DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 November 1913, Page 5

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT

MR V.EITCH INTRODUCES A BILL STATEMENT BY TH E PRIME MINISTER. CONCILIA TION COMMISSIONER AT WORK. WELLINGTON. Last Night. In the Hon so of Representatives this afternoon, Mr W. A, Voitch. meml>ei- for Wanpamii, moved for leave to introduce the Employment of Waterside Workers and Casual Labour Regulation Bill. In doing so. Mr Voitch said lu> had not introduced the measure with a view to opening up ft discussion on the present trouble. He made hi,si move purely for the of alleviating ihe conditions of the men who worked the whole, <tf our imports and exports, which wove the roots of the finance of the country, and which.. when hadly handled, dcleteriously affected our finance**.

TIIO Hoi). W. H. Hei'i-ies moved that!the debate he adjourned till that day week. Mr Voitch had made a most temperate speech, hut the Government considered the present tine was not one for the continuance of the debate. Mr Robertson objected to the bu;-K----ing of discussion on such an : important and all-absorbing topic. He

thought the Houso would be guilty of political cowardice if it refrained from discussing the matter. Mr J. Payne spoke>on similar Hues. Mr Laurenson objected to tho Government "gagging" members. H the Government would make a straight-out statement in regard to the possibilities, he would vote for the adjournment. Mr' T. M. Wilford said the Premier should bring down proposals for a settlement at once, and allow -.ho House to have a free, opeu discussion.

fhe Hon. W. F. M|§£ey said ho had been asked by the Leader of tho Oppo.ytion to state the Government's position, and he had no objection to doing so. The matter had been placed in the hands of the 'Conciliation Commissioner, who had the confi-' dence of bo>th .sides. Ho was not able to say at the present moment whether ho could bring about a settlement. At 2.30 p.m. ho had received a wire from tho Commissioner ,to the effect that he was in communication' with one of the parties. If both agreed to the proposals, legislation would be possible. He could not say any more at the moment. It would bo generally understood that tho Gov- » ernment could not tell the House everything they were proposing at the present juncture. The dispute had now assumed a very different aspect. It was not now a difference between the watersiders and the employers, but the producers had now been affected. He had that morn- , ing received information that two thousand men .were ready, to come hero and either assist or relieve the men now here. Hundreds of tons of produce were being affected at iho railway stations by exposure to the sun and wind, and the olwners of that produce, whoso work of wars would be nullified, would have to be considered and consulted before legisla- . tion. was passed. He did not believe, however, that legislation would produce a settlement, and there must be unanimity between the parties before anything in that nature was attempted. The Government was doing its utmost to grapple with a very serioiis situation. . Mr Wilford: So is this side. Mr Massey: Nothing lias been put in our way by the members apposite. Continuing, he said serious difficulties had arisen, which had never been experienced in the country before. Sir Joseph Wardvsaid-he hoped the Commissioner of' Conciliation woul3 effect a settlement. They all hoped his efforts would bear fruit, and that legislation would be introduced to give effect to it. The position was' a grave one, which called for calm c6nsideration and judgment on the part of the men endeavouring to settle it. The resolution of the Hon. W. H. .Herries jva« carried.