PARLIAMENTARY

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11579, 15 October 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, October 14. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. NOTICE TO introduce;.

*The Premier gave notice-to introduce the Rfebate of Crown Tenants' Rent Amend l inent Bill, the Chatham Islands Bill, the Unclaimed Moneys Act Amendment Bill, and the Public Trust Office Bill. ' Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to introduce the Medical Practitioners BilL THE FACTORIES BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of the Factories Bill, Mr Arnold said that he was sure that the country as a whole would receive the measure with a great amount of satisfaction. Discussing the position with regard to labour legislation, he said that the unrest that had been referred to so much of late had been caused by a section of the press\and the employers, who thought that x by raising a cry they would engender a feeling that would be of advantage to them in eighteen months' time. He paid a high tribute to the Labour Bills Committee for the work they had done in. connection with this measure last session, ana during the present session, and he thought that the treatment'which it had received in being shorn of several objectionable features was evidence of the moderation of that Committee, and was a complete answer to the cry that the Government and the Labour Party were trying to run the country unfairly. He ridiculed the assertion that labour legislation was causing industries to be closed down, and. pointed to the large increase in the number of factory hands throughout the colony as a complete answer to that charge.

Mr Houston said that he approved of a great deal that the Bill contained, especially the embodiment of the eight hours principle, but as a country member he strongly protested against other provisions which he considered would most injuriously affect country districts. - He contended that under "the Bill every private house in a country district that did its own washing and ironing, and every store in country districts that employed labour, would be constituted a factory. Mr Bollard said that as one who desired to be just to employer and employed, he was glad to see that the Labour Party had so modified their view compared with what they wanted four years ago. The Labour Party had at first put in the Bill provisions, that would have caused an industrial war, but had modified their views after great pressure from outside. Mr Massey referred to the fair and reasonable treatment which the Bill had received; and expressed a hope that it would be further improved before it was finally placed on the Statute Book. He contended that many people were still afraid to invest money in New Zealand industries, and he thought that we should in future devote.our energies to restoring industrial confidence. .Mr Herries considered it a blot, on the Bill that Government premises did not jjojne under its provisions. Mi Jr W: T^9S?? on Bennett also spoke. , ]£ G. W. Russell quoted ngUISS .0 show the large increase that had taxeil place of late in the importation of articles that might well be made in the colony. There was an undue amount of importation going on in certain lines, and the enormous and unexpected increase as shown for one year, namely, 1899-1900, led him to ask how far these things might be the result of our labour laws. So far as the Bill itself was concerned, he considered' it a .good one, but he would have preferred to see the Government come under its operation, although he admitted that the Premier's attitude on this point was a reasonable i one.

" Mr Collins replied -to Mr G. W. Eu. sell's remarks concerning the increase L the importation of certain articles, and con tended that the Customs revenue from thi goods quoted by the member for Riccar ton had simply increased in proportion a: the revenue from all other goods had in creased in what was an extremely pros perous year, namely, 1300. The inereasi that ha'd taken place simply showed thi jreat prosperity of the colony. Hi Dointed out that employers who had comi >efore the Labour Bills" Committee had in rariably spoken in terms of praise of thi abour legislation of the Government^ At this stage the Bill was recommitted >n the motion of Mr Symes, and a rubsection was added to Clause 20, to pro ride that in case of .persons working a 1 rash sawmills at logging, breaking down md sawing rough timber, overtime for ex ended hours worked during the week shal mly be payable in respect of such, time ex :eeding 48 hours. On the debate on the. third reading )eing resumed, Mr W. Fraser thought thai ;he Bill on the whole was a good one, Replying to Mr Collins, he said that il vas nonsense to contend that it paid the nanufacturer to import material rathei ban manufacture. Mr Russell had spoker n a general way, and had not attacked he labour legislation. He had simplj isked a question. Mr Ell defended the Labour Bills Com nittee from any charge of having sup ported any proposal detrimental to thi nterests of the country. Mr Hojrg thought that there was a eooc leal in what Mr G. W. Russell had statec is to the importation of articles that coult 3e locally manufactured. It was time, hi xmsidered, for a warning note. He ha( been an employer in the country himself md had found that if he complied witl ill the Union demands he would have tx :lose his business. Mr Flatman quoted factory statistics tt :how the advance of industry under labou: egislation. Mr Barclay combatted the contentioi hat the demands of the Unions had mili :ated aeainsfc the industries of the colony Mr Meredith entirelv concurred in thi varaing note sounded'by Mr Hogg, wh< lad always been a friend of labour. Then ras undoubtedly a feeling of unrest in thi :olony, and it was time we had a perio< if industrial oeace and quietness. Mr Fisher believed that the Bill wouh je beneficial to employer and employed )ut he agreed that the country had ha< inor-gh of labour legislation for a time. Mr Thomas Mackenzie thought thai he Premier recognised that, as far as thi igricultural and mining population wai :oncerned. they had been roused to a poin if self-preservataion. Labour legislatioi lad been promoted in the interests of th< :ities, and the whole of that labour was ontinient upon the success of mining and jrrionltnre. The small farmers were now wakened to the true position, and the ime was coming when all kinds of labour hnnld be t*-e;'+ed alike.

Sir Joseph Ward urged that the contention was unsound that labourers in the country should be paid at as high a rate as labourers in cities. If the purchasing power of workers ia the cities was lowered, the value of agricultural products must be diminished. He deprecated the raising of the cry of town and conntry, and said their aim should be to provide a fair and reasonable wage for all classes. Mr Laurenson supported the Bill.

Mr Hornsby urged that there wonld not have been any necessity for (so much labour legislation in New Zealand if we had had free trade. The struggle of the future would be freetrade versus protection. If anything was responsible for the town versus country feeling, it was the overwearying desire on the part of organised labour in the centres to expect too much from the people of this country. The Premier, in replying, said that the

Bill in its application would be for the benefit both of employers and employees. No one regretted more than he did the attempt that had been made in the House to set up a feeling between town and country. The feeling in the country was engendered by those who for political rea- , sons were endeavouring to widen the dif- ' ferenee between country and town. One ! reason of alarm in the country was the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act, which he urged was a most humane measure, and was not properly understood in its application to casual labour. He went on to eulogise the beneficial nature of the Factories Bill, and declared that statistics were against the contention that our factory legislation had been- against the best interests of the 'industries of the colony. The principal increase in. duty raised on ad valorem goods was on luxuries and higher priced articles. In conclusion, he said that those who had invested money in industries had found better security with labour legislation than before. The third reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was passed. The House rose at 12.20 a.m.