PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 250, 27 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

i_ lEGISLATIVE COUNCIL I FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26. by Telegraph.- f>»u Association. , Wellington, Last Night. • In the Legislative Council this afterloon, on the motion of the Hon. Collins, • select committee was appointed to enquire into the matter of the registration of births and deaths and to report to the Council on the same. The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES. In the House this afternoon, on a _ notion by Mr. Hogan that the report of the Railways Committee on the petition lor compassionate allowance by an Auckland railwayman who had been injured in the execution of his duties be laid' on the table, Mr. Glover moved that the report be referred back to the Committee for re-consideration. Mesrs Baume, Poland, Poole and Bollard supported the amendment, and Mr. Buick opposed. Mr. McLaren said there was need for Bn independent tribunal to deal with individual cases of this kind. He had OTperiences of cases where injured men had been willing to accept small Inoip Bums as compensation for injuries, JWlffle they were entitled to much larger •mounts.

The Hon. Mr. Millar declared if these claims for compassionate allowances Over and above compensation were to continue, he would ask the House to strike out the clause proviaing for payment in k lump sum. The petitioner had been treated very well and received what he Would have been entitled to had he been Jn private employment. H the Department were to be turned into a charitable Institution, then the sooner the country Imew it the better. Mr. Hogan said while he had every Sympathy for the petitioner, the committee had to be guided hy law in the matter. Petitioner had two options offered to him—to accept £3OO as the full amount, of compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act, or to ac- | eept a weeklj payment of 17s under the Wperannuation scheme. He chose the former, but having done so had no further legal claim. The case showed the necessity for the setting up of a Comruionate Allowance Committee, which boped would be now established. Mr. Taylor said it was remarkable Bow cheap life was held. The Government thought nothing of spending '£lo,ooo on a road to the Governor's residence, but could not grant more thin T£3oo to a maimed worker. This showed that our standards of life were false tnd artificial. He pointed out that petitioner had an extra claim; in fact, that 08 had been injured while performing nn #ct of "bravery. The amendment whs negatived on th» TOiees.

THE STRIKE OF THE STATE MINERS. Mr. Wilford asked what steps the Minister intended to take in regard to the strike of 400 men at the State coal mine at Port Elizabeth, and if the Government would take the House into its confidence as regards the steps to he taken to bring about harmony. On the suggestion of the Premier, Mr. jWilford gave notice to ask the question next sitting day, ae the Minister of Mines was not in possession of the documents relating to the position of affairs. VARIOUS BILLS. The Shops and Offices and Factories Amendment Bills were read a second time pro forma and : referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Coal Mines Amendment and Mining Amendment Bills were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Mines Committee. STATE GUARANTEE ADVANCES i BILL.

Sir Joseph Ward moved to re-commit the State Guaranteed Advances Bill for the purpose of re-coneidering clause 70. Messrs Sidey, Herries, Buchanan and Allen objected to the motion, on the pound that no intimation had bean given as to the reason why the clause should be re-considered. , Mr..Malcolm moved as an amendment .that clause 68 be reconsidered in addition to clause 70, so that the Home should have an opportunity to amend .the former clause, with a view to definitely providing what rate of interest local bodies have (o nay. Mr. Wright scrawled' the amendment, which was being discussed when the House rose at 5.;t0 p.m. The Premier moved to recommit theBill for the purpose of re-considering clause 72 not 70. This is the clause on which Mr. Sidey°s amendment was car ried last night addiinr the following words: "And the provisions of section 25 .of the Local TSo<l : o- Loans Amendment Act, 1908, shall Only apply in the rase of loans to local authorities guarunteed by the Government under such Jast mentioned Act." The effect of the amendment is that the provision as to sinking funds heing invested in the Public Trustee instead of heing under tV wntrol of sinking fund commissioners «hall only apply to loans guaranteed by the Government under the Act of WAS. In the Home in the evening the division on Mr. Malcolm's amendment resulted in its defeat bv 2fl to 24. The motion to recommit the Bill was carried by 31 to 26. Tn elans? 72, Si r Joseph Ward moved that all words after "Act." be omitted, thus deleting Mr. Sidey's previous amendment. After a great deal of discussion lit Premier's motion was lost bv 27 to 25. The following is the division list on Sir Joseph Ward's motion:—For the motion (25): Buddo, Carroll. Colvin. Davy. Billon, T. Duncan, Ell, Fisher, Fowldsj Graham, Hogan, Hosg, Laurenson, Lawry, R. McKenzie, Millar, Parata, Poland, Reed, Ross. Smith, Stallworthy, Ward. Witty, Wright. Against the motion (27): Allen, AnTJerson, Arnold, Baume, Bollard, Buchanan. Bnick. Buxton, Dive. Glover, Guthrie, TTardv. Herdman. Ferries, Hine. Luke, McLaren, Malcolm. Mander, Newman, Nosworthv, Okev. Phillips, Poole, Scott. Sidey, G. M. Thomson. Sir Joseph Ward moved that consideration of tile report be deferred until next day. This was carried. HOSPITAL BILL.

The Hospital Bill was read a third lime and passed. LANT> SETTLEMENT FINANCE ULL. The P. ■•'• '-ed the second readfag Of the La..: .cttlement Finance Bill, outlining the provisions of the measure, .which, he said, would render large areas of land in both Islands available for cutting up into tree-hold farms for individual occupation on as easv terms as it wa« possible to grant. The Bill contained the ncc<snrv safeguards for protecting interests of members of purchasing tr-V" :■■■"' 'lso those of vendors of land. >'-' ■■ '■" <he publicity provided for here was little possibility ot excessive nriees l>cin» given foy land fcoiisht under this measure. Sir Joseph Ward was still speaking at midnight.