LABOUR WORLD

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1927, Page 5

LABOUR WORLD

COAL MINES BILL “A Monstrous Proposal.” SAYS LABOUR LEADER. ANDERSON TO CONSIDER THE POINT. (Special to Argus.) WELLINGTON, November 28. “A monstrous proposal” were the words which Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, applied to the amendment proposed by the Legislative Council in the Coal Mines Amendment Bill, when the subject was under consideration in the House of Representatives this evening. Mr Anderson. Minister of Mines, moved that the House should agree to the amendment exempting mortgages existing at the timp qf the coming into operation of the Act from the clause giving miners’ wages priority as a charge upon land, plant, etc.

Mr H. E. Holland expressed surprise at Mr Anderson’s motion, and said it was a monstrous proposal that miners’ wages should be forfeited in order to give preference to mortgages, simply because there were existing mortgages. There was no protection for wages, if the existing mortgages were exempted, as many mortgages ran bn for years, and it would be a long in force at the time of the coming into operation of the Act were discharged. Several other members supported Mr Holland, and Mr Anderson moved the adjournment of the discussion in order to consider the point raised by Mr Holland.