PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 264, 15 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegrapn.— Pre»» Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Council this afternoon, tUc Death Duties BUI and Naval Defence BiU were put through their final n'agcs. The Aitorney-Gencral moved the second i-ading of the Industrial Srlnuls Amendment Bill, which, he explain* I. pro«dcs for a period of detention it tour years beyond the age of 21 where, w the opinion of the Minister, an inmate of a school is morally degenerate or 1S otherwise in the public interest, not a fit person to be free from contH. Amendments of the principal Act were also includes, providing that a Magistrate might make an ordet up to 10s tfoiree of a child committed to an ii. austnai school.

Jhe Hon?. MoGowan, Jenkinson and baraiiCT fook exception to the detention provision, which was an infringement o< the 'iwrty <f ,h(, subject, and the lat" ter asked tha! at least 24 hours mi-Hit be given to enable members to consider the provisions of (Tie Bill. The Hon. Luke supported the Bill ». D-i, Ho , n " Cullan generally approved the Bill, hut thoueht power should iie given to remove degenerates to lunatic asylums.

The Minister, i n reply to those who objected to the Bill on the ground of interference with the liberty of the subii ' 5?,! he ""JPctors were too fanciful. There was the liberty of the community, the life and health of the con,niiißity to be considered. The object « the Bill was to extend moral treatment beyond the age of 21; The second reading was agreed to A mimber of local Bills from the House were read a second time and the Itunol adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE RAILWAY SERVICE. In the House in the afternoon, Mr. Hogan, chairwan of the Railways Committee, reporting on 74 petitions prayin» that official recognition be granted to the Engine-drivers' and Firemen's So cicty, said the committee had no recommendation to make. This conclusion was arrived at after consideration of the facts, which showed that firemen and cleaners had been equally well represented by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and had due prominence given to their interests; that firemen and drivers could obtain all re-1 forms they demanded by re-formin" the existing organisation, and that it" was desirable that in making representations to the Minister in connection with the railway service one Society should represent the men.

Mr. Taylor (Christehurch) said en-gine-drivers and firemen had not receiv. Ed the attention from the existing Society which they were entitled to, and consequently they were asking for a separate organisation. At the time when they requested the Minister to grant permission to form a new Society, Mr. Millar said .when the membership a*, tained on« thousand, he would conc.vle the demanci. At the present time, the Engine-driers' Society had a membership of IliO out of a total of 1400 engaged ih Ttoat bVanch of the service. This fact in itself showed there must be good ground for the claims of the men.

Mr. Lukff-said' he could not agree with the remarks of Mr. Taylor. The inter eats of the general public had to be considered as wejl as those of the men. Separate societies would create difficulties. If the concession asked for by the drivers were granted, it would lead to similar demands from other sections of the Department.

Mr. Malcolm moved that the report he referred back to the committee for further consideration. He held that recognition of the iicw society would make for harmony in the service".

After further discussion, Mr. Mil'ar said he had endeavored to keep clear of one side or-thp nfher in the dispute. The Amalgamated Society had done good work for the railway' servants. Under the Arbitration Bill to hebrought down, the men would have an opportunity ofj coming under the Act. TTe had no doubt that if the new society were recognised, further secession* jfririi the ordinal Wnlv would he made, (in no occasion had rh? Amalgamated Society amironehen' him without.referring to matters -affecting drivers. He was not taking, the report of the committee as final, anf) would nrefer the matter to stand overj. He believed the drivers -'■♦K'n separate representation without splitting up the society, ire asked Mr. Malcolm to withdraw ihe amendment, on the understanding that the cnr.inittee's report was not final. Thw ".ut-se was a.lonted, and the report a-rived to. The House rose at 5.30.

The evening sitting was devoted to the consideration of th/> Defence Bill (reported elsewhere).