PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13903, 3 November 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

■Per Press l - on. LEGISLATE fJ^dUXCI L. WELLINGTON, November 1. The Council met at 11 a.m. and immediately adjourned to 2.30 p.m. On resuming, the Council approved of the amendments brought down by Go-vernor-Gene nil's Message, and put a number oi' Bills through their final stages. The Council adjourned at 4.20 p.m. till 10.30 a.m. on. Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. "WELLINGTON, November 1. The House met at 7.30 p.m. and disagreed with the amendment made bv the Legislative Council in the Shearers' Accommodation Bill, striking out the provision enabling the employer to deduct, from wages the expense of repairing damage caused by the men to accommodation. The House agreed with the Council's amendment to the Mining Amendment Bill, safeguarding the power given tothe Minister to permit the employment of other than fully qualified miners at the mine face, by making such permission contingent on the finding of a Royal Commission. The clause was simply designed as a weapon for use in thi- case of industrial trouble. Sir Joseph Ward asked, what was proposed to be done in the matter of the judges appointed by the Governor-Gene-ral in connection with the -control of mining. Mr Semple protested against power being given to the Minister at all. Mr Seddon thought the Council's amendment was of no use. Mr Holland opposed the proposal. The present agreements current in mines contained full provision for the introduction of unskilled men into the workings till they became qualified to take charge at the face. Mr Tsil't welcomed the clause as one which should exercise a good influence against the possibility of an industrial upheaval. The Minister of Mines replied, and the House accepted the amendment. Mr Luke asked without notice if the Prime Minister would take action to assist the fraiterers in the matter of small fruit shipments from the East Pacific Islands, owing to the shipping company's decision to increase the freights. The Prime Minister said he would refer the matter to the Board of Trade.

' The Electric Power Bill, empowering local bodies to levy rates (this powei having been omitted in the origina Bill, was read a first time.

The Prime Minister gave notice to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act on next sitting dav. Tn moving the second reading of the Native Claims Adjustment,' Bill, the Hon. W. H. Herries said the measure contained nothing that could be questioned. Sir .Joseph Ward complained thai members should nave been acquainted with the details of the Bill. Some of the clauses were very important. The Minister' agreed to explain -the measure, and-did so at some lengtb. The Hon. A. T. Ngata expressed a hope that the Minister would see his way to provide a sum adequate to inaugurate a proper system of sanitation in the Maori pahs—a matter that required attention urgently.. The Bill was read a second time. The House went into Committee and the Bill passed the Committee stage. with the addition of a new clause, moved bv the Hon. A. T. Ngat-a, giving the Maori Councils power to co-operate in the preservation of pubh'c health in Maori districts. The House went into Committee on the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill. On clause 3, requiring declarations from pers;ons arriving in New Zealand. Mr Hoilaud called for a division. The clause was earned by 39 votes to 2: On clause 5. giving the AttorneyGeneral power to prohibit landing in New Zealand of undesirable persons, Mr Holland again called lor a division, alleging that the clause was a most dan- . iicroiis precedent in legislation. The clause was carried by 45 votes to I. , . ■ The Bill was reported, - read a third lime, and passed. .- . , Tlie Industrial and Provident Socio- . ties Amendment Bill was read a second j lime, on the motion of the Hon. W. H. . Herries. The Bill enables a company re- , mistered un.der the Companies Act to , transfer itself into a society under the , Industrial and Provident Societies Act. j Mr Massey moved the second read- ( ing of the Hospitals and Charitable Inslitutions Bill, giving power to decen- , tralise control of hospitals at present < administered by the Bay of Islands Hospital Board, so that the counties , liiav" control the hospitals within their ,

boundaries. . An objection was raised by the Hon. T. M. Wilford and Mr J. A. Young to :i local- Bill being brought forward hi lhis manner, under the aegis of the Government.' Mr H. G. Ell condemned the system under which an important Department was administered by a Minister in another place. The Bill was read a second time. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Hon. •!. G. Coales. who explained that it aimed at simplifying the procedure in the directions fouiid desirable as the result of the experiences of soldiers' marriages. The House went into Committee on the Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment Bill, which was put ihrough nil stages and. passed. On the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill a new clause was added, at the instance of the Hon. T. M. Wilford, making the period of desertion entitling a person to sue for divorce three years instead of five yeais. The Bill was then passed. The House adjourned at 11.25 p.m. lil! 11.30 a.m. on Monday.