PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 62, 27 October 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington-, October 27. After midnight the Council passed the 'following Alibis "—Public Reserves and Domains Amendment, Representation Commission’s Report Validation, Post and Telegraph Amendment, Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment, Railway Authorisation and Government Railways Amendment. 'the Council rose at 12.10. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In Committee on the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, on the clause providing for the methods by which Dominion awards may be sought, the Minister said the object of the clause was to overcome the cumbersome machinery attached to the process of seeking; a Dominion award. It was to relieve unions of the trouble and expense of calling witnesses from every where and anywhere. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Committee then took the Dentists’ Amendment Bill, and a clause was added to provide for the admission of a man who in the last three years was a student or apprentice in any of the Australian States, and has a diploma. The Bill was reported with amendments. The House went into Committee on the Native Land Claims, Adjustment Bill. Wellington, October 27. The House met at 12 o’clock. The Supplementary Estimates wore brought clown, and consideration deferred till later. I’jie House considered the report of the Committee on the Mokau transaction. IVJr Kerries, in the absence of the chairman of the Committee, formally moved the adoption of the report. Ho explained that the reason no report was made concerning the original owner of the leases (Jones) was that his grievance did not come within the scope of the inquiry. If Jones desired an inquiry, his duty was to petition the House as the principal. Before the Native Land Commission it was reported that the natives:were prepared to sell the freehold for £15,000, and he believed at that price it was offered to the Government.' Sir Joseph Ward: Not so. Mr Herries: It was known they would take £15,000. Sir Joseph Ward: It was not known to the Government.

. MrHerries; It was known by Lewis and Dalziell. Mr Dive: And by the Native Minister. Sir Joseph. Ward: The records Show to the contrary. Mr Massey: One man claimed from the Government. Sir Joseph Ward: Not so. Mr Herrics, continuing, said a peculiar feature of the transaction was Lewis’s retention of £2500 of tire purchase money for the payments of agents, when it was understood that purchaser was to pay these. Another peculiar feature was that the President of the Maori Land Board acted in a private capacity as trustee for the purchasers -in order to see the subdivision carried out as required by law, and had mortgaged the land. It was not a proper position to put a Civil Servant in. Three outstanding points were: Whether the Government should have bought the land, whether an Order-in-Council should have been issued enabling such large profits to be made, or whether the Government should have allowed a Civil Servant to take up such a position as Chairman of the Land Board has done. Mr Jennings, Chairman of the Committee, said the inevitable conclusion was that the Government had taken the best possible course, and the best thing had been done in the interests of the natives and all concerned.

SYDNEY WHARF STRIKE.

(Pei' Press Association.) Auckland, October 27. An enquiry made by the waterside workers as to whether the steamer Victoria had any cargo loaded by nonunionists at Sydney, elicited the reply by cable that the only cargo is two tons’ of periodicals, which the steamer’s crew was able to handle.

THE AUCKLAND STRIKE.

(Per Press Association ) Auckland, October 27. There arc GOO men out on strike in connection with the drainage work. There will ho no fresh developments until after the interview arranged for this afternoon between the union delegates’ chairman and the engineer of the Drainage Board. The Union has demanded an undertaking from the Board that the latter will refuse to issuo permits for sub-letting. A meeting this morning endorsed the action of the executive in extending the strike, and it was agreed not to return to work unless every man was reinstated in their former position. In the meantime important public works arc hold up. The accumulation of water in the tunnel of the drainage works is likely to cause damage.