PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 103, 21 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. Tin- second reading of the Aid to Public Works (Loan) Bill was moved by Sir John Findlay. Hon. Jenkinson suggested in regard to the water power proposals that the Government should put it into practice by applying it to new railways to be constructed, especially in regard to the Gisborne line. The said that tests would be firs,*tpplicd on the LytteltonChristchurch line. The Bill was i>ut through all its stages. The Education Reserves Amendment Bill was read a second time and reported with minor amendments. The New Plymouth High School j Amendment Bill (Hon. Kelly) was read, a second time. The Public Works Bill was passed. The Widows' Pensions Bill was committed. The Attorney-General proposed an amendment to the effect' that the pension payable, plus earnings of the applicant must not exceed £6O. It being doubtful if the amendment could be dealt with by the Council, the Attorney-, General said he would have the matter dealt with by a message from the Governor. EVENING SITTING.

The Council discussed the second reading of the Tramways Bill, objection being taken by several speakers to the provision for corridor ears in the place of side entrance ears.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Friday. After midnight Mr. iDivc's motion, that the vote of £15,000 for Mt. Egmont be reduced by £lO as a protest against the unbusinesslike methods of the Government in regard to the construction, was carried. Mr. Duncan complained that the vote of £55,000 for the South Island Main Trunk line was too small. Promises made in the past were not being fulfilled. The work should be carried out with more expedition, and thle line should take precedence to all others. In a general reply, the Minister said he considered the South Island Main Trunk line was receiving very good treatment in regard to votes. He took a keen interest in Marlborough, and tried to assist the members for the district as much as possible • The railway vote was passed. On the irrigation and water supply vote, the Minister, in reply to a question, said the Department had satisfied itself there was sufficient water available to supply ample power to worfc the traffic through Arthur's Pass tunnel electrically, j » [ The vote was passed. In the House after 2 o'clock consideration of the Public Works Estimates was continued. The vote for mental hospitals was discussed with twenty members in the Chamber.

In answer to Mr. Hemes, the Minister said contracts were being let for additional accommodation, which would be amiple for the purpose of the Department.

The vote was passed after a very lengthy discussion.

The Minister stated that it was proposed to commence the erection of a new lighthouse'at the North Cape. At 4.15 a.m., with twelve members in ttie House, the vote for the Minister of Mines was taken, and after considerable discussion passed unaltered. The remainder of the Estimates were then passed, and the House rose at 4.50 a.m.

. Wellington; Last Night. The House met at 2.30.

The report of the Public Classification Board, which recommended that the nominal roll should be prepared-by the heads of departments, was presented. Sir Joseph Ward said he hoped to lay the roll on the table before the end of the session.

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30.

The Government Railways Bill was introduced by Governor's ' message and read a first time.

The Premier stated that the Mokau report would be 'first order of the day on Monday afternoon. The amendments made bv the Council in the Patents, Designs ' and Trades Marks Bill were, on the motion of Hon. J. A. Millar, agreed to. In committee on the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, a rtew dame was inserted providing that where the day of «n election is appointed a public holiday the election shall bo held on the same day in the following week. The Bill was reported. The committee considered the Workers' Compensation ' Amendment Bill. The new clauses were explained by the Minister, and on the second reading they were added to the Bill. The Minister's new clause making provision for a wife and children of a worker killed by accident was added to the Bill. Clause 3 of the Bill was'altered on the motion of Mr. Poland to provide that any manual worker may obtain compensation for accident no matte* what his wages are, but compensation was limited to clerks, etc., whose income does not exceed £2OO per annum. The Minister moved an amendment to provide that the Act should apply to domestic servants whose term of engagement is for a period not less than seven days.

Mr. Allen urged that there should bo. a definition of domestic service, 'ft would not do to include all in the House, who were in reality employed in domestic service, whether they' were paid servants or daughters or relations of 'employer. The amendment was carried on (he

A new clause, moved by Mr. Wright, to give solicitor* •the right to appear before compensation-courts, was embodied in (he Bill, which \v>s read a third time and passed. The J.ogishitiv Amendment Bill. No. 3 (Sir Joseph Ward). providJTisr ' that mimes appearing on the electoral roll not to be objected to because they were not included in the electoral census of the district, was read a second time.