IN PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3358, 26 October 1911, Page 3

IN PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. I SECOND DIVISION INCREASES. FIRST STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. After midnight, speaking on the Government Railways Bill, Mr. Massey said a service such as railways should bo well paid, and there' should bo satisfaction. amongst, the employees. Mr. Poole congratulated the Minister on the introduction of the Bid, which he was sure would give, satisfaction to the Department. Mr. Malcolm, considered l the Minister had dene all right for the second division,, but he was sorry there, was not more done for the first, who thought they were not as fairly treated as the i second division. Mr. Witty pointed out that the first division was still before the Railways Committee, and would he. looked after as soon 1 as possible. Mr. McLaren declared, the clause dealing with superannuation was a step in the right direction. Messrs Wright, Glover, and Hogan spoke in favor of tlhe Bill. The Minister, in replying, said the question of classification would probably be gone into. In connection with the first division, the biggest increases did not go to the highest paid men, as had been suggested. This was only true of senior enginemen Tlie- Bill was read a second time. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS. THE ADJUSTMENT BILL. The House went into committee on the Native Land 1 Claims Adjustment BillIni the House after 2 a.m., in committee on the Native Lands Adjustment Bill, Mr. Ngata moved a new clause bringing lessees and sub-lessees uinder the. provisions of the Native Land Act reflating to limitation of areas and that limitation should refer to leases already in existence, that in case of instruments which had been confirmed by the Maori Land Board, or Native Land Court, the District Land Registrar shall not register any lease or sub-lease Native freehold land, or any assignment of such lease, or sublease, or any transfer of freehold interest, unless the instrument has attached thereto a statutory declaration made by the party to the instrument to the effect that no person acquiring any interest under the instrument was at the date of execution! prohibited from acquiring that interest, bv limitations of the Native Lands Act. The second reading of this amendment was agreed to and progress was then reported on the Bill. • The House rose at 3.35 a.m. Ministers, replying to questions, said there is no provision in the Classification Act for talcing a ballot to enable

civil servants the opportunity of expressing their opinion for or against the classification to be brought into force, but under section 7 of the Consolidated Act any officer may appeal for reconsideration of his classification. The Government has fully considered the question of resuming leases and starting State ironworks; but while recognising that there are many arguments- which may be urged in, favour of this course, there are a.'so drawbacks to it. Present holders of rights have spent considerable sums of 'money in maintaining leases and trying to got capital to- wbfk deposits, and n Court- would probably award them- such moneys on resumption. This would add to the cost of establishing State works, and might equal the amount of bonuses saved by commencing such works. The Government thinks the proposals in- the Iron and Steel Industry Bill are fair, while the rights of the Sta.t p are safeguarded under tire BillThe Minister for Labor is not aware that statutory compulsory preference would check the cancellation of unions. At all events he is afraid that the time will not .permit of consideration of such an important question at this stage of thie session. Mr. Buchanan read a letter of appreciation from the Stock and Agricultural Committee addressed to Mr. Frank Lawry, who is retiring from politics after" twenty-fbur years in the House and. twenty-one years chairman of the committee. Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs Lang, T. Y. Duncan, Bollard. Witty. Myers, and Herries expressed regret at the decision of Mr. Lawry to retire, and passed encomiums apropos of- the excellent work performed by him during his political life.