HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4913, 2 September 1890, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

'I'he Houso met at 2 30 p m. THE STEIKB, Mr Fieh moved Iho adjournment of the House to enable him to refer to a telegram which lio hod receive), to Ibo effocfc that the Pukaki tailed from Auckland lately with only one competont man on hoard, and asking him to bring tho matter before tho House. In connection with this, ho (Mr Fish) eaid that he could not help thinking that Mr Glasgow, tho Collector of Customs had been miareported when he was mentioned m the papers as having said m reply to a deputation that thera was no clause m the Shipping nnd Seamen's Act which compelled a vessel to carry any particular number of eeauion. Ho thought that it was the duty of the GovernmoutT to see that vessels were properly manned. No one would object to the Union Steam Ship Company filling their vessels with non-union men, provided that those men were, compotent to perform their duties. If a heavy storm or other extraordinary occurrence should happen it waa absolutely necessary that steamers should bo fully manned with competent men. Tn referring at some length to tho labour difficulties that now provailod m the colony, he eaid that tho conduct of the unioniets since the strugglo commenced had been most orderly and exemplary. That being so why should thoso men be threatened by the presence- of soldiers m uniform, and the erection of barricades on tho wharves ? Not a einglo act had been committed by thoso on the wharves which should induco tho presence of anything more than the ordinary police force. Tho uuneoeßßary display of a body of soldiers on tho Wellington wharf on Saturday aftorEoon was more calculated lo creato a riot than anything elso that hud yet occurred. The Government, m the placing of that detachment of Permanent Artillery, had committed a blunder whioh m this caso amounted In a crime. Ho oondomned the action of tho Railway Commissioners sinco the Btriko commenced. Their conduct wns likely to lead to a etrlko on a muoh larger ecilo thin now existed. The Commissioners nnd tho capitalists wera ovidently combining to crush labour unions. In conclusion ho exprcssod a sincere hope that somo compromise would be effected between Iho Union Company and the men which would be honourtblo to both purties. Mr Tnnnor vnnturcrt to nßsert that the anxiety displayed by the Maritime Council as to steamero being properly manned was duo more to their desiro to eeo the steamers stopped altogether than for tho welfare of the ' public. He commended tho Government for thoir dosire to preserve order m tho present struggle. Mr Hall-Jones considered that tho Govern- ' ment and tho Houso Bhould do nothing to omhitter parties m the labour difficulty. Mr Bruce referred to tho importance of tho Government maintaining a neutral attitude. Bvory motnborof tho Houso should studiously refrain from utterinc one word which would bo likely to intnnsify the present conflict. He warmly dofonded the Railway Commissioners, romarking that thoy deserved tho thanks of tho House for the conciliatory disposition thoy had shown towards the men. Mr Moes took altogether v differont view. They were m tho House to speak as representatives of the people, and he should like to know whothor tho men wero not to be commendod for thoir conciliation as well as the Kailwny Oommissionere. Ho strongly condomnod tho Government for sending soldiors to tho wharf on Saturday.

Mr Ballance said that ho had waited to hoar some member of tho Government nnko somo reply to Mr Fish's remarks. Ho had ohorged tho Government with nn unnecessary display of military powor, which who not roquired and was calculated to irritate Iho men If there was any probability of a disturbance ncourring it would bo timo enough to call out. tho military power, and ho thought that tho aotion of the Government m [this respect desorvod tho coDBUro of tho Houso. Tho Gov • ornment, ho considered, should proposo a board of conciliation to settle matters of this kind. With respect to tho Bailway Commissioners ho failod to nee how they could justify^ thoir action m asking the railway labourers to perform wharf duty. [Mr Mitcholson : " shortness of coal."] Ho riid not. think that was the reason, as ha had boon informed Hi.it tho Commissioners had three months' supply of coal on hand. Ilio own opinion wns that this strikn would not last long, but it would ho Bottled m Australia. In tho moantimo alt tliAy ooraancldd ot fcno Crovcrnmont was strict impartiality.

