REGULATING' INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 4

REGULATING' INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

JUDICATURE BILL PASSED.

WORKERS'DWELLINGSINTHE COUNTRY

t„. Tho House, of Representatives met at [7.30 last ovening, and- five minutes -.later, went into Committee on tho Coun'ties Amendment Bill.

3lr. G. Witty asked tho Minister to extend a clause providing that a county chairman should be, ex officio,' a Jus'tice of tho Peace. The latter appointment should, in such a case, he sub■mittcd, bo made pormanont. Sir Walter Buchanan suggested that 'any such rule, if introduced, should be 'mado'general, and should apply.to the Mayor of a - borough as well as to a county chairman. ■■■ •' The Hon..A. X. 'Herdmau said that the Mayor of a borough was only, n Justico of tlfo Peace in virtuo of his 'office, while ho retained-'that, office.!' : • -'

Mr. Witty': It ■lias boon the rulo. ■ Mr. Herdmaii' feaid'that it' might have been a Departmental rule to rcn.Qw the appointment'of retiring Mayors: 1 'He •added that tho -special-provision advocated by Mr; "Witty ivaVj unnecessary. V\ny porson who had, ocqupied >a responsible position as a local body member could readily secure appointment as. a of tho Peace. " . The clause was passed without amendment.: " ■ • " ■' Country Workers' Dwellings. Mr. H. G. Kit moved rto mcr_ease.;frpm three to fivo acres the maximum area of land which may .be attached to workers' dwellings provided by.county councils. , Mr. D. Buddo said that the area might with advantago bo mado even larger. ,"' ■' ' l'i '.'' , Sir Walter Buchanan said that in his' district counties httd purchased land "arid 1 made dwellings thoreon. for their own, workmen/ , ■''' Mr. Hauan: Did they allow, the men to become tho owners of tho sections? - Sir Walter Buchanan: No. The Hon. W. J\ Massoy pointed out that tho main difference betwpou-; ; tho clause," and the present law was'that' it was proppsed,that .counties should have power to acquire land compulsorily .for workers' dwellings. This was not tho present law. Ho saw no objection to the', increase-.of tho-maximum.area,', to uvo'acrcs.: ;." , ...,','.' .:...'' ~,.','.':;,':' I No Limlt'bf Arba. -"'.";" Mr. G. W. llussell'urged that it might bo wise to fix no limit at a11.,'-It might bo possible if tho holdings wore... fairly, large to-encourage a form, of improved farm settlements, .iVhich;,would bo-cap-ablo of development.-" He: would suggest that tho limit of fivo acres bo struck out altogether, and that tho size of tho holdings be left to tho ', discretion of tho councils..' ' ' '' •'' "'"!'.' '" ■"'.- ,' Mr. Herdo'ian pointed' out "that 'tho Government had a schomo' already in, operation which 'provided for the acquisition of larger, areas than were necessary under tho scheme of. workers'dwellings. The proposal in tho Bill, was to l extend to 'similar ' powers to those now possessed in municipalities in providing workers' dwellings. , It would be umvis-j to. give- the counties-powers to, borrow largo sums,'and possibly,get-into, a hopeless muddle. ... ~:.,..;. , ....,,.

Mr. D. liuick ■ supported tho view, taken by tho member for Avon. -Five acres of sbmo land would not bo worth twopence to anybody, and the- counties could .bo trusted to administer I 'tho scheme judiciously. Mr. E. Newman also took the- view that the area!should bo more than flvo acres in some instances. .'Ho'asked, the Minister what powers were conferred upon tho counties to borrow under this Bill. Could the counties borrow without taking a poll? Sir Walter Buchanan said that ho thought tho maximum area, should be (even acres.

.The Amendment Altersd., M>. H. 0. Ell amended'his first proposal, and asked tho Minister-to mako the maximum area twenty or twenty-, five acres. Mr.,Massey: That's a farm; it's absurd! ; Mr. EU: It depends upon the land. In some places as much land would bo required to'keep a -hoi'se "nhctodw '.oiii'"-:. ;'. ' Mr. Coatcs: It's no use putting workers'on to-land like that. \ Mr. Ell submitted that workers' dwellings would bo required in.districts where.' the land was-poor as wollas' whero* itwas more fertile. Mr. G. Witty said that t'ho County Council concerned should determine'tho area. In ,somo cases three acrqs or even one aero would be sufficient; 'in others 10 or 15 acres would be required to keep a COW. '■' ... ,■ • .-.. '■ ... Mr. R...Scott advised the Minister to leave-. tho' County Councils to fix the area for themselves. •• ; Mr. <j. V. Poarco said that there would bo no danger in leaving it to tho counties to fix the. area, as . they dill not want to -spend any more money . in acquiring' 1 land for workers' dwellings than was.necessary. - ..::'.' r. '...: Mr. D.< Buick said that if a limit were imposed it should be one of value and- not of area.; ' Flve-acro Farms. Tho Prime Minister said thai in sonic districts 'a live-acre sectiou was 1 a farm. Some.,five-acre, sections ~-wcro being opened in C'auterjnivy. at sent time, upon which the settlers who were, taking them, up expected, to make ii living.-- lie'did hot think it would bo .wise to empower counties to acquiro hind compulsorily in unlimited areas. His suggestion to the Minister in chargo.pf the Bill was that he should mako thoi maximum' livi* aefesMiE"first* class land, ton acres ,<if sucnndrdlass. land, and' twenty acres" of third-class land, as dclined in the Laud Act. .Mr. Herdman accepted the .suggestion, and the clause was amended aecor-. dingly. Providing the Money. - --/■

In reply to Mr. K."'Xe\vmaii, tlio Him. A. ii. Ilcrdman said that a county coAineil would, have power to borrow for the ac'truismou of laud for workers' dwellings in tho .v.uri'b way as for a publio work. He was not sure whether it would be, necessary for a prill to.be taken, but thought that, a r poll would bo necessary. Ho promised to look into tho matter. ■ ' ■

Mr. E.'lNowmau said the matter was I of consideraulo.iniportaneeraa the-eoim-! ty council in his district had communicated with him on tho subject. They-, wero very anx'ious ,lo undertake this work at'.tinco.;/■;,";' '.', '•^;'i; , ,f , ! ;ii;;V. \] Electricity '' arid Cis irrcounties. Mr Cr -• -AV.- Russell- moved, to add ..to the Bill ;i. ; serioi'of'elaiiso34o eive-floiuity councils tho samo powers to supply gas ; ,ml electrieit^ j as i .:Wero - 6"v0n.40 municipalities'. ... Tho Hon. A. Ti. Hordman said ho could not accept tho amendment. Counties already wero given power to generate and sell electrical powor, and ho did not think if advisable tjiat counties.

should liavo power to erect expensive gas plants, from which to supply gas tor lighting. The amendment was negatived on this voices.