PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 45, 5 December 1913, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, Dec". 2. ' THE STRIKE. ' Before the orders of the day were ' called on Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) asked tho Prime Minister, without notice, whether- his attention had 'been drawn' to the statement that an armed force was being organised at Auckland outside the regular forces for tho purpose of assisting in the present industrial trouble. - Ho rointed out that if one side were permitted to organise in this way the other side might want to do tho same. Hon. W. F. Massey said that tho Government had no official information on tho point, but from what he heard while at Auckland he understood that. no attempt was beins made to enrol a rural constabulary force,, though the names of those now serving as special constables were being token and registered in the event of their services being required at some future time. COUNTIES AMENDMENT. , Tho House went into committee on the Go*nt:es Amendment Bill. In connection with tho proposal giving county councils power to erect workmen's homes, it was agreed on the suggestion of the Prime Minister to extend tho area on which these houses could be built to five acres of first-class, 10 acres of second-class, and 20 acres of third-class land. Mr Russell moved :'. scries of amendments enabling county councils lo do all things necessary to light roads, streets, and public ;> laces in tho county with gas. The Minister'indicated that he could not accept the amendments, which were lost on the voices. The Bill passed without amendment. FOLICE OFFENCES AMENDMENT. The Police Oifeuecs Amendment Bill wa'i taken in committee. Hon. A. L. Hcrdman (Minister tor Justice) explained that under tho existing law in New Zealand a person could not bo imprisoned for inciting another to a crime until that crime had been committed. The Bill also dealt with tho intimidation ol ! persons desiring to follow their ordinary lawful vocations, and provided punishment for those interfering with them. Mr Hindmarsh ('Wellington South) urwd that there was no need to go further than the English Act did. Mo do eo under the existing circumstances would annear vindictive. Mr Yeiteh (Wauganui) characterised the Bill as panic legislation. It would j not have a healthy effect on the public mind. T . , Hon. A. L. Hcrdman: It was nitro- . dueed before the present industrial trouble was thought of. _ Mr yeiteh: It was not introduced before "the' Waihi trouble. _ Mr Hcrdman: I am not saying that. Mr Veitch said that so long as a unionist was given the right to indulge in peaceful picketing ho was not_ so much concerned, but at the same time Parliament would bu better employed in seeking out the causes of the present industrial unrest and finding a solution for them. Mr Veitch added that there were two tvpes of Anarchists in tho country. Tho Bill dealt with one, and he hoped 7 that legislation would bo sroinoteff to cope with the other. They should: see, for instance, that the Merchants' Association did not profit by the present industrial unrest by putting prices at famine rates. . Mr Herdman said regarding the Anarchists that were alleged to bo dering about at large, that if Mr Veitch could supply bun with information regarding the extortionate prices or breaches; of the Commercial Trusts Act, he would be prepared to deal with them. It was a cardinal principle of our social life that people should bo permitted to go about their business unmolested. . Mr Wilford (Hutty dwelt upon tho tendency to do away with tho jury system He contended that it was a difficult matter to get a guilty man off before a jury. They were all lair, and the judges were fair in summing tip. Mr Yeiteh said that at Wauganui the nrices of tho ■necessities of life were advanced 50 uer cent, during tfio recent strike, without any justification. He submitted that Parliament should provide for peaceful picketing. Strikes were permitted in law, and they had to provide for them. . The word '-persistently" as applying to strikers 'following about" was struck out by 31 votes to 18. The Minister moved a new clause making incitement to crime punishable, and this was carried. Mr Russell said it was necessary that the word "incite" should be clearly defined. Mr Herdman said it was not intended to interfere with the reasonable rights of free speech. The clause only provided for the case of one person urging another to commit a serious crime. The Bill was then reported with amendments. JUDICATURE AMENDMENT. The.House went into committee on the Judicature Amendment Bill. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposition) Hon. A. L. Herdman said that he would move to reduce the number of judges from eight to seven, although he did so with some doubt as to the wisdom of the step. The work' was increasing enormously, and he thought that before long an extra judge would have to be appointed. The Bill was read a third time, also . the Counties Amendment and the Police the Judicature Amendment Bill. EDUCATION RESERVES. Hon. W. Eraser moved the second reading of the Education Reserves Amendment Bill. SECOND READINGS. Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of the Distress and Replevin Amendment Bills. The Bills were read a second time. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment Bill. The Bill went through without discussion. THIRD READINGS. The three last-named Bills were then considered in committee, reported, and read a third time. I WELLINGTON, Deo. 3. Hon. W. F. Massey (Minister for Labor) gave notice to introduce the Labor Disputes Investigation Bill. The Apiaries Act Amendment Bill was introduced. Hon. W. F. Massey (Minister for Agriculture) stated that he did not propose to go on with the measure this session". The House then proceeded to discuss the Naval Defence Bill (reported elsewhere). After the telegraph office closed the Naval Rill was put through all its stages, the division on the third reading resulting: For 31, against 18.