POLITICAL NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 30 October 1919, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

LEGISLATIVE*COUNTI L ACT.

{By Telegraph.— Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, This T)ay. - Suggestions that M> Massey ami his party were dodgim _ the falling into operation of the Legislative cil Act, 1914. providing for the (. ouncil to become Elective, were re uted in the Council hy S r Francs Bel! vestcdav in answer to a question He many extracts from Hansard to ahow that Mr Massey, Sir Joseph Waul amt himself had at different limes made the positron plain. ‘I have demo - Btrated” he said, atter reading the extracts, “that there was a stipulation ahd condition made hy the Leader ot the Liberal party in joining the National Government, that the Act should remain in abeyance and that, year by year we have moved accord* indy for the postponement of the Act. and on each occasion 1 have declared that as soon as rho Coalition was ended and if Mr Massey’s Government *as in power, the Act would be brought into force. There has neve been any wavering on the pait of - Massey’s Government from that postal! and any statement that for any other reason than the agreement made and honourably kept the Bill has been postponed, is incorrect and should not have been made by any person who took the slightest trouble | to, investigate the facts. RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL. .The - Railways Committee yesterday reported recommending that the Government- Railways amendment Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments as shown. The committee further recommended the Goyernme forthwith to set up a Board consist- , ing of (1) (a) a Judge of the Arbitration Court, or other Judge of. Supreme Court, who shall be Chauman • b) representative of Hie Go- ( vemment; (c) represent ative apmont-; ed on nomination by the Railway j Officers* Institute; (d) r( ? r ? V appointed on nomination of A.& k.p>. , I (el representative appointed on norm-j nation of the Locomotive Enginedrivers. Firemen, and Cleaners Association. (2) The nominated members referred tp in (c), (d) f”d (e) above io act as members of the Board o ty in respect of such matters as relate; , +v.eir relbective branches of the Railway ‘service. (3) The duty of the Board shall be to cons’der and report upon stich questions affectm* wages and working conditions ot members of the Railway service as may be referred to it by the Minister of Railways. . Mr Massey indicated that ne thought the proposal a good one and said if the Bqard was set up and made any recommendation for increase of wages he would put proposals befor e the Cabinet^ MATERNITY BONUS. The National Provident Fund Act having been amended t 0 increase the maternity bonus payable to friendly society members and the salary limit Mr Wiliord aA-l the Minister would also iai*t. Up s.u Sg limit ol thoee entitled t» maternity bonne. He was ot * - whether this was provided toi m B ’Tbe Hon. W. H. Homes said that if this was not provided for m tb a hill it would be provided foi «,i„n when there «»nld be a cuneoldating pension measiue. THE LAND BILL. „ T he debate „7ttTT-nd Ml «• adjourned shortly aHei ■ 1 vhen the bouse received news ot M Colvin’s tragic death. BOARD OV TRADE BILL. t* t* The dtfference over the Board 'oi Trade Bill has been settled, and Council trittxhjw 'H„ni )e ‘that l» sssrs jLt jszA^ " r* rvnmoaft of answering a charge for the purpose o House agreed Connell in » Jf«Tb. ToS.' 1 ' in regulation* made by Council was 22 that the , matter to by regnlat.on..