PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 255, 29 October 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEE PBESS ISJOCIiTIOir.. * LEGISLATIVE OOTHK3IL.. Mondat, 28th* Octobeb, The Council met at 2.30 p.n* The Maori Councils Act AmeD*aeotrBill was introduced by the Miniate* tor Educition, and read a first time. The Land Tax and Income Tax BiT passed all it* stages. In committee on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, at clause 6 (power to set up special conciliator* on the application of either party) * discussion took place on the point of whether employees appointed as special conciliators who must be experts in the trade concerned would be made marked I men.

Hon. J. Bigg mentioned five name* of employees alleged to have- been dismissed for having taken part in disputes under the Act, and advised the Government to find out whether th» allegation was true. Hons. R H. J. Reeves an! W. T".. Jennings supported an inquiry being made.

The Minister's amendment was negatived by 24 to 8, and the clause passed,

The Ltbour Bills Committee)'* amendments were, then pieced up to clause 13 (power to limit or extend the scops of awards), which on a division called for by Hon, Rigg, who strongly oppostd the clause, was retained by 26 to 4. The Labour Bills Committee's amendments were then passed up to clause 21 (power to refer disputes. direct to the Arbitration Court on the application of either party), in wbiob Hon. J. E. Jenkfoson moved to substitute "both parties" for "either party." The Minister for Education opposed the clause, stating that it had been pitch-forked into the Bill in the other House. Two strings had already been given to the bow, in that Conciliation Boards or special concilators could be Availed of by either party. This clause proposed a third string. Hon. Rigg was sp ahjng against the clnuse whea tbe Council adjourned till 7.30 p.m,

Evbnibq Sixmo. The Oounoil resumed at 7.30 p.m. Olauee 21 of the Conciliation and A< bitration Bi'l was further discussed at great length, an amendment by Hod. Jenkinson to substitute*' both parties " for " either pax ty " being negatived by 22 to 6.

A further amendment by Hon. Jenkinson to the effect that either party may apply for a direct reference to the Court if requested to do to by a majority of the parties was negatived by 18 to 8.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, 28th Ootobkb,

The House met ft 7.30 p.m.

Leave of absenoe was granted to Mr. Hanan forthe remainder of the seesien, on account of ill health; to Mr. MoLichlan for one week, on account of illne.-s in his family; and to Mr. Liurenson for one week, on account of a bereavement in his family. Sir Joseph Ward laid on the table certain correspondence in connection with the Vaile railway system.

Mr. Pirani asked whether there «u any possibility of the system being given a trial. Sir Joseph Ward said the Gorernment was prepared to have a trial made on the Auckland section, under certain conditions. The matter had been referred to the Railways Committer, and tHe Government was awaiting their report before considering whether any other steps couid be taken. Mr. Seddon gave notice to introduce thd Food Trust Bill. Certain amendments in the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill were brought down by Governor's message. Tbey increase! tbe amount to be raised from £1,000,000 to £1,250,000, the increases in detail being:—Railways, from £500,000 to £600,000; additional rolling stock for open lines, from £300,000 to £400,000; land settlement and go'dfields d*>jelopment, from £150,000 to £200,000. Mr. Seddon sud it was obvious why these iocresses should be submitted. There wis an unallocated balance of only £335,181 in the publio works account, and he thought that was sailing a little too close to the wind. With regard to increase for additional rolling stock, he explained that locomotives and waggons had come to band earlier than expected, and it was necessary that prevision should be made for them. Last year there was a surplus of £600,000; but he did not think there would be much to carry forward this year, although he expeoted a fair surplus. These increases would not add to tbe expenditure proposed in tbe publio works estimates; but it was wise that these extra amounts should be granted. He added it might be necessary daring •he summer months to increase expenditure on the North Island main trunk railway. Captain Russell asked when the Government intended to fill the vacant office of Surveyor-General. Mr Seddon replied that the Government favoured the appointment of a local man in preference to an outsider. The selection had not yet been made, but he thought it would be announced within a month.

A Bill to make piovision fcr the acquisition of a site f;r the Victoria Collate was introduced by Governor's message.

Mr. Seddon gave notice to iutrodu e the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill, and Sir Joseph Ward to introduce the & gis'ration of Births Bill. Mr. Hall Jones, in moving tbe s'cond reading cf tbe Aid t> Publio Works ami Land Settlement Bill, raid it would save time to take the debate on the Public Works Statement on this Bill.

Captain RutseH considered an alteration was necessary i 0 the whole system of public works accounts. It was essential that an intelligible b<lance-sheet should be put before the House. He had been unable to discover what moneys had been spent out of the consolidated fund, what out of loan, and what had been transferred from the consolidated fund to the public works account. But he bad arrived at tbo conclusion that the i position was very unsatisfactory. Dur•ng the last t> tms years und»r the Railway Commissioner* the amount i*pent on additions to open lines was X; 39,250, yet the expenditure by the Government Hinder che same heading dutinij t l olast three years amounted to £725,321. This showed tbat there had been gross mismanagement in the past, or that there was gross management »t

|*eaent. Another point in regard t the railways was that they did no know what was being charged ti capital account and what to workio) expenses, or to sinking fund, for weai and tear in excere of maintenance Captain Russell pointed out what hac been done by the Manawatu Railway Company in that direction, and eaic that on the same basis the colonj oaght to have had a sinking fund ol £7,658,000. • 8 Sir Joseph Wsrd said Captain Russell had said that the Government hac expended £725,000 without authorial tion, whereas the fact was that then wan authons-.tion up to £750,000 With reference to contrast between th< term in which the Railway Commis Bioners held officeand the period in whici Government was administering the railways, he pointed out that there had b?enan enormous expansion of traflu since time of the Commissioners.