POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20052, 15 September 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Can Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 14. LABOUR AS EMPLOYER. The Wellington City Council has accepted a contract from Mr Robert Semple, a former Labour member, and a number of miners to drive the long tunnel required for extension of the water supply. Its terms were published to-day, and led Mr IX Jones to raise an amusing series of questions to the Minister of Labour. lie suggested that Mr Semplo was introducing a system of indentured labour. “ What did you say?” asked the i rime Minister, in a startled tone. “Indentured labour,” repeated Kaiapoi’s member impressively. He went on to say that the tunnel workers would not bo able to leave work without a doctor’s certificate. They would bo prohibited from striking, because if they did they would lose all the benefits of the contract. Mr Howard (ironically): Shame! Mr Jones went on to ask if it were in order for such an arrangement to le made in this free and enlightened country. (Laughter.) Sir William Herries, Minister of Lar hour, replied that the matter was between the Wellington City Council and the contractor. If their© ' was any breach of the labour laws ho would he very happy. (Laughter.) Mr Parry: To take action? That’s right. Sir William Merries: Now my attention hag been called to the matter, I will ask the Labour Department to see that there is no infringement of the labour laws by either council or contractor. Mr Parry; Is he objecting to coonerators getting the full fruits of their labour? A DOCTOR’S CLAIM. The Defence Committee has no recommendation to make upon the petition of Lieutenant-Colonel Jennings, of Rotherham, Amnri, for payment of an amount equal to the difference in pay of military and civilian doctors during the influenza epidemic. * GAS QUALITY, Gas consumers in several centres will be interested in a question raised by Mr Parry in the House to-day as to whether the Government intends to legislate this session for the protection of gas consumers against gas of insufficient quality. Considerable dissatisfaction, he remarked, was existing owing to the fact that although the gas pressure had gone down the bills remained approximately the same. The Hon E. P. Lee, Minister in Charge of the Board of Trade, said that the quality of ga s was not a matter for the board, but he would bring the question before the Government’s notice. The Prime Minister was appealed to, but stated that Cabinet had not yet considered the whole legislative programme of the session, LOAN REQUIREMENTS. . Tl>o Government does not expect to nave any difficulty in raising loans at a reasonable rate, declared Mr Massey to-day as a result of a suggestion from Air Hanan that the Finance Minister should not leave his loans too late, in view of the rush for loans being inade by local bodies. Air Alasscy added that he had been informed that the Weilington City Council had no difficulty in raising a large amount at o) per cent, so that -if a local body could do this the Government, ought to be able to get its money at an even lower rate. Ho had a Loan Bill ready and would introduce it next week. DOAIESTIO EMPLOYEES’ HOURS. Quoting from the Auckland “Star” in the House to-day, Air Al’Combs said: ‘lt is understood that Air Justice Stringer, at the recent sitting of the Arbitration Court, forwardccl a recoinmendation to the Alinister of Labour that working hours for all domestic employees should bo forty-eight per week, and that forty-four hours should apply to factory, shop and similar employees.” The member wished to know if the Government would make legislative provision in this direction 0 at once, because this class of worker had too long been shuttle-cocked between Arbitration Court and politician. Sir William Herries replied that ho had a confidential communication from Air Justice Stringer in response to his request for recommendations. All ho could say was that a Bill was be in" drafted, but whether it would contain any of the recommendations he could not say, nor could ho bo sure that the pleasure would get a chance of passing, owing to the lateness of tho session. lAIAIIGRATION BILL. “Mill this Bill lie reserved for tho Royal assent?” asked Mr A. T. Ngata when the Prime Alinister was moving the second reading of the Immigration Restriction Bill, which gives the Government drastic power to control immigration of persons of British or Irish birth. Air Massey replied that at first ho believed the Bill would have to be reserved for the Royal assent, but in view of the resolution passed by tho Imperial War Conference in 1918 ho thought there would bo no necessity for this procedure. The War Conference resolved that it was an inherent function of the governments of the several communities of the British commonwealth. including India, that each should enjoy complete control of the Nnnpv.Hkion of its own population by Means of restriction of immigration from any of the other communities. Tins, said Air Alasscy, was agreed to by all the representatives of the Empire, including India. Air Downie Stewart: It might be necessary to obtain the Royal assent in case of foreigners. Mr Massey: Yes. In case of countries with which Britain has a treaty.