GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 327, 13 August 1898, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY. • MASTEKS' AND APPRENTICES' BILL. K Seddon moved the second reading. H« considered tint such a measure was necessary, on the grounds of the wrong which was being done to young girls and boys, who were taken on for a year on probation without pay and then sent about their business, and others taken on on the same terms. He thought there should be some guarantee that the youths would be taught a trade. Capt. Russell maintained that any legislation with the idea of regulating wages would prove a failure. Mr Morrison said three-fourths of the workers of the Colony were in favour of the Bill. Mr Smith denied this ; he held, however, that some restriction should be placed on the employment of boy labour. Mr R. Thompson said the effect of the Bill would be that only boys in large towns would learn trades. In his opinion there was no agitatiou in the country for the Bill. Mr Lang said the Bill would decrease the earning power ot a large number of families. Mr Carncross said the Bill would do more harm than good. The second reading was carried by 35 to 19. FRIDAY. The House met at 2.00 p.m. PETITION FOR KfcDKKS.S. A lengthy discussion took place on the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Mrs MoNamara, asking for redress on account of the discharge of her husband from the Government Printing Office. In the course of the debate mention was made of the Printing Office Commission report, in which it was stated the husband of the petitioner had been discharged. Mr Hogg, who had been one of the commissioners, said the report was not a unanimous one and three commissioners had held widely divergent opinions on the matter. Mr Seddon said the Government had not acted on this report, but on one which had been signed and approved by all the commissioners. Replying to the attack made on Dr. Giles, Chairman of the Commission, by Mr Hogg, he said he knew no man in the colony more fitted to impartially conduct any enquiry. The report of the committee was agreed to. RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUES. The Rating on Unimproved Values Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to questions stated That it was rather a big order to ask the Admiralty to make a new survey of the coasts of the colony, and it was questionable whether it would be granted. That it was a delmteable question whether principals should be responsible for workmen's wages when contractors had no money due to them from a contract. That as Mr Barnes, of Wanganui, had withdrawn his charges against Judge Kettle, no good purpose would be served in laying on the table of the House the correspondence in connection with those charges. That the Railway Department was quite prepared to act in conjunction with the Charitable Aid Hoard in granting fares on the railways to persons in an impecunious condition desirous of proceeding to the Thermal Springs in the Colony. That intended to place £2OOO on the S "plementary Estimates for the purpose of subsidising public libraries. That the Government hud considered the question of the establishment of permanent schools for dairy instruction, and the House would be asked to pass a vote for the establishment of two such schools —one for the North Island and the other for the South Maud. On Committee of Supply being called Capt. Russell suggested that the Financial debate should be adjourned. The Premier agreed. The Hon. J. McKenzie moved that the Noxious Weeds Bill be committed After a lengthy debate the motion was agreed to and the Bill committed.