PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 August 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 26. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. - Mr. Massey stated that he proposed to withdraw the Legislative Amendment Bill, providing for a modified form of proportional representation, and to substitute another Bill, which he would bring down by Governor’s message. That would get it out of the way of other Bills which he would like to see introduced. The Motherhood Endowment Bill, introduced by Mr. J. M. Savage (Auckland West) was read a first time.

In introducing the Unemployed Workers’ Bill Mr. P. Fraser said he knew he had no hope of getting such a Bill through, but he hoped the Government would take the matter up this session. The Bill was talked out. Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) moved the first reading of the Coal-Mines Nationalisation Bill, which he said proposed to give effect to the main provisions of the industries committee’s report of 1919, which provided, amongst other things, for the comfortable housing of miners, superannuation provisions and State owner-, ship and the qpntrol of shipping necessary to carry the coal produced. This report, Mr. Holland said, was accepted by the House without dissent nearly five years ago, and the Government had not taken any steps to give effect to the recommendations of its own committee

The Bill provided for the setting up of a mining council, consisting of four members selected by the Government and four by the Miners’ Federation, the Minister for Mines to be chairman, and in his absence the Under-Secretary would act. The Bill proposed that the Government should take over all mines as considered advisable. The mining council would have power to prospect for coal and give directions regarding wages, etc. He added that- coal required by the Dominion would under the measure be produced within the Dominion. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) supported the Bill. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) regretted that nothing had been done by the Governmeiit to give effect to the recommendations of the Industries ComSlittee. Coal was a wasting asset, but nationalisation did not mean that the mines must be worked by the State. If it proved to be of advantage there was no reason why private individuals should not work seams..

Mr. J. O’Brien (Westland) deprecated what he described as the wasteful means used in mining coal under private ownership in New Zealand. Much of this was due to gambling by the companies, wlio worked the mines or .closed them down just as it suited them, and not as it suited the country. i The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) said that everyone wanted to know why the housewife had t° pay so muck for coal when it cost so little to produce. Who was getting the difference ? The people also wanted to know why Newcastle coal was being used on our railways, and he desired to have some information as to what effect the working of the mines on the co-operative system had on the marketing of coal. Those in authority and in a position to get at facts seemed too tired to do so ; The Bill was read ‘a first "time. Tn® House went into committee on the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Extradition Amendment Bill, which were both passed without amendment. Ihe Bills were then read a third time and passed. The Fruit Control Bill was, on. the motion of the Hon. W. Noswortliy, read a second time pro forma and referred to the agricultural and stock committee.

The Masseurs’ Registration Amendment Bill was read a second time, on the motion of the Hon. Sir M. Pomare. Ihe Ministers said that masseurs had asked for the legislation, which was mainly technical, and it brought them into line with other countries The Bui defined the term “massage. 5 ' The Bill provided for an increase from one to two masseurs on the registration board the remaining members of the board being the registrar and a medical practitioner as under the 1920 Act, n °t apply to chiropractors. Ihe Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill, which is purely a con. sohdatnig measure, was read a second time, on the motion of the Hon. R F Bollard.

The House rose at 10.15 till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.