PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 110, 25 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

I TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL*. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. VARIOUS BILLS. The Mokan Harbor Board Bill was reported without amendment. The Aged and Infirm Persons Bill was reported with technical amendments recommended by the Statutes Revision Committee.

Tlie second reading of the. Local Authorities Bill, to enable local authorities to make ample provision for their older servants, was moved by Mr. Bell. The debate was adjourned. The Auckland Education Reserves Bill was read a second time.

The Gold Duty Amendment Bill, Wai■hou and Ohinemuri Rivers Amendment Bill, and Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Bill were put through their final stages.

The Income and Assessment Amend' ment Bill was read a second time.

The Council rose at 5.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ELECTORAL REFORM. Mr. Russell gave notice to move that in the opinion of the House it is desirable that the Government should state its proposals for electoral reform of the House of .Representatives prior to discussion on the resolutions moved by the Prime Minister for tlie alteration of the constitution of the Upper House, the two questions being inseparably conmeeted. PRISONS AMENDMENT BILL. The Prisons Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council, with an. amendment providing for the destruction of finger-prints in certain cases. Mr. Herdman accepted the amendment. LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Land and Income Tax Bill was introduced, and read a first time. THE COOK ISLANDS. The Chairman of the Petitions Committee presented a report on a petition from Mr. W. R. Reynolds, praying for an enquiry into the administration of the Cook Islands. The Committee found that nothing had been proved detrimental to the personal character of Captain Smith or the administration of the Cook Islands. ■

Mr. Escott thought that the time had arrived when the affairs of Cook Island should be subjected to a searching enquiry. In spite of the report brought down by the Petitions Committee, he held that the appointment of Captain Smith to a position in Wellington was not needed, and added to the cost of the administration of the Islands. Mr. Laurenson said that the Committee was unanimous on the report brought down. The petition was written by a man who had not a tithe of evidence to support it. He would be glad if the Government would hold the most searching enquiry into the administration of the Islands. He pointed out that Captain Smith could not be blamed .'because some of the natives of the Islands had leprosy. All the diseases prevalent in the Islands were introduced by white men, and spread like wildfire. Mr. Buddo said that Mr. Reynolds's evidence was not to 'be relied upon. During the hearing of the, petition Mr. Reynolds had stated, in connection ■with his charge of drunkenness "against Captain Smith, that he (Captain Smith) had been drunk one night at dinner.

Dr. Pomare said that he was exceedingly pleased that the Committee had been almost unanimous in its decision on the 'petition. He stated that when Captain Smith was appointed in charge of the Islands he was receiving £GOO annually. When he took charge of the Islands he received the same salary, phis £IOO allowance, lie was now receiving the same amount. With regard to the creation of a new office, he said that it was necessary, in the interests of the Islands, as the Administration had. in the past, been battledoored 'about from one department to another, much to their detriment. As to the statement that the lepers of the Islands were contaminating food despatched from here, he pointed out that there were only 37 eases in the whole of the. Islands, which had a- population of 12,000. He could assure the House that no lepers were at large, that they knew of. They had been told that the natives of the Cook Islands were "up against" Captain Smith, and that the Islands were ''seething with discontent." but the chiefs of the Islands had stated tha.t the administration of the law was good, and they were all contented. After further debate, the report was ordered to lie on the table. THE LAKE COLERIDGE STRIKE.

Replying to Mr. Davey, the Minister said, with reference to the strike at Lake Coleridge, that it was between the contractor and the men. and had nothing to do with the Department. The contractor had asked him for advice on the matter, but he had refused to take any responsibility in the matter. The strike had been brought about because the contractor had dismissed an enginedriver after receiving complaints trom the men that he was not certificated, and the men now desired his reinstatement. This the contractor refused to do; hence the strike. Now the laborers refused to start unless the carpenters joined the. Laborers' LTnion.

Mr. Wilford: What are you going'to do about it?

Mr. Eraser: Nothing. THE PUBLIC SERVICE BTLL.

The House went into committee on the Public Service P>ill. ami adjourned at 5.30. resuming at 7.3(1. The Public Service Bill was considered in committee. Mr. Witty moved an amendment to provide preference for stores being given to goods of British manufacture.

