GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 34, 26 September 1896, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. r.nro'ATinxAj, iiima TllK Local Bills Committee reported that the Canterbury College Bill should not be proceeded with, but that the Canterbury and Lincoln Agricultural CollegesRill be allowed to proceed with amendments, the latter being a Government measure on tin.- same subject. advances to settlers. The reasons for the Legislative Council insisting upon its amendments in the Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment I'.ill were agreed to on a division by 2:5 to 10. ASSISTS REALISATION" HOARD. Mr l'eavoek asked the Minister of Education whether the Assets Realisation Board were in addition to thenduties as a Realisation Board, engaging in outside business and acting as subagents for an insurance company, and whether the Government concurred in this ? The Minister of Education said that this proposal had been made, hut not endorsed by the Board. Mr Peacock thereupon moved the adjournment of the Council for the purpose of setting the Minister right. He held in his hand tin application to the Royal Insurance Company, signed by Mr YV. G. Foster, general manager, applying fot a, sub-agency, and stating that chey_were prepared to bring in additional business. The Minister of Education, however, repeated his statement that the application was not endorsed by the Board, and the matter dropped. FINAL STACKS. The Ngatitoa Trust Bill and the Poverty Bay Land and Deeds Registration District Bill passed their final stages. LAND FOR SKTTLIOIEXT BILL. After some debate, the second reading of the Land for Settlement Bill was agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Waste Lands Committee. SHOTS AND SHOI'ASSISTANTS KILL. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. ' LOANS TO LOCAL .ISO DIES. 11l Committee upon the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act : Amendment Bill, Mr Feldwick moved a set of new clauses under which the County Councils could raise a rate for the purpose of providing funds for the re-construction of bridges or roads under the jurisdiction of the Council, the cost of raising the rate to he charger, against the general county fund, and when by flood, etc., it became necessary to renew any such bridge, exceeding 30. feet in span, the Council could apply to the Colonial Treasurer for a loan for the proposed renewal, and the Treasurer, without reference to the ratepayers of the county, might grans such loan. These clauses were opposed by several councillors, and ultimately progress was reported, leave being given to sit again. TRADES UNIONS. The Trades Union Act Amendment Bill was reported without amendments. The third reading was agreed to, anil the Bill passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. RAILWAY CLASSIFICATION". The Government Railway Department ■Classification Rill was read a first time. .mi; K. M. SMITH. Mr Seddon moved that as the late visit of Mr E. M. Smith to England had been in the interests of an important colonial industry, that no deduction be made from his honorarium on account of absence. The amount would appeir on the Supplementary Estimates, and it would not be necessary to bring in a special Bill. Capt. Russell said the House was placed in an invidious position in having to consider this matter. He thought that they would have preferred that the money should have been paid over without any formality. The motion was agreed to on the voices. EKIJIT IlOtriiS nn.i.: Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Eight Hours Bill, to define and regulate the hours of manual labour in certain cases. He said the Bill simply meant to legalise a practice that now obtained in the colony, more especially with regard to factories, gold mines, coil mines, and persons employed by local authorities. It was not his intention, bowev»r, to make it apply to the agricultural industry. There were cases in the courts where differences of opinion had been held by stipendiary magistrates as to the legal working hours, and this Bill was intended to clear up any doubts on the subject. Captain Russell said the practice of working eight hours had been so loni' in use that probably no great ham would he done by passing the Bill. He thought, however, it would fail to carry out the expressed intentions of the Premier, and that the definition of ' employer ' was far roo wide in its application. Mr Duthie would not oppose the Rill, although he thought its tendency would be to disturb the harmonious relations at present existing between employee and employer. The eight hours' system was now a thoroughly established custom in the colony, and the Bill therefore would not do one iota of good .Mr G. J. Smith said if Mr Duthie would go into the matter more carefully, lie would see that there was an inclination on the part of sonic employers, as a result of the very keen competition now existing, to break away from the eight hours' system. Mr Pirani thought the Government would show their sincerity in this matter if they would limit the hours of their own