HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 August 1901, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

)The House met at 2.30 p.m,

FIRST READINGS. The Local Bodies, Goldfields, Public Works, and Loan Bills (Palmer), and Tima.ru Harbour District and Harbour Board Bill (Hall-Jones) were introduced and read a first time. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, the Minister stated that it was considered desirable to. J amend the law so that parents may register the births of those children who have not been registered within .the statutory period through neglect or inadvertence. That the Cabinet would consider, the advisability of repealing the duty on plush and other textile fabrics used for gold saving; RETURNS. On the motion of Mr. Massey, a return was ordered to be presented to the House showing the names of persons or firms who received the orders for the fifty thousand tons of oats recently referred to by the Premier. > ' J . After considerable discussion, a return was ordered, on the motion of Mr. Massev. showing tfae expenditure and other details in connection with the construction of the -Makohine viaduct. THE CONCILIATION BOARDS. ■ Mi. Graham moved for a return in connection with the Conciliation Boards. The Hon. Mr. Seddon, speaking to the motion, said lie.*'did not think the wholesale condemnation of Conciliation Boards waa justified. He had made nothing to withdraw. When ihe saw that in Auckland four hundred people had been cited' in connection with the carters' dispute the question forced itself upon his mind whether there was any necessity for this, ue .hod subsequently learned from a telegram from one of the Unions that the fault was not on the side of the Union. The Unions had cited the number of employers that they thought fair and sufficient, when a large number of persons insisted on being included amongst those cited, and that was not the only case. If parties took that course of action with a view to creating friction and discrediting the legislation they would have to take responsibility. He 'had no "hesitation in saying in some respects the conduct c-f ■ tlie Conciliation Boards was unbusiness-like. The repetition of evidence was permitted to too great an extent. The construction of the Conciliation Boards was open to question. Of the representatives one was elected by the Unions and another by the employers. They Iwere two partisans, and experience had shown that they did not conciliate. As a remedy, it was suggested there should be a permanent chairman, who should call in experts to assist 'him. He (Mr. Seddon) saw a difficulty there, and considered a board so constituted would be o.a defective as the other. What .would! '.iieally improve and inspire confidence in the Board would be to have either one or two men of legal training and experience who would be above and beyond both parties of the dispute. He believed that some of the best trained magistrates would be the best men for these positions. In the meantime he ask«d that there should not be unjustifiable condemnation aimed against the Conciliation Boards'. Parliament, by widening the interpretation of the Act last session, was responsible for the increase in the number of |disput«s before the Boai'da. Those Unions that had only recently come under the Act should be given time to set their awards ,and when their cases were disposed of there ought to be a lull in what at present appealed to be incessant strife. He was looking forward to seeing.at the beginning of next year & complete cessation of disputes between employers and employed, and a reign of industrial peace. Mr. Seddon went on to deprecate the attempts that were being made to create strife between the workers in town and the fanners, and said those who were responsible for this agitation were traitors to the country. ~He stated his conviction that farmers were being organised for political purposes, and that a deliberate attempt was being made to foster animosity between th« country and towns. 'Several other members spoke, the debate being interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Major Steward's Statutes Compilation Bill Mid Mr. R. McKenzie's Miners' Rights Fee Reduction Bill passed through committee without amendment. Mr. Barclay's Shops ajnclj .Shop Assistants Act, 1894, Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 21, which proposed to give chemists a weekly half-holiday, provoked a long discussion, in the course of which the Hon. Joseph Ward said the half-holiday would not. cause any_.iuconvenience, and he was in favour of that' provision of the Bill. He thought they should,, assist the lion, member to get' his Bill through committee. . -"-: ■• . •■■' ■ Eventually after three hours' discussion, clause' 2 was amended1, on the motion of Mr. McNab so as to-make its intention clearer in allowing chemists the halfhojiday and in this form it was carried: Clause 3. re enacting subsections 2 and 3 of section 4 of the Act of 1894,. was struck out, Mr. Barclay intimating his intention to move a fresh clause to the same effect at clause, giving domestic servants half-holiday. . Mr. Pirani pointed out the necessity of the exemption of lodging-houses from the measure1.

■Mr. Barclay said he -was prepared to agree to restricting the operation "of the Bill to private "houses. , Several members urged that clause 4 should be struck oufc on the ground that) such a provision Avas out of place i« this Pi«,