PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2571, 7 December 1897, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. . JUDGE KETTLE. The Premier replying to Captain Russell, said that the correspondence between the Government and Judge Kettle was not yet complete. TECHNICAL EDUCATION. BILL. A Committee, consisting of Mr J." Allen, Mr Gilfedder, $ir Maurice O'Rorke, Mr Rolleaton, Sir Robert Wtout, Mr Ward, Mr Wilson, Mr Seddon, Mr Leth bridge, and Mr O'Meura, was appointed to consider the Technical Education Bill. PATENTS DESIGNS- AND TRADES- MARKS BILL. Ou the motion of the Premier the second reading of the Patents Designs and Trades marks Bill, to amend the Act 011889, was agreed to. MASTERS AND APPRENTICES BILL. In moving the' second reading of the Masters an i Apprentices Bill, the Premier said that the Bill had been care fully considered by the Labour Bills Committee, and the amendments made had been generally approved of by the employers. The Bill also dealt fairly with employees. In order to avoid a protracted debate he would accept the Committee's amendments, which lie explained. Sir Robert Stout said that the Bill wafull of blunders, and m his opinion v would prevent apprentices being employed at all m some trades. He admitted that the Bill was better than as originally brought down, which would have thrown six or eight thousand young people out of employment. Mr Guinness said that he would oppose the Bill, the most objectionable part of which was the clause regulating j the proportion of apprentices to journeymen. Mr R. Thompson intended voting against the Bill, and was of opinion that the Labour Bills Committee had shown I very little regard for the effect it would have. Mr Moore referred to the inconsistency of providing the youth of the colony with technical education and then restricting their chances of getting employment. The Bill should not be passed. Mr Morrison said that the Bill was only a feeble attempt to deal with a troublesome question. He would support any measure to compel unscrupulous employers to teach lads their trade a m a proper manner, as at present a large number of lads were turned out without, being taught their trade at all. He denied that the effect of the Bill would be to throw thousands of young people outof employment. Mr Monk opposed the measure, and said that every mother m the country should resist the social interference it contained. Mr Hogg pointed out that the object of the measure was to protect and not injure young people. At present prentices were not turned out skilled workmen, and the Bill was intended to compel employers to teach them their trade. Mr Miller contended that it was of interest to the workers that the Bill should pass, and if the country was to be a manufacturing one it was absolutely necessary that the children of the colony should be turned out as competent workers. Ihe practice at present was to take on boys at 2s 6<i per week, which wage was paid them for two years, when they received 7s 6d per week, and if they asked for more wages they had to go. Mr J. Allan -denied the statement made by Mr Hogg, that the employers of girl labour starved their employees into immorality, From the speeches of Mr Morrison and Mr Miller it was evidently wished to make this measure one to regulate boy labour. Mr Taylor said that those who denied there was a serious problem underlying his question, simply ignored facts. The Bill might be full of blunders, but he felt that it was an earnest attempt to deal with this great subject. Mr J. Hutcheson contended that the objections to the Bill could be remedied m committee. Mr Massey contended that the effect of the measure would be to hamper the industries of the colony, and objected to the provision for compulsory indenturing. Mr Fraser and Mr Lang opposed the Bill. Mr E. G. Allen supported the measure. Mr Meredith considered that the Bill contained a great deal that was useful. Mr Crowther and Mr Wilson gave general support to the measure. Captain Russell whilst m favour of the apprentice system did not think the Bill dealt with it properly. Mr Buchanan and Major Steward having spoken, the Premier replied and the second reading was agreed to by 30 to 20. BILL PASSED. The Patents Designs and Trade-marks Bill was committed, and was agreed to without amendment. The Bill was then put through its final stages. The House adjourned at 1 a.m.