WITH A ROD OF IRON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 987, 30 November 1910, Page 8

WITH A ROD OF IRON.

HOW CABINET RULES THE HOUSE*. V PITIFUL INCIDENT. MINISTERIAL , REBUFF AND WHAt FOLLOWED. A striking instance of the futility of members attempting to make important . amendments in a Government .measure occurred in tho Houso of Representatives last night. 'The Bill nnder consideration was the Coal Mines - Amendment Bill, and it was decided, by the- • substantial' margin of 41 votes to 24, to adopt a proposal brought forward by the Hon. A. Guinness, and having foi its object the improvement of the sani- . , ,tary arrangements in mines. ■ , "I move to report progress," angrily; ' remarked the Hon. ,R. M'Kenzie, wloV : was visibly annoyed at the carrying of ■ the proposal.. ■. . : ...■.'. Mr; Guinness said he hoped the' Minister would not do that. It would kill the Bill. He was prepared to have his proposal amended. -The "clause simply gave the Minister power to make regulations if he thought fit. slr. M'Kenzie: Oh,-it"is too late in tho session to waste time, on impracticable matters. Mr. T. ~E. Taylor (Christchurcft iNorth) expressed surprise at the attitude which the Minister was adopting The sanitary state of some of the'mines was! scandalous. In some mines the gear 'was so insanitary that the men could not handle it. . The Minister: Arrant rnbbish 1 Mr. Taylor: Not at all.' He.wouldi ike to know why the power of mem-' bers had departed. They could not' now amend a single clause in-'a Bill Mr. Ross: The Upper House can! Mr. Russell (Avon) urged ,the Minister not to--report progress. He was surprised at the Minister taking offence at the decision of the House Mr. Fisher (Wellington Central) said' it was an extraordinary thing that the Council could amend' legislation, but the House dare not touch a single clause' of a Bill. It was not to be wondered at that disruption was occurring in the Liberal party. The sooner the present , . sham Liberal party broke up the bet- , ter. . . -

. The Minister declared that he waa not going to allow any member to die-* tate the terms to be inserted in »• mining - measure. . They had not the responsibility on their shoulders. Ifj they thought that.they could do better all right, but he knew that he had the/ confidence of the miners. The sanitary) conditions at' the State mines were: satisfactory.. . He ..knew that there*' were some red-hot. Socialists there. .' Mr.. Fisher: Who makes the reports?.! The Minister: Bob Semple. .

Mr. Hogg (Masterton) . pointed one ■that it was a question as to whether* the House should rule, or the ■ Minis*. ter. His object was to kill the-Bill. ,' The Minister:. Not necessarily. . . I . Mr. Hogg said, that the House, should assert itself. The members should not allow the Ministry'to become so autocratic: If the members were not to be allowed to improve legislation they should not be in Parliament. ■ ' .■■•'-'• ;Mr. Wright (Wellington South)-'jocu." larly remarked that he could help the Minister out of his difficulty. All he need do was to instruct, the UpP e r T House to strike out' thecla'use. . That; had been done before , this .session/ (Laughter.).,. ■ .. .-'. ■ , ■"!':. "■ ' The' Minister tlien'said that he would! bring lip the Bill again.' He wanted'to consider the matter on its merits. , ; Mr. T: E. Taylor, asked; if it were■true that there were rib sanitary" ai* 1 rangements in the underground wort*'' ings of the State coal mines. • '■;. : ' The--Minister:'No. ■ . : ~ "-'". , Mr. Taylor: Then, someone"is telling 'a gross untruth. - ■ ' v Proceeding, Mr. Taylor .said that the; Committee had inserted a most humane proposal. If the- Minister continued his present attitude he would find, that the loyalty of some members would be sorely tested. ; The Prime Minister referred'to thefact that the Minister had given his assurance that the Bill would conie up again. ' ■ ' Tha'Hon. A. Guinness pointed out that his proposal had been on the Order/Paper since October 14, so he .could not be accused of springing' it on the' Minister.. In view of the Minister s • promise, ho hoped members.would sUp« port the motion to' report progress. , Mr. Massey said that there had bees "too much of this sort of thing." had had it in connection with the Municipal Corporations Bill, the Land Settlement Financs Bill, and now in tho present Bill. He hoped the House would assert itself. ' : The Prime Minister declared that no Parliament -in the world would ■ have accepted the- proposed amendment in the-. Municipal .Corporations Bill. T>i Opposition had supported it because if suited them. They would like to see the Government in the position of cat-* ing dirt. As regards the Land < Settle/meut Finance Bill, the clause propostsd tfas not suitable. The proposal of th\« Minister in this case was quite reason-J aDie. ' . > The House then unbended again- bj' agreeing on the voices to tho Minis-\ ter's proposal to report progress.