PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15097, 13 September 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

ATTITUDE OF. GOVERNMENT,

[BY telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.]

Wellingtons Thursday. Tire Hon so of Representatives met at 2.30 this afternoon.

The Legislative Council Bill (Hon. W F. Massev) was road a first, time.

Tlio Minister {or Public Works (.Hon W. Fraser) drew tho attention of t] l9 House to a letter appearing in a Southern paper advising workers to keep away from the Midland railway ■works at tho Bealev as tho wages paid by the present Government were lower than those paid by pre. vious Governments. Ho pointed out that the conditions were exactly the same 11057 as they had been previously. The Govern, nient had made 110 alterations whatever except in the direction of improving i] lo conditions of the men. such as the supply, ing of timber for floors of the men's tents. Replying to Mr. Davoy (Christchurch East), Mr. Fraser said ho did ik'.i believe in tho co-operative labour system as carried on in this country for some years past. Ho intended to have an alteration effected. Ho believed in a small contract system, but he did not want that statement misconstrued into making the Minister say he was opposed to the large contract system. Bills in Committee. Tho House went into committee on a number of Bills.

On the Gold Duty Amendment Hill (removing tho duty from gold sweepings), Hon. F. M. B. Fisher moved to amend tho Bill by including dentists and other people's sweepings within its scope. Tho motion was carried, and the Bill was reported.

Tho Waihou an/1 Ohinemuri River? Improvement Amendment Bill was reported without-amendment-

The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill was amended to provide that the Governor may by Order-in-Coun-cil, on Teceipt of a resolution requesting him to do so passed at a general meeting of the society, change the name, of a reincorporated society, and such alteration shall not affect any rights or obligations of the society. The Bill was reported. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. Superannuation Bill. When the House resumed at 7.30, Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Superannuation Bill. He said tho proposal was that local bodies should be given fuller powers tliau they at present possess to bind their successors and generally to make the scheme at present in operation mere workable. Sir Joseph Ward suggested compulsory grouping of local bodies for the purposes of the Bill. He believed that local bodies desired to deal fairly with their employees. He considered that by combining local bodies could achieve very much better results than if they worked single-handed, more especially if the system were made mandatory. • • Mr. Witty (Riccarton) contended that either the scheme should be made compulsory or that the funds should be subsidised by Government so as to put them on a financial basis. Mr. Davey (Christchurch East.) said itwas only reasonable that the State should subsidise the scheme. He suggested that the scheme should be worked in conjunction with the National Provident Fund:' Mr. Ell (Christchurch South) said they could not do better than ' to make the National Provident Fund available to employees of local bodies. So. far. he said, only one thousand people had availed themselves of the advantages of the fund. The Minister, in reply, said ho was prepared to give consideration to the proposals of members. The suggestions in connection with the National Provident Fund appeared to him to be perfectly reasonable. The Bill was then read a second time. Empire Shipping Law. The Minister for Marine moved the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill. It was intended, he said, to bring the New Zealand la«" info line with Imperial law. He laid stress on the fact that- the Bill -provided for regular boat drill on intercolonial and home trade ships. Since the Bill wat> drafted amendments had been suggested, and these would be submitted to the House in duo course. The second reading was carried on the voices. The House rose at 10.50 p.m.