THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1906, 14 November 1913, Page 10

THE HOUSE.

The House of Representatives sat at 2.30 p.m. - _ Mr. C. A. WILKINSON (Egmont) gave notico to ask the Government to take into favourable consideration the question of placing bank , employees superannuation' funds ou a sound, and satisfactory basis. Mr. P. C. WEBB (Grey) gave notico of his intention to introduce the Settlement of the 1913 Industrial Strike and Knock-out Bill. The announcement was greeted with laughter. DISTRESS LIMITATION. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved to introduce the Distress and Replevin Amendment Bill. He stated tliat the Ml was in effect part of the Bill introduced earlier in the session by Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh. The Bill read a first time. INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES. MR. PAYNE'S BILL. Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) moved to introduce the Stato Control or Shipping and Farmers' Protection Bill- Ho .spoke of the present industrial deadlock, referring to it always as a lock-out, and sought to excuse the men for holding their "stop-work" mooting. Iheu he submitted his schomo (which had nothing special to commend it) for tlio settlement of industrial troubles. One of his jH'oposals' was the acquisition of steamers from the shipping companies by tlio Government. Mr. Payne spoke his half-hour to a Houso that was rot at all"interested, and as soon as he had finished Mr. 1). H, Guthrie (Oroua) moved the adjournoneiit of the debate until November .w, giving as his reason that the present was not a proper time to discuss the subject matter of tlio Bill. Mr. P. C. WEBB (Grey) opposed the adjournment, but at every turn when lie sought to deal with tlio striko question generally lie was pulled up by Mr. Speaker, and directed to speak to the adjournment. In the end lie recorded liis protest against the adjournment temperately enough, and resumed his seat after speaking only about fivo minutes. Mr. A. E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) opposed the adjournment, urging that things had como to such a pass in his Queen City as to demand immediate action. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wangamu) urged as a reason against the adjournment that although tlio Bill was not perfect it could be amended later to make it effective to deal with the present trouble. Tlio Hon. .1. ALLEN raised a point of order. The Bill, he said, proposed to appropriate public money for the purchase of steamers and all sorts, of things) and no private member could

introduce a Bill which would have that effect.

Mr. SPEAKER ruled that the question of the adjournment -would have to be disposed of before tho point of order raised by Mr. Allen could he sustained.

Mr. Vcitch continued his appeal U> Parliament to deal with the. strike trouble at once, and so conserve the interests of the people generally by relieving them from tho inconvenience, and stress put upon them by tho strike. Mr. A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) also opposed tho adjournment, because, as lie- said, he objected to any further delay by tho House in taking .steps to deal with the industrial deadlock.

Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christchurch North) said that although ho did not support the provisions of the Bill, he was opposed to the adjournment of discussion on tho question with which tho Bill proposed to deal. Mr. H. ATMORE (Nelson) said that if Parliament, by agreeing to the adjournment, showed that it was unwilling to deal with tho nation's affairs, the workers would be encouraged to depend upon direct industrial action instead of legislative action.

Mr. J. ROBERTSON (OtaUi) opposed tlio adjournment. After an hour aud a quarter of talk a division was taken on tho motion, aud it was defeated by 51 votes to 15. MINING AMENDMENT BILL, Tho Mining Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. Eraser) was read a second .time pro forma, and referred to the Mines Committee.