PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20000, 16 July 1920, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

• -+ (Abridged from Press Association.) ' THURSDAY. JULY 3 15. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Tlie Council met at '2.30 p.m. NOTICES. Sir Francis Bell gave notice of the introduction of the Law' Practitioners Act Amendment Bill. The Hon T. Thomson ga,re notice or motion affirming that, the time had come "'hen the Government should adopt a. definite policy ’ for the development of the fishing industry for t ie purpose of providing cheap food for tfie people, manure for the land and the building up of a fishing population upon "Inch the nary could depend in time of emergency. The Council adjourned at. 2.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRE3ENTA. TIVEB, AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ' MR HOLLAND’S MOTION. (Buller) gave notive to move that. Mr Speakers ruling in connection with self determination of the Irish people is out of order and be disagreed with.' CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. Mr Massey moved that Mr Malcolm should he appointed Chairman of -Committees, which was agreed to unop. posed. r Mr Malcolm briefly returned thanks. BUTTER. Replying to Colonel Mitchell HVelhngtou South)' Mr Massey said it had fen hi , m that it had cost (jus year for the equalisation of butter fund, which waa rather more t‘J an ' a& t year. Until the world value m Now Zealand butter was known it was impossible to say what the Government would do to' meet the position, hut he hoped that some system ®* • <3 T ua hsation would ho arranged "■hich "'ould not impose injustice on the producers. STATE COAL. Replying to Mr Hamilton (Awa.rua) -lr Massey said lie was of opinion that the transactions of the State Coal Departraent were having the effect of keeping down the price of coal. There was a slight loss on sales in Wellington nut as a whole there was no loss' on the Department’s sales. RETURNS. The House agreed to the following amongst other notices of motion asking for returns to be. laid before the House;— Return showing (1) the age of each miner who is now in receipt of a pension under the Miners’ Phthisis Act; ■ ) the age at which each miner died "ith miners phthisis who was in receipt of a, pension under that Act: (3) such return to cover the full period of operation of the ActReturn showing (1) the number and value of woollen rugs manufactured m and exported from New Zealand' Sl , n 9® (2) the number and value; • j , ■ s ® x P or ted for the same period ; (3) the quantity in yards and value of all cloth exported for the same period, each year io be shown -separately. Return showing (1) the amount of all wool sold in New Zealand since the beginning of the commandeer to buyers within the Dominion; (2) the value of such wool e Return allowing the amount- of money loaned in each year under the Advances to Settlers Act and Advances to At orkers Act. and the amounts ot-repayments under each Act in every vea r 3] SO the amounts of loans under the. Advances to Settlers Act granted to settlers in boroughs and town hoard oistncls ns distinct, from rural areas Return showing- the amount of ghld coinage held by the various banks for the tears 1914 and 1915. Return showing separately (1) iho number of charges and convictions for offences, and the number of ages of the persons convicted for drunkenness in each no-hcense district from January to Decomber-31. 1919, (2) the quantity and kind of liquor sent'into each no-hcense district from January 1 to December 31, 1919. Return showing the estimated annual cost of providing a universal old age pension for all persons (irrespective of any property or money they possess or any money they mav earn) who reach the qualifying age arid other" ‘ise comply with the conditions laid down in the Pensions Act. ; , CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION Air Savage. (Auckland AYest) moved the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, fie explained the (Provisions of the Bill, which are simply •r technical nature, and he agreed, if the House read the Bill n second time, to refer it to the Labour Bills Lomnnttec. Sir William Berries (Minister of Labour) said that he was glad that Tim mover wished the Bill to go to the Labour Bills Committee, as one of the mam principles of the, measure nructically amounted to the One Big Union system. Air Holland (Buller): You are quite wrong. Air Howard (Christchurch South): it is ono _ union for ono. industry. The Minister said that was at anv rate one reason whv the Bill should go to the Labour Bills Committee. If it went there he would not oppose the second reading, hut so far as the Government was concerned it was in every way opposed to the One Big Union system. 