THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

Tlio llouso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION. Mr. J. ROBERTSON (Otaki) asked tho Prime Minister what tlio intentions of, tho Government were in regard to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. It was reported, lie said, that the Government did not intend to proceed beyoild the second reading stage of the Bill this session. , The Prime Minister: It was arranged at the last meeting of the Labour Bills Committee, held yesterday morning, that evidence should be taken and that , the Bill should be proceeded with, and ' I hope to proceed with tho Bill if only for tho purpose of correcting some of the gross misrepresentations which have been directed at the Bill. Sir Joseph Ward: I hope it will come back to the House this session Numerous Government members: , Order! Sir Joseph Ward: I am asking another question. Who called out "Order I" The Hon. Jas. Allen: I did, for one! Sir Joseph Ward: Well, the Speaker usually rules in this House. Mr. Speaker inquired whether the hon. gentleman was dsking a question. The Huntly Strike. SIR JOSEPH WARD: Yes. He then asked the Prime Minister whether -, he had received any official report in connection with tho strike at Huntly. Ho had received some information on the subject, but lie was not prepared just now to state what that information was. He presumed that tho Prime Minister was acting on the advico of his officors. The matter was of great importance to the county, and he wished to know whether thero Was any prospect of a settlement of the strike. He .also wished to know Whether any communication on the subject of the disp'uto had been received from the proprietors of tho miiio. Tlio PRIME MINISTER said that ho had received no communication from tho proprietors of the mine regarding the state of affairs at Huntly. Neither had he received any official report.' Ho hod recoived information regarding the state of affairs at Huntly, but of course an official report could not bo sent over the wires. "I am at present moving in tho matter of bringing aboiit a settlement if it is possible to do it," tho Prime Minister remarked in conclusion. "I can't say more at the present moment." ! Sir J. Ward: Do you propose to visit the mines yourself? (Laughter.) The Prime Minister: I am afraid that I could not be spared from my Parliamentary dutiea at the present time. Sir J. Ward: I will go Up with you if you go, , The Prime Minister: That will not equalise matters, I am sorry to say. Committees and a Meeting. SIR J. WARD asked the Prime Minister whether it was a fact that committees were not to sit on tho following morning, and what the reason was for it. It was generally reported that committees were not to ,sH>- next morniilg, arid he thought ty'Hoti&S'iVas en- ; titled to be told why this had been arranged. Mr. Nosworthy: Affair question for the Order Paper. The' Prime Minister: ! know of no arrangement that committees were not to sit'to-morrow morning. - Sir J. Ward said that a report to that effect was current. Mr. Fraser: Put it on the Order Paper. -' < The Prime Minister: I don't know that I am bound to answer every question the lion, gentleman asks. Tho sit. ,tings of committees wero arranged by the chairmen. Ho had'heard that an important meeting of certain members of Parliament would take place nextmorning, and this, might affect tho sittings of committees. Sir J. Ward: Committees should hot be inconvenienced ■ in matters of this ' kind. There should not be interference with tho ordinary meetings of committees. Mr. Massey: What' committees are you referring to? Sir J. Ward: All the committees of the House. , Sir. Massey : They don't all meet tomorrow. PROFIT-SHARING. ■ Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) asked the Prime Minister whether, in view : of the approaching visit to Now Zea- ' land of Sir Wm. Lever, he would in- ' struct one of tho principal officers of tho Labour Department to prepare a ■ precis of the mass of information on the Subject of profit-sharing, which was 1 laid upon the table of the House at his (Mr. Wilford's) request some time 1 ago. • T' 10 Prime Minister 'promised to look 1 into the matter. ' OLD MESSENGERS. THE PAYMENT :OF PENSIONS. ) Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) asked j why the old messengers who were dispensed with at the beginning of this 1 session, and who, it was understood, I were to receive £80 a year, had not yet received one copper of the money. 5 oome or the men were destitute, and they wanted to know when they would + bo paid. ■ { . Tlie PRIME MINISTER, said that he I i'ui a J ec *. I* ll Parliament; previously r that authority would be asked, and. no doubt would be granted by Parliament, „ (luring th© present session, to pay pell- ? sions to the old messengers. Ho was sorry to learn that up to the present i no payments had been mado. The matter was at present under the considera- C tlon of the Treasury. He was inform- ® cd about it a week ago, and had asked tho Treasury to ascertain whether it was possible to make any payment in advance of tho authorisation by Parr lianient. v Mr. Russell: Some of these men are in destitute circumstances. • Mr. Massey:'The payments will be ® made. c w LEAVE OF ABSENCE. w ■ Leave of absence 'for the rest of the 0 session was granted to Mr. A. M. Myers, who is about to visit England. STRANCERS IN THE LOBBIES. Mr. J. CRAIGIE (Timaru) diew the ti Speaker's attention to the fact that- t on the previous evening, when a divi- e Siou was taken, several strangers Wero A locked into the lobbies with members, d 'Die dignity of the House demanded, t lie considered, that strangers should s> be excluded from the lobbies nheti divi- t siOns were being taken. | The SPF/AKKR thanked tlio honour- t able member for bringing the matter t under his notice. lie reminded the p llouso that he had issued instructions c earlier in the session that strangers b should not be allowed to life the lob- j\ hies. In response to a request made at t, Ihat time he had provided an additional « waiting-room, in which members could v meet visiting constituents. Finally. Mr. n Speaker said that he would see that tho s , rnlo about excluding strangers from the g lobbies was nfiidly. enforced. U