WORK OF PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 October 1930, Page 5

WORK OF PARLIAMENT

APPROPRIATION BILL ITEMS THE COSTS OF EDUCATION ARBITRATION ACT AMENDMENT. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. When, the House cif Representatives met t-lris morning the Appropriation Bill was introduced by Governor-Gem oral’s message, and read a first time. Urgency was accorded the passing of the Bill through all stages. .Mr R. A. Wright said lie wished, to

take the opportunity of referring to the recommendations contained in the report of the Education Committee. He did not desire to 'criticise the recommendations but merely to indicate what he estimated they would cost the country if all of them were carried out. Of course it might not be intended to give effect, to all of the recommendations.

ill- Wright estimated that the raising of the school age would involve am extra expenditure of £192,750 in capital cost, £78,750 in salaries and £20,000 in capitation. The. annual- rising of women’s salaries to the standard of the men’s salaries would cost £103,000 annually. Other 'estimates he gave wore: Reducing classes to 3-5, £200,000 per annum; capital cost of buildings for junior high- schools, £400,000. The total capital cost would be £1,192,750 and interest and- sinking fund on buildings for junior high schools would he £77,350. The total annual increase in the education vote w T -ould be £478,000. The small arms .ammunition, contract was again discussed and members placed on record views expressed during the committee stage of the Finance Bill: Air MeDougall supported the request that the ‘Government should set ux> a commission to inquire into the contract.

Al’r W. D. Lysnar urged the Government not to bring the session to a. close without putting on the Statute Book some legislation altering the 'constitution of the Aleat Board. EXTENSION OF 'RURAL CREDITS. Air W. J. Poison advocated the institution of an agricultural bank and the extension of the rural credit facilities.

Air H. Al. R.ushworbh agreed that it was necessary to provide cheap money' for the farming community', but he asserted that it would be necessary to' go farther than that to improve the conditions of the exporting primary producer.

Air Ransom replied briefly to the debate on the Appropriation Bill, which was read a second time. The committee stage was completed at 8:30 and the Bill was reported to the House without amendment.

The aeting-Prime Minister asked for the leave of the House to take three local Bills, also the .Kawar.au Gold Alining Amalgamation Bill and the Industrial Conciliation ancll Arbitration Amendment Bill, before going on with the third reading of the Appropriation Bill.

Reform members objected to the inclusion of the Industrial amid Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill in. the work for which urgency ihad been granted.

Mr 11. E. Holland asked whether the Bill would be brought on .to-morrow in the event of it not being- taken tonight. Hon. S. G. Smith was given leave ito explain the, purpose of the Bill with the object oif ascertaining whether the objection to it would bo sustained. The Minister stated that the Bill merely gave the Arbitration) Count' powers which it hiad exercised for many years under the impression that it was entitled to do so. It gave the Court the right to include within its scope agreements desired by both employers and employees in certain additional industries, provided it was' satisfied 1 such agreements were within the) interests of the public. Replying to Mr Poison, Mr Smith said the Bill would not bring in compulsory unionism for farm labourers. •Mr Ransom, replying to Mr Holland, said he had only recently become) aware of the Prime Minister’s promise, that the Bill would be brought on this session. He was not prepared to accept the statement that the Prime Minister had gone to the extent of promising that the Bill would be put through. PRIVATE BIBBS PASSED.

Whom the question whether leave ■ should be given for including all the i Bills mentioned in the work for the ■ day was tested, one member of the Reform Party still objected- to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration 1 Amendment Bill, which was thereupon excluded. The Auckland City Council and Motuilii Island Domain Board Empowering Bill, the Hawke’s Bay Rivers 'Amendment Bill, and the Wellington City and Suburban Highways Construction and Hutt Road Amendment Bill were put. .through committee without amendment, read a. third time and passed. The Kawarau Gold Mining Amalgamation Bill was put through the remaining stages and l passed. On a further application being made consent was given for the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill to be considered. Moving the second reading, Mr Smith explained that the necessity for the Bill; arose«' out of am industrial dispute between the Seamen’s Union and Sanford, Ltd., Auckland. Certain matters were settled in the Conciliation Council and others were referred to the Arbitration Court. Notwithstanding that certain clauses of the recommendations of the Conciliation l Council were agreed to by the parties the court purposely omitted these clauses because of a doubt, whether such provisions were within the scope of the court’is jurisdiction. The point was submitted to the Court of Appeal. The omitted clauses related, to questions of preference of employment to financial members over u.nfinancial members of the trawlers’ section of the union, compelling non-unionists on 'bet ing employed to become and remain members of the union and giving the union power to- deal with members wilfully missing their passage, misconducting themselves on board cir evil- > fully impeding the voyage of the ship. . The Court of Appeal decided that these were mot industrial matters and the effect of the decision was that the other matters which had been inserted in other awards on the agreement, of the parties 'concerned could no longer be inserted.

The Minister added that the object tf the Bill was to remedy this state of affairs and give the Arbitration! Court power to include in its awards, if it