'lhere could be only one Government in this country and while the present Government held office it was going to govern, . Mr Holland; Aon don’t believe in industrial autonomy? Mr Howard; AVonld yon apply ihat to the Employers’ Association'also ? Air Berries said they saw at Home that lug unions were dictating to the Government what it should do. Tliev did not want outsiders to tell the New Zealand Parliament or Government what it should do. < Air Holland: They will get rid of yon some day. The Minister said that the hon mem. her would have to wait, for that day. and then if he were in the Government no wonhl not let anyone dictate to him. The lion member would find that, when one waa put in a responsible position ho must-have the sav. Air Fraser (AVellington Central) said there was no move in the direction of th.e Ono Big Union scheme, contained in the Bill. Air Luke. (AVellington North) said he. had some experience of One Bje Union so far as the tramwavs of the Dominion were concerned, ami he -, v . v -. not at all sure that the proposal’of the Bill would ho a benefit to Labour. Thcproposal might not. be for One BiUnion for the Dominion, hut it was on© for a. big union that could strangle its one industry. Air Veitch, (Wanganui) said that as ALimstcr of Railways Sir William Merries had met a union set up under the principle of this Bill. Sir AVilliani Horrios; There were three unions there. Air Veitch said it was absurd that the Union Steam Ship Company’s employees, for instance, should have branch unions all over the country when they could economise and facilitate settlements by haring one organisation. He agreed that romp danger might accrue from the. formation “of ono big union, by an attempt to usurp the functions of the general Govern--1 meat. - He would never stand for that, since he believed the Government should he in tho hands of the people a

elected representatives .in Parliament, but that, had nothing whatever to do with the underlying principle of the Bill, which was merely intended to facilitate the organisation and working of trade unions that were connected with industries spread all over the Dominion. . Mr Sullivan (Aron) said the intentiqivjf the Bill was merely to accomplish in a quicker and simpler manner the end 'accomplished now. AA'here a Dominion award was being made both parties called together representatives from several centres at considerable expense. This proposal would overcome that. The prinpiple of the Bill would really tend, 101 l carry matter, away from the. One Big Union idea, besides it would cheapen,the .administration of. the Labour Department. Air Kpllett (Dunedin North) said that, he was in favour of the Bill, but agreed that it should go before a committee for full consideration. ■■ ATr Tones (Kaiapoi) said that a small body of workers in one corner of New Zealand could, under this Bill, ask for a. Dominion award. He maintained that before Dominion awards were made evidence should be called in all centres affected. To give the Commissiouer a. vote in Conciliation Council proceedings would he equivalent to setting up another Arbitration Court. As a. _ general rule the Conciliation Council did not call evidence, and no decision should be arrived at before evidence was called. If the. Conciliation Commissioner had a vote he would practically settle the case by his recommendation to the Court. Air Parry (Auckland Central) said that the way to stir up industrial strife would he to close the door against voluntary organisation of the workers. In reply, Air Savage said that unfortunately the idea, underlying ■ this Bill was not One Big Union. He stood lor the- unity of Labour, call it what they would. Air Holland: That is what they aic afraid of. Air Savage said that if the Act were not hroiight up to the requirements of to-day the workers would cancel their registration under the Act and. unite outside. They "ould not he kept from the industrial field. The Bill was read a second time without opposition, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. DESTITUTE PERSONS. Air Harris (AYnitcmata) moved tho second reading of the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill. He said it was a simple Bill to secure the appointment of officers of the Court to enforce payment of orders under the Destitute Persons Ad. 1910, m the cities of Auckland. AVellington, Christ-' church and Dunedin. The second reading was, agreed to, and the Bill referred to the Statutes, Revision Committee. Air AA right (AA ellington Suburbs) moved the second reading of the Alaori AVer Aledal Bill. H G said the Bill was intended to secure some, recognition of the services of men who serried in the Alaori war but who were not under fire. The Bill proposed that only the medal should be given to such men, not a He invited the Government to adopt the Bill a.ncl pass it info law. Alessrs Young. Alitchell, T. AV. Rhodes, Harris, Atmoro, Field and Hunter and Dr Thacker supported lie'. Bill as an art of justice to Alaori war veterans. Messrs Jennings ami Isitt opposed it, on the ground that ample opportunity had been given for claims lor medals to be put, and-the matter should not he reopened. Air Massey said there was no particular objection to granting the medal proposed by tho Bill, bul lie warned the House against the agitation for pensions in all directions. The financial position of the country was good, hut it. could not stand unlimited demands which might be made upon it. Ecqnorny was necessary. I he motion was agreed to. SHOPS AND OFFICES, Air Al’Cnmbs (Lyttelton) moved the second reading of the. Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill, which ,was agreed to without discussion, the Bill being referred to the Labouivßills Committee. NATURALISATION. lbs Hon G. J. Anderson moved the third reading of the Revocation of Naturalisation Act Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 5,30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7,30 mm. Air Sidey (Dunedin South) regretted

