PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21995, 3 April 1935, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 2. The House met at 2.30. Mrs M‘Combs was granted five days’ leave of absence on account of illness, and Mr M'Keen five days on account of sickness in his family. The Labour Bills Committee reported on a petition seeking repeal of the Apprenticeship Act, 1923. The committee ■ had no recommendation to make, as the question was one of policy, but suggested that the matter should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Mr Jones’ hoped the Apprenticeship Act would be repealed. He doubted if the decisions of apprenticeship committees, as now constituted, were valid, as tho personnel of the committees had altered and the vacancies had been filled without reference to the court. Mr Semple said it was not safe now for any young man to bind himself for any length of time with an assurance of being properly trained. He said young men should be taught trades and should be highly trained. _ They should not he allowed to remain unskilled labourers. Mr Parry urged that the decisions of apprenticeship committees should bo validated before the House rose, and young people should be given a chance to learn a trade. The report was tabled. The balance of the sitting was occupied in a general debate on unemployment, which is reported under separate headings. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Local Election and Polls Amendment Bill was passed. The Council passed the same resolution as tho House of Representatives congratulating the King on the attainment of his silver jubilee. The Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Bill was reported _ from the Statutes Revision Committee with amendments in committal. Tho debate on this Bill is reported elsewhere in the issue.