SESSION ENDING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 271, 26 August 1943, Page 4

SESSION ENDING

ALL-NIGHT SITTING OF HOUSE. WORKERS' COMPENSATION BILL. THE SECOND READING DEBATE. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Representatives fulfilled expectations of an all-night sitting in the endeavour to conclude the business of the session last night. The second reading of the War Pensions Bill was passed shortly after midnight and the Committee stages of this measure,-also of war pensions and allowances (Mercantile Marine) Amendment Bill and Workers’ Compensation Bill were put through and the Bills were passed. The House also passed two private Bills, Otaki and Porirua Trust Bill and Papawai and Laikokirikiri Trust Bill, these measures being disposed of by 2.5 p.m.

Then began a hard-fought debate on the- second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, which was continued until the breakfast adjournment.

The Minister of Labour (the Hon. P. C. Webb) moving the second reading said that the proposals contained in the Bill were similar to legislation that had existed in Australia for many years. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) said that no Bill had been introduced for many year's that -aimed a more direct blow at the system of British justice than the present measure. It removed the right of appeal from one Court to another. It was unadulterated Trade Union domination.

The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that the Bill gave expression only to what amounted to recommendations from some of the Dominion’s judges.

Mr C. G. E. Harker (National, Waipawa) said the Bill was another attack by the Government on some of the cardinal principles of justice. The Government was placing expediency before principle and Party before the welfare of the country.

Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga asked if the Government would apply to itself the provision in the Bill that, a worker must not be victimised because of participation in Union activities. Would it apply this rule in the case of the Railway Department and Post and Telegraph Department, he asked. The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser said lie could not understand what all tlie clamour against the Bill was about. What it proposed to do was fair, and it only carried out the intentions of the- Arbitration Court. The first division on the passing of tlie second reading was called for at 8 a.m., the second reading being carried by 37 votes to 19. The House formally went into committee before adjourning for breakfast. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. (P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. After the House of Representatives resumed in committee at 9.30 to-day, tho debate on the short title of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was continued until 10.20 a.m., when the clause was put through by ,32 votes to 19.

On Clause .2, Opposition members moved a number of amendments, which were mainly merely alterations in wording. These were all defeated by 34 votes to 17, and the clause was passed at 11.15 by 35 votes to 17. Clause 3 was passed without division, and a minor amendment! to Clause 4 was lost on tlie voices.

Mr Holland moved a further amendment to the clause, giving the right of appeal from the Court of Arbitration to the Appeal Court.

The amendment was defeated by 35 votes to 19 and the Bill was passed at 12.34 pan. The Prime Minister (the lit. Hon. Peter Fraser) said that the Government had decided not to proceed with the Education Amendment Bill, as the member for Napier (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) had notified him that ho intended to move an amendment on a clause in the main Act dealing with secular education. As that was a question of first importance, and as evidence could not be called tat this late stage for or against any change, tfie Bill would be held over. The raising of the school age to 15 could be done by regulation. The House adjourned at 12.40 p.m. after Mr Eraser hud intimated that the final stages of the session would come on after the Legislative Council had dealt with the Bills, probably between five and six this evening.