PARLIAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23354, 20 November 1937, Page 14

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS The Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Bill, the Christchurch Tramway Board Empowering Bill, the Whangarei Airport Bill, and the Timaru Harbour Board Loan Amendment Bill were read a first time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee, BILLS PASSED

The Companies (Special Liquidations) Extension Bill, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 3) were passed. PHYSICAL WELFARE

The Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill was read a first time. ARBITRATION BILL

When the Leader of the Council (Mr M. Fagan) asked for the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill to be put through all its stages Mr F. Waite raised the question of hurried legislation. The Council was being asked, he said, to amend an Act that had been passed two days before, and he wanted to draw attention to the position that had been created. He quoted an extract from Hearn’s “ Government of England,” wherein it was argued that strict observance of the rules of procedure was the means of protecting the rights of the minority.

Mr Fagan said that Mr Waite’s remarks had no application to the Bill under discussion. He agreed with the authority quoted but submitted that the dangers referred to could not apply to the Council because unless the legislation was of unusual urgency, urgency was not requested. The Bill before the Council had to be passed so that the work of the second Arbitration Court could be commenced next week. Arrangements were being made to appoint assessors, and he was in a position to state that Mr W. J. Hunter had accepted the position of judge. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISCUSSION ON ESTIMATES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter' WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. Expenditure totalling millions of pounds was authorised in the House of Representatives to-day, when almost the whole of the time was spent in consideration of the estimates of departmental expenditure. The departments dealt with to-day were Electoral, Printing and Stationery, Mines, State Coal Mines Account, Working Railways Account, Justice and Prisons and the Crown Law Office. The total amount involved ir these votes was £8,648.308. and the aggregate amoint authorised in the Estimates passed to date is £30,566,935. A short time towards the close of the sitting was devoted to the Sale of Wool Bill, which was put through without discussion and passed. The House rose at 4.45 p.m.