THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

Tho House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. IMPORTED COTTON. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christeburch South) addressed a question to the Minister for Customs on the subject of tho duty on cotton counterpanes. Ho stated that these goods wero admitted duty freo if made in lots of six, but otherwise paid duty. Tho manufacturers at Home had now notified local merchants that these articles could no longer bo sont out in lota of six, becauso tho men on tho bleaching greeiis objected to the weight. Tho position! now was that unless lots of four instead of six wero allowed to como in froe, a duty .of 4s. 6d. in the £ would have to bo paid on goods largely used' by working people. The Hon. F. M. B. FISHER said that 'ho was sorry tho honourable gentleman had not- given notice of tho question. Mr. Ell said! that ho had tried! to find the Minister and bad failed. Tho Hon. It. H. Rhodes: They are all tho same. Nono of them have the courtesy to give notico of questions beforehand. Mr. Ell declared angrily that tho Minister's remark was a gross piece of impertinenco. ■ Mr. Fisher asked- that- the question, being of a technical nature, should be put on tho Order Paper. LABOUR BILLS COMMITTEE. Mr. 6. W. RUSSELL (Avon) asked tho Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister for Labour, whether no could do anything to expedite the work of tho Labour Bills Committee, especially with regard to tho Shops and Offices Bill. This Bill had been sent to the Committee on July 18. It was now September 19, and tho Committee would bo compelled shortly to take up tho Arbitration' Amendment Bill. Ho understood that during September tho Labour Bills Committeo had held five sittings, including that day, to consider tho Shops and Offices Bill. Ho understood that tho Committee had now adjourned for a week. Tho PRIME MINISTER assured, tho House that tho Labour Bills Committee had worked very hard indeed, and had done all that it could to expedite business. It had examined dozens of witnesses and had put together a volume of evidence almost as big as a family Bible. The Committee had completed the taking of evidence and proposed to go on with its consideration of the clauses of tho Bill. He did not think that there was a Committee of the House—and that was saving a great deal —which worked as hard as tho Labour Bills Committee. MISTAKEN VOTINC. Mr. H. M. CAMPBELL (Hawke's Bay) made an explanation regarding votes which he had recorded during the long sitting of tho lato obstruction debate. He explained that at tho end of last week he paired with Mr. Wilford. Returning to the House on Tuesday ho saw Mr. Wilford inMlio House anil did not realise that tho previous Friday's sitting was still in progress. He had not imagined that one sitting would extend over live days, and on two occasions recorded his vote while Mr. Wilford, knowing that tho " pair " held good, walked out. Ho wished to express regret that ho had dono so, and to put Mr. Wilford right with his constituents. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) freely accepted Mr. Campbell's explanation, and declared himself confident that tho latter had voted quite inadvertently. He thanked Mr. Campbell for putting him right. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Three weeJts' leave of absenco wa3 granted to Sir James- Carroll on account of ill-health. Two weeks' leave of absence was granted to Dr. Rangih-iroa on account of urgent privato business. BOARD OF AGRI,CULTURE. Tho Board of Agriculture Bill (Mr. Massey) was read a first timo.