PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2171, 29 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. VALUATION DEPARTMENT. After midnighL on Tuesday tho valuation department vote passed unaltered. EDUCATION. Tlie next class taken was Education Department, total vote £836,056. Air. Wilford moved a reduction in the item inspoctor-gonoral£72s by £1 as an indication that a universal school hook should bo provided. Several members spoke in support ol : tho amendment. During the discussion the School Journal was severely criticised.

Mr. Fowlds asserted that the journal had proved successful, and the system was by far the cheapest, and most efficient that could be adopted. He added that so successful had the journal been that private and high schools had made application for copies, and before long it would prove itself so justifiable that it could be regarded as supplying tho whole - the reading matter necessary for schools. Replying to Mr. Malcolm, he said the colony would benefit from the visit of tho Inspector-General of Schools to Europo. Mr. Wilford said ho was satisfied the journal was a good thing, but it would cost a considerable amount to provide a universal school book for the colony. It should pay towards poor people in this direction, as every child born in the colony, legitimate or illegitimate, was a national asset. Mr. Tanner said a recent arrival from England asserted that it cost more for school books hero than for fees in the Old Country. After 2 a.m. Mr. T. Mackenzie advocated tho institution of a Council of Education.

Mr. Fowlds said there was no necessity for members to support tho reduction as he was taking every step to work up to the desired point. The amendment was carried by 29 votes to 22. Mr. Fisher complained of the lack of promotion and inadequate pay of teachers. The result was that many of tho best teachers were leaving the profession. Mr. T. Mackenzie said if qualified teachers holding A 1 certificates went to Otago they would be given appointments. Tho fact was that they were unable to get teachers. Mr. Fowlds said they were paying 20 per cent, per head more to teachers than they were doing seven years ago. It was impossible to devise any system of promotion and retain the rights of boards to select their own teachers. Mr. James Allen said he was convinced there was a great deal of waste going on in the Technical Department. He urged that a man should be enagged to organise the Department. If a good man could not be obtained in tho colony then one should be imported. He did not think inspectors of technical instruction were what, the colony wanted. Mr. Fowlds assured Mr. Allen that the inspectors were capable officers. Air. Symes, referring to cadets, said it was one of the finest movements in the colony, hut it was not being carried out on right lines. The fact was that it was being placed with the f&achers, who had little knowledge. They were instructing the children and in some cases wrong movements were taught and good material spoiled. Air. Fisher urged that cadets should be provided with effective rifles, supplied with ammunition free, and given free access to rifle ranges under instructors:

Following is the division-list on Mr. Milford's amendment for reduction:—Ayes—E. G. Allen, Arnold, Barclay, Buddo, Davey, Ell, Fisher, Flatman, W. Fraser, Gray, Greenslade, Guinness, Herries, Hogan, Hornsby, Izard, T. Alackenzie, McPherson, Alalcolm, Alassey, Poland, Poole, Reid, Seddon, Symes, Tanner, Wilford, Witty, Wood; Noes—Aitken, J. Allen, Bollard, Carroll, Colvin, Field, Fowlds, A. Fraser, Heke, Hogg, Kidd, Laurenson, Lawry, Lethbridge, McGowan, McNab, Alaior, Millar, Ngata, Okev, Stallworthv, Ward.

At Expenses, In spector-General’s expenses, inspector general of schools’ visit to England and other countries £I,OOO, Air. Fisher said it was unsatisfactory that details were not given on the Estimates, and it certainly ' was too much to pay for the inspector’s trip Home. Some time ago Air. Grace, of Wanganui, on returning from England had given the colony valuable information on education, for which ho was not offered sixpence. Air. Fowlds said it was not a pleasure trip Homo. The inspector was asked to take the trip and empowered to procure publications which would be of value to the' colony, he was granted 30s a day whilst travelling on land and 2s 6d or 5s while on sea.

Air. Greenslado vigorously protested against this appalling waste of public money. He was totally opposed to sending highly-paid officials on trips to England and other countries. He moved as a protest that tho item he reduced by £5. Air. Gray also protested emphatically against the sending Home of high-salaried officials on pleasure trips at tho public expense. Air. Okey hoped the committee would carry the amendment in order to show the Government that they were opposed to this waste of money, whilst children in the hack-blocks could not get room to read and write in.

Air. Fowlds said tho visit of the inspector would jirove beneficial to the educational work of the colony, and probablby be tlie means of saving far more than the cost of the trip in approved educational methods. Air. Poland protested the sending Home of the inspector. He argued that they were doing injury to tlie colony and the children in tlie expenditure of this money. Air. Fisher urged that the House should he allowed to express an opinion before a vote to send ail official abroad was placed on the Estimates. Mr. Symes thought- it was time to stop the practice of sending highsalaried officials Home. He advocated sending younger men when it was necessary to send anyone on these visits.

Air. Poole said the amount of the vote was altogether out of proportion to tlie benefit the colony would receive from the Inspector’s visit. Air. Barclay said it was the general feeling that the Inspector was not a proper person to send Home. On division the amendment: was negatived by 19 to 16. The remaining sections of the Education vote passed unaltered. SCEN ERY PRESERVATION.

