet been done, as some of. these bad found other employment, but he urged that'they should avoid taking any step which would displace a large number of 4ten at one time. As to his. South Sea IpJand trip the time would ctme wheathey wouM net ridicule bis visit to tbat new portion of tbe colony. Afjet- further discussion, the vote was pessedunaltered. Public Health Department, £13,784. In«ply to Mr. Mastey, Sir Joseph Ward said the establishment of this Department had already saved th< colony many hundreds of thousands of pottnds. It was a useful aid valuable Department. Mr./Buddo could not help thinking that we were tunning liot in our fear of diseafe." lie bad no idea that the legislation passed last session would hev® meant Buch a heavy expenditure. Mr. Collies said he took no exception to the expenditure, but he urged tbat the Public Health Department should disseminate for the benefit of the public the latest and meat retiabli information as to the maintenance of health and the spread of disease. Sir Joseph Ward agreed with that suggestion, snd pointed out tbat the department had already issued circulars on tbe subject of consumption and treatment of infants. Mr. Ell cordially supported the vote for this deportment. IKTS.W. JtawffwmpWned that the Publjo Health Act was not beiDg administered in the spirit in whiob it intended by tbe. Legislature. He Vaa a believer in economy, but he did ntt think that; was a department in which* it' should be exercised. If the Work of the department was efficiently carried eat hems prepared to vote as much W tbe Government wanted. 'Mr. Hogg said tbat despite the existence! of the: Health Department Various maladies were prevalent in the community—typhoid, measles, scarlet fever, and the epidemic called influenza, which be believed to be a malaria brought litre from South Africa. Mr. T»nner beld tbat tbe salaries paid'toHealtb Office's should be such as to make them independent of private praotice so art to enable them to give their undivided attention to public reqairements. flir Joseph Ward said that since June last the department Lad been ceaseless in its activity in regard to health. " The Chief Health Officer- had visited every part of the cdlaby and local bodies had «co operated very effectually. Malaria was only known among returned , troopers. It was unknown in New Zealand, but influensa was known years before any men went'to or returned from South Africa!. Mr. .Horneby said'tha department must not rely on local bodies to assist it, and-he was convinced tbat the colony was drifting back into the state of things which prevailed wben the plague scare was prevalent. Meesro Hutcbeson and Pirani thought the department was doing good work. Mr. T. McKenzie thought the power ehoold be given to the department to deal with offensive trade", which constituted a serious drawback to, at an; (ate, tiie health of child en. At pre aent they had no power to deal with offensive industries a'ready in existence* After further discussion the vote was passed unaltered. Sir' Joseph Ward then moved to report progress, which was agreed to, and the House rose at 11.50 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednbsday, 25th September. Tbe Council met at 2.30 p.m. Petitions were presented by Hons. O.J.Johnson and O." O. Brown from tea merchants in Wellington and Ghristchpreb, praying for legislation to prevent tbe sale of coupons in packets of tea. The Invercargill Reserve Leasing Bill was read a third time and p u-ssed, ( In committee on tbe Liw Amendment Bill U'aose 7, limiting the period (if ft right of action for a civil wrong, *«B .struck out. The clause fixing vs6o ds the limit amount recove»b'e by a woman for breach cf promise (except plaintiff be seduced] was Btrurk Odt. Qon, Colcnel Pitt strongly opposed tt» claiise giving magistrates and District Courts jurisdiction in cases affectifig land titles, but his motion to strike Ij out «as '.o t. . The 8.1 l was reported with amendments, and at 5 p.m. tfce Council adjourned to 8 p.m. BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, 25th Septembeb, .The Home met at 2.30 p.m. The Acting-Speaker read a letter from Sir Maurice O'Rorke, expressing regret that be was compelled by illness to absent himself from the House fbr a*longer period than he had expected.. He was anxious to resume his dutiee, but his medic .1 adviser had prohibited him from leaving Auckland At present. Sir Joseph Ward moved that further leave of absence for a fortnight be granted to Sir Maurice, and the mo* ion was agreed to. "Mr G. W. Russell gave notice to introduce tbe Canterbury College Empowering Act Amendment Bill. The Cornwall Park Duties Exemption Bill (Mr. Carroll?, New Z-alavd "University Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Hall-Jones), and Waimate Hospital District Bill (Major Steward) were introduced and read a first time. The Education Boards Election Bill was received from the Legit'ative Council and read a first time. At 2.45 Mr. Lawrey intercepted tbe Supply debate with a motion that the next session of Parliament be beld at Auckland. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that as the bon. member had expressed his views on the subject, the House should immediately divide on the motion and proceed with the Estimates. Messrs Hutchinson, G. Fisher and \

Pirani deprecated such a motion, and at 3.5 pm. it was npgatived by 35 to J2B, and 'he went into Committee of Supply fcr further consideration of the Estimates. ! The fi-st vote taken'was that of the 'Offire of Jndu-tii<s end Commerc i—£B9oß. , Mr. G. J. Smithfaid this department could be made veryus'ful and effective, but unfortunately it seemed to be asleep. Sir Joseph Ward admitted that the department had not been very active, but it was now beiog reorganised, arid he bad every reason to bope tbat-there would be no cause for complaint in future. It was- not to be used as a tradirg or competitive department, but bad tnen started to assist producers and all classes in opening up fresh markets. He added tbat Lone of the replies to advertisements for a South African steamer service were satisfactory, the trouble being that thtre wow ro return cargoes. Mr G, W. Russell complained that the Government had not been prompt enough in the despatch of a Trade Commissioner to foreign markets. Mr Buddo urged tbat reliable telegrams as to tbe s' ate of the Home grain and produce market shou'd be obtained and pub'i-hed regularly. Mr Laure son raid it was absolutely necessary to widen our markets. Mr Tboa. McKrnz'e said if trade was to be opened up with foreign countries, the foreign s'eamers trading to Aust alia would have to be attracted to New Z -aland. Sir Josi ph Ward, replying, said in connection with the department the Government was establishing a Commercial Intelligence Department for supplying information of use to producers. He hoped shortly to gazette the size of sacks for grain, which would be not greater than 2001bs. The quantity of grain sent by the New Zealand Government to the order of the Imperial Government was about 27,000 tons, and the price was 25s per quarter, including insurance, freight, and delivery in South* Africa. Ofche- orderJ had been sent out independently of the Government, and there bad been no complaint as to the quality of the grain supplied. Recently the Imperial Qovernmeut had sent out three further orders of 5000 tons each. .. He would give instructions to have the prioe of Wei ington mutton cabled out separately from that ot tbe North Island. Among the instructions given to Mr Gow, Trade Commissioner, was one to report as to the possibility of establishing State freezing works io South Africa for the benefit of tba colony. Mr Pirani considered economy could be exercised in connection with Government advertising, without impairing its efficiency. He suggested this department should take ovfr con'rol of all Government advertising. Sir Joseph Were! raid he would make note «f tbe sngges'ion. After further lergtby discussion, the to'al vote was passed unaltered. The Tourist and Health Resorts Department.—.£l6,l47. Mr J«s. Allen asked whether Government had abandoned the idea of engaging a thoroughly experienced m»n to take charge of the thermal districts. Sir Joseph Ward agreed upon tbe uecessity, and said the Government was making efforts to secure one. The Government intended to equip all tbe sanitaria as fully as possible. Several meriibere urged tbe Government to increase the vote to enable poor people to take advantage of the health resorts at a min : mum cos l -. Sir Joseph Ward said considerable -■are must be exercised in giving the use of free beds at these resorts, otherwise prople would take advmtige of thera who were perfect.lv able to pay. The Houre ro=e a' 5.30 p m.