MEXICO’S TROUBLES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 187, 23 July 1920, Page 5

MEXICO’S TROUBLES.

STRIKES TIE UP RAILWAYS. New York, July 21. Telegrdms from Vera Cruz state that strikes have tieyl up the. railways and demolished industry throughout Mexico. The Government is considering operations .by the military. Conflicts between strikers and strike, breakers are threatened at many points.—(A. and N.Z-)

MR. VEITCH’S BILL. NEW LABOUR LEGISLATION. (Per Press Association.! LEG 1 SI. ATT YE COUNCII,. The. Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Amendment . Act. He explained that Hie Bill provided for the period on active service to bo counted in the five years necessary lor solicitors to' Qualify for admission as barristers. ’lt further provided for a repeal of the previous enactment under which no barrister practising as a solicitor, or no barrister in partnership with a solicitor, shall be appointed King’s Counsel. Hon. J. MacGregor, while agreeing that the old provision regarding K.C.’s was wrong, said that personally he believed that. K.C.’s were not properly applicable to New’ Zealand. *Tho Bill was road the second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

Hoh. Sir Francis . Bell moved the second reading of the Revocation of Naturalisation Amendment Bill, explaining that it made operative the principal Act by giving power to demand tho return of papers revoked.

The Bill was read the second time. Hon. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the New Zealand Institute Amendment Bill, which provides for the increase of the Government's subsidy front £5OO to £lOOO. The Bill was put through all stages and passed. The Registration of Aliens Amendment. Bill was read the second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, Sir Francis Bell intimating that certain amendments were to he made.

Hon. J. MacGregor, at the suggestion of Sir Francis Bell, agreed to refer hjs Juries Act Amendment Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee and the Council rose at 4.22 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. DOMINION STATE BANK. Air. AV. A. A’eitch moved the second reading of the Dominion State Bank Bill, which he said was framed with the idea of establishing a State Bank similar to tho Commonwealth State Bank. Such an institution with its own bank notes would not debase currency, as generally suggested, while it‘would be of infinite benefit to local bodies and to the State generally. The amount of interest which would be saved would more than compensate for the amount of taxation now received from private banks. It was proposed to empower tl«e Treasury to advance to the bank half a million to give it a working capital. In Australia it was intended to transfer to. the Commonwealth Bank a million pounds, but it was never necessary to transfer any money which he claimed was n satisfactory position. Loans were raised for Australia cheaper by the State Bank that they could have been raised in London, 4/6 against £2 7/6 per cent. War loans had been raised cheaply in New Zealand, but he doubted if more cheaply than in Australia. He quoted figures to show the business done by the Commonwealth Bank. The last balance sheet showed that the accumulated profits amounted to £2,363,500. Banking was a safe and profitable business and the saving in interest alone would justify the State entering upon it. State competition was necessary to check the enormous profits now being made by private banks. Mr. Massey said the Bill was an Appropriation Bill, and lie could have stopped the mover- if he pleased, but he thought the subject was one which ought to be discusesd. He had no wish to say one word against the Commonwealth Bank, but he wished to point out that there was this difference between that bank and New Zealand banks, namely, there was no partnership between the Australian banks "and the State when the State Bank was started. There is a partnership between the State and the Bank of New Zealand. AVe were junior partners certainly, but we got a great deal of money out of the Bank of New Zealand in one way or another. Wc got £343,501 last year. As there would be further banking legislation this session he believed that in the near future we would be getting a great deal more in dealing with the Bank; of New Zealand. They had ii-'vcr made unfair demands upon the State and he considered we had raised our loans as cheaply as other countries. To him the position was this; We were partners in the Bank of New Zealand and we could not start another institution doing the same business and competing with it without hurting that bank most seriously. The existing arrangement was an excellent one and he was not disposed to interfere with it. Tfie Savings Bank was a most satisfactory institution and was most helpful to the Government in its finance, but we equid not. turn it into a commercial bank. If we started a Slate-owned bank we would to a great extent be placing the banking of the country in one man’s hands and he did not think the people would stand such a position as that. The position of the bank was most satisfactory and showed that the bank was thoroughly sound. So far as the country was .-'Oneerned, we got a good investment in the Bank of New Zealand, and he Lad pleasure in saying that the Government had'never asked that institution for any service that had not been freely extended to it. The Bill was read the second time. “WORKERS’ COAIPENSATION.

Mr. E. J. Howard moved the second reading of the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill. He stated the Bill proposed in view of the increased cost of living to raise the compensation payable for death or total disablement, from £5OO to £/50. . It was proposed that ihc compensation should begin from the day of the accident. Section four dealt with lead poisoning, leaving the time in which the disease may be contracted indefinite, because it could not be defined. Lead poisoning was not strictly an accident and ought not to be included in this Bill. There ought to be special legislation dealing with occupational diseases. It was proposed to increase medical assistance from £1 to a sum up to £25 and the weeklypayment was raised from £2 to £3 per week. Clause f ! abolished the “pernicious system’’ known as common employment. ’ Th(} House adjourned at 3.30 p.m., and resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. ‘ APPRENTICES. Air. Bartram moved the second reading of the Masters and Apprentices Act. Amendment Bill. He said the tendency to-day was for boys and girls to drift into unskilled labour. They were neglecting the trades because the term of apprenticeship was not made attractive enough. The object of the Bill was to improve this.' The present Act was altogether foreign to the spirit of the age. An apprentice was bound down by penaL.clauses. There were none, such in hl% Bill. He wanted to make the term of apprenticeship a time in young prn^le’s lives which would leave pleasant memories. He proposed to shorten the term of indenture and to sec that more liberal remuneration was given and the hours of employment curtailed where the apprentice is attending a technical class. The Bill was read the second time,

and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. FACTORIES AMENDMENT. Mr. D. ,G. Sullivan formally moved the Second reading of the Factories Amendment Bill, which was referred to the Labour Bills Committee without debate, and the House rose at 11 o ’clock. TO-DAY’S BUSINESS. (Special to “Tribune.") Parliament Buildings, July 23. Government business will be taken in the House to-day after the usual formal matters have been dea.t . with. At the head-of the Order Paper is the consideration of a report in regard to an amendment made in the Gaming Amendment Bill in the Committee and it is safe to say members will take an advantage of the opportunity of .explaining what they said in Committee. Following the Gaming Bill is the Judicature Amendment Bill, which also has been through Committee, and then wi.l be taken the second reading of the Arms Bill. There will still remain the • second readings of the Magistrate Courts Amendment (matter of salaries) War Continuance Bill, and New Zealand Standard Time Bill.