HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8871, 2 September 1890, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Monday, September 1. — Tho Speaker took tho chair at 2.30 p.m. THE STRIKE. Mr Fish moved the adjournment of tho Honsc to enable him to refer to a telogram he had received, to the effect that the s.s. Pukaki sailed from Auckland lately with only one competent man on board, and asking him to bring the matter before the House. He thought it was the duty of the Government to see that vessels were pro''"pxly manned. No one would object to the Lpion S.S. Company filling their vessels with non-Union men, provided those men were competent to perform their duties. In referring at some length to the labor troubles that now prevailed in the colony, *^c said, the conduct of the Unions since the struggle commenced had been most orderly and exemplary. That being so, why should those men be threatened by the presence of soldiers in uniform and the erection of barricades "on the wharf? Not a single act had been committed by those men which should induce tho presence of anything more than the ordinary police force. Mr Tanner said the anxiety displayed by the Maritime Council, as to the steamers being properly manned, was due more to their desire to see the steamers stop altogether, than for the welfare of the public. He commended the Government for their desire to preserve order in the present struggle, Mr Bruce said the Government should maintain a neutral attitude, and said every member of the House should studiously refrain from uttering one word, which would be likely to intensify the present conflict He warmly defended the Railway Commissioners. Mr Moss took an altogether different view. They were in the House to speak as representatives of the people, and he should like to know whether the men were not to be commended for their conciliation as well as the Railway Commissioners. Mr Ballance considered the Government should propose a Board of Conciliation to settle matters of this kind. Captaiu Russell said the Government ment were so determined to keep a neutral attitude in this struggle, and so long as he (Captain Russell) held office, he should do all in this power to preserve order in the country. The Government, he might say, greatly deplored this struggle, but it was strictly their duty to see that the peace of the colony was maintained. As to the Railway Commissioners' action, was it not possible that, recognising that the whole of the railway system depended on the shipping of coal, they had requested their men to load trucks for steamers^ With respect to vessels leaving ports without the proper number of seamen, he pointed out there was no statute compelling the Government to provide for that. He finally said that the maintenance of law and order was for the Government alone to consider. Upon them lay the responsibility, and they were aware of its consequences. B|Sir George Grey suggested that the ouse might appoint a committee to act in this matter — such a committee, in Wb opinion, might interfere in this great struggle without taking either side. The discussion lasted till 5.30 pan., when the adjournment took place. On the House resuming at 7.30, it went into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Estimates. Working railways, £678,000 ; reduced by £565. Public buildings, £35,515 ; reduced by £7000. School buildings, £50,000 ; reduced by £5000. Progress was reported. On a motion for the adjournment of the House, Mr Ward raised a discussion on the question of pairs, which -was being 1 discussed when the House counted out at 4 ajn.