PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 57, 3 November 1914, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IPaa Pbbou Association.]

Wellington, November 2

The Council resumed at 2.30.

The Legislative Council Reform Bill was considered as amended by the conference between the two Houses.

Hon. Bell explained the alterations and claimed that the,Bill had not been materially affected.

Hons. Barr and Paul declared that the insertion of the clause with vegard to the qualifications of women was a plain illustration of Hon. Beehan regretted provision had not been made in the first place for women to sit in the Council.

Hon. Capt. Baillie said he would not express an opinion as to whether women would be suitable as legislators or not.

Hon. "Wigram thought it not right that such a big constitutional change should be brought about by a side

issue. Hon. Bell said the managers of the House had dealt fairly with the Council. The Council rose at 3.15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House resumed at 2 30. Mr Poland continued the debate on the Milling Bill, urging more generous treatment to-minors suffering fi nu pneumoconiosis.

Sir J. Ward said he thought the mining industry was being shabbijy treated, and deserved a great deal more attention than it was receiving. Mr Scott commended the Bill. Mr Colvin condemned the poor pay given to miners, and the in getting increases. The Bill ought to have been introduced two sessions ago, as all the material w f -.s left by the Liberals. Mr Seddon cen itrod the Government for delay *n Winging down the Bill, and charged the Premier with obstructing the set*-'v up of a miners' relief fund in l.'iO. He contended that a !;»-ger sum than LoO should be paid from this fund to n-n- i ers suffering irom miners' disease. Mr, Webb «.ha\;ed the government with delaying this legislation at the instigation of mine owners.

In reply, the Hon. W. Fraser declared that the best friends of the Bill were those who said the least about it. The amendments suggested could far better have been spoken upon in committee. He claimed to be in sympathy with the miners, but it was unreasonable to ask mine owners to.pay. compensation without medical examination. . He favored the establishment of a pension fund for miners, and urged that it would be in the interest of miners to pass the measure. The second reading was carried en the voices. The House went into committee upon the Bill. At Clause 6, Mr G. M. Thomson moved an amendment to provide that the holder of a degree of associate oi the Otago School of Mines shall qualij fy for a mine manager's certificate after three years of underground work; instead of five years as at present. The House divided upon the.-amend-ment which was carried by 23 to 21, the amendment being warmly opposed by Messrs Poland, Webb,' Veitch, Seddon, Isitt and McKenzie.

Mr Massey said it was a soiry spectacle to see members endeavv.".iig to make political capital out of the lives of their fellow-citizens. Never before had he been ashamed to be a member of the New -Zealand Pai lament. It was owing to the del.iy and the obstruction by the Opposition that the Bill was not put through in -3-913. Mr McKenzie« said that -ccideuts would always happen, but it was quite possible to take precautionary Treasures. The House resumed at 7.30.

In committee on the Mining Mill, at clause G, the conferring of ininerxjif imager's certificates on graduates of the Otago School of Mines after 'four years' practical work underground was strenuously opposed by the representatives of the i mining districts, but on a division was carried by 31 to 18. . ■ Clause 15 was amended, on the instance of Mr -Poland,' providing' that workmen's inspectors be compensated by the owner if they meet with an accident in the discharge of their duty. Mr Poland moved a new clause providing that in case of accident a-miner shall be entitled to the same amount of compensation as he would have been entitled to under the Workers' Compensation Act, 1901, and in case of his dying of miner's disease ,his family shall be entitled to lire same compensation as they would have been paid under that Act.

Tlio Minister opposed the clause, contending that the proper way to deal with these cases waa hy way of pension. This ho was .prepared to do next session.

Mr Poland replied that, last year, the mines in his ■ district alone produced £818;000 worth of geld and'silver, while the. mines in fie .Dominion, last year, paid .0ver.£250,000 in dividends, and surely the owners, in whose interests these huge sums were raised, could afford to contribute io the keep of a few men whose lives Were rnined» in theirtserr^q. On a. division the amenrbnunt was

rejected by 27 to '2l, The Bill was then reported with amenlmeiits, read a third time and i passed. Hon. ; W. : Fraserniov.id the second reading of the Coal-mines Bill, which he said \ras founded on the recommen-

dation of the Mining Com minion,and

prepared by him in 1912. On resuming after the supper adjournment, Mr Praser declared '.hat the Government was in no way responsible for the Huntly disaster. It was grossly unfair to say the Bill would not have been brought down had not the Huntly disaster occurred. Mr Wjlford criticised the delay in bringing down the Bill and said that if the measure had been brought dowr in 1912, as promsied, the disaster ccv.l.l not have occurred at Huntly. Continuing, Mr Wilford said that while he would not say that the Ministry was criminally responsible for the disaster, if it had not deliyed bringing down the Bill in 1913 the disaster would have been averted. Mr Eussell also charged the Government with neglect in passing the Mining Bill. Speaking of the suggestion that steps should be taken against Fletcher, Hon. Fraser said the mutter had been placed before Jaw nflicorSj and upon their advice steps would be taken.

Mr Poland said it was impossible to say that the Minister was ei.titled to any credit for bringing tli3 Bill down. Mr Webb condemned the Govern-

ment for not taking proper legislative miction to prevent the disa■•tor.

Mr Robertson said he believed *he disaster would have occurred whether the Miniing Bill had been massed or not.

ANOTHER PAYNE INCIDENT.

MEMBER FOR GREY LYNN SUSPENDED FOR THE SITTING.

Wellington, November 3

After the telegraph office closed the House.continued to discuss the Payne episode.

Mr Massey said he did not care what Mr Payne said about him; but as he defied the chair it was his duty to.move foi'. the-censure of the member.

Mr Payne was recalled on the suggestion' of Mr Massey, but said that, with all due respect to the chair, he refused to withdraw his words.

The member was then suspended for the remainder of the sitting. Mr Payne's words were not taken down; but they were to the effect'that as Minister for Labor, Mr Massey was culpably connected, with the murder at the Huntly mines.

The House then went into committee on the Coal Mines Act, which' was reported with amendments. Clause 4 was'altered to enable Mr Heed to retain his position as Chief Inspector of Mines.

On the third reading, Mr Wilford strongly condemned the lack of precautions to prevent disaster. The Minister rose to reply at 4 a.m. He declared that the object of the criticism was to make political capital. He denied that the- passage of the Bill last year would have prevented the accident. A lesson could be learned from the sad accident which might prevent a future accident of a like character. The 'Bill was read a third time at 4.10 and passed. In reply to Mr "Webb, Mr Massey said it was not right'for him to make any definite statement re Huntly, as a man would probably shortly be on trial for -manslaiighter. He further declared that he would do anything he could to prevent victimisation of miners. The motion to print the report of the Huntly Commission was carried, at 4.25, and the House rose till 2.30. i