PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 107, 26 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

WKDXKSOAY. OCTOBER 25. J LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ! By Telegrap l '—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. The Council met at 11 o'clock. All local Bills .passed by the Hottst were put through the committee stages. The. Council rose at 1.13 till 2.30 Wellington, Last Night. The Council resumed at 2.30. A number of 'local Bills were received from the House and passed their final' stages. The Governor's amendment in the Shipping ami Seamen's Bill as passed by the House was agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading o-f the Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill, after which the Council adjourned until 2.30 to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. • REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Wellington, Last Night. Minister?, replying to questions, said there is no provision in the Classification Act for taking a ballot to enable civil servants an opportunity of expressing their opinion for or against the classification to be brought into force, but under section 7 of the Consolidated Act, any officer may appeal for reconsideration of his classification. The Govern- j ment has fully considered the question I of resuming leases and Starting State I iron works, but while recognising that there are many arguments which may be urged in favor of this course, there also drawbacks to it. .Present holdeof rights have spent considerable sums of money in maintaining leases and trying to get capital to work the deposits, and as a court would probably award them such monies on resumption, this would add to the cost of establishing State works, and might equal the amount of the bonuses saved by commencing such works. The Government thinks the proposals in the Iron and Steel Industry Bill are fair, while the , rights' of the Slate are safeguarded under the Bill. The Minister for Labor is not aware that statutory compulsory preference would check cancellation of unions. At all events he is afraid that time will not permit of consideration of such , an important question at this stage of the session.

Mr. Buchanan read a letter of appreciation from the Stock and Agricultural Committee addressed to Mr. Frank, La wry. who is retiring from politics after twenty-four years in the House, and who was for hventy-one years chairman of the committee. Sir ,T. (I. Ward and Messrs. Lang, T. Y. Duncan. Bollard. Witty, Myers and llerries expressed regret at the decision of Mr. La wry to retire and passed encomiums apropos of the excellent work, performed .by him during his political life. Mr Mnssey asked the Premier if he would, to expedite business, proceed only with those measures which have been partly dealt with and not deal with anything further. THE GENERAL ELECTION. Sir J. G. Ward' said there was a certain amount of work to l>e done, and he was going to ask the House to do it whether it takes to the end of this week or to the end of next. It might be necessary to ask Ihe House to pass the necessary legislation to enable the general elections to take place after the middle of .January,! As things were going now, it was absolutely impossible for him to estimate when the elections could take iplace. At the present rate of progress the first ballot would take place just prior to Christmas, and the second during the holidays. There was a certain amount of work on the ordtr paper which must be done. lie would not drop those Bills which had not been dealt with so far. The present Parliament expired on November 1. and he would like to say to those members on his side of the House that their constituents would honor ;iud appreciate them for staying to finish the business of the House.

A latter of appreciation of Mr. Parata's services in the House was recorded by tlio Native Affairs Committee and endorsed by Sir Joseph Ward and others. • The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill was reported without amendment and read a third time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Representation Commissions Reports Validation ißil. He explained that under the existing law writs for the elections were issued on Decern- 1 her 1 and were returnable on December 29. He was considering an amendment to provide that where districts were too large to hold a second ballot within seven days, there should be no second ballot. He had not yet made up his mind on the matter. His desire was to luave all the second ballots taken on the) same day. The Bill was read a second time and reported from committee without amendment, and the House adjourned. EVENING SITTING. In the House in the evening the Post and Telegraph and Representation Commissioners' Report Validation Bills were read a third time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Public Service Classification Superannuation Amendment Bill, which provides that all moneys payable to the superannuation fund shall 'be paid in first to the post office account. The postmaster then pays when directed bj the board all moneys properly payable out of the fund, the balance being paid over the Public Trustee. This, the Premier stated, would effect a saving of C7."i() per annum. Provision was also made for the transfer of officers from one department to another. In committee, he proposed to move an amendment to provide that reasons he given to teachers for transfers to inferior positions where the pay was lower than previous appoint■lent. If reasons are not satisfactory teachers could appeal. Mr. Allen asked tliat teachers should be admitted to the fund who had failed to enter the fund within the prescribed time.

.Sir Joseph Ward, referring to the petitioning teachers, said that until the actuarial report upon the public service generally had been received, he was not prepared to make a statement. Then the whole position would be reviewed.

The Bill was read a s econd time. Sir .loseph Ward moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill. The measure was, he said, gtnevally known as the "Washing-up Bill," and various clauses could he discussed in committee. The Hill was read a .second time, Hon. R. McKenzic moved the reading of the Railway Authorisation liill, (providing for the construction of railways authorised. THE OPUNA.KE RAILWAY.

Mr. Dive moved an amendment that the House is of opinion that the Opunake line should be added to the schedule.

Sir .loseph Ward =aiil it was not possible to provide for this line this session.. He said a circular emanating from the machinery of the Opposition was being sent round the country stating that harrowing power of the Government fo3 the year was eight millions. Yet Mr.

Dive came along and asked ffir a further, expenditure. Mr. Massey: "I know liotliing*-of it." Mr. Massey, continuing, said if, his party had had anything ti> do with the circular he would have ki.own it. He did not believe there was any circular. Mr. Dive's amendment was lost by 41 to 10.