SESSION NOTES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1785, 3 November 1919, Page 10

SESSION NOTES.

JOTTINGS FROM THE GALLERY.

THE WASHING-UP BILL.

[From Oar Own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 1. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Empowering Bill, familiarly known as the Washing-Up Bill, was introduced by GovernorGeneral's Message and read a first time in the House of Representatives this evening. Following are its principal Canterbury provisions:— Reserve 3622, town of Thorndon, containing 1 rood 23 perches is transferred from municipal purposes and set aside as a site for a post office.

The reservation of reserve 3547, situated in the Upper Ashley and Oxford Survey Districts, containing 13,000 acres, as an area for the conservation of a water supply, is cancelled, and the reserve is set apart as a State forest.

The provisions affecting the Ellice Endowment, Rangiora, are modified by empowering the Church Property Trustees to sell their acre of land, being part of Rural Section 541 of the Mandeville District.

The reservation, for bridge purposes, over Reserve 3220, situated in Block 17, Lowry Peaks Survey District, and containing 23 acres 3 roods is cancelled, and the land is declared to be Crown land, available for disposal under the Land Act, 1908.

The reservation, for timber purDoses, over Forest Reserve 3119, Block B, Alford Survey District, is cancelled.

Authority is given for the transfer from the New Brighton Borough Council to the Canterbury Education Board, in trust for educational purposes, of not more than four acres situated in South New Brighton, having a frontage of four chains on Jellicoe Street. This is part of certain lands now vested. in the borough in trust for planting purposes. The control of the recreation ground, part of the Kowai Domain, is transferred from the Domain Board to the Amberley Town Board. The Domain Board retains control of the Racecourse part. Freight on Fruit Raised.

This was a letter received by a Wellington firm from the Union Steam Shio Company, which Mr J. P. Luke (Wellington North) read in the House to-night:—"We are advised from the head office that, on account of the greatly increased number of small shipments of fruit, and the consequent increase in the necessary amount of handling and sorting, it has been decided to reimpose the charge pf the extra 5/per ton on all consignments of less than 20 cases or 15 kits, and 3d per bunch on consignments of less than 20 bunches of bananas. This arrangement comes into force by the next trip of the Flora to Auckland, and of the Tofua to Wellington." Mr Luke' asked if the Prime Minister would consider taking any action in the matter, as it was one which would seriously affect small planters in the Islands. MrH.G.EH (Christchurch South): It will increase the price of fruit here, too. The Rt. Hon. Yf.JP. Massey said that this was the first he had heard Of the matter, but he would ask the Board of Trade to investigate. Shop Assistants' Hours.

The Prime Minister this evening gave notice to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. It is understood that this measure will confer upon the Arbitration Court power to fix hours for shop assistants, and also the hours during which shops may be open. A Bill Without "Swindles."

"There are no swindles in this BUI!" declared the Hon. W. H.Hemes (Minister of Native Affairs), in moving the second reading of the Native Washing-Up Bill this evening. Hon. members smiled, and one or two ventured a mild "Hear! Hear!" "There are no swindles in it!" repeated the Minister emphasising the verb. That drew hearty laughter.

"Is it the first time?" queried Mr G. Witty (Riccarton).

' Mr Herries hastened to defend his pepartment. "Oh, no!" he said. "Sometimes the Pakeha WashingUp Bill contains something that some hon. members might think a Swindle, but the Native Washing-Un Bill always washes white," which was a rather strange claim, seeing that the measure always deals with ,Maori matters. Bills of Lading Delayed.

"In view of the considerable inconvenience and loss caused to the

mercantile community, owing to long delays in the transport of mails from the United Kingdom and the United States to New Zealand, will the Postmaster-General inquire as to the possibility of arranging that bills of lading ana other necessary papers may be placed on the steamers conveying goods consigned to the Dominion, or take other steps to overcome the difficulty?" That question was put by Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) to-night. The Hon. J. G. Coates, in reply, stated that, in regard to mails from Great Britain, there was no provision for posting on the vessels, and documents must be posted in time to catch the ordinary mail for the steamer. Mails were sent out by a number of routes, and recently they had been arriving out of order*. The attention of the British Post Office had been drawn to the importance of a better choice of vessels for mails. In regard to the United States, the difficulty as to bills of lading, etc., could be overcome by handing the papers to the master or| purser of the vessel conveying the goods. These would be handed over to the postal officials in this country on arrival. The PostmasterGeneral added that he had asked the Postal authorities in Great Britain and America if it would not be possible to make arrangements that would be more convenient to New Zealand consignees. Undesirable Immigrants.

The Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill was passed by the House of Representatives this evening, with little opposition. In Committee, Mr H. E. Holland (Grey) called for a division on that clause requiring declarations by persons arriving in New Zealand. He had one supporter, Mr R. Semple (Wellington South), who was the onlyother member of the Labour "Big Five" in the chamber at the time. Those who supported the clause numbered 39.

Mr Holland again called the Committee to divide on the clause empowering the Attorney-General to orohibit the landing in New Zealand of undesirable persons." In the meantime, Labour reinforcements had arrived, but the clause was retained by 45 votes to four, the Noes being Messrs Holland, Semple, Walker, and McCombs! The Bill was reported without amendments, read a third time, and nassed. / Provident Societies. The Industrial nnd Provident Societies Amendment Bill, which originated m the Legislative Council was passed by the House of Representatives to-night. Its object is to permit a company registered under the Companies Act, 1908, to transform itself into a society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1908. The provision already exists to permit a society registered under that Act to transfer itself into a company. Divorce Law Amended.

The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill, which has, already been summarised in The Sun, was passed before the House rose at 11.25 to-night. On the Hon. T. M. Wilford's motion, a new clause was added reducing from five to three years the period of desertion after which a husband or wife may institute proceedings for divorce. Shearers' Accommodation. The House disagreed with the amendments made by the Legislative Council in t' i Shearers Accommodation Bill, by striking out the provision enabling an employer to deduct from wages the expense of repairing damage caused by men to accommodation. Conditions in Mines. The House agreed with the Council's amendment to the Mining Act Amendment Bill, safeguarding the power given to the Minister to permit the employment of other than miners at a mine face, by making such permission contingent on the finding of a Royal Commission of Judges appointed by the Governor-General. Mr R. Semple (Wellington South) protested against the power being given to the Minister at all. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) thought the Council's amendment wns of no use. Mr H. E. Holland (Grey) opposed the proposal. - Present agreements current in mines contained full provision for the introduction of unskilled men into the workings till they became qualified to take charge at the [face. This clause was simply designed as a weapon for use in case of industrial trouble. j Mi L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) welcomed the clause las one which would exercise a good influence against the possibility of an industrial upheaval. The House accepted the amendment. . ,