PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 105, 19 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph— Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. VARIOUS BILLS. The Statutes Revision Committee, to whom was referred Mr. Bell's Prisons Amendment Bill, recommended that the Bill be allowed to pass with an amendment which provides that finger print records of persons not subsequently convicted of criminal offences and other records the preservation of which was no longer desirable might be destroyed. The llawke's Bay Rivers Bill (Mr.*Ormond) and Marriage Amendment Bill (Mr. Bell) were read a second time. The Births and Deaths Registration Bill (Mr. Bell) was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. QUESTION DAY. Mr. Poland asked the Prime Minister if the Government intended to take any immediate action to bring about a settlement of the trouble at Waihi. Mr. Massey said that the Government had been doing, and would continue to do, all possible to settle the disputes both at Waihi and Reefton. Mr. Poland further asked if the Government, intended to withdraw the extra police at Waihi. The Prime Minister replied that the extra police would remain at Waihi as long as was necessary to provide adequate protection. Replying to Mr. Robertson, Mr. Herdman said that scores of people at Waihi had applied to the Government for adequate protection. He thought there were between 60 or 70 police there now. Replying to Mr. Payne the Prime Minister said that the Cabinet was considering the matter of introducing a Bill to provide for six days a week for hotel and restaurant employees. In all probability the measure would be introduced this session.

The Prime Minister gave notice to introduce the Barmaids' Registration Bill. The Minister replying to other questions said that all legitimate complaints as to unsatisfactory or inadequate accommodation for shearers and farm labourers will, as hitherto, receive careful and prompt attention. Inducements are being offered to farmers to carry out experiments under the supervision of departmental officers. During the year ending March last experiments of different kinds were conducted on 400 farms. The question of granting to tenants of education reserves the same rebates on their rents as tenants 011 Crown lands is under consideration 'of the Government. Regulations under the Sale of Foods and Drugs Act dealing with the standards for and labelling of a number of foodstuffs in ordinary daily use have been prepared by the Department, and are now before' the Crown law officers for final revision.

The Marriage Validation Bill was thrown out on the motion for the third reading. Mr. Sidey's Daylight Saving Bill was withdrawn. .Mr. Hindmarsh's Legislature Amendment Bill was taken in Committee, but the House adjourned before any progress was made. THIRD READINGS. In the evening the Local Authorities Superannuation and Auckland Education Reserves Bill were read a third time, the latter after two hours discussion. LAND AND INCOME TAX ASSESSMENT. The amendments made by the Committee on the .Land and Income Assessment Bill were agreed to, and the Bill put through its final stages.

CIVIL SERVICE BILL. Tho-1 louse went into Committee on the Civil Service Bill. Sir J. G. Ward urged that the Bill should be reprinted, seeing that the Minister had given notice of important amendments, including the raising of the salaries of the assistant Commissioners from fSOO to £IOOO. Further, the Post and Telegraph Service was distinctly opposed to the measure, and he thought it reasonable that the proposals in regard to the Bill should be clearly set forth before being discussed. Mr. Ilerdman disagreed with the suggestion. He had. discussed the matter with the executive of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, who declared it would cease its opposition providing certain conditions relating to leave and promotion were agreed to. He agreed to make provision for the amendment asked for. Both the public and the service were in favour of the Bill. He did not intend to make any alteration in the principle of the Bill. Several speakers stated that branches of the Post and Telegraph Officers Association had not agreed to any amendment which did not exclude the department from the operation of the Bill. ,

The Minister said that the Bill was intended to do away with any chance of favouritism and political influence. Tie reiterated that he could not agree to the exclusion of the Post and Telegraph Department from the operation of the Bill. Mr. Buddo said that he would oppose the Bill at all its stages.