PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8500, 1 August 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph -Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 31. FARRIERS' BILL. The Legislative Council to-day passed the second I'eading of the Farriers' Bill, passed by the other Chamber. The general opinion was that the Bill was most imperfectly drafted. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives, after formal business had been disposed of, the afternoon was devoted to discussing questions, and the House then adjourned. QUESTIONS. Mr Hogg asked the Minister of Education whether it was proposed to include physical drill and deep breathing exercises in the school syllabus, and when the treatise on these subjects promised by the Education Department is likely to be issued? The Minister said:—For an anwser to the first part of the honourable member's question I can scarcely do I better than refer him to the present public school syllabus, which already makes physical instruction a compulsory subject throughout every school, and especially to clause 47 of the regulations, which sets forth in elaborate detail a series of illustrative exercises. Where a child's chest expansion is below the normal, special breathing exercises have been enjoined by the clause, and I am glad to say that this useful form of physical practice has recently received such increased attention that breathing exercises now very commonly take a prominent place in the daily routine of the pupils. The booklet of revised exercises, with accompanying plates, to which the honourable gentleman refers, is now in the hands of the Government Printer, and will be ready for issue as soon as the pressure of Parliamentary business will permit. Mr Hall asked the Premier, whether he would at an early date take steps to suppress betting at sports and carnivals, and make it a penal offence to bet within the precincts of any public domain in the colony? The Pre;. " replied The Gambling and Betting Bill will contain proposals which, if given effect to, will minimise the evil. Mr Hogg asked the Government whether the rules and regulations governing messengers just issued, in which their period of probation, amount of salary, punishment for drunkenness, and annual holidays have been made permanent fixtures, are based upon the cost of living, conditions of life, and general conduct of the servants referred to? (Note. —The circular referred to is as follows: "Rules and Regulations governing Messengers Appointment : All messengers to be appointed on probation for three months; if they are reported on favourably at the end of that term, then appointment to be confirmed. Salary : Messengers will start with a salary of 7s per diem (Sundays included). If their record is good at end of three years they should receive an increase of 6d per diem, and at the end of five years a further increase of 6d per diem (Sundajs included); this to be the maximum. Drunk while on duty: For first offence deduct 6d per diem for three months, and for a second offence dismissal. Annual Leave: Fourteen days per annum.") The reply was that the regulations were made after full consideration. Mr Ross asked the 'Acting Minister for Railways, whether he would favourably consider the granting of an increase in pay to guards and other low-paid members of the service whose wages are not ccmnensuratc with the responsible and arduous nature of their duties? The Minister said the question of increasing the pay of guards and other low-paid members of the railway service will be taken into consideration in connection with the amendment to the Classification Act, which he hoped to submit to the House during the present session. Quite recently the hours of guards were reduced from fifty-four to forty-eight per week, but the pay which they were receiving was not reduced in consequence ot the alteration in their hours. By the reduction of hours, therefore, a substantial concession war, made to the guards. Olhcr lowpaid men in the Railway service were granted allowances of from (ki to Is per day in addition to the schedule rate of wage as fixed by the Classification Act. The value of allowances and the concession in hours made to the railway servants approximate £65,000 per annum, of which .£21,000 represents the value of reduced hours to enginemen, firemen, signalmen, and guards. Mr Hogg asked the Acting Minister of Railways whether trains conveying explosives could not be arranged at stated intervals, so that settlers engaged in clearing their lands might not be compelled to resort to smuggling —to the great risk of the travelling public and themselves —if they wish to avoid loss of time, disappointment, and uncertainty? The reply was: —The regulations governing the conveyance of explosives on the New Zealand railways have been framed with a view to meeting the requirements of the settlers as far as possibly can bo done, having regard to the nature of the business and the safety of, the public, and the conditions under which powder, bellit, bellona, labourite, and raekarock are carried are sufficiently elastic to meet all the requirements of settlers engaged in clearing their land, and there is neither necessity nor excuse for their resorting to smuggling. Smuggling, if it exists, is not the result of want of reasonable facilities, but arises from a desire of the owners of the goods to evade the payment of proper charges. Dynamite, gelignite, and blasting-gelatine, owing to the nature of the compounds, require greater care than the explosives previously referred to, and the Department will only convey dynamite, gelignite, and blasting-gelatine by

goods-trains which (to not carry pasengers. Special trains for the conveyance of explosives will be run at any time on payment of charge for two tons. The regulations for conveyance of explosives on the New Zealand railways are not so restricted as those imposed by the Board of Trade in England for the conveyance of explosives over the railways in that country, and, in viewof the nature of the traffic, I regret that I cannot in the interests of the safety of the general public see my, way to authorise any relaxation in. - the existing regulations. When the House resumed at 7.30 o'clock there were little more than the bare -majority of members present. TRUSTEES ACT AMENDMENT' BILL. The Trustees Act Amendment Bill? was read a third time. LAND AGENTS BILL. The Land Agents Bill (Mr Witty),, to provide for the licensing of land agents, was read a second time undebated. AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' BILL. Mr F. R. Flatman (Geraldine) briefly moved the second reading of' the Agricultural Labourers' Bill to provide for the proper accommodation of agricultural labourers, and the separation of Chinese labour from Europeans. The penal clause enables a Magistrate to inflict a fine of £25 for improper or insufficient accommodation. A brief discussion ensued during which the opinion was expressed that the Bill might be materially improved in committee. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. The Noxious Weeds Bill was called on for further consideration in Committee amid smiles. This was the fourth sitting of the Committee on. the Bill. Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Central) complained of the waste of time over this Bill and moved to report progress. He proposed to show who were desirous to waste the time of the House, and those opposed to it. There were important Bills being blocked by this measure. Mr R. McKenzie (Motueka), who is in charge of the Bill, said that it was a more important measure than the others, and pathetically exclaimed' that it was no fault of his that progress had to be delayed. Mr Fisher declared that the hon. member's Bill was being used as a subterfuge for blocking other measures. The motion to report progress was lost by 33 to 16. The stonewall then set fairly in. STONEWALL LIKELY TO CONTINUE. The stonewall if! likely to ccntinue throughout the sitting.