PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 12 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 11. j By Telegraph—Press Association. Wollngton, Last Night. The House met at 2.30. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the further amending of regulations under the Civil Service Officers Guarantee Act is now under consideration, and the Minister in charge sees no reason why the, scale of contribution towards defalcations should stop at any salary. The Government was very desirious of encouraging horse-breeding on proper iines. It is, however, probable that any monetary assistance that may be given could with greater advantage to settlers generally ibe devoted to establishing a system of subsidies for approved sound stallions on lines similar to those upon which the King's premiums are granted at II•mo. The whole matter was now being considered by the Government. In .regard to the question as to whether the Government will amend the Public Service Act so as to increase the annuity of widows under the Teachers' scheme from £lB to £2ti per annum, the matter will receive consideration when the actuarial investigation now being made is, completed. Much depends upon the general position of the fund as to whether any concessions can be made. The Minister's attention had been drawn to articles in the Dunedin Stai of September Hi, on the subject of gambling in chocolates by children, and considers it desirable that children ' should, if possible, be prevented from indulging in a practice of the kind referred to.

In reference to the statement by Mr. Keefer, president of the Tairawhiti Land Board, that he resigned because of interference and dictation from the head of 'the Department in the administration of his official duties which he resented, the Minister (Sir James Carroll) said there had been 110 interference or dicta-

tion bj r the Department of Native Affairs in respect of the performance of any judicial duties by the president ol the .board. The decision in the case of Sherwood v. New Zealand Shipping Co., in which the court held that the widow of the man killed while in the employ of the company, was not a. dependent under the Act. through being separated from her husband, although she had a claim for maintenance against him, had been noted, and the Minister was consulting the Crown law officers on the subject, with a -view, if possible, to giving any persons likely to be similarly affected the protection of the Act. The 'afternoon was occupied in discussing the answers given by Ministers to questions. The Hon. .T. A. Millar, speaking of

workers' homes, said that wherever land was obtainable at a reasonable price, the Department was acquiring ii for workmen's homes, but the difficulty was to get the land at a reasonable price. EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30. On the motion of the Premier, it was resolved that oil and after Monday next the House will meet on Mondays for Government business. 4 -Sir Joseph Ward promised to give a statement of the business proposed on Friday. Thei Public Works Statement will be delivered on Monday afternoon. Sir Joseph Ward saw no reason why the session .should not on Friday week if members would co-operate. , Hie Premier moved that the House approve of the proposal of the Pacific Cable Board to lay a cable between New Zealand and Australia direct. He explained that the scheme was for a cable between Auckland and Sydney; the headquarters being removed in each case to the city telegraph stations, with the result that retransmissions at each end would be avoided. The undertaking was estimated to cost £>175,000, and a direct cable must, he said, be provided if the present 'business was to be increased or even maintained. The saving by direct service would be £BO.OOO per year, in aflfliti»n to expediting the service. Sir Joseph Ward advocated the provision of a nationalised cable across the Atlantic between England and Canada. He bad submitted this proposal at the last Imperial Conference. He was persuaded that it would be incomparably, better to have an independent cable. The motiion was carried on the voices. Referring to .the Public Classification Scheme, Sir Joseph Ward said that it was merely laid on the table for the information of members and others. It had no force of law. It had to be submitted to the Governor and, if approved by him, published in the Gazette. Any servant not satisfied might appeal to the Board for reconsideration of his classification, and all appeals must be dealt with before the scheme would be brought into operation by resolution of the House. It was impossible for the scheme to come into operation this year.

The Auckland L T niversity College Amendment Bill. University of Otago Council and Otago Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board Bills were reported with amendments. The Tramways Amendment Bill was next taken in committee. A new clause was inserted on the motion of the Minister. that when a local authority has delegated the authority conferred on it by an authorising order, the Minister may. on the issue of a renewal of a license, charge a fee not exceeding £2 in respect of every carriage licensed, the fee so charged to be paid by the Minister of Finance to the local 'authority to whom the order was issued'. A provision was also made in a further new clause' for registration of storage of lost articles and the imposition of a reasonable charge to owners in respect of such registration and storage.