HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8726, 27 November 1913, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, November 26. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Amendments Agreed To.

The amendments made by the Council in the Local Bodie's:Ldans Bill and the Land Drainage Bill were agreed to.

Sir Joseph Ward asked a question of the Premier relative to the strike, and % that, and Mr Massey's reply, are reported in anothe rcolumn. First Readings. The Fruit Preserving Bill, the Wan-. ganui School Sites Amendment Bill, and the Kaiatai Land Drainage Bill, , introduced by Governor's Message, i were read a first time. -.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumd at 7.30 p.m Shipping and Seamen.

Amendments made by the Legislative Council in, the Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill were considered.

Mr Hindmarsh protested against striking out the repeal of clause 293 of the original. Act,^ thereby relieving shipping companies from liability for loss in cases where, the ship is well found. •."::'■■: ■.:'. ■■■ w\-,?>■'.■ -v^V' Mr * Nosworthy " moved that -'the amendments should be disagreed with. Mr Bell argued that.the liability for loss was not now borne, by the shipping company, but by the. Underwriters. If the liability were nbw put on to the companies it would mean that freights would go up, while it was doubtful whether underwriting . charges would be correspondingly reduced. , These views were combated by Mr ,'lsitt and Mr Payne, who contended that the rates could not bo passed on by the companies without 1 revolt from the public/ The companies had gone I far enough in that respect already. I The Minister accepted 'the 1 amendment, and Messrs Hindmarsh, Lee, and Fisher were appointed managers to confer with the Legislative Council. imprest Supply. An Imprest Supply Bill jps introduced by Governor's Message. Mr Payne justified, the Federation of Labour in connection-with the industrial deadlock.

Mr Webb claimed that the Social Democratic Party had. used every endeavour to give, the Government' a chance to find a solution for. the strike, but no solution had been "found. Instead, the gag had been applied, and he now realised that this country could never have prosperity under the present party, which had done nothing but blunder since it camre into power. He was satisfied that had the Mackenzie Government , remained in "power the Waihi strike would not have lasted a month, and all parties would have been better off. He contended that the Federation of Labour was a legally registered body, and was not in the control of foreigners, as alleged by the Prime Minister. In deciding not to corns ivncler the_ Arbitration Act they were within their rights, and the employers were .taking •up ■ an ■ improper position in insisting upon the Arbitration Act or nothing.; He advocated an amendment of the Trades Union Act, legalising agreements under that Act as the only possible solution of the trouble, as the Arbitration Act could not be made acceptable by means of bayonets and batons.

Mr Veitch agreed that it was the duty of Parliament to step in and settle a dispute'between.two stubborn parties.He had no faith in the methods of the Federation of Labour, as it was impossible, to improve the conditions of labour by means of the strike, either sectional, or general. He advocated a compulsory conference of the parties, which would investigate the facts impartially and so help _th"c public to come to a more, just opinion of the circumstances leading up to 'the strike.' He? defended Sir Joseph Ward against the charges of* embarrassing the Government by speaking of the strike in the House...

The discussion was proceeding when the telegraph office, closed at 2 a.m. A report of the subsequent proceedings appears in another column. The House eventually rose at 4.15 a.m.