PROTEST VOICED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 287, 5 December 1945, Page 5

PROTEST VOICED

RUSHED LEGISLATION OPPOSITION OBJECTIONS FAIL (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Dec. 4. In the House of Representatives thia afternoon, alter Mr. Mason, AttorneyGeneral, had moved the second reading of the Statutes Amendment Bill, lhe Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, expressed his objection to this method of passing legislation. The House had been sitting for 23 weeks, of which about 20 weeks were spent on all sorts of things, such as papers for consideration—all very useful m their way, but members had come lo transact the country’s business. Now came this Bill amending 49 different Acts of Parliament. It had been considered by the Statutes Revision Committee, members of whicir. however, had not seen the Bill until Monday, and it was the custom to refer Bills to committees with expert knowledge of questions in the Bill. How coula lhe Statutes Revision Committee have expert knowledge of 49 different Acts? For example, two sections winch were worth a special Bill on their own were those dealing with the wages and conditions of agricultural workers and sharemilkers. Members of the Opposition would like to see farm workers get the benefit of good conditions and they should have ample time to study the provisions of such legislation. Another clause enabled the Valuer-Gen-eral to attach farmers’ cream cheques for the payment of rates. That, too, was worth a special Bill. A farmer might have given an order to someone else, but the Valuer-General's order would apparently take precedence. It was necessary to have “washingup” Bills, said Mr. Holland, but they should not include such a revolutionary thing as compulsory unionism in the Public Service.

Mr. D. G. Sullivan sa!d if Mr. Holland had not made the speech he did it would have been a break from precedent. The problem confronting the Government and the method of solving it were the same as those of all Governments in the 25 years he had been in the House. He thought, however, that Mr. Holland had exaggerated the position. Although this was not the best method of legislating, it did save the House’s time. If all the clauses were separate Bills Heaven knew how long it would take the House to get through its work. The session had been one of the most productive of valuable, fruitful legislation in the history of New Zealand. While the House was passing those BirM it could not be dealing with matters in the Statutes Amendment Bill. It was unnecessary to have a separate Bill dealing with compulsory membership of railway service organisations, because the whole country was familiar with compulsory unionism and the railway organisations had asked for it for some tirntL The Government believed the clauses in the Bill could not be done without, and that the only alternative to the Statutes Amendment Bill would be to leave work undone, which would be a more serious mat I er.

Mr. C. G. Harker (Opp., Waipawa) said the Statutes Revision. Committee had not had an opportunity of hearing evidence on many vital issues. It recognised that past Governments resorted to this procedure in bringing down legislation, but the procedure was now being abused.

Mr. Semple said he was 100 per cent, in favour of compulsory’ unionism, which he considered made for a greater degree of efficiency and contentment among the workers. He favoured every farmer beirg a member of the Farmers’ Union. There were, unfortunately, people whom he described as “industrial cuckoos, railsitters and parasites,” wbn were prepared to accept the benefits obtained through the efforts of others, but were too mean to contribute their share. It had to be recognised that trade unionism had come to stay. Compulsory membership has been sought by the railway organisations concerned. There was no reason for strikes in New Zealand, and those who walked out were merely their own throats and privileges which the pioneers had fought for and handed down. Mr. W. J. Polson (Opp., Stratford) said he wished to protest emphatically against the clause bringing farm workers under the I.C. and A. Act. Bringing farm workers under this Act would destroy valuable work done in the past and create turmoil and disagreement between farmers and their workers. LIKE PAPER-CHASE Mr. H. J. Holyoake (Opp.. Pahiatua) said the number of Bills coming down in the dying stages of the session resembled a Parliamentary pr.ner-chase,. with the Ministers as hares. The’ clauses relating to farm workers were the thin end of a wedge with which the Government could control agreements between farmers and farm workers. Exception to the clause in the Statutes Amendment Bill which gives the Valuer-General power to enforce payment of rates was taken by Mr. S. w. Smith (Opp., Bay of Islands) when the House resumed to-night. Mr. Smith said that the particular clause in the Bill was brought in to censure and discipline the Mangonui County Council. which over a long number of years had made efforts on constitutional lines to obtain adjustment of an injustice. The fact that the Valuer-Gen-eral was being given power to enforce payment of rates was a vicious piece of legislation, said Mr. Smith. It was a negation of the fundamental rules Qf democracy, particularly that rule which gave the individual right to have access to the courts of the country. The Valuer-General would have power to order any money to be paid direct to the Government—power that was a mockery of democracy—instead of gel tin." an attachment order through the usual Court process.

Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Opp.—Mataura) said the system whereby sharemllkers made agreements with owners had worked satsifactorly for years, but recentlv a member of “another place” went to the Waikato stirring up

trouble between farmers and sharemilkers. That was the reason for the clauses in the Rill. That gentleman did a lot o f harm. The Minister .In charge of the Bill, instead of stirring un more trouble, would be well advised to withdraw the clauses from the Biff and let the proposals be circulated to farmers’ organisations for their comment. There was a good deal of irritation among the farmers to-day. as would be admitted by one Minister who did not find a recent meeting in Taranaki entirely harmonious. Mr. J. There are some hooligans there. 1 Mr. Murdoch! And elsewhere, too. Mr. Murdoch said difficulties between sharemilkers and farmers had been exaggerated. If there were less interference with sharemilkers and farmers production would be aided instead of being hampered. Mr. Roberts, Minister of Agriculture. said dairy factories compelled their suppliers to lake out shares which was a form of compulsory unionism. Moreover, representatives of the Farmers’ Federation went up and down the country criticising the Government. Sharemilkers had an equal right for their representative* 1o move about the country organising them. The House rose af mid-nigh: passing the Emergency ReguMSm Amendment Bil’