HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 183, 3 August 1900, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A BANK OF NEW ZEALAND BILL,

When the House met this afternoon Mr Mills moved that the amendments made in committee in the Bank of New Zealand Officers' Guarantee and Provident Association Bill be agreed to.

Mr Millar moved that the Bill be referretl back to the committee, -with n view to adding an amendment that If either party is dissatisfied they may proceed to arbitration under the Act of 1800, or any similar measure that may be in force. He pointed out that nny officer joining Hie staff of the bank would have to subscribe to rule 20, which makes the decision of the Board of Management absolute in respect to any claim by a member of the Association, subject to an appeal to the bank directors. Mr Tanner seconded the resolution, characterising the rule as a remnant from the dark ages

Mr Fowlds advised the House to exercise care in this matter, as one which closely affected the employees of the bank. There was nothing in the Bill to prevent reference to arbitration.- The Association themselves possessed the power to alter or amend the rules ("No, no.") Under the Act there would be a cheap guarantee fund, all the profits from which would go to a provident fund, of which the members of the Association would receive the benefit. If appeal to arbitration, were permitted, a few wealthy members might combine to carry a case to the Privy Council, and thus dissipate the whole fund. 'The Premier drew attention to rule 32, under which an officer of the bank at the age of CO years may retire and receive such pension as he shall be entitled to; and rule 33, by which an officer of the bank at 55 years of age retiring1 at the request or with the consent of the bank directors before attaining the age of 60 years shall receive such pension as he maybe entitled" to. He supported the amend-ment-to refer the Bill back to the committee for the purpose of altering those rules, which he regarded as unfair to the bank's employees. Mr Herries adversely criticised the Bill, which, he said, gave too much power to the directors as against the Association.

Mr Napier also supported the amendment, remarking that in some respects the Bill infringed upon rights granted under the Magna Charta, which stated that justice should be denied to no man. Mr Bollard supported the amendment. He considered it altogether wrong in principle that persons interested in any 'fund should be deprived of the right of appeal to an independent outside tribunal. The amendment was agreed to on the voices. The Bill was therefore referred back to the committee for reconsideration. ' NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENTS. Qn the motion of the Premier, a nominal roll of the numbers of the , different contingents was laid on the table of the House, and it was ordered that a copy be supplied free to each next of kin. MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY. The Petitions Committee recommended that this petition be referred to the Railways Committee, t° which am amendment _was moved that it be sent to the. Public Accounts Committee, with power to call for persons and papers. A division resulted in the amendment being carx-ied by 38 to 25. " A BIG ORDER. Thp Premier annpunced that he had received from the Imperial authorities an order for the supply of 4000 tpns of bay for South Africa, and he asked hon. members to assist him with information as to where it equld be procured.

Mr Lewis

What's your price?

The Premier said no price had been quoted.

THE ADDRESSES OP SYMPATHY.

Messages were received from His Excellency the Governor, ledging the receipt of* address of sympathy with Her Majesty the Queen on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, and with the Queen and Royal family of Italy on the ussassination of the late King Humbert, which addresses His Excellency intimated he had forwarded to the principal Secretary for State to the Colonies. WELLINGTON LAND EXCHANGE BILL. A message was received from His Excellency, transmitting the draft of Certain amendments in the above Bill. Consideration of- the amendments was postponed.

Recently Mr Day, pi Tamahere, sold twenty half-bred Jerseys for exportation to Noumea. Mr Day also sent away two pure-bred Jersey yearling heifers, one to Mr Thomas Morrin.of Auckland, and the other to Mr Ileid, ,of Waiuku, at a price of close on 20 guineas each.