PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 1 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JULY-31 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The second reading of the FARRIERS' BILL was moved by the Hon Mr JENKINSON, who said the majority of the farriers in tho colony had a-.ked for the n.'.asure, Kaciiuirse owne'.'s, particular ly, were in favor of it. He anticipated the. objection that the Bill would result in tlie formation of a close corporation, which, he said, was utterly unjustifiable, lion Mr BALDEV supported the mea--6.111\

Hon. Mr REEVES moved that the Mil iie referred to the -Agricultural and •Stock Committee.

Die Hon. Mr AXSTEY pointed to ano malies In the drafting of the Bili. While it slated great harm was done by had shoeing, it provided that every farrier Miouid be entitled to registration who satisfied the registrar that he had been a farrier for one year in practice. In other words, those farriers who had been giving pain to horses in the past were to be licensed to do so for all time. Altogether, the Bill was unworkable. • The Hon. LOUISSON also considered tiie Bill defective. The Hon. 0. SAMUEL said there was no demand for the Bill, and he did not think it was required. The Hon. Mr LUIiE thought the Bili was requisite.

The Hon. Mr JONES said he had not olten seen a worse-drafted measure, i hey should not, however, reject it, but dj something to improve it. The Hon. Mr BARR contended thai the Bill moved in the right direction, inasmuch as it tried to raise the qualification of farriers. The Hon. ilr. LOUCIHNAN moved that the Bill be read this day six months. After further discussion, the amendment was negatived, and the second reading agreed to, and the Bill referred lo the Agricultural and Stock Committee. The Council adjourned at 3.35.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ~ The House met at 2,30. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, the .Minister ntated mat the Statutes Revision uuinniittee has not completed its work, and until it uoes so, it is not proposed to go 011 with the Uompilation iillis; that request ol' the' tramway employees of the lour chief centres to be granted a concession oil ordinary railway lures could not be complied with, as preferential treatment to any section of the community would inevitably lead to serious public discontent; that in the general scheme of technical education assistance could not with advantage be prouded t'oi-iihe purpose of preserving the art oi Maori woodcarvers, but we Minister hoped such a movement would soon be made; that plans providing for i;dditional accommodation lor tourists at Mount Cook had been prepared, the question of supplying funds lor the work to be dealt with when the Public Works Estimates are uuder consideration; that the State Coal Mines Department has contracted to supply eoal to the Cliristeliurch Tramway Hoard at IDs 2d per ton, tha contract is for small coal ioi which there is no sale to private consumers; that the Estimates contain a sum of £2OO as a grant to the Shipwreck Relief Society; that the Harbors' Consolidation Bill will be introduced this session; the matter of the Harbor Boards' representation will be dealt with in a separate measure; that the matter of granting a bonus to producers ol kerosene oil of approved quality from products obtainable in the colony is under consideration; that the question of reducing the time for quarantine, especially on dogs, is under consideration, but several States in the Commonwealth must first be consulted; that the niattei of preventing people from shooting on all lands reserved for scenic purposes is under consideration; it is hoped legislative proposals regarding scenic reserves will be submitted; that the question ol' an Amended Noxious Weeds Act is under consideration; that the question Of offering a prize for the bestkept railway station garden is under consideration; that the Gambling and Betting Bill will contain_i)iDjiQnalswlileh, vr"given elleeF~to, will minimise the betting evil at sports carnivals; that a Vive Brigades' Act Amending Bill has been prepared, and will be introduced shortly; that the Tourist Department had made enquiries regarding the value of the Te Aroha hot springs, and that the question of providing a sum tor the necessary development will be considered when the Public Works Estimates are under review. FIRST READINGS.

The following Bills were read u first time, and referred to tlie Local Bills Committee: Waipawa County (Hall), 'lhames Harbor Board (MeUowan), Opuuake Harbor (.Major), Uore Agricultural and Pastoral Association Vesting and Enabling (McNab), Auckland Harbor lioard and Birkenhead Borouglx limpowering (Alison). 'l'lie House resumed at 7.30. The Trustee Act Amendment Bill was l ead a third time and passed. The second reading of the Town District Bill was postponed for one week. Mr WITTY moved the second reading of the Land Agents Bill, which provides lor licensing land agents. The motion was agreed to on the voices.

