PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2316, 8 October 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY EVENING’S SITTING

[Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct_7. In the House,, after midnight, while acknowledging ■ that the Workers’ Compensation Bill was a great imjfrovenient on tlio existing law, Mr. A. R. Barclay said that there-were several of its provisions which called for very careful scrutiny, and moro time should be given belore it was committed. Hon. J. A. Millar, in reply,. expressed gratification at the very favorable manner in which the measure had been received. He explained that if the fourteen days’ period had been made seven it would have meant quadrupling tho premiums, and this would liavo called forth a cry of protest that industries were being crippled. . ~ The House then went into committee oil the Bill." At clause 13, tho Minister agreed to look into the advisability of amending the clause to make compensation payable in case of death, whether, due to wilful misconduct of not. Clauses 14 to 16 were passed unaltered and progress was rejiorted. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move that the House sit at 10 a.m. to-morrow to take local Bills. The House adjourned at 1.20 a.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AFTERNOON SITTING

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Monopoly Prevention Amend- , ment Bill, the" Hauraki Plains Bill, the Railways Authorisation Bill, and the Public Works Bill , were received from the House, read a first time, and passed, their second reading. The Education Bill from the House was read a first time. _ A message was received from tlie House intimating that it disagreed with some of the amendments made bv the Council in the Arbitration Bill. The Council decided to insist on the amendments. Hons. Jcnkiiison, Luke, and the Attorney-General were appointed a committee to draw up reasons. On the motion that 1 the Public Works Amendment Bill be read a second time, Hon. S. T, George congratulated the Government on the measure, which contained exactly the proposals he had made to the Government three years ago. Hon. J. E. Jenkinson expressed dissatisfaction that the Government had not tested the water-power to see if it would be beneficial for industrial purposes. He strongly protested against licenses being granted in perpetuity. ... Hon. T. Kelly said there was no provision in the Bill to protect municipalities who required water for domestic purposes. Hon. T. K. Macdonald thought it would be a good thing to release the original Bill from the strings which had hampered .it. If they desired , to encourage capital they had to give capitalists security of tenure. The Attorney-General, in reply, defended the Bill and the Government s decision as embodied in it. The second reading was agreed to. The" Council adjourned at 5 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill, Monopoly Prevention Bill, and the Railways Authorisation Bill were put through committee, and reported without material amendments. The Public Works Amendment Bill was taken in committee. At clause 4, lion. W. I. Carncross moved to strike out the lease-in-perpe-tuity proviso in regard to granting the "use of water-power. After a lengthy discussion, tho amendment, was rejected by 19 votes to A new sub-clause moved by HenG. Jones, to provide that no lease-in-perpetuity be granted without the consent of Parliament, was lost on the voices. , jjon W. F. Carncross moved to amend sub-clamo 6, making it compulsory to include an option ot puicliase by the Crown in every license 3 amendment was negatived by 17 votes to 5. The Attorney-General moved a new clause providing for the cancellation or variation of concessions awarded by Order-in-Council under section lit of the principal Act. The now clause was adopted oil the '°The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. All other Bills put. through committee to-day passed their final stages. ~ , ~ The conference of managers ot both Houses to consider the amendments co the Arbitration Bill was fixed, tor 11 o’clock to-morrow morning in the Council Chamber. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Ministers, replying to questions, stated that a suitable memorial should lie erected over the grave of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and proposals in this direction will be submitted next session ; that tho House will be asked to drop tho police clauses put of the Public Service Superannuation Bill, r,o that they may be maturely considered hereafter; that with regard to the reported lwycotting by the British Medical Association of members or their own profession who have been serving the frendly societies at fair and reasonable cost, it is difficult to seo how tlio Government can interfere in such a dispute, but inquiries will b" made into llio position with a view of securing, if possible, the nglits ot societies an tlieir laudable efiorts on behalf of sick and distressed ; it is not proposed to have' a close season for imported or native game through

out the Dominion in 1909, though possibly thoro may bo a close season in some.districts; that tho matter of including within tho scopo of tlio Public Service Superannuation Act tlio staffs employed in hospitals, museums, and universities other than tlioso already included in some pension scheme is otic that calls for careful consideration; that a committee will ho set up to search the journals of tho Legislative Council to report on the position of tlio Agricultural Produce Salo and Importation Bill. Replying to Mr. J. G. Aitken, tho Rromior said lip hoped, in a day or two, to bo able to announce" that tlio Government had completed negotiations for a connection with Tahiti and Raratonga, which will give another connection with tho Old Land and, an inexpensive one from our point of view. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. A message was received from the Council stating that tho Council insisted upon its amendments in the Arbitration Bill. Managers from the House were appointed to confer with managers from- the Council. Sir Joseph Ward asked for leave to move the notice of motion standing in liis name that on and after. Wednesday, 7th inst, tlio Standing Orders be suspended to enable new business to be taken after half-past- midnight. Mr. W. F. Massey protested, but Sir Joseph Ward failed to see why Mr. Massey should obstruct the business in that way. Ali - .- Massey pointed out that the Standing Orders required two clear days’ notice to bo given. Sir Joseph Ward said liis motion was for the sole purpose of expediting business.

Air. Massey replied that if the motion was passed it" would enable the Government to bring down important Bills like the Maori Land Laws Amendment, or Public Service Classification and Superannuation, at two, three, or four o’clock in the morning. Tlie Speaker asked if any member objected to the motion being brought forward, notwithstanding two days notice not having been given. Air. Alassoy: Yes, I do. The House "then proceeded with consideration of the Workers’ Compensation Bill in committee. At- clause 17, sub-section 3, which had boon altered by the Labor Bills Committee, was restored to its original form providing that any right of indemnity conferred by tho Act shall bo enforceable in the Supremo Court or somo Court of competent jurisdiction, and not (save with tlie consent of the parties) in tlio Court of Arbitration .

At clause 23, an amendment was inserted providing that an action for recovery for compensation . must bo commenced within six months. At olanse 41, the new subsection 2a inserted by the Labor Bills Committee, stating that when judgment has been recovered against an employer by or on behalf of any person for compensation under this Act, such person will not be entitled to recover damages against the employer independent of the Act, was struck out. - The Minister said lie could have amendments inserted in another place making it quite clear under what Jaw a worker .elects to proceed. Clause "45 was amended by the addition of a proviso limiting actions tor claims in respect of death to a period of six months after death. On tho motion of Air. A. R- Barclay, a clause was inserted providing that there shall be no abatement of compensation if claimant is insured.