PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 101, 19 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. On the motion for the third reading of the Guardian Trust and Executors' Company Bill, the Hon. Mr. Samuel took exception to the resuscitation of a practically defunct company hy an Auckland speculator, and its endowment with all the powers that should be given to a new concern. He appealed to the. Council to refuse to let such a measure go through. (Sir J. G. Findlay contended there wen far more safeguards in the case of this company than there were in connection with the Dunedin Company's. The Hon. Mr. MfeGowan considered the Bill should never have been 'brought on at all.

The Hon. Mr. Rigg held that the sytem of giving special rights to private individuals or companies to exploit the public was wrong. It led to wholesale "boodling," and he hoped the Council would put its foot down and stop this sort of thing. After further discussion, the Bill was read a third time by 15 to 14. The Christchureh District Drainage Death Duties Bill was read a second time, and the Council adjourned until the evening. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The Land Tax and Income Tax Eating Amendment, Shipping and Seamen's Amendment, Methodist Church of New Zealand, University of Otago Council Bills were passed through all their stages. The Public Works Amendment and Auckland University College Amendment Bills were read a second time. When the Public Works Amendment Bill was being taken, the Hon. Mr. Jenkinson suggested that the proviso to the clause giving the Minister certain powers in regard to electric lines, shoidd follow the ensuing sub-sections, so as to curtail the power of the Minister. Sir J. G. Findlay said he did not think the suggestion was material, but he would consider it when the Bill was in committee. Progress was reported on the Auckland University Bill. The Methodist Church Bill was passed through the committee, and the Council rose at 11.15 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wellington, Wednesday. In the Hoii3e after 2 o'clock, on the Tramways Bill, a motion that all tram cars licensed in future shall have a passage way throughout the portion set aside for passengers was agreed to on the voices.

Mr. D&vey's clause was amended, at the instance of Mr. Wilford, by making it read that all new ears shall hare a passage way in lieu of footboards. A motion by Mr. Wilford to exclude Wellington trams from the operation of the Act was lost by 20 votes to 15. On the motion of the Hon. E, McKenzie, a clause was inserted to Temove the right to a Government certificate of competency by the holder of a, motorman's license granted by the local ,au-. thority. It was explained that this was intended to prevent men with insufficient experience getting licenses as-motormen on the recommendation of the. local authority. The Bill passed the final stages, and the House rose at 2.35 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. THE ELECTORAL ROLLS. Mr. Masscy read a telegram he had re- j ceived from the Rev. R. S. Gray, Christchurch, as follows; "Protest strongly against Government attempt to retain over thousand names on each electoral roll of persons not found in district as a result of the electoral census and subsequently not found by registered letter; dirty rolls a positive danger, door wide open for impersonation." Mr. Massey asked what steps were being taken to remedy the difficulty stated in the telegram. | Sir Joseph Ward- replied that he had given definite instructions to registrars that names of persons who were not entitled to vote should be. removed from the rolls. Mr. Gray's statement was wanting in fact. Mr. Tsitt said he wa.s aware of an instance where the name of a dead man had heen restored to the rolls. Mr. Gray's telegram suggested that registrars were still dubious as to what they should do. Sfir Joseph Ward promised to repeat his instructions to the registrars, making them clear. GAMING AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Jennings asked the Premier what was intended to be done with his Gaming Amendment Bill. In his opinion, the House would get no reply from the Racing Commission during the session. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he had already promised that if the Racing Oomission did not report this session, he would provide an opportunity for the Gaming Bill to be discussed further. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, the Minister stated that >Sir John Vindlay's opinion? expressed in Auckland in connection with native representation in the House, duties of citizenship, and use of thenlands were his own private views, ex-presscd-*tt his capacity as a candidate. The. Government's attention had boon drawn to one case of evasion of the law under the Commercial Trusts Act, and the case was being inquired into. The question of the substitution of commercial geography for French in the syllabus under the Civil Service examination regulations had been carefully considered, and no reason bad been seen for a change. A statement that the Govern ment had "■■quandered money in bringing a whole ship to come from England in" was an inip'Tl inont, fabrication, and absolutely m'ivne. it was proposed to gi into the wlum' mth-s+ioi! of the con ctitutir-" '!'■ ill" ('>'.,■!- i..;" Arlvtration during wv-i ready to ;i--is! hie;'. I '•nil.ios in givinir cverv raellUv to von-ider the question of electrical or any other method of traction. The oncstion of subsidising the o.instruction, if tram-lines to be electrically operated was worthy of consideration, but until the Government develops' some large force of hydro-electrical power for transmission to suitable localities, it was doubtful whether it would be profitable for local bodies to undertake the construction of small schemes with a, view to the electric traction on light tramways. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The Guardian Trust Bill was received from the Council with amendments. Mr. Allen was not satisfied with the Bill, which was designed to reinstate a company which had been defunct for 30 years. Mr. Isitt wanted' to know if this was the company that had charged £;"i0 expenses for administrating an estate, of some £ll2. My. Bollard (who was in charge of the Bill) said he knew nothing of the matter-

