HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13869, 27 November 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

After the telegraph office closed at ,2 o clock the Hon. Jb. M. B. Fisher in his reply to tlie third reading of trie Legislature Amendment Bill, declared that the obstruction had taJven place on the Bill because it was likely to destroy an unholy alliance which existed between two minorities in the politics of the country. ,

Sir Joseph Ward denied that there was any alliance between his and any other party in the country. Continuing, the Hon F. M. B. Fisher said the Opposition had endeavoured to embarrass the Government inside the House while they wore face to face with a . great industrial struggle outside. It was about time the Leader of the Opposition declared which side, he was on-—whether he was on the side of law and order or on v the side of anarchy.

At the'conclusion, of the -Minister's speech Sir Joseph Ward again emphatically denied that there was any compact between the Liberals and the Labour Party. The statement was a most unfair one. He also stated that the Opposition had purposely refrained from referring to the stride in the House; but he would take an early opportunity of doing so in a constitutional way

A division was then taken on the third reading, when the Bill'was carried by 33 to 19. The House rose at 3.30 a.m.

The House met again at 2.30 p.m. 1 The amendments made by th-j Council in the Local Bodies Loans Bill, and the Land Drainage Bill, were agreed to. ' A discussion then took place on the strike (reported elsewhere in this is,sue)., '", .-. .■ • Sii- Joseph Ward drew 'attention to 'an item appearing in the "Lyttelton Times," whicho attributed a statenent to Mr -David -Jones,'- a Reform Party organiser, to the effect- that he, at ■ a meeting of the Christchurch .Women's Politic a! Reform L c ague, statedr tl- at < "Since coming into office tho present Government ~has: discovered -tliirgs about Sir Joseph "Wajxl which they would not care 4>6 repeat." Sir Joseph Ward asked the Prime Minister" a-s head of the Government^ jf he knew Whether tlie substance of the statement was true.

. 'Mi* Massey replifed that he couJ\3 not imagine Mr Jonea' saying anything of the kind. He had wired to him on the matter, and would communicate with Sir Joseph Ward immediately he received a reply. . Sir Joseph Ward': "Do you know 01 anything to warrant such a si«tement?':': ■ -;

Mr Massey: "I do not." The Fruit Preserving Bill, the Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill, and the. Kaitaia Land Drainage Bill were introduced by Governor's Message, and read the first time.

The House then adjourned, and r^ siuiied at 7.30 p.m. Continuing the consideration of the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Bill,, Mr A.. H. Hindmarsh protested against striking out. the repeal of clause 293 of the original Act, thereby reHeying the. shipping •companies from liability for loss ilp. eases where.-a,-ship:-is- well found. Mr W. Nosworthy moved that the amendments.be disagreed with, and the amendment was carried. ~ Messrs A. H. Hindmarsh 'and P. Lee, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher. were'appointed ' managers to confer with' the Legislative Council. The Hon. W. Fraser, moved, the see* ond reading of the Public Wc'rks Act Amendment Bill, providing for ianiore elastic? method oi: donstituting the Compensation Court under the Public Works Act.

Sir Joseph Ward said he had been informed that notice had been given 'to close the Lyttelton rolls, with the rosule that many people who had a right to have-their names on the rolls would be unregistered, and deprived of their vote. He suggested a delay in closing the rolls.' ■

Mr Massey agreed that all who-were entitled to be .on the roll should have an opportunity of enrolling. He doubted, nowe\ rer, whether this could be done,, as he understood that the writ had been issued. He would consult the. Crown law officers, and see what the position was. ' An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The debate was being carried along on uninteresting lines when the telegraph office closed. (Left sitting.)