The scenery preservation, £12,250, was passed unaltered.

Progress was reported and the House rose at 7.49 a.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LABOR LAWS. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Millar) and the Factories Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Millar) were read a first time. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questiones, Ministers stated that it was not intended to hand over control of the State Fire Insurance Department to a private company; that the report of the commission which heard appeals from the decisions of the Urewera Commission will be ready to lay on the table of tho House this week; that if the cost is not too great the Government will authorise the printing in book form of pajiers contained in the transactions of the New Zealand Institute dealing with matters affecting the Native race; that if opportunity o! fers a Bill will he submitted this session dealing- with Native land agents and attorneys; that arrangements have been made for the supply of copies of reports by the International Housing Congress; that until tho Land Bill is placed on the Statute Book the Government do not- deem it advisable to interfere with public selection on existing tenures; that capitation is paid on classes in swimming, but it is not tho function of tho Government to provide instructors.

MISCELLANEOUS. The Chattels Transport Act Amendment Bill from the Council was read a first time.

The Foreign Tribunals Evidence Bui from tho Council was read a se-r-"iid time. THE TARIFF. The House went into Committee of AVuys and Aleans. According to the Premier’s proinise to submit a fresh resolution dealing with the Tariff tho Premier explained that turbine pumps had been placed on the free list. Cartridge cases were increased from Is to Is 3d per hundred. Cocoa-butter was placed on tho free list. Concentrators, farming machinery and analvne dyes were taken from the preferential list. Farinaceous foods for infants and medicated foods had been placed on tho free list. He urged that the resolutions should bo put through Committee of Ways and Aleans without delay. Air. Aitken moved an amendment that the duty on British paporhangings bo 15 per cent, and on foreign paperliaiigings 25 per cent., -and that all brushes be free, except whitewash, paperhangois’, paste, glue, and lime-wash brushes, on which a duty of 20 per cent, should be levied. The Chairman ruled the amendment out of order. Tho House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. Tho Ilouso resumed at 7.30 p.m. Air. Alassey said if grapes wore allowed to enter the colony free qt duty or even at a penny a, pound it would ruin many who had invested money in hot-liouses, as they could not compete with 'imported grapes. Mr. Millar said hot-house grapes would always bring a higher price than grapes grown outside, consequently tho industry would not lie interfered with by allowing grapes to enter free. Air. Rutherford said South Australian grapes were infinitely better than any grapes grown in the hot-houses of the colony. Mr. Barber said grape-growers of the north had nothing to fear from the importation of grapes from Australia as that country could not supply the demands of the colony. He urged that reduction should bo made

in tlie duty on grapes. Air. Alassey said Mr. Barber s arguments were all right in. a way. but would he agree to the duty being removed from woollen goods so as to benefit the people? Air. Barber: Yes, if you will agree to take the duties off wheat and potatoes. Air. Alassey said they had to guard against disease in grapes. Air. Laurenson said the farmers had had abundance of grapes which hud 3 been disposed of at Iss per ton or ninepence per hundred-weight, yet members were trying to block the introduction of a valuable article oi diet from Australia to the detriment of consumers. Air. Hogg moved an amendment that fresh fruit be admitted free. This country had a great abundance of fruit yet much of it never found its way to market, possibly because of tlieslack of means of transit, but he did not see that growers here were going to derive any benefit from the imposition of an inhuman duty on fruit. The duty on apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, medlars, apricots, quinces, tomatoes and grapes is proposed to be a penny per Id, no duty exceeding a halfpenny per lb to «be levied on applet and pears on and from July 14tli to December 31st.

Air. Lang said the Minister ol Customs in placing only a small duty on fruits was doing tlie very opposite to what the Alinister of Agriculture was doing in encouraging fruitgrowing. He opposed Air. Hogg’s amendment.

Mr. Gray said the colony was handicapped in fruitgrowing owing to having a less gonial climate for the purpose than Australia. They also had to pay higher values for land and higher wages than other competing countries. The principal cause of high-priced fruits in cities was the high rents that had to be paid by shop-keejiers. Alessrs. Witty and Bennet opposed tho amendment, which on a division was negatived by 53 to 16. At class 7, leather and manufactures of leather, Air. Heke moved to strike out' the item “men’s boots and shoes above size 5, Is 6d per pair and 15 per cent, ad valorem.” Air. Alillar hoped the amendment would not be carried, as it would mean the introduction' of cheap shoddy articles into the colony. Not a single labor organisation in the colony had opposed the proposed duty. Air. Alalcolm, in supporting the amendment, said it was a fact that shoddy articles were being manufactured in the colony, and if it was intended to protect the workers, he suggested that the importation of shoddy should he prohibited altogether. Air. Alillar: You can’t do it.