The Prime Minister said . that the amendment was not relevant to the clause. Mi'. Russell held that there was an excellent chance for the Government to beat the Imperial drum, of which they had heard so much from them. The tall: of industry by the Government was so much flapdoodle. Cowspankers were the thin<! now.

Mr. Massev replied that their policy was not "talk." but "act." Instruction had been given to the Heads of Department and the High Commissioner to give preference to British goods where possible. That policy would be carried out so long as thev remained in office. Sir J. G. Ward said that the, late Government, in its tenders, had always given preference to British goods. In the matter of tenders for rails, preference had been given to British firms up to £1 a, ton. Mr. Tlenlinan said that the amendment, was foreign to the ijiicstion before the House. ]]e could not agree to the amendment.

Mr. Myers suggested that as the matter bad been ventilated and the Prime Minister had announced that preference would be given. Mr. Witty should withdraw.

Sir J. G. Ward agreed in this view. and added that the Commissioner should not have power to frame regulations as to where goods should be procured. The Prime Minister said that was.not the case, as all regulations were subject to the approval of the Governor or the Government of the day.

Mr. McKenzie said that the explanation just given made the matter worse. Mr. Hindmarsh could not understand 'Mr, Witty proposing an amendment which was an odious way of being bounteous, nor could he understand the country abolishing competition in these days of trusts. Mr. 'Wilford said that in big tendering nowadays it was extraordinary what little variation one found in tne tenders. That indicated that there was an understanding. Mr. Laurens on argued in favor of British preference, and showed what New Zealand had tried to do in that direction. Every step this country could take in the way of welding a great Imperial preference was a step in the right direction.

Mr. R. H. Rhodes said that the Post Office had already given preference to British goods in more than a dozen cases, and at somewhat higher prices than those of other tenderers.

Mr, Bell agreed that there was a point at which the difference in the price between goods of British manufacture and foreign goods had to be considered. He favored preference up to a point at which there could be reasonable economy.

After further discussion Mr. Witty withdrew the amendment. The Minister moved an additional subclause, giving the Commissioner power to procure supplies independent of tenders, or of the regulations made by the Commissioner. This wms agreed to. The Minister moved an amendment providing that nothing in the Bill shall, reduce the annual leave or the amount of any special monetary allowance, in addition to salary, made to an officer of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Union under any existing regulations. Mr. Russell asked why the amendment did not apply to the rest of the service. . Mr. Veitch made a protest on similar lines. He could not see why the whole service should not be placed on the same lines as the Post and Telegraph. 'Mr. Russell moved an amendment to provide that the clause apply to any other department outside the Post and Telegraph Department.

Mr. Veitch held that the Bill contained a most iniquitous principle, and lie would.support the amendment. They should he satisfied with putting a gag in the mouths of members of the service, but there was no need to ram it down their throats as the Bill proposed.

The House divided on Mr. Russell's amendment, which was lost by 3G to 20. Mr. Russell voiced his objection to the exclusion of "he Railway Department (which purchases huge quantities of stores every year) 'from the operations of the clause. The Minister, he said, had entered into an unholy agreement with the Post and Telegraph Department, because the officers had concentrated their forces from one end of New Zealand to the other. t

Mr. Veitch urged that something should be done 'for the railway servants, but he knew the Minister would accept no amendment.

The Minister, in reply, said that a temporary hand who had served five years could not now become a permanent member of the service. To references which had been made to the Post and Telegraph Department, he said that the conditions of employment, promotion and appointment were entirely different to those in any other branch of the service. The Post and Telegraph employees were working when other civil servants were not The mail who would be placed in chargr* of the service would be a reasonable man. He would deal with the civil servants fairly and justly. If he could get a man of that type, as he believed he could, the scheme would be a success. The Ikmse simply had to make Special conditions in respect c*f the Post and Telegraph Department. He regretted that he could not accept the suggestion of Mr .Veitch. He denied the statement that he had moved the amendment owing to the uproar made by the Post and Telegraph employees. Mr. Isitt said that the measure was a one-eyed and one-legged partial enactment. Clause 53 was amended to provide tlfat promotions shall be made on the basis of an examination conducted by the Minister for Education. A clause was inserted providing for three months' notice for every civil servant. '• The Bill, was reported with amend' ments, and the House rose at 1 a.m.