PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2165, 22 August 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

ProBS Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. HAS-g™S»|C nK AT,ON Tho Hastings Recreation Reserve Bill was further considered in it too and reported HlOntS. THE COST LEY TRUST. Tho Attorney-General Act Amendment BilL Ti Trust cos 3to 5. The seeond r °The°Cou'n A 4.35 p.m:

house of representatives. TRADE AND COMMERCE. After midnight on Tuesday Mr. Malcolm urged that tho ports of the colony should be thrown open to the trade of foreign countries if wo desired to extend our export trade. Air. Tanner’s amendment was negatived on tho voices. ADVERTISING THE COLONY. In answer to a question by Mr. Alassev the Premier gave tlio following details, among others, of the item “Advertising and purchasing bodks : Photographic pictures, etc., iogUU, advertising £3194, printing hooks and pamphlets £620, purchase of paintings £514. purchase of photographs £420, purchase of stag s heads, knvis. etc., .£ll4, wages and expenses ot journalist £715, wages and expenses of photographers £539. DETAILED INFORAIATION WANTED.

Air. Alassey said the method of presenting the "Estimates was most unbusinesslike. They should be set out in detail so that members could see for themselves what was being (lone. Air J. Allen asked for the items included in “printing.” The Promier said more information had been given on the Estimates than had ever been given before. If full details were desired they could only be done in book form after the post-audit had been completed and it was proposed to adopt that system. Air. Alassey said recent events bad shown that it was necessary that every detail of expenditure should be given to the House. The Premier said lie would submit a measure to adopt. the post-audit system this session.

AN OPPOSITION TROTEST.

The Premier proposed to proceed with the Justice Department, total vote £148,432. Mr. Massey objected to starting a new department at that late hour. He moved to report progress. After discussion it was decided to put through a certain amount of business. AFFORESTATION. State forests, £30,508. In reply to questions 'Mr. McNab said it would be necessary in a year or two to make special provision for dealing with the question of planting State forests all over the colony. Ho declared that one-lialf of the State nurseries ought to be closed down. Had his idea been fully carried out, the same area would in a few years have been planted at less cost by £SOOO per year than at present. As it was the reduction in cost would be over £2OOO. It had been thought advisable to constitute a nursery in the Wellington district. Every care was taken to prevent the spread of fire in State forests. In this respect ho pointed out thaf a person who had offended and done damage to the extent of £IOOO was fined less than if he had sold a glass of beer unlawfully. The vote passed unaltered.

INSURANCE. The Insurance Department vote, £64,617, passed unaltered. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. Public Trust Office, £34,477. Air. Fisher said that though there were agents at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Greymouth, Nelson, Napier and Wanganui there was none at Master-ton. There was surely as much business there as at Nelson, for instance. He was assured that the Bsrson transacting business for the epartment at Masterton was drawing a commission of £SOO annually, while the officers of the Department at Napier and Nelson were only paid £2OO. He further complained that the whole business of the Department in Wellington was worked through only one auctioneering firm. Ho contended that all reputable auctioneers should be utilised in rotation.

The Premier said in regard to Mr. Fisher’s reference to auctioneers that .he understood that so long as the work was well done there was no interference. He would look into the matter of a Masterton agent. Several members stated that the auctioneers in Dunedin and Christchurch were utilised in turn by the Department. The vote passed unaltered. The House rose at 3.20 a.m.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 2,30 p.m. In reply to questions Alinisters stated that how best to deal with Trusts where They are proved to exist is under eonsideraftaon by tho Government; that it was hoped to introduce the Civil Service Superannuation Bill at an early date; .that the Minister of Justice was unaware that any of the racing clubs infringe the Gaining and Lotteries Aot by using more than three totalisators, hut inquiry was being made in the matter; that provision- will he made in the Factories Aot Amendment Bill, shortly to be submitted, to remove the difficulty which has occurred in reference to the Saturday liialf-boliday; that facilities will be granted to both employers and employees to give evidence before tlie Labor Bills Committee on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill : that tlie introduction of an amending Bill to the Noxious Weeds Act this session is under consideration ;• that tho question of establishing a uniform standard of hooks for the State schools to he sold for the use of school children at cost price is being inquired into; that the wholo question of infantile protection is at present receiving tlie attention of the Government; that no allowance has ever been made for the use of horses or bicycles used by children travelling more than three miles to school, and the Alinister regrets that he is unable to amend the regulations to include horses and bicycles within tho means of conveyance for which payment is made. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Air. AtcNiab, replying to members, said the noxious weeds question was one of the most difficult problems that tho Department had been called upon to (leal with. It was liis intention to introduce a Bill dealing with the subieofc this session. Tlie Bill would he sent to tho Stock Committee for a report, and it was hoped they would t-lius obtain a workable measure. There were manv parts of the colony where they could not expect to have the enforcement of a law relating to tho eradication of noxious woods carried out in its entirety. At the same time there were other parts where a more rigid polioy could bo adopted.

bee-keeping. Tlio Apiaries Bill was •committed. Mr. Massey moved an amendment to provide for the Bill not coming inito operaion until January, -LJUJ. The House adjourned at o.JO p.m. The House resumed at i .30 p.m. Mr. Massey’s amendment alter a long discussion was negatived by ~o to 26. . , r ... In reply to Mr. Hernes, Mr. Me Nab stated that the Bill did not apply to'wild bees and it was not intended to appoint an army of inspectors under the Act. When properly constructed frame hives were used, as provided for by the Bill, it would bo only a matter of a few minutes to thoroughly examine C(uito a number of hives, but under existing regulations 1 all sorts of contrivances were used as hives and the task of inspecting the eame was impossible without destroying the hives, hence it was necessary to introduce legislation to provide for hives to be of a pattern easily examnied An amendment moved by Mr. Herties to provide that tho Bill should Inly operate in regard to bee-keeper? feepinSf bees for profit as against for

only private uses was negatived. Clause 3 was amended on tho motion of Mr. Alassoy to admit of a-bee-keeper notifying .a Stock Inspector when aware of tho presonce of disoaso in his apiary instead of sending a written communication to tho Secretary for Agriculture. AVlion clause 6 was reached, which enables the inspector to order the removal of bees to new frame hives Air. Alassey .said this was the cause ot country members objecting to tho Bill. He moved an amendment to strike out the word “frame” and oalled for a division. Tho amendment was negatived by 40 to 7. ' ’ ' .Clause 7 \vas amended on tho motion of Air. Herrios to provide that all directions by an inspector shall bo sent to beekeepers by registered letter.

At clause 7, empowering inspectors to destroy by fire infected bees, hives and appliances, without compensating the "owners, Air. Afalcolm moved an amendment authorising tho Agricultural Department to grant compensation. Air. AlcNnh submitted that tins was an appropriation clause, which could therefore not be amended. In this lie’ was supported by tlio Chairman. Mr. Alassey dissented from the Chairman’s decision.

The Speaker’s ruling was takon. Ho ruled that the amendment was in ■order.

On a division tho amendment was negatived by 26 to 25. At clause 8, which provides that after tho expiry of six months all bees slim.ll be kept in nroperly-oonstrucited frame hives, Air. Buddo moved an amendment to extend the period from six to twelve months. The amendment was negatived by 24 to 15. Air. Massey said clause 9 created a new oriine, for which an offender was liable if he did not keep liis bees in nroperlv-constnieted frame hives to a fine of £lO, and lie was opposed to the clause. On division the clause W"S agreed to by 33 to 13. At clause 10, which provides fov a p malty of £lO, Air. McNab moved an amendment to reduce the fine to £5. This was agreed to on the voices.