employees. It was now proposed to limit the hours of labour of the employees of local bodies, and yet co-opera-tive labourers were allowed to work as long as they liked. Mr Buchanan urged that the local bodies should be exempted from the provisions of the Bill. Mr Willis deprecated a man not being aWowcd to work more than eight boms if necessity acose, ami both master and man were agreeable to it. .Mr G. W. Russell said the principle of the Bill was a good one, but they cold 1 not dispense with overtime in cases of emergency. Mr B. Thompson objected to the Bill upplyiug to local bodies, ami to the prohibition of overtime. Sir R. Stout regretted that the provisions of the Bill were not made nuivcisal, and he thought that as regards its application to deep-level told mines, the hours of labour should be reduced evi u further, (iovernment employees ought to be on exactly the same footing as the employees of local bodies, anil he hoped to see the Bill amended in this direction in Committee. After further debate, in which general approval was expressed legarding the principle of the measure, although objection was taken tf some of its details, Mr Seddon replied. He said he had no objection to the Act applying to the Go vcrim.ent, but he warned member.- that if they attempted to make the Bill general by applying it to fgricuKiiral pursuits, from thai mo in nt the Bill would be as "dead as Julius Ca-sar." As regards the question of overtime, it would be found that as the population increased ami labour-saving machinery was more generally introduced, the hours of labour would have to be shortened to enable people to live. Therefore, if they could, by stopping overtime, find employment forothcis, In- contended they would have done wi 11. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. GOVERNMENT VALUATION ol LAND 1:11.1.. The Hon. J. McKcn/.ie moved the second reading of the Covernniout Valuation ol Laud Bill, to provide lor the

periodical valuation of all landed properties in the colony. He said the object of the Government was to ensure that there should be one valuation for nil properties in the colony. He pointed out the desirability of having one valuation that could he used for nil purposes, and said the system would reduce expense and result in considerable saving of time. H" estimated the annual savin" to the colony by the adoption of this system would be from t'">,ooo to £IO,OOO and the result, would lie more satisfactory to nil concei ned. Ciptain Russell .-aid he was pleased to agree with the principle of the Government Valuation of Land I'.ill, though he disagreed with some of its provisions. The'ehief object of the Bill, apparently, was the c'ause providing for the appointment of a Valuer-General. If report were to be relied on, the Government proposed to appoint as Valuer-General a gentleman with whom the world would not be satisfied. If ho thought this report was correct, he would not countenance the Bill in any way. Sir P.. Stout did not agree with the general principle of the Bill. It meant setting up a new Government department at large expense to the colony, which he did not regard as necessary. He severely criticised the provisions of the Bill, and strongly condemned the clause which imposed fees on people registering deeds relating to land. .Mr Mills thought if a valuation were made every five years it would be sufficient. AlrG. W. Russell said he must vote against the second reading of this Bill, as the measure would strike a blow at the caution and carefulness which they were promised in the administration of the Advances to Settlers Department, the Post-office, and the Government Life Insurance Department. He condemned the proposal to appoint a valuer and said it was no doubt meant for a gentleman who was supposed to be disappointed in not receiving another appointment. Mr Mackintosh said the value of a thorough valuation would he immense, but it' would have to be made by a gentleman of very different stamp from those who at present acted as valuers. Mr Montgomery recognised that a remedy was required in regard to land tax valuations, but they surely did not want a new department to do it ? Mr J. W. Kelly thought the local bodies should be consulted with regard to this measure. In his reply, the Hon. J. McKcn/.ie said theic was no intention whatever of introducing a new department, but it was proposed to utilise one of the present departments. What he wanted was to secure honest valuation, but some members of the House wanted dishonest valuation. He defended the Bill _ at some length, and said its whole object was to enable! the Government to get honest valuation. On a division, the second reading was carried by 3S to 22. NATIVK LEGISLATION, The Native Land Laws Bill was read a second time piu fu?»«t, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Excise Duties Bill, to alter the excise duties payable on tobacco. He explained that the present excise duty on tobacco expired on the .