PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2305, 25 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. [Press Association.] 'WELLINGTON. Sept. 24. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tlie discussion on the report on Parliament site was deferred until Wednesday. Tho Attorney-General said the Government hoped to formulate a scheme to provide the landless natives of New Zealand with land at tho copelusion of the Native Lands Commission. , The Public "Works Amendment Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The second reading of the Judiciary Biil was moved. The Attorney-General explained that the Bill was to create a real Court of Appeal for New Zealand, to abolish District Courts, and to provide a more efficient economic judiciary. The present system was unsatisfactory and caused delays. Work accumulated, and inconvenience was caused to litigants and the public. The District Court system was now obsolete. An additional judge would be no extra expense to the Dominion, and there would be no difference in the status of judges. The Appeal Court would sit- at Wellington and other chief centres when necessary, reducing the cost to litigants.

The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Tlie Attorney-General said it was obvious the Bill could not pass this session, but would bo gone on with next session.

The second reading of the Alanawa-tu-'Wollington ’Railway Purchase Bill was agreed to. TluT Attorney-General said tlic mattor - of classification of the company’s employees entering the Government service would receive consideration, and, if necessary, justice would bo done next session. The Impounding Amendment Bill was reported with drafting amendments. At the second reading of the Police Offences Bill, the Attorney-General said he intended to .introduce clauses dealing with habitual drunkards and their detention in reformative houses. The Justices Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Fire Brigades Amendment Bill was dealt with in committee. An amendment was made to sub-clause 4, section 6, increasing the borrowing powers of Boards to £IO,OOO. Another amendment provides that superintendents at all reasonable times ma.v cause a brigade to carry out such evolutions as the inspector requires oil a visit of inspection. - The Attorney-General gave notice to move that the Council sit on Monday. He also gave notice to introduce 15 now Bills, including the National Provident Bill, Immigration Restriction. Heavy Traffic, Old ' Age Pension, and State Fire Insurance Bills. The Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF FtEPRESENTATIV ES. AFTERNOON SITTING. t The blouse met at 2.30 p.m. The Immigration Restriction Bill (Hon. J. A. Miliar) was read a iirst time. The House resumed consideration of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill in committee. Hon. J. A. Millar moved a new subclause .20, regarding the appointment of Conciliation Commissioners, the ■* chief feature of which was sub-section I, which enables the Governor to appoint “such persons as lie thinks at (not exceeding four in number) as Conciliation Commissioners.'-’ The Minister explained that the new subsection was proposed to meet the criticism voiced by several members that two Commissioners would be inadequate. Messrs Ell and Izard objected to the proposed limitation, as cases might arise when a . dozen would be required. The Government should be free to appoint as many Commissioners as might be necessary. Hon. J. A. Millar said the Government would have no l hesitation in asking for power to appoint more than four Commissioners if they thought more necessary, but the number of Commissioners should not be multiplied indefinitely, as the sala- ' ries would resemble those of the members of the Court of Arbitration. \ He disagreed with a suggestion by Mr. F. E. Baifine to appoint special conciliators, because the parties- to disputes should know who would be chairman of the Conciliation Council before entering upon the dispute. After further discussion, the Minister said ho was prepared to insert a new sub-section providing that in any case when, on a dispute arising, Conciliation Commissioners should not be available immediately, t-lio Government should have power to appoint a special conciliator at a fee to be determined bv regulation. Replying to Mr. Bart-lay, who objected to the appointing of untried men for three years, Hon. J. A. Millar said it would be, impossible to get high-class men, such as lie had in his mind’s eye, unless they were paid high salaries and assured of some fixity of tenure. Mr. Barclay's proposal was rejected on the voices. On the suggestion of various members, the Minister agreed to strike ,• out sub-section 7, declaring tbit every Commissioner shall exercise power of jurisdiction “within such industrial districts as arc for the time being assigned to him by the Governor by warrant.” Replying to Dr. Chappie, Hon. J. A. Millar said it would be inadvisable to- tie down the Commissioners to special industries, though naturally the Commissioner best qualified to deal with the particular dispute would be sent to deal with it. On the motion of Hon. A. R. Guinness words were inserted in Hon. Millar’s new sub-sections regarding the- appointment of special actmgCom mission era, declaring that such temporary officers shall, during the term of appointment, have the same powers and exercise the same jurisdiction as the permanent Commissioners. The new clause as amended was agreed to. Hon. J. A. Millar moved a new clause 24a, providing that judgment recovered at the suit of any person for a penalty under this Act. shall not, until and unless it is fully satisfied, ho a bar to any other action at the .suit of any other plaintiff for the recovery of the same penalty.—Agreed to. Hon. J. A. Millar moved a new clause 40a, providing that Commissioners may, at any time after application lias been made to him under section 27, and whether assessors have been appointed or not, take such steps as lie deems advisable, whether by way of a conference between the applicant and the respondent or otherwise, with intent to secure a voluntary settlement of the dispute.—Agreed to. Tlie Minister moved another now clause, defining a worker to mean “any person, of any age, of either sex, employed by nnv employer to do any work, for hire or reward.” —Agreed to! Hone'J. A. Millar moved a now clause amending section 92 of the principal Act’ by the insertion of a paragraph in the sub-section giving the Arbitration Court power to amJ, ‘ end the provisions of an award where ! such amendment is deemed necessary or advisable by reason of any alteration of circumstances in which the award was rnii.de, or in matters to which it relates. This was to meet cases, asiin the flax industry, whore industrial values went down and men were thrown out of work, or, as in tlie curriers’ industry, where the market improved after an award. Die l clause was agreed to. A new clause exempting from the operation of awards employers who arc not employing workers for direct or indirect gain, was carried by 4/ votes to 17. A new sub-section exempting local bodies from tho operation of tho clause was also agreed to. -Tho House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING BITTING. The House in committee on the Arbitration Bill resumed at 7,30 p.m. Mr. A. AY. Hogg moved a new clause tliat the “cities of A\ ollington, Auckland, Christohujrch, -aiml .Dunedin shall be deemed separate industrial districts,” arguing that conditions in the country differed radically from those prevailing in tho dies. Hon. J. A, Mllar declined to accept- tho amendment, contending that to obtain uniformity of indusrial conditions and prevent unfair competition, largo industrial districts were indispensable. Mr. Hogg’s motion was negatived by -.10 votes to 23. Mr. I lorries moved a new clause, making the provisions of this Act apply to workers under the Crown wh.e are unclassified. The clause was rejected by 4G votes to 17. Dr. Chappie moved a new clause providing for a bonus wage in a Court award to any class of workers holding a certificate of attendance at technical schools or school classes relating to the trade or -industry in which the worker is engaged. Tho motion was lost bv 48 votes to 9. Air Poland moved a new clause providing tliat if any assessor, being a worker, is dismissed from his employment, tlie employer may bo called ujKui to show that the dismissal is not on account of such an appointment.

