PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 March 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

ARBITRATION BILL.

The second reading debate on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was brought to a close in the House of Representatives last •evening when the Prime -Minister secured of the closure. The second reading was approved by

41 votes to 29, and this revealed the

alignment of the parties as far as the 1 general principle of the Bill was concerned, live Government members voting with tlie Labour Party and the Independents. The second reading having been taken, the House went into Committee to ■deal with the Bill clause by clause. There had been a general expectation that the Government intended to put a, sudden stop to further talking on the second reading, and this was borne out by the'reappearance of the Minister who elected to speak on the amendment and forfeit his reply on the main motion. However, it is quite likely that the closure would not have come so soon had Mr McCombs not indignation of the Government, several of whose members, including the Minister of Public Works, lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, openly voiced* their disapproval of the stand > tajeen to prevent Mr Hamilton fiom an extension of time. The short title was still under discussion when the House arose at midnight. MORTGAGORS AND TENANTS. It is hoped by the Government that it will be possible to introduce the Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Bill in the House of Representatives before the end of this week. The Bill has been'finally drafted and is ready for presentation. The title of the Bill indicates that intends to include in if provisions for the relief of tenants, and it is generally anticipated that this will Wafe’done by legislating in the direction of alleviating the burden of what might be considered high rents. This will probably be done by making the way clear for negotiations between tenants and landlords, although, in view of the general nature of the Bill, it does not necessarily follow that it will provide for an ■ arbitrary reduction in rents. Some such arbitrary reduction, however, has been under condderation by the Government, and it is almost -certain that if this is not carried into •'effect in this Bill, special legislation will be framed for presenta--1 tion later in the session.