PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 198, 22 July 1926, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SEVERAL BILLSDEALT WITH. Per Press Association. -WELLINGTON, July 21. In the Legislative Council to-day the Oil in Territorial Waters Bill, the Evidence Amendment Bill, the Destitute Persons Amendment Bill and. the Death Duties Amendment Bill were introduced from the House of Representatives and each read the first time. On the motion of Hon.- J. Barr the Summer Time Bill was read the second time pro forma and referred to a committee in order that evidence may bo taken. The Captive Birds Shooting Prohibition Bill was put through the final stages and passed without amendment. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NOTICE OF*NEW BILLS, In the House of Representatives Hon. G. J. Anderson gave notice of his intention to introduce the Rent Restriction Bill. Hon. R. F. Bollard , gave notice of his intention to introduce the Cinematograph Film Censorship Amendment SAWMILLING INDUSTRY. Replying to Mr Holland, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. D. McLeod said he was sure that the sawmills in the Dominion were for several reasons not having a very good time. He .was aware that there had been considerable shortening of hands at West Coast mills recently, and the Government would take the position of the timber industry into account at an early date. No doubt importations of timber were contributing to the slackness of trade.

FIRST READINGS. The following bills were introduced and read the first time: Guardianship of Infants Bill (Hon. F. J. Rolleston), Cemeteries Amendment Bill (Hon. J. A. Young), Dairy Industry Amendment Bill (Hon. 0. J. Hawken). COMPENSATION BILL. When the House resumed at 7.30 Mr Howard (Christchurlh South) moved the second reading of the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, which he described as one -of those hardy annuals which made its regular appearance, got to the committee stage and then disappeared. He explained that the bill provided that when death resulted from accident compensation amounting to £IOOO be paid in every case. When a worker is incapacitated by .accident the bill proposed to inci-ease his weekly payments from 58 per cent, of his wages to 100 per cent. It also proposed to abolish the limitation of six years during which compensation is now paid to the whole period during which a worker suffers incapacity and to extend the total amount payable to £IOOO. Medical allowance is now limited to £1; the bill aims at striking this limitation out and provides for full medical expenses being paid. The bill eliminates the provision in the present law regarding “common employment,” and provides that accident insurance shall be a State monopoly. The bill was read the second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee.

UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ BILL, Mr Fraser’s Unemployed Workers’ Bill was next called on for the second reading, whereupon Hon. G. J. Anderson raised the objection that it was a money bill and could not be introduced by a private member. Mr Fraser replied that even if itwas a money bill that need not firrest the second reading as the objection could be taken at a committee stage. The Speaker ruled, that the second reading debate might proceed since such appropriation as might, be in the bill was not the main purpose of the bill, but was a minor feature.

Mr Fraser said that unemployment was inseparable from our industrial system. It was therefore the duty of Parliament to do here what every civilised country . had done; make legislative provision against unemployment. That was what his bill proposed to do. His bill did not provide for Contributions, from the workers, but it did provide for a levy from the employers and from the State if necessary, but lie was prepared to consider any scheme which would alleviate the rigors of unemployment. He did not say the Government had no sympathy with unemployment but the sympathy wanted was work and in this respect the arrangements made by the Government were quite inadequate. I' Hon. J. G. Anderson said that in years past unemployment had been so low that the Government had not considered it necessary to set up a permanent system to deal with the problem. The Government had not lost sight of the question, but it was vei-y difficult to decide which was best to do. He did not think they could put the bill, through this session, but in the recess he would inquire into the whole question. He did not agree with all the proposals in the bill. For instance he did not think the whole burden' could be thrown on to the industry, but he could assure the House that the matter was being considered, and possibly a Government bill would be brought down next session. The bill was read the second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee.