PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14700, 7 December 1909, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM THE PRESS GALLERY. (Fbojc Our Own CosazsroNDm.) WELLINGTON, December 6. THE SHIPPING BILL.

The amendments made in the Shipping and Seamen Bill in committee were agreed to in the House tonight, and the bill was lead a liiirJ time and passed. Mi' Mussey took the opportunity of referring to the provision requiring that plans for new vessels must be submitted to the Minister for approval. This clause, he said, was objected to by the shipbuilders, and lie hoped that the Minister would inquire into the matter with the vifiw of having the clause modified in the Legislative Council. The Minister of Marine (Mr Millar) said that he would take steps to find out the reason for the opposition to the clause in question. He thought that the. principal objection was on account of the supposed delay that it would entail, but lie thought that he would be able to show that no delay need take place. He would, however, make inquiries, and consult with his colleagues iu the Legislative Council on the subject. THE DEFENCE BILL.

Mr J. Fawcus, a member of the Executive of the New Zealand National Defence League, who attended the sitting of the conference of delegates of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers held in Wellington last week, spent some of his time whilst in this city in interviewing several of the local trades unions and urging upon them the desirability of givijgg their active support to the proposed defence legislation by way of resolutions to be forwarded to the Government.. In Auckland, Mr Fawcus states, practically every union has declared in favour of tho bill, and he hopes for the same whole-hearted approval here.