lion. J. A. Millar declined to accept tho clause, but proposed to meet its object by amending section 109 of the principal Act by adding after the word “agreement” tlio words “or who has acted as an assessor.” Mr. Poland dissented from this, as clause 109 had been a dead letter. Air. Poland’s motion was rejected by 42 votes to 19. Hon. A. R. Guinness moved to amend the Act to compel the Court to hear all proceedings in connection with a dispute in the industrial district- -in which such, dispute arose. The motion was rejected by 36 votes to 34.

The Bill was reported with amendments.

The following is the division list on the “domestic servants” clause this afternoon: —For the retention of the clause (47): Alison, E. G. Allen, J. Allen, Barber, Bollard, Buddo, Carroll, Chappie, Colvin, Dillon, Duncan, Field, Flat-man, A. L. D. Fraser, AA 7 . Fraser, Graham, Hall, Hall-Jones, Hardy, Herries, Hornsby, Houston, Kidd, Lang, Lethbridge, McGowan, T. Alackenzie, McNab, AfacPherson, Alajor, Marnier, Massey, Millar,. Ngata, Okey, Remington, Rhodes, Ross, Rutherford, Secldon, Stallworthy, Steward, Synves, Thomson, "Witty and Wood. Against the clause (17): Arnold, Davey, Ell. Fisher, Gray, Greenskide, Guinness, Hanan, Hogan, tlogg, Izard, Laurenson, Poland, Poole. Sidey, Tanner, and AVilford. Hon. J. AlcGowan moved the second reading of the Mining Amendment Bill, proposing a number of machinery amendments in the principal Act. i ATessrs Herries and Poland regretted that tho Bill was not more comprehensive. It gave no assistance to an industry which required assistance!