PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3572, 26 October 1898, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

COUNCIL. Tuesday, October 25. The Connell met at 2.30. The adjourned debate on tbo Master ana Apprentice Bill was continued, but was interrupted by the Minister ot‘ Education announcing the death of the Hon J. Shephard, and the Council adjourned at 3.45 until 7.30 as a mark of respect to the deceased gentleman's memory. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30. The Master and Apprentice Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was passed through Us final stages, at tbo request of the Minister of Education, without discusnion. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitral* tion Bill was road a second time and xeforrod to the Labour Bills Committee. The Council adjourned at 0.40. MASTER AND APPRENTICE. The debate on iho Master and Apprentice Bill was continued by the Hon Gko. McLean, who said it was contended by employers of labour that over five thousand young people would be injuriously affected by the Bill. If a tithe of (his were trae, then the Council should pause before passing such a measure into law. The session was now nearing a close, so tbit it would bo impossible to fully investigate the Bill before the time of prorogation arrived. The fact of the matter was that the Technical E luoation Bill should be paesed rapidly on, and every method adopted that could tend to facilitate the training of lads to useful trades. He would move that the Bill come up for its second reading three months henoo. The Hon K. Oliyzb emphasised the fact that the old relations between employer and apprentice under which the latter was instructed in branch of a given industry —had ceased to exist. At the present day workmen were trained to a high state of skill in one branch of .an industry. As a matter of fact the supporters of the BUI wished to put the industrial world backwards. Ho hoped it was not too late to mike his protest heard.

The Hon John Bigg argued that there was absolutely no reason why the measure should not be put through all its stages during the ensuing week. The amendment proposed by the Hon George McLean was merely another exhibition of the obstruction invariably Indulged in by that gentleman—both in the Council and on the Labour Bids Committee. The Bill was introduced in order to put down a particularly obnoxious abuse, under winch the best years of many a youth’s or girl’s life wore absolutely waited in the service of people who made no attempt at imparting thorough instruction. The argument by Mr Oliver that the BUI was an attempt to put tbo industrial world backwards seemed absurd, and he would suoport the Bill with the strong belief that it would do much good. The Hon G. Jomcs pointed out that the Bill contained three cardinal principles - (i; that our youths must bo apprenticed ; (2) that the number of apprentices shall bo - limited ; (3) that certain rates of pay shall be fixed. It was, of course, a fact that machinery had revolutionised industry, but it was necessary that the workmen should bo able to manipulate the msohaniam under their charge with equal ability to men in other colonies. The Minister of Education urged that the Bill might with advantage he carried on to its final stages, and hoped that the Council would rise superior to the whip of the Hon G. McLean and agree to the second reading without further obstruction. Ic was absurd to suppose that the Labour Bills Committee could not furnish its report within a few days, for there was no necessity for evidence to be taken The Hon W. M. Bolt recognised that the whole question was besot with difficulties, and doubted whether there was any member of the Chamber who would assert that the Bill would do all that was hoped of it. Still there was every reason to hope that much good would result from its passage. All of our labour legislation was more or less of a tentative character and would from time to time have to come up for revision. Finality could not be expected in this connection any more than in another. He regarded the clauses giving power to the Court of Arbitration as the essential part of the measure, which had long been asked for by the labour organisations—dubiously he wou*d admit—and should, ho thought, be passed into law. The Hon C. C. asked whether any satisfactory answer could bo given tq the inquiry made as to where all the young people were to go who would be turned into the streets if the Bill were passed. It had been said that the Council should adopt the measure because the labour organisations demanded it, but he asked were they not to hear the opiniona of other citiaona. If ever there was a oaae in which evidence should be taken it was upon this subject. Ho wished to protest against the Bill being forced down the throats of members, for if both aides of the question were not to be heard, the Council’s functions as a revising chamber would be abrogated. The Hon J. M. Twomet was of opinion that the main principle of the Bill—that of indenturing apprentices—had escaped the attention of previous speakers, and could not admit that people would be thrown oqtof employment in tho w&y described. lie deprecated the attitude taken up by the opponents of progress, apd announced hla intention of voting for taeorcond reading. The Hon W, T. Jennings said the Bill waa fraught with just as much importance to the community as tho Old Age Pension, and the necessity was imperative for evidence being taken by a committee. Thera were certainly possibilities of harm being done in certain directions, and for that reason they should fairly consider the position of both employer and employee. Tho IJon J.D, Ormond could not aee his way to vote in any other way tlian for the amendment, for this reason—■jjha.fc from what they had hoard evidence was required to be taken from people in all parts of the colony, and manifestly there was no time to do so this session. It was obvious that the Bill would have very far-reaching effects, and surely ,the question was serious enough to make any thinking man pause before going forward.

The Council then ..divided, the amendment of the Hon G. McLean to postpone the second reading for three months being negatived and the Bill referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The division list was as follows : Ayes (for the Bill), 18.—Richardson, McCullough, Harris, Barniooat, W. 0. Smith, A. L. Smith, W. Kelly, X. Kelly, Kerr, Kigg, Jones, Jenkinson,* Twomey, Feldwiok, Pinkerton, Jennings, Bolt, W, 0. Walker, Noas (against the Bill), 17. Bonar, Baillie, Stewart, Swanson, Shrimski, Bowen, Kenny, Stevens, MacGregor, Ormond, Oliver, Johnston, Grace, McLean, Williams, Montgomery, Peacock.