PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 254, 2 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1. i " LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL : By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the 'Legislative Council in the afternoon, the Wanganui Roman Catholic Lands Bill was read a third time ana 1 passed. The Standing Orders were suspendea for the rest of the session, to enable local bills to be passed in all their stages at one sitting. Hon. Wigram moved for a return thawing details of all revenue from passenger and goods traffic, rent of sidings and all other sources, on the Auckland-

KJnehunga, Christchureh-Lyttelton, Dun-Cdin-Port Chalmers, and lnvercargillBluff railways, and details' of the expenditure thereon. The Attorney-General opposed the motion on the ground of the great expense It would involve in the scrutiny oi millions oi way-bills. The motion was rejected.

The following local bills were passed through all their stages:—Ellesmere Domain Board Empowering, Borough oj Bouth iDonedin Empowering Amendment, IWaimairi County, Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment. The Attoruey-<3eneral moved the second reading of the Hospitals and Chantable Institutions Bill from the House, Explaining at length its' provisions. Hon. Jenkinson welcomed the Bill, but indicated it was necessary to expect a Bomber of amendments, which should be introduced in committee. The debate was adjourned till 7.30, and the Council lose.

In the Legislative Council in the evening the debate on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was resum-

Hon. Jenkinson, who dealt largely With the training and hours of nurses, laid the system of training should be practical and the hours of nurses, especially probationers, should he reduced. Hon. Samuel expressed approval of the aim of bringing hospitals and charitable institutions under one control. The Government had acted wisely in framing a BUI in that direction. He did not approve of the proposed provision for the election of hoards. He thought representatives of hospital and charitable aid boards should be elected, Hat present, by the local bodies. Hon. oamuel proceeded to set out a number tt committee objections to the provisions of the Bill.

i Son. Anstey adversely criticised the provisions {or the election of representatives to the boards. There was a departure (ram the true principles of representation in them. The system of election proposed would not result in the return of the best men. Some of the proIftoions were really absurd. The weaknesses. of the Bill were in the centralisation It provided for and that it left the ■nbaidy entirely at the gweet will of the Minister, which precluded an assured flnance.

Ron. Jones approved of the clause restricting t£e hours of nurses' work to 88, holding that an eight-hour day was long enough.' , Hon. Beehan gave general approval to the Bill, but the clause relating to friendly societies would have" to he amended.

Hon. Dr. Collins heartily approved cf ihe principle of the Bill, in the amallor hospitals it was unreasonable to supjiose that the hours of nurses could be ligidly fixed, though they could be regulated in the large institutions. The Hons. Marshall and Laughnan generally approved of the Bill. Hon. Paul approved of the principle of the Bill, but the Bill was so important that reference to a select com-, mittee was essential. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In the House of Representatives in the afternoon, replying to questions, Ministers stated that the necessary apparatus for giving efficient and permanent light at Jackson's Head, Cook Strait, hag been procured, and will be erected on the beacon as soon as the strong winds prevailing there at the present time cease. i .■•

That the Minister of Railways nas power under the Act to Teview the decisions of the Railway Appeal Board and exercise the right of veto in cases where circumstances warrant it, and cannot gee his way to adopt the suggestion that before exercising the veto he should notify give him. the right of appearing before the Minister to state reasons for or against the veto.

That no instructions have been given for the reduction of wages of co-opera-tive workmen employed on the State conl railway extension or elsewhere. That tliere would be no legislation prohibiting the sale of chaff or seed inlested with noxious weed seed, but next session it is proposed to deal with the purity and quality of seeds bought or sold. MINING WATER POWEh. The Mines Committee, reporting on various petitions regarding the charge ot rent for utilisation of water-power, recommended that the request that power to grant licenses be vested in the warden and be referred to the Government for consideration.

Mr. Taylor urged that if water-power •were disposed of by lease the Government should reserve the right of resumption. He strongly urged the Minister to remain firm in his attitude. Mr. Massey moved as an amendment that water-power conditions under the Public Works Amendment Act, 1908, [gazetted on 4th June, 1909, be referra to the Goldfields Committee for consideration, with a view to amendment. He had no objection to the State's rights being protected in connection with the water-power of the dominion. The matter was one, not merely of local, but of great national importance. Mr. McKenzie, replying to Mr. Massey, Said that at the present time the charge per annum per horse-power was 3s; formerly it had been £l. A syndicate applying for water-power rights on the West Coast had taken up 200 acres oi land, which they were holding. The Land Act should be amended, so as to I • prevent speculators holding land with-1 flut using it. He was not prepared to Sacrifice the most valuable asset in the (country, an asset which, he believed, mould uIC ' ' !'" more valuable than the railw.n . ndicates of London capitalists. Mr. Massey's amendment was lost by i! 3 to 22, and it was resolved that the report be laid on the table. .The House then rose.

In the House in the evening the Shipping an<! Seamen's Act was further conefdered in committee.

On the motion of Mr. Millar a nw Hit-clause (! was added to clause 42, making the *c ■■>« "owner" include the charterer to .vhom th? ship demised, also to delete the last two lines of clause 45, which provided that in assessing Tie norse-powcr, account should 'uC itaken of the power if auxiliary engines, ■which was developed by steam taken from the main boilers. Clause 40 was amended by substituting 20 tons for 15 in provision for the regulation of shins built in New Zealand.

A. division was taken on a motion that clause 49 be-passed, several members objecting ?b ft as unnecessary, the division resulting in its retention by four (rote*. Clause SQ was amended so as to ma'-cc ! the clause applicable t n intercolonial and foreign-going shins in regard to the (hrplnent of wool, flax, tow, skins anil other combustible soods, also to provide C2? is a fine for the breach of the lcgulatio.ns in place of £5.