LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8984, 18 July 1907, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, Jvly 17. AFTERNOON SITTING The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PAYMENT OF COUNCILLORS. The Hon H. Scotland moved that members of the Council ought to receive the same rate of pay as members of the other Chamber. If there should be a. living- wage for workers, he said, there 6hould be a living-wage for members of Parliament. The Hon O. Samuel expressed regret that the motion, had been brought forward. To prevent the motion from being put, lie would move the previous question. . . . This was carried, and the discussion Was killed. BILL. The Hastings Recreation Bill was read a second time. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Hon W. Beehan resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He criticised Mr Rigg's speech on .Labour at some length, disagreeing with Jus views. Proceeding, he. suggested that the prisoners at tree-planting stations •hotild also be employod wheat growing. He contended that something should be done to prevent undesirable persons perpetuating their species. The Attorney-General, speaking on the Labour question, emphasised the point that the rights of the individual bad to rank second to those of the community, and an employer should not be allowed to engage help at a rate that would destroy the moral well-being of the workers. Mr Rigg had saki that he could not suggest means for enforcing •wards, but, in his opinion, there was a way which, he believed, would be acoepted when the time came to state it. % If it was absolutely necessary to force obedience, even by imprisonment, it should be done. There should be come distinction between a living-wage for single and married men ; and though he admitted tne complexity of the question, he thought it would yet be done. The Labour legislation of this country bad done more to quicken the humanitarian instincts of its inhabitants than anything else. They did not want to raise class distinctions, but to work out *' scheme that would be for the benefit ©f. the great mass of the people. .'••-. The Hon G. M'Lean said that he waspleased that the Attorney-General had stated bis views on Labour. Where Awards were made they should be obeyed. He was a supporter of optional tenure, and believed in limitation of area. . The Council rose at 4.58 p.m.