Proposed Legislation.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 3, 28 September 1907, Page 8

Proposed Legislation.

(Press Association.) . Cjirlstcliurch,, September 25, Iho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, passed tbrouglt Christchuroh to-night on Ins day to Wellington.' Ho was interviewed by a member of "Tho m-oss stall, and.touched on several maitors ot public 'interest'. My Millaruvas asko'd tho following question:-< Are the. provisions of the Arbitration Bill misunderstood bv tho 111110111815?" "Tho Bill is evidently misunderstood by some ot the unionists," replied tho Minister. « However, I havo just, come from Duiiedm, where I heard a deputation or leading unionists, who understand the-,Bill, and approve of it. Ihe more tho Bill i? discussed ih* better it trill, bo.Understood. When tho reasons for many of tho clauses and-the sources from which they were requested are made known, it will bo admitted that the bill will not injure unionism . 1 hope to.got the Bill through Committee within tho next fortnight,, and it will then come down to Committee of tho House at- the earliest .possible . moment after the' Land .Bill has been dealt with. 'I think it will-meet with a favourable reception from the House, though one or two minor amendments will probably b> made. The Bill-has been favourably commented on both by members of the House and by the press of tho country." . ; ' Asked as to how long .the-'present' session would last, Mr Millar said that lio could not see. how it, could finish before the middle of November" at tho earliest,. and oven that,would require I very \closo application'.:, The. House had resolved xr'sit,oi: Mondays and that would givo five days, extra during the next-five'weeks.' ~.;'•' •,.' 'lis there any-chance of a dissolution at. tho end of. the session?" was tho nextLquestion. ■" There is no reason for, nor is '.here any chance of, adissjlution" was the reply. "Tho whole of the Government's Policy Bills are being put .through, and.wo are quite satisfied with the solidityl of the support wo are receiving from our party.- Jn fpet, the party is more united now than it has been during' any time since, tho present Government took office." ' ' . In regard to the Government's laud legislation, Mr Millar.said, that tho Bills would go through the House substantially as submitted- by the Governments -~.-'' - ' On the subject of the Monday holiday proposal," he said'that 1 the Bill which.was now before the Labour Bills Committee proposed to .allow all public holidays to be observed _pn. Mondays, excepting those which could;not be altered, "such as Good Fridav, Christmas Day,, etc!. . . Thd Hill; lie' thought, •would go through all. fight,, as it .had been, approved by the parties most interested. . The system had already ■ been'adopted in Now South Wales and South Australia, and had been found to'.wot k very well there.. It prevented business' being upset through holidays coming on' unsuitable days,. arid tie workers were given a decent holiday liy tho closing down of the estahlishmonts from . Saturday afternoon '. till Tuesday morning.' ,