PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 14580, 22 November 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

(Per United Press association). WELLIXGTOX, Xov. Cl. HOUSE OK KEPKESEXTATIVES. The House met at 7..'10 p.m. StntQ OOctl X&iues. Jlrfl. Laureiisou (Lyttelton) asked the Minister of Mines if his attention had been drawn to an article in the Christchurch Press relative to the conditions at the State coal mine and the accommodation there, and the number of accidents which had happened at tiie mine. The Hon. It. McKenzie replied that lie had heard of one or two of the matters referred to. The -Minos Department had nothing to do with the accommodation of the men. As regards conditions generally lie would be glad if Mr Laurenson would have the question put on the Order Paper. The Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill passed its second reading. Auctioneers Amendment. The Hon. D, Huddo moved the committal of the Auctioneers’ Amendment Bill. Mr. Massey desired an explanation of the new clause 06 inserted in Committee

as follows;—‘‘At any auction sale of fish, fruit, or vegetables, every lot shall be sold to the highest bidder, and it shall not he lawful for any auctioneer to lefuso to accept a bid from any person present at the sale who is willing to pay cash for the goods on delivery thereof, and any condition or stipulation in tlie conditions of a sate in any manner violating this provision, shall be void and of no effect.” He asked why this clause should apply solely to sales of fish, fruit, and vegetables. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) said that the clause had been inserted in response to a general request from all parts of the Dominion. ft was a fact that auctioneers’ refused to sell commodities named in tlie clause unless to people who wore members of rings. The Hon. D. Bnddo. replying, said that in sales of fruit, fish, and vegetables ill ere were cases of transactions in which it bad been found that there wore inconsistencies in regard to these sales, hence tlie insertion of the" clause. It would not be wise to make the clause apply to country sales where credit was given. The committal of tlie Bill was agreed to.

Shops and Offices Bill. Tlie Hon. J. A. Millar moved the committal of tlie Shops and Offices Bill which specifies the hours of labour to be worked ’bv assistants in hotels and restaurants, also for night watchers and porters. Mr A. L. Herdman (Wellington North) said that tlie Arbitration Court ought to lix the conditons of labour in awards. The Bill was a harassing* and irritating one.

Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington) referred to the tobacco trade and the desire of tobacconists that some restrictions ought to be placed on Chinamen and others selling tobacco. Tlie Labour Department was powerless to deal wicli a Chinaman who was allowed to keep his shop open after 8 p.m., when European tobacconists had to close. Mi G. H. Poole (Auckland) advocated restrictive measures on Chinese traders. Mr D, McLaren (Wellington), replying to Mr Herdmas .'aid that tlie industrial legislation complained of by the letter had been adopted by many countries, and for good reasons. Surely it was necessary to pass legislation to provide against female employees working excessive hour.-:. Mr W. Fraser (Wakatipu) believed the House would do well to place tlie Bill (which' was a compromise) on the Statute Book in the interests Of industrial IK Tile Hon. J. A. Millar said that the Bill had been standing over since last year. In every Stale of Australia, the hours of hotel employees had been fixed and the hours were lower than those provided for in this Bill. It was too late in tlie day for Mr Herdman to say that such matters should be dealt with by the Arbitration Court. The will of Parliament should be paramount. The Arbitration Court should have no power to override Statute law. He proposed to add a new clause providing that any peison employed in a shop, other than the occupier and his .wife, would be deemed an assistant. This would have the effect of doing away with tlie unfair competition of shopkeepers who did not employ labour, and. who kept open beyond S o’clock. . , , ~The Bill was committed. The Inspection of Rivers Bill was read a second time.

Crown Suits Amendment. In moving the second reading of tlie Crown Suits Amendment Bill, Sir Joseph Ward said that the Bill was intended to amend the Crown Suits Act by placing the Slate in the same position as any other employer in respect to a bread; of contract, any cause of action in respect of which a petition of right would lie against the Crown at common law. anv- injury independent of contract and ■for which' action would lie if defendant were a subjc jt of (he King, No claim for damages would lie payable when the Crown was liable lo pay compensation under the Workers’ Compensation Act and tlie Grown would be safeguarded against speculative persecutions. * Tlie Bill was read a second time. Various Bills, Tlie following Bills were read a second time;— Stamp Duties, Hospital and Charitable Aid, Slaughtering and Inspec--11 Tile Census and Statistics Bill .was read a second time on the motion of the Hon. D. Bmldo. . The. Poultawa Native Reserve Bill was committed on the motion of the Hon. A. N gala. The House went into Committee on tlie Scenerv Preservation Amendment Bill, which was reported with amendments. . , , The Auctioneers' Amendment'Bill was amended bv substituting in clause 5b tlie words:'"On the fall of tlie hammer” for, “On delivery thereof.” _. On tlie suggestion of Mr B. Dive (Lgmont) the Minister promised to prepare a. proviso exempting tm.zaß.rs for roll* gious and charitable purposes from tlie provisions of tlie Act. The Bill was reported with amendments. . ~ ._ On the House resuming tlie Keener/ Preservation, and Auctioneers’ Amendment Bills were read a third time and passed. „ , , The House rose at 1,15 a.m.