PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3434, 11 September 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY.

THE COUNCIL. [PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM] WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The Legislative Council met at 2.30

The Roman Catholic Archbishop Empowering Bill (Mr C. Johnston) and the Methodist Union Bill. (Mr Bell) was read a third time and passed.

Mr Luke moved the second reading of the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment. Bill, which was passed without debate.

The Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill (Mr Allan) was put through Committee. Progress was reported for consideration of amendments moved by Mess:s Bell'and Earnshaw.

The Amendments Incorporation .Bill was read a third time and patted on the motion of Mr Bell.

# The adjourned debate on the Pensions Bill was resumed by Mr Barr, who advocated the extension of the full pension to widows at 60 and also some assistance to widows of 55.

Mr Sinclair made an appeal on behalf of casual workers, who; he said, needed a scheme of insnrance against unemployment. He also warmly commended. the proposal to eliminate the value of the home in computing the amount of pension.

Mr Paul pressed the claim women with invalid husbands, whose necessities where often greater than those of a widow-

Mr Beehan also supported the Bill The second reading was carried. The Council adjourned at 3.50 p.m THE HOUSE.

The'House met at 2.30 p.m. A. long discussion conducted on party lines, ensued from the report- of the Petitions Committee on a petition from Ohakune settlers occupying Crown leases in which they prayed for the freehold of their selections. The petition set out that the settlers involved were led to believe that if they supported the Reform party and that party succeeded to the Treasury Benches they would receive the freehold.

The petition was laid on the table. In reply to questions Ministers said That the Government was making ■ experiments with a branding fluid said to cause less damage than fire-brand-ing and equally effective. Similar experiments in Australia had resulted in favor of fire-branding. That the Government, vas fully impressed with the need for improvement in the condition of teachers in baekfilocks schools, both as to salaries and improvement of residences. Over £BOOO had been spent, in 1910 and 1911 in adding rooms, bathrooms, and wash-houses to teachers’ houses in most urgent cases, and it was hoped to be able to consider a number of similar applications from various boards shortly. On the subject of level crossings the Minister for Railways said: “I would direct special attention to the fact that a level crossing automatically becomes part of the railway, and the public right of way at such a crossing ceases whenever a traijf is approaching within half a mile irom the crossing. In view of the number of cross-ings-that have to be negotiated by long-distance trains, the imposing of speed restrictions that would cause the constant checking of trains at level crossings would undoubtedly lengthen the journey time of the trains and result in inconvenience to

the travelling public. That the woodworking machinists on the railways originally were on the same footing as iron-working machinists. Then strong representations were made that the woodworking machinist was a more skilled tradesmen than the iron-working machinist and should fae paid a higher rate. This request was ultimately agreed to and the woodworking machinist was regraded and paid 6d per day more than the iron-working machinist. A few months afterwards a counter representation was made that the ironworking machinist was equally as skilful as the woodworking machinist, and that it was anomalous to pay him at a lower rate than the woodworking machinist. There was a constant agitation by the Society until both classes of workmen were again put on the same footing. This was done by increasing the pay of the ironworking machinists. The rates now paid were fair and reasonable. Whenever an alteration is made the only satisfactory manner of dealing with the matter is in a comprehensive way, as. raising one grade creates anomalies that have to be rectified later on. This is not satisfactory either to the men or the Department. That so far as the safety of concerned the experience on the New Zealand railways had been quite the opposite to the recent accident in England. At the time of the Rakaia collision the railway carriages were lighted with Pintsch gas and not only was the lighting unaffected by the collision, but by its efficiency materially aided the operations of those engaged in clearing the wreckage and abstracting the injured from the (Lingered cars. The experience was similar at the Bankside collision, where the carriages were severally damaged, but • the gas cylinders remained intact. From the time Pintsch gas wag first installed in New Zealand ex perienoe sliows it to bo an efficient and safe system lighting. To substitute electricity and discard Pintsch gas merely because fire attended the railway collision at Home, would involve an expenditure not justified. That it is not to issue an Order in Council: to compel vessels to have a net underneath hatchways except when cargo is being worked so as to prevent numerous accidents which occur through- men falling through hatchways.