HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 51, 7 September 1928, Page 11

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. AY. L. Martin (Raglan) gavenotice to 113k the Minister of Industries and Con.raerco whether he had noticed the big disparity between the price charged for bacon and hams to the consumer and the very low price received by the producer, and whether he did not think an investigation by the Bunrd of Trade was warranted to protect, the interests of both producer and consumer. The Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) gave notice to ask tho. Prime Minister whether he will consider the introduction of legislation providing for tho preparation and printing of n Maori electoral roll for the Parliamentary elections. Mr M. J. Savage (Auckland West) gave notice to ask tho Prime Minister whether it was the intention of tho Government to introduce legislation giving effect to a remit passed by tho Electric Power Boards' Conference, in which it was asked that boards should be permitted to raise loans without the consent of the ratepayers. On the motion of Mr. E. P. Leo (Oamaru), the time in which the Select Committee on the Summer Time (Local Empowering) Bill should report to the Houso was extended until Tuesday next. Mr. R. W. Smith (Waimarino) gave notice to ask the Minister of Public "Works if it was a fact that Public Works employees, on finishing their engagement, were not re-engaged at current rates of pay, and if it was a fact would tho Minister see to it that the practice was discontinued. Mr. Smith also gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance if future applications for State Advances loans could bo dealt with in the order in which they were received, and that applicants should be immediately informed if their securities were not acceptable, in order that they might make arrangements elsewhere. MINES STATEMENT. On presenting, the Mines Statement, the Prime Minister read a long statement narrating the history of a recent dispute at Cascade Creek, Westland, over the employment of non-union labour. It was quite clear, he said, that the Cascade Company was within its rights in working men under the co-operative principle. The Miners' Union took exception to the company exercising such a right. A strike took place and a demonstration was made against the co-operative workers, someone suggesting that tho latter should be tarred and feathered and its car thrown over tho bank. A piece of 4in by Sin timber was thrown at the ear. It was clear that the members of the Monaghan party could not be deemod to be tributers. A friendly settlement had since been arrived at under which a section of tho mine would bo worked under the co-opera-tive system, and it was hoped that it would be extended to other mines. It was hoped that intimidation would not bo practised against co-operative workers, but if it was found that steps were being taken to intimidate the men and the Government was approached to terminate it, it would bo the bounden duty of the Government to »co that co-operative parties were permitted to enjoy that measure of liberty of action to which everybody had an established right. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) described the statement of the Prime Minister as a mutilated one, and said it had apparently been made with the intention of stirring up trouble on the minefields. The dispute had been amicably settled, and there could be no excuse for reviving it. Workers all over the world had objected to the tribute system of work. Mr. V. 11. Potter (Ro'skill): "It's the best system in the world." Mr. Holland: "The honourable gentleman knows nothing about it." Mr. Potter: "Oh, yes I do." Mr. Speaker: "Order!" Mr. Holland: "The honourable gentleman has never worked under trade union conditions." Mr. Potter: "No." Mr. Speaker: "I am sorry to have to warn the honourable member I will havß to name him if he persists in making disorderly interjections when he has been called to order." Mr. Holland said that the miners had used conciliatory methods together with the alliance, and Mr. Robert Semplc— who would be the member for Wellington East after the elections —(laughter) —had gone down to the West Coast in connection with it. Mr. Holland declared that the Prime Minister wished to precipitate industrial trouble. Mr. Potter: "Rot!" Mr. Coates: "Oh, nonsense!" Mr. Holland said that the Prime Minister had covered up aome of the facts and had sought to create .the impression that violence was usod. He accused Mr. Coates of a lack of courtesy and fairness in apringing the statement on the House without giving the Speaker notice. Mr. Potter: "You're no miner; you're an agitator." * Mr. Holland: "I can't be responsible for what certain members say in this House when they are not responsible for what' they are saying." Mr. Holland said that the agreement, reached provided that tho men should work under the co-operative system in the same way as other miners. Now j Zealand was still importing large quantities of coal, and tho result was that the miners in this country were standing idle. (Left sitting.)