*Hst December next. This Bill proposed to continue that duty at the same rate, but to alter the duty on cigarettes. The present, duty on cigarettes was Is (id per lb if made by hand, but it was proposed to increase that to :>s (id if manufactured by machinery. A short debate took place, in which several members questioned the advisability of encouraging the manufacture of cigarettes by hand, especially in view of the sweating rates paid, and the fact, that it was mostly women and girls who engaged in the trade. Mr Seddon, in his reply, said if the law was not amended they would lose £14,01)0 a - year in revenue, and ail they won!il gain would be. a man and a boy and a few machines. The Bill was not meant to increase the revenue. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Mr Seddon then moved the second reading of the Tobaoco Act Amendment Bill, to amend the law relating to the manufacture and sale of tobacco. The Bill compelled tobacconists to pay an annual licensing fee of CI, and dealt with other matters of a technical character. After a short debate the second reading was carried by 27 to 22. I'VJILIC WORKS STATEMENT. Replying to Captain Russell, Mr Seddon said he hoped to bring down the Public Woiks Statement at the beginning of next week. MoNIiAV SITTINGS. Mr Seddon moved that for the. remainder of the session the House sit on Mondays at '2,'AO p.m. for the transaction of Government business only. He said he hoped to conclude the business of the House in about a fortnight. Mr (J. J. Smith moved that the House meet at 7..">0 p.m. on Monday instead of '2.311, as many members hail arranged to leave town on Sunday, and could not be back by 2.:50 next day. Lost on the voices. UREWERA RESERVE BILL. Mr Carroll moved the committal of the Urewcra District Native Reserve Bill, to make provisision as to the ownership and local Government of native lands in the Urewcra towns-hip. He spoke at some length as to the policy of the Government in this respect. Captain Russell said the Bill was a complete and revolutionary change in the policy ol the Government with respect to the Urewcra natives. He criticised the Bill at length and said no necessity existed for it. If they but had a policy of non-interference they would be able to get this land as soon as they wanted it. Mr Wi l'ero approved of the portion of the Bill which gave the natives the right, to govern themselves. Mr Te Ao approved entirely of the Bill. Mr Seddon was pleased at the manner in which the Rill was received by the House. He looked on the msasure as one demanded by the Tuhoe people, and in bringing it before the House the Government were redeeming a promise made to the Tuhoe natives by Sir Donald .McLean many years ago. If the Bill had been intl'tduccd some time ago a grcnt ileal of trouble and bloodshed would have been avoided. He defended the Bill at considerable length, and contended that it was in the interests of the Maori people in the Urewcra country. Air Crowthcr wanted to know what the probable cost ef the Bill would be, and s.id if it cost £3OO to take the Premier and his followers to the Urewcra, the cost of this measure might be very excessive. He lif-lil they should be told something on this head. He was anxious to a'low the natives to administer their own property, but they should pay the cost. Messrs Hall. Houston, R. Thompson, Pratt, and Stevens also spoke on the Bill. Mr Carroll, replying to various arguments against the Bill, -said theic could be no cost to tin- colony in connection with the measure. A triangulation survey would have to be made in any 'J.he motion was agreed to. eight "Horns iiii,i,. The Might Hours Bill was committed. In clause 2 (interpretation), Mr G. \\". Russell moved an amendment that the clail.se should include the (loveriiment printing office, Government railway work shops, and each department of Government offices. He failed to see why the (hiverlimulit, who were the largest employers of labour, should not apply the principal of eight hours per day to their own employees. Mr Seddon opposed the amendment, and will it meant killing the Bid. It

would be absolutely unworkable, and the law could not be complied with. It was decided to take Mr Russell's amendment seriatim, and eventually, after nearly three hours' discussion, the proposal to include the Government Printing-olh'ee in the provisions of the "Bill was carried by 34 to 27. The n otion to include the railway work-shops was carried by 2!i to 20. Mr Rus?ell said he did not intend to pi ess the. remaining portion of his motion. A mot on by Air I'latinm to exclude lecal authorities from the clause was carried by 27 to 2-1. Mr Mcntromery moved mi amendment the elhc-, of which would be to give a definition ef " worker " as a person performing any kind of laboui in or about any mine or registered factory. This was agreed to on the voices. Mr Montgomery moved an amendment to the effect that " worker " does not include an agricultural or pastoral labourer, or those working in dairies or dairy factories. Carried by 39 to 17. Dr. Newman moved to add, " And shall also include platelayers." This was !o-t. Clause 2 as amended was then ageed to. In Clause 3, a motion by Mr Duthie to include co-operative workers in the Bill was negatived by 27 to 26.