Further discussion was deferred, flir Joseph Ward moved that the Souse flecords its high sense of the faithful services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. .1. S. Shanks, also the late Mr. A. S. Collins. The motion was seconded by Mr. Massey and carried The Hon. D. Buddo moved the second reading of the Local Elections and Poll* Amendment Bill, which provides that every elector who on the close of a pol! is present in the polling place for thepurpose of voting shall be entitled to receive a voting paper and exercise hi* vote. The Bill was read a second time. On the motion to commit the Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill, the Hon. J. A. Millar explained that the new clauses provide for wives and children I of deceased workers receiving reasonable I and proportionate compensation; also that where an action is commenced for recovery of compensation in respect of an accident happening out of New Zealand, or in the harbors of New Zealand, action shall, on the application of defendant, be stayed until plaintiff has given an undertaking not to institute any proceedings for the recovery of compensation or damages in other parts of the Empire in respect to the same accident. • Provision was also made to make proceedings taken outside New Zealand available as a defence to an action in New Zealand for the recovery of compensation. Another clause provided that in addition to compensation payable, a sum equal to reasonable expenses incurred in respect of nWieal or surgical attendance (including; first a*W" on a worker in respect of his injury, but not exceeding £l. Sir Joseph Ward said a clause would be introduced into the Till in committee bringing servants under the term of workers, so that they would get the full benefits of the Act. The Rev. Isitt and Messrs. Luke and Brown congratulated the Minister on the introduction of the measure. Mr. Poland urged the Minister to make provision for relatives of workers killed in New Zealand but living away from the Dominion being able to claim compensation. He urged the State should take over the whole of the accident insurance in Nev Zealand. On the motion to #0 into committee Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr. Massev. paid hj« hoped "to pet the Public Works Estimates' through to-morrow, and go through the Molcau report on Friday. THE LOAN BILL. •Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Loan Bill, which provided for £1,500,000 to "ive effect to the proposals in the Budget for public works expenditure. Mr. Allen said he was not opposed to reasonable loans, but what he did oppose was wasteful expenditure of borrowed money. The present cost of construction of railways was an instance. Railways should bo taken into the backblocks and the country opened up. He entirely agreed with the policy of the present Minister of Railways, who held that railways should earn 4 per cent, and not 3'/ s per cent., as did his predecessor. Mr. Massey strongly objected to the way money voted for roads aud bridges was dealt with. When money was voted it should be expended. In connection with the development of water power, the Government was pursuing a dog-in-thc-mangcT policy. He thought that if private concerns wished to pursue the matter, they should be allowed to do so. Local bodies, too, should be allowed similar privileges with regard to lands for settlement The Land Department wfis not doing enough for settlement purposes. The land in Ivawhia district would supply the needs of New Zealand for the next two years. (Left sitting.)