PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES " The House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Mr. A. E. Glover gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if the National Government would, during the recess, prepare a Fair Rent Bill, so as to reduce the cost of living. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh asked the Minister for Labour (the Prime Minister) if he could do anything to, relieve the demand for houses in Wellington. The Prime Minister said Tie recognised there was a very strong demand for houses, especially cottages, in Wellington, and, in fact, in every chief centre. He did not know what' the reason was, but the fact remained. He proposed to arrange with the Department to go in for the erection of a few houses in Wellington at an early date ; it was not possible" to get as much money as last year, but he hoped to be able to spend not less than £50,000 in the various centres on workers' cottages this year, and he would see tha>i Wellington got a full share. Mr. T. M. Wilford read a telegram he had received from fifteen Labour leaders in Auckland, protesting against the proposed alterations in the Bill dealing with the exclusion of workers from industrial unions. The Prime Minister said he had received a copy of the telegram. It was one of several protests he had receivedHe had also received word that a deputation representing 1500 waterside workers was on its/way to Wellington. He thought the Sest thing that could be done was to hold the Bill over until next session to enable evidence to be heard before the Labour Bills Committee. Mr. Wilford : Can't we do something here? Mr. Massey: "It's not' such an easy thing as you think." He added that the matter would probably be before the Cabinet this afternoon or to-morrow. Mr. Albert E. Glover read a letter from an Auckland firm, showing that tenderers for troopship supplies in that city were handicapped by freight charges to Wellington. The Hon. A. M. Myers recognised the difficulty, and said that sufficient notice would be allowed of the requirements of the troopships, and ■ every endeavour would be given to enable outside tenderers to compete without disadvantage. (Proce-jding.)