PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 12

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. ARBITRATION BILL The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was referred back from the Labour Bills Committee without amendment and was committed. The Leader of the Council (Mr M. Fagan), in moving the committal of the Bill, said the delay in dealing with industrial disputes was a serious matter, and the delay in hearing compensation claims was even more so because the workers were kept waiting for compensation that was badly needed. Mr J. McLeod said he agreed that a second court was necessary, but he suggested that one court should deal with disputes while the other settled the compensation claims. He said he did not think that racing clubs could take exception to being brought under the Act, but he did not think it was necessary to make them subject to awards because most of the workers were already under awards or were paid above the award rates. Mr V. Ward said the only real complaint he had to make was that the legislation should have been in operation some months ago. Mr W. Perry said he was opposed to chartered and racing clubs being brought under the Act and would vote against the clause in committee.

Mr B. Martin expressed the opinion that a second court was so necessary that it would probablv become a permanent court. Replying, Mr Fagan said he agreed that the second court might continue in existence, and he visualised the time when one court would deal with disputes while the other dealt with compensation claims and any overflow of disputes. The Bill was put through its remaining stages and passed and the Council rose at 4.10 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 'Pek United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Another four hours and a-half were devoted to the estimates of departmental expenditure during today's sitting of the House of Representatives. Urgency was granted for 13 classes, but only six were actually passed, and these represented a total expenditure of £1,373,069, comprising votes for the departments of the Public Service Commissioners' Office, External Affairs, Agriculture, Lands and Survey, Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account and Lands for Settlement Account. The Public Works Statement was tabled during the afternoon, and tonight two new Bills, the Petroleum Bill and the Finance Bill, were introduced. The House rose at 10.12 p.m.