PARLIAMENT.

North Otago Times, 23 September 1908, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, September 22. IJBGiISUfIVIS COUNCIL.

[The .Council met at 2.30. The Attomoy-General moved the third reading, of the Second Ballot Bill, pointing out that seamen were not disfranchised at the second ballot under the new proposals, ; Strong objections were taken to the ''gag" clauue by Mes-sro Carncross,. Loughnan, Paul, Samuel, O'Bourke, Jones, Callan, Luke anil %• Tlie last-named moved an amendment) that.the Bill be recommitted to reconsider the clause. The Attorney-General took strong objection to the amendment, .lie claimed that il was an attempt to kill tho Bill, and contended that the ixnsensus of opinion was in favor of tho clause, which was absolutely necessary to give effect to the principle of the Bill, It was «n attempt of tho keenest liberalism, and asked Councillors who desired to recognise this to pass the third reading, Tlk; third reading was passed on a division by l(i votes to 15, The Wellington and ManawatM Railway Purchase Hill was report).! from Committco unamended.

The second readingi of the Inspection of Machinery Amendment fill was agreed to.

Tho Council adjourned at 7.30,

Tho Council resumed at 8 p.m. The second reading, of the Public Bodies Leases Bill was agreed to, after members' had criticised the - res. trictcd powers of leasing bodies as existing at present.

The Impounding Amendment Bill passed its second reading; also the Firo Brigades Amendment Bill. Tho Council rose at 9.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF BBPBEBBNTATWBS,

Tho House mot at 2.30, . Formal business occupied the House until 5,10, The Industrial Conciliation end Alibi (ration Bill was'further considered iii Committee.. At clause Y\ relating to appeals from Magistrate's Courts to the Court of Arbitration, Mr Millar moved certain drafting amendments. Mr Wilford thought tho clauso vcf|uirccl careful ' consideration, There ought to k the right of uppcal on points oMmv and fact, but that was not at present the case. Tho House adjourned at 5130.

Tho Houso resumed at 7.30. On resuming the discussion on clause 19 Mr Millar said *> ho- did not wish any misconception to exist about tho olause. There was no intention of allowing persons who : (wore fined £2 jto £5 to appeal. ' .

Mr Izard said (tho curse of the -Bill and its procedure was that it involved too much—far too much of the Court and too much of lawyers. (" Hear, hear" from all parts of tho JIouso). If a Magistrate was to decido tho fine his decision shou'd be abided by.

Mr Guinness moved an amendment in tho direction of giving tho mU of appeal, on fl uestions of law and in' fact fa all cases in whioli the amount claimed exceeds £fi.

The Minister said he could not nccop* the amendment. : .Mr Guinness ..hoped members would note that answer. It -.meflnt th < it.t' , e Minister wished .{p ;_giyeihe' ri<dvf'«' appeal to the omployer P n'l witliliol; 1 it from the- workers,; r. monstrous proposal.,;- I ,; : :;.';.v^:;V.f : ';;

Mr Millar flatly denied, tWtdio^aV

tho employei whi& work&VlWwould throw back m'tho teeth of au y> hou. member B uch an accusation, 1% Bill iW as absolutely lair.' Ho "Knew what. ,was at tho baw oj this'lawyer's thought. fThey -would be deprived 0 i their f eeS# Mr Bavme protested tbu MiMßteiu reflections upon tbele gal profession.

Ml Guinnusj i tt id he was matlig no personal charge against the Minister, but merely acting what in his tne euect of t.au»e 13 wo ,j be.

The. amendment waa lost by 49 to

The Minister moved to amer,d the redrafted new subsection 2by inserting' the wmdß to iroko tbo decision of the Court of Arbitration final on appeab, "notwithstanding anything in the Declaratory Judgmental Act, }9oii,' Carried.

At clause 20, dealing with the enforcement, of. judgments Mr 'Millar moved the drafting amendment in the now proviso re-enacting, iu a modified form tho clause struck out by the Local Bills '■ Committeo requiring an employer to deduct from wages, Tho Minister, after considerable discussion; said'he would accept, 1 the amendment proposed by Mr, Sidey to include amongsts the category o!

married porsoha b widow or widower Who had children, but did not think it necessary to include a single man supporting a mother, as proposed by Mr Daycy. ,

After considerable discussion the proviso, as amended, wbb, agreed to. At this stage progress was reported lo allow the Public Works Statement to be presented. I Consideration of the Arbitration Bill was then resumed, Part 11. of the Bill was concluded with slight drfifting amendments. Part.Hl, dealing with conciliation, was proceeded with. Clause 66' passed in an amended form, proposed by tho Miuistor, without dolrale, enabling tho Government to appoint as.many as four Conciliation Commissioners, if necessary.

Mr Massey said a, Council ot Conciliation, with seven members,'would bo unwoildy; •

The Minister agreed to alter tho clauso so. as to enable a Commissioner with less than three assessors from cither side, if expedient. Mr Wilford strongly objected totho whole syst'im of conciliation provided under the clause, and said there should !:<! no permanent Commissioners, who would simply bo looked upon as officials looking for trouble. A protraoted discussion ensued. _ Eventually the clause paSßed without! further amendment, Clause 2S passed without)'dobato. At midnight, after some furthor discussion, rtlause 29 passed as amended. Mr Millar moved the now election 30, providing, amongst otiior things, for the payment of .assessors, to prevent tho validity or regularity of tho appointment of assessors being re-viewed by any Court. Tho clauso passed unaltered. In clauso 31, subsection 3 was struck out, The discussion centre:! round tho voting powers of the Council, Some discussion was initiated by Mr Guinness on tho question of whether mcotings of the Council should bo public or private. Tho Minister maintained that the option of privacy provided for in. section 21, subsection 6, must bo preserved. After some further discussion olausc 13 passed. At this stage a motion to report progress was defeated, Clauses 32, 33 and 34 passed. Progress was reported. The House rose at £ a.m.