PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18650, 20 August 1930, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 19. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Shearers’ Housing. Mr F. Langstone (Waimarino), gave notice of intention to introduce the Shearers’ Accommodation Amendment Bill. Unemployment. Mr H. E. Holland (Buller) drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the seriousness of the unemployment situation, and in the course of a lengthy question asked that various steps should be taken to afford relief. The Hon. G. W. Forbes, replying, said the Government was fully alive to the gravity of the position in regard to unemployment, and a Cabinet Committee was mapping out work to be put through the Public Works, Forestry, and Lands Departments, to keep the largest number of men possible in occupation during the next few months. The Unemployment Bill was now before a Committee of the House, and he had asked the Committee to deal with it without delay, so that it might be returned to the House and put on to the Statute book as soon as possible. Power would be taken in the Bill to permit of an advance being made in anticipation of revenue from the proposed levy, to allow of some of its powers being put into operation immediately after the Bill had been passed. Local bodies were being circularised, drawing attention to the Government’s subsidy of £2 for £1 for labour costs of any relief work that was put in hand, and asking them to co-operate with the Government to the fullest extent in their power. The Government would also find £2 for £1 of labour costs of any relief work carried out by public subscription, which should encourage the assistance of “private citizens in dealing with the present serious unemployment position. The Select Committee which had been set up by the House would be asked to make recommendations to the Government in regard to further avenues of relief work, and the facilitating of employment of men out of work. Mr W. Nash (Hutt) asked the Minister of Labour what provision was being made for the employment of married men who were unable to leave their homes through ill-health of their wives and children. “When married men are offered employment outside the radius of their homes, and are unable to accept owing to illness in their families,” said Mr Nash, “their registration card is endorsed (Refused.’ A number of applicants are afraid that this endorsement will jeopardise their chances of obtaining work within reasonable proximity of their homes.” The Minister of Labour said that the only work offering at present available to married men unable to leave their homes was private work. If a married man had a reasonable excuse that he was unable to leave his home, he was not prejudiced. The note made on the registration card was purely for record purposes. Coal Mines Bill. In introducing the Coal Mines Amendment Bill Mr H. E. Holland (leader of the Labour Party) said it contained three provisions. First, it sought to ensure that all wages should be paid weekly, instead of fortnightly as at present. This would enable men to effect a saving, as if they were paid weekly they would not have to buy goods on credit. The second provision was most important, and was designed to remedy an anomaly under present legislation. Mr Holland pointed out that in metal mines, the owners were compelled to install a water jet machine when it was necessary to resort to dry boring, but a coal miner when he had to cut through rock was subjected to danger of miners phthisis because no provision was made to keep the air free from dust, smoke and noxious fumes. The Bill provided that a water jet should be installed for such work. The remaining clause asked that miners’ inspectors should be paid by the Departments. Mr Holland stated that the capability of a check inspector was largely responsible for the safety of the miners’ lives and mining property itself. A Government inspector could visit the mines only, at certain periods, but miners’ inspectors’ visits were more regular. He could not see justification for throwing the financial responsibility on the miners to provide for the inspections by this officer. In conclusion, Mr Holland said the Bill had not covered all the changes that were necessary in mining legislation, but its provisions were those that were advanced by the united miners as of immediate necessity. He asked the Government to take the matter up, and if it could not see its way to put the whole Bill through, he urged it at least to include the provision relating to dry boring. Mr G. C. Black (Motueka) endorsed the remarks of Mr Holland, especially in reference to the clause dealing with dry boring. The Bill was read a first time. The House then went into committee to deal with the Finance Bill.