PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 90, 6 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1911. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The following Bills came through their final stages undiscussed:—Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Bill, Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill, Greytown Town Lands and Hospital Lands Leasing Bill, Oamaru Municipal Exchange and Market Reserve Leasing Bill. Waikowhai Park Bill, Papakio Water-race District Validation Bill, and Sir Donald McLean Memorial Park Bill.

The Attorney-General, in moving the committal of the Patents Designs and Trade Marks Bill, said he proposed to insert some consequential amendments. There was an important omission which exposed a person who had • already entered into a contract to the risk of having the contract cancelled without any claim for compensation. That would be remedied. There was really nothing in the Bill which was not already in operation in England and the Commonwealth. In committee the proposed provision was inserted. A further amendment was also inserted to prevent a patent being used by the patentee to enforce other goods upon a person with whom he had agreement for lease or license of this patent. The Hon. Samuel secured the insertion of a new clause, having for its object the simplification of procedure in connection with the taking out of patents in foreign countries. It compels a patent agent to render a detailed bill of costs to the,- patentee before demanding payment. The Bill was reported as amended, and the House rose until Friday week.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ALL-NIGHT SITTING. Wellington, Thursday. After midnight Mr. Buchanan urged lire necessity for the training of agricultural students. After a minor discussion the tota] vote for the class was passed. At 12.30 Mr. Massey suggested that progress should he reported. | The Acting-Premier said the House should go on with the important business of the country. They had got past the talking stage and were prepared to do some business, which was the real concern of the country. Mr. Massey thereupon moved to report progress, which • was defeated by 32 to 10. The Education vote, of £1,017,027, was then considered. Mr. Guthrie urged an increase of the amount for capitation. The l&s provided was inadequate. Members generally complained that the amount provided' for school committees was inadequate. The Minister said it was impossible to make any addition to the capitation I grant. Over £1,000,000 was provided [ for education purposes, and that sum could not bo exceeded. \

Mr. Allen was of opinion that the amount of £BOOO for text books would be better utilised in conveying children to school.

After 2 o'clock the Minister stated thiait a Bill had been prepared affording teachers the right of appeal in the matter of transfers.

A motion by Mr. Wright in favor of I additional leaipitation was lost by 21 to 17. ' The same member wanted a reform in the system of election of school committees. The discussion was carried an ,tdll t o'clock, when the amendment wad lost by 28 to 12. In reply to compla'nts that students' training colleges were not taking up science subjects, the Minister said the syllabus was being revised this year.

Ait 4.15 Sir James Carroll suggested adjourning the Estimates till 2.30 p.m., •but as this was not entertained the committee continued till the whole vote \v\*\ passed, and the House did not rise till 5 a.m. Wellington. Last Night. Mr. Colvin resumed the chair in committee at 2.30 p.m. to further consider the Estimates. Mr. Massey took exception to the way in which the business of the country was being done. It was proposed to go on with the Estimates on the last Thursday allowed for local Bills. Sir Jas. Carroll gave his assurance that a day would be set apart next week for local bills., Class 13, Department »f Lands and Survey, £251,888, was then taken. Mr. Herdman moved a reduction of the first item by £5, as an indication that the Government should give effect to the recommendation of the Lands Committee on the petition of Hugh McLean, in connection with the leasing of certain lands at Wairiki. The amendment was negatived by 31 to S4. Mr. Malcolm then moved to reduce the item by £2, as a protest that the present ballot system for lands was unsatisfactory, and that a more equitable system was necessary. At the present time, he contended, the ballot was overcrowded by persons not desirous of settling on the land. The Hon. D. Buddo said the land settlement system was a credit to the Government, and he instanced the area of ;land opened last year. More land had; he declared, been opened here during the same period than in New South ; Wales. Mr. Pearce favored a deferred payment system, with examination and selection for the disposition of lands. The ballot system was not working as it should. People were sick of it. Mr. Newman could not support the amendment, as nothing had been suggested as a substitute for the ballot system. Mr. Okey m" : utained that the optioa system was better than the ballot. Men wasted years at the ballot. Large landowners got no sympathy from the Opposition.

Mr. Ross said the amendment was designed simply to cloud the issue and fet division lists for use on the platform, 'he Farmers' Union, which was the mouthpiece of the Opposition, had de-. clared itself against limitation of area. Mr. Malcolm said his amendment was directed against land sharks, land-grab-gers and gamblers who demanded huge sums as goodwill from genuine farmers. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Malcolm's amendment to reduce the vote was lost by 30 to 12. Mr. Xosworthy moved a reduction of the item of £j(K> for the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Canterbury, as an indication of dissatisfaction of the way in which the Canterbury runs were disposed of.—The amendment was lost by 36 to 24. Mr. Hemes urged that the salaries paid to surveyors were not sufficient to keep our surveyors in the .Dominion. He believed that if Crown and native land was cut up on a proper scale of pay there would be no need for young surveyors to leave New Zealand. The Minister said there had been no reduction of rates paid to surveyors. Sir ,Tas. Carroll mentioned that at the present time 702,000 acres of native land were under survey. Mr. Massey said he was disappointed to find that "only £877 had been spent by the Crown last year out of the £2OOO voted for the purpose of dealing with noxious weeds. Mr. Buddo said he was advised that the Department had spent £llßs in that direction. Dealing with the subsidy of £7OO to | a Wanganui steamship company for assistance to settlers in freights and fares, Mr. Hogg said the company should be made to submit a scale before any further subsidy was paid. Mr. Smith characterised the methods of the firm as Nothing short of scandalous. Unless stores were purchased from the company there was no chance of getting them conveyed up the river. Mr. Massey said he had received a tremendous number of complaints concerning the freights and fares charged by the company. A definite arrangement should be made with the firm for the issue of a scale of rates before any further subsidy was paid, Mr. Smith moved a reduction of the item by £1 as am indication of the indignation of settlers at the treatment they had received.

I The Hon. D. Buddo said the service ( up the river was a very costly matter. . The draught of steamers was only two feet, and at certain times of 'the' year it was impossible for them to carry anything but passengers. Representations would be made to the Postal and 1 Lands Departments to endeavor to secure the | issue of a scale <rf fares. Mr. McLaren said the subsidies paid would have bought one or two steamers. The State should have a steamer on the river. The company ait present ■runninothe service had a monopoly. ,1 Mr. Luke said the subsidised steamers should 'be purely cargo carriers. The Hon. D. Buddo gave an assurance that the Government would go into the matter with a view to helping the settlers. Mr. Smith's amendment was carried. by 3(i to 15, and the item was reduced.