PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 29 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph.—l'er Press Association.)

HOUSE OF-REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY'S SITTING,

Wellington, August 28. After midnight the Valuation Department vote was passed unalteied. THE ESTIMATES. The next class taken was the Education Department, total value vote £B3#,Oali. Mr Wilford moved to reduce the item "Inspector-General £725" by fci as indication that a universal school book members spoke in support of intendment. During the discussion the School Journal was severely cnti-

%•' Fowlds asserted that the Journal Jprned successful, and the system 'was by far the cheapest and most efficient thai ci'lid be adopted. He _ad Ua j that so successful had the Jouina that private and high schools had made applications for copies. Beioio \vould have proved itself of such adantise that it could he regarded as supplying the whole reading matter necessary fcr the schools. . Hi- Wilford said he was satisfied the Journal was a good thing. The co ony should pay towards the expenses of pool people in flic purchase of school hooks, as every child bom in the colony, legitimate or illegitimate, was a, n^iowU aß jtr T. Mackenzie advocated the institution of a Council of Education. Mr Fowlds said there was no necessity for members to support the amendment, as he was taking every step to work up to the desired point. The amendment was earned uy u votes to 22. • , Mr Mslier complained of the lack or promotion and inadequate pay of teachers. The result, he said, was that many of the best teachers were leaving the profession. ' Mr T. Mackenzie said the fact was they were unable to get teachers in Otago. Mr Fowlds said the Government was paying 20 per cent', more to teachers than was paid seven years ago. It was impossible to devise any system of promotion and retain the right of boards to select their own teachers. _ , Mr James Allen said he was convinced there was a great deal of waste going on the Technical Department. Ml' Symes, referring to the cadet movement, said it was one of the best movements in the colony, but it was not being carried out on the lines. Teachers who had little knowledge were instructing children, and in some cases wrong movements were taught and good material spoiled. At the item, "Expenses InspectorGeneral of Schools, visit to England and

other countries, £1000," Air Fisher said it was unsatisfactory that details wero not given in the Estimates. It was certainly too much to pay ior an inspector s "trip Home." Mr l'owlds said Mr Hogben's voyage was not a "trip Home." The inspector was asked to take the trip, and empowered to procure publications which would be of value to the colony. He was granted 30s a day while travelling on land and 2s Gd or 5s while on sea. Mr Greenslade vigorously protested against this appalling waste of .public money, lie moved as a protest that file sum should lie reduced by £5. Mr Okey hoped the committee would carry the amendment in order to show the Government that members were opposed to this waste of money whilst children in the back blocks could not get a room to read and write in. Mr Fowlds said the visit of the inspector would prove beneficial to the educational work of the colony and would probably be the means of saving far more than the cost of tHe trip in improved educational methods. Mr Poland protested against the sending Home of the inspector. Mr Laurenson said it was unfortunate that the Government had not differentiated between what was travelling allowance and what was for the purchase of the apparatus. Mr Symes thought it was time to stop the practice of sending high-sal-aried oilieials Horn;', lie advocated sending younger men, when it was necessary to send anyone, on these visits.

On division the amendment was negatived by 10 to 10. The remaining sections of the education vole were passed unaltered. The total vote was passed at 7.5 a.m. The vote, "Scenery Preservation," £12,250," was passed unaltered. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 7.40 a.m.' ' LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28. Wellington, August: 23. The Council met at 2.30. The St. Andrew's Cfturch (Wellington) Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed. The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 3, was put through the lirst and second readings and committee stages. On the question for the third reading, the Hon. Mr Jenkinson pointed out that, while the railway workshops were overtaxed, many private foundries were comparatively idle, and he urged the Government to place some of its rolling stock work witli these establishments, and thus, by the distributions of work, give employment to many men now not fully employed.

The Hon. Mr Luke hoped the Government would look into the suggestion made by Mr Jenkinson.

Tlie Attorney-General, in reply, said the question raised was one he was not competent to give an opinion upon, but he was quite sure a business nian like Sir Joseph Ward was acting in the best interests of the department. The. discussion, however, would bring the matter prominently before the Minister for .Railways.

Tlie third reading was agreed to. The lnvercargill Public Sites A-t Amendment Bill, and Auckland Hospital Acts Amendment Bill were put through committee and passed. The Nelson Institute Bill (T. Kelly), and Waipukurau County Bill (W.Sniith) was read a second time.

The Attorney-General moved the' second reading of the Coal Mines Bill (passed by the House). the Hon. Mr Thompson moved that the Bill be read pro forma, and referred to the Mines Committee. This was agreed to.

The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, limiting the registration of deeds to the four chief cities of the colony, was reported from committee unamended, and passed. The Foreign Tribunals Evidence Bill was also passed, and the Council adjourned at 4,5.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill (Miller) and Factories Act Amendment Bill (Millar) were read a first time. In reply to questions, Ministers stated that it was not intended to hand over control of the State Fire Insurance JJepartinent to a private company; that the rep- ft of the commission 'w'hich heard appeals from the decision of tlrewcra Commission would be ready to lay on the table of the House this week; that if the cost is not too great, the Government will autuorlse the printing in book form of papers contained in the transactions of the New Zealand Institute dealing with matters affecting the native race; that if opportunity offers a Bill will be submitted this 'session dealing with native land agents or attorneys; that arrangements have been made for the supply of copies of the reports of the International Housing Congress; that until the Land Bill has been placed on the Statute Book, the Government do not deem it advisable to interfere with public selection on existing tenures; that capitation is paid to nine classes in swimming, but it is not the function of the Government to provide instructors. The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, from the Council, was read a first time VJ'he Foreign Tribunals Evidence Bill, from the Council, was read a second time. THE TARIFF. The House went into committee on ways and means. According to the Premier's promise to vMibmit fresh resolutions dealing with the tariff, the Premier explained that turbine pumps had been placed en tae free list; cartridge rMM increased from Is to Is 3d per hundred; jcocoa butter placed on the free list; concentrators for mining machinery and analyno dyos taken from the ptoferon-

tial list, and farinaceous foods, for infanta, aud medicated foods had been placed on. the free list. He urged that the resolutions should lie put I through .committee of ways and means ■without delay.