Air FLATHAN moved the second reading of the AGRICULTURAL LABORERS' ACCOMMODATION mil, which is based on the Shearers' Accomodation Act, and seeks to provide decent accommodation for agricultural laborers. The Bill also provides for inspection, by an inspector appointed under the Factories' Act, and also contains a clause providing for separate accommodation for Chinese. The measure was generally acclaimed by members. Mr MASSEY criticised the drafting oi the Bill, and stated it only provided for a tent after all. The PREMIER congratulated Mr I hitman on the measure, and stated he intended to support the Bill. Mr FISHER suggested that the elauso [uovidiTig for separate accommodation lor Chinese be eliminated, as if an employer once erected a house, for Chinese lie would be disposed to continue to employ the race. The motion was agreed to on the voices.

The House went Into committee on S'm m 8 WJSECS ACT -amend-

Mr Tanner took the chair. meat° r M ' ' Wd Urfiotl *" 3 amend '

Mr FISHER moved to report progress. He stated that the Bill had already been before the House from 2.30 to midnight on previous occasions, and was only being used as a subterfuge to block two important measures that were next on the Order Paper. The Bills referred to a e the Abolition of Plural Voting an d 1" lour Duty Abolition Bill. He characterised tlie Bill under consideration as an absurd,ty, which the member iu iuige of had abandoned when ife scope b.lt i,IT? i cou -I"" 11? Nelson <listl '^' but had taken it up again for some rea-

Mr MeKcnzie urged that the Bill was the most important oil the Ord?r Paper that day. On a division, the motion was lostbv •iJ votes to 16.

After Mr Symes had ndvocafod Mr •jokes amendment, Mr Fisher mow) that tlio Chnirnwh now leave the chair Mr FLATMAN urged that the Bill having been before tho House twentv hours, should be persevered with, ®n order to forward the business and onable other measures 011 the Order Paper ito come before tho House.

On a division tho motion was lost bv 31 votes to lfl.

Mr H. McKKNZTE protested ngiinst tin- efforts made tn bloel: the 'Bill. In the old times (lie two practices ndont-d In block a. measure were t'i u\'>ve to rrnoijb progress, and that the Chairman leave the chair. It hid been said members wore afraid of the Bills to follow, but ho was not afraid of expressing his views. He intended fo vote attalns'i both of the following Bills. Mr LAITRINSW fairT the Bill had ' "en before Parliament three or fo.ir years, and the member in charge of tho Bill must, realise he had 110 prospect cf carrying the measure. On that, ground he appealed to Mr Mackenzie tn maintain the dignitv of Parliament by withdrawing the Bill from CommWtee, nnd so enable tho House to proceed with other business on the Order Paper. He commended Mr Mackenzie's strnightforwnp'dness in ho intended to vote against the Abolition of Plural Voting and the Abolition of Row Duty

Bills. He (Mr Laurenson) intended lo support both measures. Mr Heke's amendment was lost by 40 to 10.

Mr lIISK.E moved an amendment to exclude the Northern Maori, Bay of Plenjiy and Egmont electorates from the operations of the Bill. The amendment was lost l>v 20 to 14.

Mr STALLWOIITHY moved an amendneut to exclude from the Bill fclic cl?.'.';oratcs of Bay of Islands, Kaipara and lortion of the Egmont electorate, uiuil ;he ratepayers within sneh' district diall have lirs,'v declared by vote on a.

poll taken for the purpose, that they desire to he brought under tho provisions of tho Bill.

Tho Hon. Mr MeGOWAN suggested that the Bill should apply to the who',o colony, but only to operate upon the decision of local bodies on a poll. Mr MASSKY supported this view. Mr McKENZIE agreed to maker the measure permissive as suggested. Subsequently Mr McKenzie decided to proceed with the Bill as it stood. •Mr y.-alhvortliv's amendment was lost. Mr NCI ATA moved a proviso providing that tile Act would not operate in any county road district in the Auckland Land District until a majority of the ratepayers at a poll decide in favor. AJfc midnight • progress was reported, and the Premier moved to adjourn.