GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1030, 24 August 1901, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTERDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. DISOBEYING THE CHAIRMAN. Mr Baillie, chairman of committies, reported to the speaker circumstances of an incident last night when Mr Jones declined to withdraw the words ' Detstabl Traffic,’as applied to liqnior the trade. The speaker said it was his duly to support the chairman and he therefore called upon Mr Jones to withdraw those words which had been deemed offensive to another lion, member. Mr Jonts said be was willing to accept the position, being conscious that it was was duty of hon members to obey the ruling of the chairman. For the sake of his own dignity and in order to factilitate proper conduct of the business of chanter he would submit to the ruling of the chairman. He expressed regret at the occurrence, but explained that his refusal to submit last evening was because he had not understood the chairman to rule definitely that the words compl>ined of were unparliamentary or that he had committed a t.reach of the rules designed for the guidance of the council. He therefore withdrew the words ; but maintained that they were justifiable as applied to the trade generally. SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL.

The Shops and Offices Bill was further considered in committee. A discussion continued on Mr J«nkinson’s motion that no female assistants be employed in hotels bars after nine p.m. On the suggestion or the Minister for Education the motion was withdrawn for the present.

Mr Jones intimated his intention of goinj: round and discussing the question with barmaids before the motion was reintroduced. He spoke strongly in favour of the motion, asserting that some such provision was necestary to prevent barmaids being worked to death.

Clause IS of the Bill, relating to the half-holidays for hotel assistants was then passed unaltered. On Mr Bolt’s motion, freezing companies and forwarding agents were added to clause 20, exempting certain offices from the necessity of closing at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 5 p.m. other week days. Mr McLean moved to include all the Government Departments iu the provisions of clause 20, hut after some discussion he withdrew the motion, intimating In's intention of moving in the same direction in the future.

On clause 24, Mr PiuKerton wanted a provision made for bank officials to work overtime on being paid ; therefore with that end in view he moved that the sub clause he struck out. On division the clause passed as it stood by 21 to 4.

Mr Bolt then moved that sub-section 2, clause 24, which fixes the rate of overtime for office assistants and ledgerkeepers and day for its payment, be struck out.

The Minister for Education strongly urged the retention of the clause. He regretted the attitude of the bank clerks towards the Bill, saying they had not shown sufficient independence. The Bill was in their interests and in the interests of their employers and of people generally, seeing it would restrict the over-working of clerks and by providing tor over-time payment would place the burden on the right shoulders.

Messrs Lee-Smith, Jennings and McLean contended that the provision made in the Bill would not improve matters as regards bank clerks ; but would be prejudicial to their interests. A division was taken resulting in the striking out of section 2 l.y 15 to 11. Mr Bolt’s motion to exempt warehouses from tiie operation of the Shops and Offices Bill was carried, and the whole of the clauses relating to warehouses were struck out. The motion to strike out the clause providing lor the closing of nil shops not later than 6 p.m, on working days was neeatived. On the motion of Mr Jenkiosou, a new clause was added to provide that barmaids be not employed in bars between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. The Bill wan reported as amended, and at 11.35 p m. the Council adjourned till Wednesday week. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. The House met at 2.30 p.m. TRUST RILL. Mr Rhodes' Trust Bill passed its final stages. FIRST READINGS. The Second-Hand Dealers Bill (Mr McGowan), Opium Prohibition Bill (Mr Seddon), and Evidence Further Amend ment Bill (Mr Seddon), were introduced and read a first Gme. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest 3"pply Bill for £608,000 was introduced by ITovernor’s message. Mr Herries complained that the Lands, Railways, and Mines reports had not been laid on the table, and said it was impossible to debate the Financial Statement without them. Mr Lang referred to the uselessness of the Public Petitions Committee, pointing out that it was very seldom that re commendation* made by that committee were given effect to by the Government. Sir J. G. Ward said the. Lands and Railways reports were being prepared as rapidly as possible and the Government hoped to present them to the House within the next three o>- four days. With regard to Mr Laag’s complaint, he said the petitions that were referred to the Government had to be carefully analysed and supervised, as in son.e cases committees were inclined to be too generous. Mr R. McKenzie thought the financial debate should be postponed till these reports were brought down. Several other members urged that it was not fair to ask the House to criticise a statement until members were in possession of the fullest information. Mr G. W. Russell said if these reports were delayed by a block in the Government Printing Office it should be brought up to date and properly equipped with all modern appliances. Mr Seddon said it was quite true that the Printing Office had not the lynotype, but he would prefer to find work for men rather than displace them by these labour-saving appliances. On the motion to go into Committee on Supply on the Bill, Mr Fisher moved an amendment, ‘ That the order given by the Minister iu charge of the Government Printing Office directing the Government printer not to issue reports of members’ speeches from Hansard is an infringement of the rights and privileges of members of this House. 1 As this notice was on the Order Paper it was ruled out of order. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones thereupon moved: ‘That in the opinion of this House it is desirable that members’ speeches be reprinted by the Government printer as hitherto.' After a short debate the motion was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was put through all its stages without amendment. HOSPITAL NURSES BILL. On the motion of the Hon. W. HallJones the Hospital Nurses Registration Bill was re-committed in committee. The Minister moved to amend clause 4, ‘ who maybe registered ’ by doing away with the j revision that the matron of a hospital iu which a nurse lias graduated shall be herself a certificated nurse. This was agreed to without debate.

FINAL STAOi S FASHED. The Nurses Registration Hill, Rotorua Town Council Validation and Extension Hill passed their final stages. FINANCIAL STATKMHNT. The debate on the Financial Statement was opened by Captain Russell, who said the great increase* in the public debt caused the very gravest alarm throughout the oolong It was tl • duty of the Premier To have taken steps to allay the alarm caused by his own statemeuta about the finances of the country. The impression ilie statement gave was that it was the last the Premier would bring down, and that he wanted to show how much better things are now than when the present Government eame into office. He declared that the railways were being run as a loss, and said ho could not sie if the existing lines (I steamers could not make the Cape trade pay how the Government would achieve any greater measure of success in that undertaking. Messrs Napier and 3 as. Allen ak-o spoke. The debate was interrupted at 10.30 and the House adjourned till ‘2.30 p.m. in Tuesday.