HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Southland Times, Issue 19202, 13 November 1903, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCILIATION AXU ARBITRATION. This afternoon the new clause added by The Legislative Council to the Industrial Coin -illation and Arbitration Act Amendment Mill, giving the court power to extend an award to kindred trades in adjoiniiiir districts. ugain came up for consideration The clause was referred to the Luliour Hills Committee. to report to-morrow. MIXING LAW The Mining Act Amendment Bill was j reui l a third lime and passed. It is a measure of two clauses, making technical amendments. COAL MINING. ill t'olvin's Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, taken up by the Government, was n>nsidercd in committee The bill is designed to enable a miners' association to form a medical club. The bill originally contained a clause providing thai miners shall be paid overtime after working underground for eight hours Mil this was struck out by the Select Committee The discussion turned on this eij.'hl hours House which was opposed \>y many who argued that it was not rjuJit for Parliament to make a rigid law fixing hours of work That was the duty of tlio Arbitration Court after tuking evidence in each district where the circumstances might not Ito always the same —The Premier said that eight hours was quite enough for unyone to work under-ground and in a matter like this it was well to have the arm of the law to protect the miner from possible selfishness and inhumanity.— On a division the clause wns inserted in the bill by -lii to 21. A new clause moved by Mr Fraser was agreed to. It enables coal leases to be granted over education reserves ; the rents to be upplied to the purpose for which the endowment was made. The Minister for Mines moved a new clause providing that all coal and lignite under uny river, not exceeding 83 feet in width, shall be vested in tho Crown— \ fear was expressed that this cjause would interfere with ' existing ri"iUs The common law of England, under which much of the land was taken Up. was that coul and lignite in rivers are the propert> of the owtn-r of tho land through which the river runs. This of course did not include navigable rivers Prior to ! N73 even gold and silver were the property of the land-owner.— The clause was road a second time and the 5.30 adjournment wns taken,