PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES SOME SMALL BILLS. Some small Bills were yesterday put through concluding stages in the House of Representatives. Among them were the following : — In Committee on the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill it was pointed out by Mr. Young that the fixing of the travelling expenses of members oi Hospital Boards would operate unfairly in the case of country districts, where it was necessary for men to travel from remote parts. The Hon. G. W. Russell said that if there were circumstances of this sort the people of the district represented could very well make up the difference in the expenses'". However, he promised to look into the matter. The Bill was put through Committee, read a third time, and passed. FACTORIES ACT AMENDMENT. The second reading of the Factories Act Amendment Bill was moved by the Prime Minister, who explained that it was to enable employers in certain condensed milk factories in Southland to work extended hours during four months of the busy season, a provision necessary to the success of the industry. Overtime would, of course, be paid for. The Bill was read a second time. In Committee, Mr. A. H. Hindmarsa contended that the Bill should not have been brought down at this late hour of the session. Mr. J. Payne urged that the Bill be allowed to stand over. It •was grossly unfair to bring before the House a Bill that had not been before the Labour Bills Committee. Mr. P. C. Webb also istrongly opposed^ the measure, because of its contentious nature. He thought an opportunity should be afforded of ascertaining whether the employees affected wanted the Bill. Mr. T. M. Wilford was of opinion that the were not in favour of such legislation, and he would not support the Bill. Mr. G. J. Anderson urged that the Bill was necessary to > foster a- growing industry. Finally, at 9.30 p.m., on the motion of the Premier, progress was reported on the Bill.