that the Government had not accepted his amendment m committee, granting the right of appeal under the Bill. Their legislation was thjus far behind that of other countries. Air Stewart (Dunedin West) said he could not understand the objection to Mr Sidey’s amendment. He recommended -the Government, to recommit the, Bill and put the amendment in. Sir William Berries said i.be amendment was merely _an attempt to- get the work of the National Government reviewed. The amendment should have been moved when the original Bill waa before the House, hut it would not have been so popular then as now. The Hon A\. D. S. Mac Donald repudiated the suggestion that Afr Sidey was striving after popularity. ATr Massey said if the amendment was a- good one there was no reason why it should not he considered and incorporated in the Bill by the Legislative Council if that body thought fit. There was a. possibility of appeal in the original Act., which provided that letters of naturalisation might he reviewed in the same wav as they had been -annulled, hut the power to do so rested with the Government. 1 The Bill then was read a third time and passed, i , .REGISTRATION OF ALIENS. The Hon G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Registration of Aliens Act Amendment Bill, which provided ior the registration, of women who became aliens by marriage, and to remedy other defects which had been found in the working of the Act of 1917. The Government, he said, did not desirtj to continue this class of war legislation any longer than necessary, hut they did not want to encourage the same class of immigration as they formerly did, and until things became normal the legislation must he continued. Air Sidey protested against alien children of fifteen years being compelled to register. The Minister said he would consider the point. Air Fraser and ATr Holland denounced the proposal to make an alien bl a. British woman who followed the natural instinct of marrying the man she loved, just because lie was born in o. country different from hers. It was recognition of a principle, abhorrent to modern thought; that man possessed property in “woman. Air Al’Combs said the Bill was illogical because, while it penalised women who married aliens, it did not so penalise men who married alien women A\ omen's societies throughout the. world resented tins principle and had appealed to the League of Nations to have this disability on their sex removed. 1 Air Barry said he waa opposed to the coward I v contents of the Bill, which he characterised as the “ fump rR 0 f flll . trinity.” * Mr AVright contended that the Bill was necessary, because wc must counter the. scientific spy system established by Germany. Air Ariiteh said the Bill only affirmed the principle that the nationality of the family followed the. nationality of the head of the family, and that'was the only basis on winch'am- fami'lv could be established. The Hon A. T. Ngata pointed out

that the New Zealand Parliament had never said that British women who had married aliens became aliens. ' Thathad been done hj, Imperial statute, and if the Labour Party objected to that they must make representations to Mr Lloyd George. , Mr Sullivan said the Billwas on in* suit to the women of the Dominion. Messrs Atmorc, Brown, M’Niool and Isitt supported the Bill, and Messrs Ba.rtra.ra_ and Savage opposed it. The Bill was read a second time. MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT. ' The Hon G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment. Bill, which provides that a woman may be appointed registrar of marriages. Another provision was,that a note of divorce shajl be attached to the marriage register. The hours during which marriages may be solemnised were extended to eight o’clock in, the evening. Glaus© S recognised the BaL ration Array as a religious body. . The Bill was read a. second time, nit ter several members had expressed the opinion that women officers of the Salvation Army should hare the right to solemnise?' marriages. " CUSTOMS. Sir William Herrics moved the second reading of the Customs Act Amendment Bill, which he said was in* e i ld , , f ,° r ® liev6 importers from the intolerable position caused by the foreign rate of exchange and give the Department tho_ option of .assessing; Customs duty eithej on “mintage"’ rate or on the “commercial” rate, rle asked that the measure should be treated as a. matter of urgency and passed through all its stages. The Bill was read a second time, put through the committee stage unamend* eu, read a third time and passed. , The House rose at P. 30 p.m.