Mr Aitken moved an amendment that

tlie duty on British paper-hangings be 15 per cent., and foreign paper-hangings 23 per cent., and that all bruslnvare be free, except whitewash, paper-hangers, paste, glue aud limewash brushes, on | which a duty of 20 per cent, should be

levied. The chairman ruled the amendment out of order,

Tlie House adjourned at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed nt 7.30. At class 7, leather and manufacturers of leather, Mr Ileke moved to strike out the item "men's boots ami shoes above sizo 5, Is (id per pair and 15 per cent, ad valorem."

Mr Millar hoped the amendment would not be carried, as it would mean the introduction of cheap, shoddy Articles into the colony. Not a single labor organisation in the colony had opppsed the proposed duty. Mr Malcolm in supporting the amendment, said it was a fact that shoddy articles were being manufactured in the colony, and if it was intended to protect the workers, he suggested that the

nportation of shoddy should be prol ited altogether.

Mr Millar: You cannot do it.

Mr Hanan said the effect of the amendment, if applied generally, would be that the colony would procure its manufactured articles from cheap labor countries, and w.ould close down all the colony's industries, and what was to become of our workers. He opposed the amendment, as wo should support our own industries. Mr T. McKenzie said if we framed a

tariff to keep out cheap boots, colonial manufacturers would supply good boots The tariff was a step in the right direction, but if the manufacturers of the

colony did not afterwards manufacture a good article for colonial use, he would support the removal of the duty.

The Premier reminded the House that in discussing the items on the resolutions, tliey were only doing wlwt would be done again in Committee on the Bill iteslf, which was the proper time to move amendments. He stated that for some time past wholesale and retail importers had imported shoddy of the worst kind, which had been sold pt

high prices. Many of the boots and shoes imported, whilst apparently of leather, were only leather on the out-

side, and immediately they got below the surface it was discovered that there

was nothing but brown paper. Owing to this class of goods, the industries of New Zealand had been kept bick. Proceeding, lie said this country had never adopted an extreme policy of either ■protection or free trade. Mr Massey did not agree with the Premier, as the time occupied in discussing the tariff in committee of ways and means would save much time when they got into Committee on the Tiill itself. He asertesd that quite as much shoddy was manufactured within the colony as was imported. Mr Millar said the object was to stop the importation of boots invoiced at ?s and 3s per pair, on which the retailer made an enormous profit. If a living wage was paid, no matter what michinery was used, boots could not lie made at such a price, and the colonial worker should be protected from such competition.

Mr Helce urged that if the desire was to stop the importation of such boots, the Government should prohibit them entering the colony altogether. The

tariff would benefit the few engaged in the trade, but would not grotty benefit the wearer of boots- Mr Heke withdrew the amendment. Mr Malcolm moved an amendment to I reduce the duty to 22y» per cent. He argiicd that nothing would add to the increase of employment of workers in the cities so much as a revenue tariff. He was as much opposed to shoddy ;is any man, and would be pleased to «ee the Government make it a criminal offence to sell shoddy in the colony. Mr T. Mackenzie said it had been found difficult to define shoddy, and manufacturers had failed to give a definition when asked.

On a division, Mr Malcolm's ameni ment was negatived by 40 to 21.

Mr Herries moved an amendment to strike out engines and machines for mining purposes from the list of articles paying 5 per cent. Mr Millar said he hoped the amendment would not die agreed to, as every other industry using michincrv contributed something towards the revenue, und it was only fair that the. mining industry, which received such large support from the consolidated revenue, should pay something towards the revenue.

The Hon Mr Guinness said ho wis surprised that the Government should put a duty on machinery, which was necessary for the development of the gold and coal mining industries. He urged that mining machinery should be admitted free.

Messrs Bennett, Colvin, Poland, and Seddon supported the amendment. Mr Millar said the mining industry was well able to pay the piltry amouut required under the tariff. • Mr W. Fraser, in opposing the amendment, said he could not understand why hitherto, the mining industry had been able to get its machinery into the colony free of duty.

Mr Mander, whilst believing in granting protection to articles that could be manufactured in the colony, thought the duty proposed on mining machine':)* a suitable one, and would support the Government on this occasion.

On a division, the amendment was negatived by 39 to 23. Mr Okey moved an amendment to place oil refining and boring machine,-y on the free list.

The amendment was negatived bv 40 to 23-

Mr .Tas. Allen moved an amendment to reduce the duty on electrical machifrom 10 to 5 per cent. He gave ns his reasons that all other machinery was placed under the 5 per cent, duty, and added that electrical machinery was not being made in the colony. Mr Millar stated a firm in Christchurch was manufacturing electrical appliances. ITe explained that a number of electrical articles were on the freei list.

The amendment was negatived by JO to 21.

(Left sitting.)'