PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 198, 30 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—l'ress Association. Wellington, Last Xighc. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The report of the managers appointed to confer with the committee of the House of Representatives on the Council's amendment to the Dentists Bill was presented by Dr. Findlay, and adopted. A message was received fro.m the House, notifying its acceptance of the Council's amendment in the Rating Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor's message. The amendments were agreed to. The Governor's amendments to the Slaughtering and Inspection Act were agreed to. A message was received from the House disagreeing with the amendments made by the Council in the Land for Settlement Finance Bill. On the motion of Dr. Findlay, it was decided that the Council should insist on its amendments, and a committee was set up to confer Avith the committee of the House.

The following Bills were read a first time:—Thermal Springs District, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, Factories, Tramways, and Stamp Duties. Dr. Findlay moved the second reading of the Public Works Amendment Bill, the provisions of which he briefly explained. ,

Hon. Mr. Jenkinson counselled caution in regard to the State's intervention in water power schemes. Hon. R. A. Loughman supported the Bill. The Government had obtained the fullest information on the subject, and he believed that the proposed water power schemes were sound ones.

The Bill was read a second time.

The second reading of the Wellington City Milk Supply Bill was moved by Hon. Mr. Jenkinson.

Hon. Mr. Collins believed the people of Wellington would derive great benefit from the provisions of the Bill if the concluding clause was deleted.

After further discussion, Hon. Mr. Jenkinson agreed to delete the final clause of the Bill. The Council went into committee. The Public Works Amendment Bill was reported unamended.

In the Wellington Milk Supply Bill an amendment was added giving inspectors power to inspect premises without as well as within the city. The Wellington Harbor Empowering Bill was passed through committee.

The following Bills were read a second time and passed:—

The Public Works Amendment, Wellington City Milk Supply, Wellington Harbor Board Empowering, and Kaiteke County. The Greymouth Harbor Board Loans Consolidation Bill was committed, and progress was reported. In the Legislative Council this evening the amendments made by the Governor in the Land for Settlement Finarfce Bill were endorsed.

The Factories Amendment Bill, Thermal Springs, Industrial and Conciliation Amendment, Factories Amendment, and Stamp Duties Bills were put through their final stages. Dr. Findlay moved the second reading of the Tramways Bill.

The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose. '

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wellington, Tuesday,

After midnight the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill was reported with amendments; the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was passed through committee unamended; the Factories Bill was reported with amendments; the Tramways Amendment Bill was taken in committee..

At clause 1, Mr. Wilford moved as an amendment that the Bill should only apply to Auckland, which was defeated on the voices.

Replying to Mr. T. E. Taylor, the Minister said he was prepared to take a division on each clause of the Bill and abide by the judgment of the 'House. In the House after 2 o'clock, during the discusion on the Tramways Bill the Minister promised to give effect to the suggestion of Mr. Wilford that one member of the board of examiners should be an electrical engineer in charge of a tramway concern. Several ineffectual attempts to amend clause 3 having failed, Mr. Allen moved to report progress. 'This was also lost. A proposal to limit the inspection ot carriages to those owned by private companies was rejected by 29 to 14. The Minister agreed to insert a provision makin'g the maximum carrying capacity of a car 75 per cent, over the seating accommodation. ■Mr. Wilford protested strongly against the regulations overriding an Order-in-Council. It was a monstrous thing for the Minister to take power to override the order under which a council had borrowed £400,000.

An amendment was moved that the clause should not affect any Order-in-Council already in force. This was lost by' 27 to 13, and the clause passed. A new clause was added enabling minimum fare cars to be run providing the fare does not exceed the aggregate of the fares for the whole journey. The Bill was finally passed by 32 to 9. The Stamp Duties, Thermal Springs, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration and Factories Amendment Bills passed their final stages.

The House rose at' 7.6 a.m. till 7.30 p.m.

The House met at 7.30 p.m. The House went into committee on the Coal Mines Amendment Bill.

A new clause was moved by Mr. Guinness, providing that the quantity of air required by the principal Act shall sweep undiminished along airways through the working face where men are employed.

Hon. R. McKenzie said he would be pleased to accept the amendment if it were practicable, but experiments had proved that it was impossible to carry the proposed method of ventilation into practice. Mr. Guinness replied that he had been informed by miners that if a larger quantity of air than 150 cubic feet per person was required by the Act were forced through the mine this would meet the difficulty. He suggested that the amendment should be given a trial. Hon. R. McKenzie said the question could very well stand over till the Royal Commission appointed to deal with ventilation in mines had reported, and the amendment was rejected by 38 to 31. Mr. Guinness moved a new clause, amending sec 77 of the principal Act by empowering the Minister to prescribe rules and regulations in regard to sanitary arrangements' dressing and changing rooms, and bath houses. On a division the amendment was carried by 41 to 24.

The Minister moved to report progress, which was opposed by Mr. T. E. Taylor, who emphasised the necessity for reform in the sanitary condition ol mines, which were very unsatisfactory. The Minister said he desired to consider the clause, and promised that he would reintroduce the Bill.

Mr. Poland said the sanitary conveniences asked for by Mr. Guinness were provided on the goldfields in his district, and were absolutely necessary. He strongly urged the Minister to accept the clause just passed, which was not mandatory,!but only gave the Minister power to issue regulations controlling sanitation in mines.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Minister waa

.entitled to have consider. Ifce new clause. '"*'>",' l '."-"*» Mr. Guinness said lie would accept the assurance of the Minister, and support the motion to report progress. Eventually it was agreed to report progress. .* '■ The Mining Amendment Bill was taken ~*. in committee. * ;*'|H Clause 7, providing that mines shall.-; be controlled by a manager, and imposing a penalty for a breach of the law, was struck out, and a clause inserted providing that the manager of a mine where more than twelve men are employed above or six below the ground shall be the holder of a mine manager's certificate.