PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 27 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association,) Wellington, October 2G. Tho Council met at 2.30. j A!! tiio Bills passed by the House i hist evening were put tlirough their I initial stages. When the adjourned debate on the second reading of the Workers’ Compensation I til 1 was called on, tho At-torney-General said that a communication had reached him from employers in all parts of .New Zealand, (dejections had also reached him from a labour organisation. Jn tho first instance the protests were against any (•.'•.tension of the existing law, and on the other side, that section 62 of the Act should remain as it was at present. There were other sections of the Bill which wore also in dispute, and ho could not resist the suggestion that the Bill should be sent to the Bill Committee. It was possible that the Bill might not be reported, but that could not be helped. He proposed to refer tho Bill to the Labour Bills Committee, with power to take evidence. 'Several members endorsed this proposal. Ron. Barr' objected and said ha would sooner see clause 13 struck out than run tho chance of losing the Bill. After further discussion the Attor-ney-General stated that in his opinion the employees had entirely misconceived the purpose of the clausa. Still, in view of the f:tct that so muck misapprehension had arisen, he thought it was only proper that the Bill should be referred to a committee. The Bill was accordingly read a second time on the voices, and referred to tiie Labour Bills Committee, with instructions to report within 48 hours. Tho rest of the afternoon sitting was taken up with a discussion on the Wellington City Empowering Bill, which was still not concluded at the dinner adjournment. A Batch cf Bide. Tho Council resumed at 7.30. The Wellington City Empowering Amendment Bill passed all its stages. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment, the Representation Commission Reports Validation, Post and Telegraph Amendment, Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment, Reserves and Other Lands Disposal, and Public Bodies Empowering, Railways Authoi.isation, Mining Amendment, and Governtn e n t Rail wa y s Amcndm e r. t Bills were read a second time. MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. An amendment to the Legislature Act was introduced by Governor’s Message. The Licensing Act. . The Prime Minister explained that there appeared to be some doubt in connection with the Licensing A.ct with regard to polls. The amendments provide for a national prohibition issue and a •no-license issue; also different returning officers and poll clerks in eacii case. Another .amendment provided that all second ballots will ho taken on the same day. The amendment was agreed to on tho,motion of Sir Joseph Ward. Appreciation cf Volunteers. The House expressed its very high appreciation of the New Zealand volunteer force extending over a period of fifty years. Industrial Conciliation. Hon. J. A. Millar moved the committal of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which provides that the cancellation of a union for tho purpose of changing its name shall not affect any award. It creates procedure for making an industrial agreement into an a.ward, and for making a Dominion award. It also provides for an appeal from a magistrate to tho Court of Arbitration. Awards must be in conformity with the statutory provisions. The court shall sit in four centres at least once in every' three months. The Minister stated that tho constitution of the Arbitration Court would not he altered this session. Ho premised to do so next session. Tho motion for conimital was carried. Hon. D. Buddo moved the second reading of the Dentists Amendment Bill. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Tho Dentists’ Bill was read a second time. Hon. A. Ngata moved its recommittal for the insertion of a clause to prevent tho aggregation of native lands. Mr. Dive moved as an amendment that it 1)0 recommitted for the purpose of inserting a clause giving the lessees of the West Coast leases the perpetual right of lease* 'The amendment was negatived. After a lengthy discussion the motion for recommittal was agreed to. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Military Pensions Bill. -He said he would introduce in committee an amendment making the Bill apply to all those who had been engaged as soldiers of the Crown in any part of the world. Mr. Massey contended that a pension of ten shillings a week should be given to every man in possession of a New Zealand war medal, or who could prove he had boon under lire in the Maori War. Tho Bill was read a second time. Mokau Lands. Sir Joseph Ward proposed to finish the Bills on the Order Paper to-night and to take the Molcau discussion tomorrow morning, then tho Supplementary Estimates, and to finish the discussion in time for members to return home. The House went into committee on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, and tho Minister inserted a now clause that a mutual agreement would not bo recognised unless it hound tho majority. In the House after 2 a.m., the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was further considered in committee. Mr Kerries divided tho House or. Mr Ngata’s motion for tho second reading of a new clause to prevent tho aggregation of native lauds. The division resulted (20 to 23) in favour of the second reading. Mr Hardman moved an amendment In destroy tho retrospective effect of the clause, which was negatived by 27 to 22 ; and by 27 to 23 the clause was inserted in the Bill. The Committee thou considered the Military Pension Hill. Tho Minister moved an amendment lo make the Bill apply to all veterans satisfying the conditions of the Old-age Pensions Act. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Gaming Act Amendment Bill, providing extra totalisator licenses for country clubs, was further considered in committee. Mr .)(Minings, promoter of tho measure, protested against the attacks made on him. After a motion in report progress had been defeated, tho Hon. D. Cud-

•do said the Bill involved so many difficulties that the committee could not deal with it. It should lie referred to another Commission. Finally a motion to renort progress was carried by it] to 22. ' '.! lie Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment, Dentists’ Amendment, Native Land Claims Adjustment, and Military Pensions Bill were read the third time. Amendments .in the Public Works Bill were introduced by Governor’s message and agreed to. 'i ho House adjourned at 3.10 till II a.m.