PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 124, 12 October 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

By Telegraph—Press Association,

Wellington, Last Night,

PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

In the afternoon the Public Service Bill was further considered in committee.

Clause 10 was altered on the motion of Mr. Bell, to provide that the Gover-nor-in-Council and not the Governor, should act in connection with the removal of a commissioner.

On the postponed clause 7, providing that the term of appointment of commissioners should be seven year*, Mr. Paul moved to substitute five years for seven, on the ground that the system was quite an experiment, and if- it proved a failure seven years would be far too long. Mr. Bell objected, holding that as the salary offered was only £I3OO it would be far more difficult to obtain a good man at that salary for five years than for seven.

On a division, the word seven was retained by the casting vote of the Speaker, who supported its retention on the ground that the House had passed it without discussion or division, Clause 15 was amended to provide that the Commissioner shall report to the Governor once a year, within sixty days after March 31, and that such report should go before Parliament within 21 days of the commencement of thq session. Progress was reported, and the Council adjourned. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. BILLS PASSED.

The Pharmacy, Local Bodies, Superaimuation, Justices of the Pence and Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bills were put through their final stages. Mr. Bell moved the .second raiding of the Auckland University College Amendment Bill.

The second reading was agreed to, PUBLIC TRUST.

The Public Trust Office Amendment Bill was read a second time. LAND AND INCOME. The second reading of the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was moved by Mr. Bell. Mr. Anstey said that the Bill wiped out almost all those jumps in amounts which existed heretofore. The Government had, however, sacrificed efficiency for punctilious exactitude, in compiling the table, and the scheme could not be adapted to future requirements without, recasting the whole of it. This Bill provided for an increase of 45 per cent, on estates of £35,000 over the existing tax, but an increase of only ten per ceiit. on estates of £,30,000 was provided. The lightest increases were on estates of £50.000 to £70,000, and this was a mistake, as here, if anywhere, increase should be the greatest, especially a= compared with estates of £30,000. which were really model-sized estates, lie was of opinion that the figures were prepared purely to collect as much tax as possible, and not with the more laudable intention of the bursting up of the largest estates which should be the primary object of the graduated land tax.

Mr. Tucker thought that the 25 per cent, surtax should not apply to the first £30,000, but only to amounts over

Mr. Bell, replying, said that the process of taxation was being made aa <*radual as possible. The new scheme ßpro■nded for the increase of three hundred pounds taxation on hundred thousand pounds estates and over a. thousand pounds on estates of £200,000. The Bill was read a second time, committed, and passed all its stages..

VALUATION OF LAND. Mr. Bell moved tiha second reading of the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill. Mr. Anstey moved the adjournment of the debate, and the Council adjourned at 10.55 till Tuesday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p.m. CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS

Mr. Brown moved the first reading of the Co-operative Workers on Public Works Bill, explaining; that the measure aimed at bettering the conditions under which the men on co-operative works labored. Ho held that the cessation of co-operative works such as had occurred at Napier was inimical to the best interests of the men and the country generally. It was a terrible thing that one man should have power to suddenly stop work which had been ordered by Parliament, The Minister for Public Works should not be an autocrat, but should carry out the will of Parliament. Mr. Forbes said that before condemning the co-operative works system the Minister should have made a' thorough investigation. He hoped that the Minister would not abolish the system. Mr. Fraser: I never said'l would.

Mr. Forbes: I am glad to have the Minister's contradiction of the statement. Continuing, he contended that if investigation were made the Minister would find that some of the waste lay at the door of the engineering staff.

Mr. Pearce maintained that the works at Napier should never have been started. Dozens of ''first sods" had been turned just prior to the late Government going out of office. The works had been undertaken with the Public Works Fund empty and money at 5 per cent, in London. He held that it would be better for the men and the country if the co-operative •■vstem were abolished.

Mr. MaeDonald held that it was very hard on the men to employ them in the winter on work and then dismiss them when the long days come and they could earn good money.

Mr. Ell said that the men now had a system by which they could ballot out wasters and classify themselves.

Mr. F. H. Smith said that it was ridiculous to suppose that strong men would ballot their weaker colleagues out of a gang. He contended that the barrow system was out of date fifty years ago. Mr. Fraser said that if they would make the co-operative system a small contract system he was with them. Mr. Forbes: "It is now."

Mr. Fraser: "You don't know much about it." He went on to say that the principle of co-operative works was not the principle of small contracts. "Why," he said, "the Otago Central Railway works were a by-word in the district." What was really wanted, he said, wa9 more inspection, and inspection did not end with the navvys. The gangers needed watching, too. (Hear, hear.) He insisted that the men should have the right to select their own mates. In connection with the Napier works, ho said he refused to sanction the wasteful method of carrying out the public works of the Dominion.

Mr. Wilson stated that the co-opera-tive laborers themselves were thoroughly dissatisfied, and had universally condemned the system. He knew of cmscs where gangs had to sit down for a weekwaiting for an overseer to come along. Mr. R. McKenzie said that the (lovernment members were the only ones who condemned the system. He had received very few complaints during the throe years he. had administered the Department. Ho pointed out that throughout the Dominion local bodies carried out earthworks on the co-operative system. The Bill was read a first time. TYPHOID. The Hovise resumed at 7.30. Mr. R. H. Rhodes made a statement' to

the House concerning the position at the Manawatu flax milte. He stated that one of the cases of typhoid, complained of had been under observation by * doctor for one month, and it had' only been at the end of that period that typhoid had manifested' itself. He alse stated that a jhelth officer, accompanied by an inspector of the Labor Department, would inspect the whole of the mills i» tlie district. He would assure the House that he would pay all attention to tti» matter of water supply at tie mill*, . THE MACAETHY TRUST. The Macarbhy Trust Bill-passed' un* amended.

WIDOWS' PENSIONS. The Widow* Pension Amendment Bill was considered in Committee.

Clause 2 was amended to provide that certificates of two medical practitioners, instead of one, should be necessary regarding the incurable condition of a, husband detained in a mental hospital, ns the preliminary to enable the wue ito qualify for the benefits under the Bill. The Widows' Pensions Bill was reported with amendments.

AGED AND INFIRM PENSIONS.Mr. Herdman moved the second reading of the Aged and Infirm Persons Bill, which has already passed the Council. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION.

The Births and Deaths Registration Bill was road a second time. The House rose at 1 a.M.