PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16674, 19 October 1917, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE SHIPPING DISPUTE. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS. \[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] ■ WELLINGTON, Thursday. ' The House of Representatives met at 2.30. Mr. R. Fletcher (Wellington Central) asked the Premier if in view of the fact that. the Court. had given its decision in the shipping dispute, he could inform the House what the position was. - The Premier said '. he was not able to make ..a .stateiiteut at ■.'.: the .moment, but he would look into the matter, and whatever the law was it would be carried out

The Minister for Railways laid on the table the -'railway classification list. '•• He said that owing to the shortage of paper there would be few copies available for distribution.

f ; Tho Minister for Public Works gave notice of the State Supply Electrical Energy Bill. ,V - -'"..

Tho Native Land, Act Amendment and Native Laud Claims Adjustment Bills (Hon. W. H. Herries) were introduced and read a first time and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. -

The House went into Committee to consider the; Shops : and Offices Amendment Bill, introduced by Mr.' A. H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) .> The Bill proposes to' regulate, tho hours of. employment of females in hotels, '.restaurants, and refreshment • rooms. Mr. Hindmarsh explained that; the' Minister for Labour had provided him. with certain amendments : to meet the requirements of tho Labour Department. These he accepted, and would move them, as they improved the machinery without affecting the principle of the Bill.

. Shorter' Hours of J Labour. In the discussion that followed, Mr. j Hindmarsh was congratulated on his efforts to shorten the hours of labour for girls in places of entertainment, but the majority of speakers urged that 10.50 p.m. was ,late -enough; for any girl to j work, disapproving ; of the proposal , to permit girls to work till midnight, if sleeping accommodation is provided on the I premises. V 'Mr. Hindmarsh refused to accept any I modification of the midnight hour, as it was a compromise arrived at by the Labour Bills Committee, and was part of his understanding with the Premier. The clause was passed, providing that no woman or girl be employed in or about a hotel or restaurant after. 10.30 p.m., unless suitable sleeping accommodation is provided in the hotel, restaurant, or adjacent building. If sleeping accommodation is provided the hours ; during : which women or girls may be employed: after 10.30 p.m. shall not exceed 75 in any one year.' ; A new. clause was added, providing that regulations be drafted relating to sleeping accommodation. v '■■-'■:' ■ ■''" Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) moved a new. clause, providing for uniform hours for closing', chemists' snops on the afternoon of the weekly half-holiday. % On the division. being taken the amendment was carried by 52 to 8. ' On : the motion of the Premier, emer- ' gency pharmacies were exempted from this clause.' - ■-

The Bill was then reported with amendments. .' ■ ',' . ..'■ .•••

The Hutt Road Amendment Bill, providing . for the raising of.'■ a loan to lay down a concrete motor track- in the centre ofjhe road, without taking ; a poll of the ratepayers,-was" introduced,; and was under discussion when . the House adjourned at 5.30. .••■.''■.■;:.,••:;■; /I

Lengthy-; Discussion. . - When the ; House resumed at 7.301r. Payne (Grey j Lynn) moved :an amendment ■in the Bill in the . direction ■ that the'; proposed I loan of £30,000 i; should Ibe raised until a poll of the ratepayers was taken. " ; ' A lengthy discussion ensued, which took the form of a mild stonewall against Mr. T.'.K. ? Sidey's v Definition of ', Time ■> Bill (Daylight; : Savin?), J which -was ' further down on the Order Paper. = At ■ eleven o'clock, however, a decision was reached, the amendment; being. lost on' the ■ voices. Somo progress l was "then .made, but \ the subject of : .debentures became. the subject of a further discission. The : Bill passed the; Committee stage at 12.15,, when pro-.; gress was reported; .. ' . • _ The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment i Bill, i in charge of Mr. A. Walker,. (Duriedin, North), [■ the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, and the J: Hutt Road Bill were then read a third time and passed. " , Mr. Massey moved that a conference :be asked. for with the Legislative Council: on the; Sale;of; Liquor Restriction Bill, : and that Sir. Joseph Ward,; Sir ; John • Findlayy; and; Mr. C., A. Wilkinson : and the; mover i be managers to confer with the Council. % ;■';: Mr. Massey : intimated that the "bnsiness for to-morrow would be the Social Hygiene 8i11. ..-. .' - • . .. / ; : ,Tho House rose at 12.30. . v