Captain Rubjoll said that the Government wore bo determined to keep a neutral attitude m thin strugglo that he should not rofnr to tho attacks that were made on them by various mombors. Bo long as lie (Captain Bussoil) held oflico ho should do nil m hi? power to prcservo ordor m tho country. Ab to Mr Fißh'eJromarks nboufc nn armed force, ho could pay that thoro wob no armed force at oil. It had boon represented that a disturbance might possibly arise. Tho barricade on tho wharf lmd boon brobon down m the morning, and tho artillery wore present m their civilian capacity to assist tho police if noeoßSiiry. Tho Government, he might Bay, greatly doplored this strugglo, but it was strictly their duty to coo that tho poaco of tho colony was maintained. As to tho Hailwny Commissioners' action, was it not possible that, rocognising that tho wholo of tho railway syslom dopendod on tho shipping of, coal, they had rccjiicelorl their men to load trucks for tho Btcnnii<ri> ? With rospoet to vossols leaving ports without a propor number of loauion, he pointed out that thoro was no

1 atute compelling tho Government to provide for that. He finally said that the maintenance of law and order wus for the Government alone to consider. Upon them lay the responsibility, aud they were aware of its consequences.

Mr Reeves (St. Albans) said that m his opinion the Kailway Commissioners had acted m a tactless and irritating manner, end m this difficulty they had not acted m a conciliatory Bpirit. He had frequently striven to avert a railway strike, as ho thought it would be a colossal blunder from a union point of view 08 well us a national calamity if a railway strike occurred. He had some roBBOn to believe that if Ibo Government endeavour to mediate between the parties m the present crisis m a friendly manner, their efforts would not be discountenanced, Sir George Grey suggested that tho House might appoint a Committee to act m the matte.'. Suoh Committee, m his opinion, might interfere m tbiß great struggle without taking either side.

Mr Mackenzie (Mount Ida) pointed out that the difficulty would never havo arisen if the House had agreed to pass tho Strikes and Arbitration Bill brought m by Mr Downie Btowart, a Bill which was strongly opposed by Borne members who now wished to see a settlement of the present dispute He consideiel that the Railway Commissioners had done on'y their duty during the struggle. Mr Bollanoe ) ad forgotten the dignity due to his position when he blamed the Commissioners for reducing the running trains, They had only dune what many private firms iv the colony were doing, and reducing their expenditure to get thoir revenue. He had no doubt unionism was likely to do a large amount of good, but the unionists should bo careful of those members m the House who advocated their claims for political purposes only, and he thought that it was a libsl on the House to assert, aa had been done, that sympathy with the unions existed amongst one section of the House only. Mr Beetham remarked that it was tho duty of the House to prevent if possible tho tyranny of capital, but they should nlso prevent the tyranny of labour. He disapproved of unionists coercing those who were employed to do work whicti unionists had refused to do.

Major Steward (Waimate) thought that much of what had been said that afternoon would have a eood tendency. Mr Allen believed that moat members of the House had sympathy with the unionists, but they should also extend their sympathy to those out of work who did not belong to the unions. As to the proposal for mediation, he felt that if the quarrel had arisen m the colony they could have settled it long since. Mr Downie Stewart asserted that if such Bpeeehes as those just made by some hon, members were repeated m the House there would bo no hopo of a settlement of this unhappy difficulty. Mr Seddon condemned the action of the Railway Commissioners m forcing the platelayers to remove coal at Westport, a work which they knew would be refused. The debate was interrupted by tho 630 p.m. adjournment. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The House resumed at 730 and wont into Committee of Supply. Working railways— £67B,ooo. After a discussion lasting threo hours, the vote was reduced byf 555. Public buildings— £3s,6ls. After several attempts had been made to reduce the items by eumß ranging from £14,2155 to £7500 a reduction of £6000 was agreed to on the voices. School buildings — £50,000. (Left Sitting.)