Air. Hanaii said the effect of the amendment if applied generally would be that the colony would procure its manufactured articles from cheap labor countries, and would close down all the colony’s industries; and what was to become of our workers? He opposed the amendment, as we should support our industries. Air. T. AlcKenzie said that if the tariff was to keep out cheap boots colonial manufacturers would supply good boots. The tariff was a step in the right direction, but if tho manufacturers of the colony did not afterwards manufacture a good article for colonial use he would support the removal of the duty. The Premier reminded the House that in discussing items on the resolutions they were only doing what would he done again in Committee, which was*- the proper time to . move amendments. He stated that for some time past wholesale and retail importers had imported shoddy of the .worst kind, which had been 6old at low prices. Alany of the boots and shoes imported, whilst apparently of leather, were only leather on the outside, and immediately one got below the surface one -discovered that there was nothing but biown paper. Owing to this class of goods the industries ol New Zealand had been kept back. Proceeding, he said this country had never adopted an extreme policy of protection or freetrade. Air. Alassey did not agree with the Premier as to the time occupied in discussion of the tariff in Committee of Ways and Aleans. It would save much time when they got into Committee on the Bill itself. He asserted that quite as much shoddy was manufactured within the colony as was imported. Air. Alillar said the object was tc stop tho importation of boots invoiced at 2s and 3s per pair, on which the retailer made an enormou. profit. If a living wage-was paid, no matter what machinery was used, hoots could not be made at the price, and the colonial worker should be protected from suoli competition. Air. Heke urged that the desire was to stop the importation of such hoots. Tlie Government should prohibit then: entering tlie colony. Tlie tariff would benefit the few engaged in the trade, hut would not greatly benefit the wearers of boots. He withdrew his amendment.

Mr. Malcolm asked for a duty of 22) per cent. He urged that nothing would tend to increase the employment of our workers so mucili as a revenue tariff. He was as much opposed to shoddy as any man, and would ho pleased to see the Government -moke it a criminal offence to sell shoddy in the colony. Mr. T. McKenzie said it had been found difficult to define shodd**’ and manufacturers had failed to give a definition when*'asked. On division the amendment was negatived by 46 to 21. Air. Herries moved an amendment to strike out engines and machines for mining purposes from the list of articles paying 5 per cent. Mr. Millar hojaed that the amendment would not he agreed to, as every other industry using machinery contributed something towards the revenue, and it was only fair that the mining industry, which received large support from the Consolidated revenue, should pay something towards the revenue.

Mr. Guinness said he was surprised that the Government should put a duty on machinery which was necessary for tlie development of tlie gold and coal mining industries. He urged that mining machinery should be'admitted free. Messrs. Bonnet, Colvin, Poland, and Seddon supported the amendment. Mr. Millar stated that the mining

industry was well able to pay the paltry amount required under the tariff. Air. AV. .Fraser, in opposing the amendment, said he could not understand why hitherto the mining industry had been able to got its machinery into tlie colony free of duty. Air. Alander, whilst believing in granting jirotection to articles that could bo manufactured in tho colony, thought the duty proposed on mining machinery a suitable one, and he would support the Government on this occasion. On division the amendment was negatived by 39 to 23. Air. Okey moved an amendment to place oil refining, and boring machinery on the free list. j*-' The amendment was UfiSSiU-*' 40 to 23. xumgr Air. Jas. Allen moveda meat to reduce the duty; machinery from 10 to 5 p* gave as reasons that all other miu nery was placed under the 5 p.c. duty. He added that electrical machinery was "hot being made in the colony. Mr. Alillar stated that a firm in Christchurch was manufacturing electrical appliances. He explained that a number of electrical articles were on tlie free list. The amendment was negatived by 40 to 21.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council mot at 2.30 p.m. A CHURCH BILL. The St. Andrew’s Church (Wellington) Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed. lAIPREST SUPPLY. The first, second and committee stages of the Imprest Supply Bill, No. 3, were put through. On the question of the third reading Air. Jenkinson pointed out that while the railway workshops were over-taxed many private foundries \yere comparatively idle, and he urged tho Government to place some of its rolling-stock work with these establishments, and thus, by distributing tho work, give employment to many men now not fully employed. Mr. Luke hoped the Government would look into the suggestion made by Air. Jerikinson. The Attorney-General in reply said the question raised was one he was not competent to give an opinion upon, but he was quite sure a business man like Sir Joseph Ward was acting in. the best interests of the department. Discussion, however, would bring the matter prominently before the Alinister of Railways. The third reading was agreed to. AIISCELLANEOUS. _ The Invercargill Public Sites Act Amendment Bill, and Auckland Hospital Act Amendment Bill were put through committee and passed. Tlie Nelson Institute Bill (Air. T. Kelly) and the AVaipukurau County Bill (Air. AA r . Smith) were read a • second time. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Coal Alines Bill (passed by the House). Air. Thompson moved that the Bill be read pro forma and referred to the Alines Committee. This was agreed tx>. The Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill, limiting the registration of ■ deeds to the four chief cities of the * colony was reported from committee unamended and passed. The Foreign Tribunals Evidence Bill was also passed. Tlie Council adjourned at 4.5 p.m.