Parliamentary.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 114, 12 October 1901, Page 3

Parliamentary.

In the House on Thursday night in reply to questions, Ministers stated that it was the intention of the Government to give an increase of ammunition to the Volunteers and rifle corps of the colony, the Government being of opinion that the colony could afford the extra allowance; that there was < no intention to introduce legislation to provide that henceforward NewZealand shall, be officially styled a “ State ” and not a “ colony ” that the Government recognised that enough was not being done in the colony in the way of treeplanting, and the' Cabinet would favourably consider the proposal to exempt from taxation lands used for tree-planting purposesthat the question of providing for a graduated receipt stamp and,cheque duty, would be considered by tbe Cabmet; that no agreement had been

entered into, between the Government and the Shipping Companies regarding the despatch of steamers to South Africa; that it was hoped that proposals would be made to. this House this session with regard to a regular steamer service to South Africa.

On the motion lor the committal of the Factories Bill, the Premier •aid that it was a consolidating measure. He briefly explained the provisions of the Bill, in so far 'as they differed from the existing law, and which have already been telegraphed. He went on to say that the employers generally were satisfied with what was proposed in this Bill, and the employees could not reasonably take exception to it. He would like to arrive at a stage when our labour laws would be perfected, and would not require further amendment or alteration. It was to the interest of those who bad invested capital in the country to know where they were, and it was to the interest of the workers also to know where they stood. A good deal had been written in criticism of this Bill, but some of the writers had overlooked the fact that the provisions to which they took exception had been the law for the last five or six years. With regard to the hours of labour for women and children, the Premier said that he had not beard it disputed that they should be brought down to the maximum limit contained in the original Act of 189 L It was complained that in. some industries the men could not work without the women and youths (he referred particularly to the woollen industry) but he thought that some satisfactory arrangement could be made in that respect, and that the House should fix the principle that women and children should not word more than 45 hours per week.

From the tone of the debate it seemed that all the members were satisfied that the provisions of the Bill as amended would be fair to both the employers and the employees. Some members were desirous that Government Departments should be brought within the scope of the Act, but this was ruled out of order.