PARLIAMENT AT WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1927, Page 11

PARLIAMENT AT WORK

NEW MEASURES INTRODUCED LAW COVERING APPRENTICESHIP, THE EXPENSES OF COUNCILLORSBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 7.30 this evening. By Governor-General’s message the" Motor Vehicles Act Amendment Bill and the Petroleum Bill were introduced. The Minister of Public Wtnks explained that the former Bill aimed at facilitating the registration of motor vehicles as well as other minor matters in connection with motor vehicles. The Minister of Mines explained that the Petroleum Bill gave greater protection to companies in acquiring rights over properties. In a similar way it gave greater protection to propertyowners. The Bill ivas based on' the experience of the oilfields of the world, “ and it was hoped it would hhve tho effect of attracting greater capital in the search for petroleum. The Bill contained no provision for g’-anting a special subsidy, which would be covered by the ordinary mining, law. Both Bills were read a first time and the Mining Amendment Bill was. read a second time pro forma and referred to the Mines Committee.

The Labour Bills Committee Iroughf down their report on the Apprentices Amendment Bill, recommending that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment.

Replying to the discussion, the Minister of Labour said the Bill was not an attempt to override the existing law. That law bad been passed with the consent of all parties concerned, but the Supreme Court had put upon it a different construction than had been iptended and this amendment was Intended to do what it was thought the original law did. During the recess he proposed to call a conference, of employers and cmplovees to consider other points of iw, but he felt he must move this (amendment- io enable chcli eiiiplbyer ■jo have his proper quota of otherwise a iiuniber- Iff tybuths woul|» be deprived of their opportunity to ilearn a trade. Sir John Luke said that as Chairman of the committee lie had taken the piecaution of seeing that all interested parties were notified of the proceedings of the Labour Bills Committee, andlh good deal of evidence was beard. j* ' The report was ailqptd'dl..jj A TEMPORARY ' EXPEDIeS T. The Minister of Internal Affairs {moved that the amendment made by thh(Legislative Council in the Counties’ [A|mendment Bill be agreed to. The'amqijlment was that county councillors’ travelling ■expenses should be foredmbty Qsler-in-Council, , a,'! I® Mr. G. W. ijjiriica »ai<l This! Lvae a very clumsy way of dfa'llfig wlij li tho question. It would ltdvoubebn belter to have placed the >l®axi'«lhm eumj.n thq Act itself and aUo t w. the county, councils to arrange fc- the payments; to bq made according to their respective requirements. This was the old story at legislation by Order-in-Council whifh wag not democratic Government.

The Prime Minister said the question of councillors’ expenses was a jborthy one. This was only a. temporary amendment which got over'the iminediape difficulty which was being raised by the Audit Office. If, however, the (House did not.wish to. tip. any thing in tj4 matter; things Could s’t'ay as theiif| were. Personally, he saw no reason wily a definite settlement of the- question should, not be embodied in the Act.

Mr. W. D. Lysnar regretted the introduction of such an amendment. It was far too- wide. The cost of local government was becoming increasingly burdensome, and soon llfej’ be hating protessiofial repfesjiittfiii’es. Si- Maui; I’omare, in- rej>ly> (Said the amN.- - hnt was not vriaL let 'the Bill, not" v it a solution of the difficulty; .but it..,was, a temporary expedient. He proposed;,to .go ,inte .(.he wa ile question during, | the . recess . and co-Lrdinate the v: ious existing conditions .vit»h a view to bringing about u uniform “rule. Tlie anaehdmbnt was adopted. The amendments made t» the LegisIcture Amendment Bill by lithe Legislative Council were accepted. : The Hon. A. D. McLeod said that during the recess the question of seamen’s votes and electoral boundaries would be gone into and legislation brought down next session. The Prime Minister! moved that the House should not insist on its disagreement with the Legislative Council in tho War Disabilities Removal Bill. The Council had struck out the exemption of military defaulters, to which the House l.ad objected, but it was found that it was impossible to maintain that objection II the Bill was to be saved. He therefore asked the House not to persist in its objection. After a protest by several speakers, the motion was agreed to and the House rose at 11.58 p.m. till 2.30 p.m* to-morrow.