PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. fair progress down the Order Panel,vas made by the House of Representatives yesterday forenoon, but the afternoon and evening were spent in party conflict over the Labour Disputes Investigation Bill, a measure incorporating those provisions of tho Industrial Conciliation and . Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, which aim at preventing strikes or lock-outs until reasonable efforts to promote a settlement liavo been tried and liavo proved abortive. In the forenoon four Bills were read a second time after brief These were: The Stock Amendment Bill, Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, Apiaries Amendment Bill, rind the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment- Bill. ■ More time was spent in talking about tho amendments made by the Legislative Council in tho Tramways Amendment Bill.

Tho Labour Disputes Investigation Bill came up for second reading shortly after 3 o'clock and was not disposed of for a long time. Tho Bill itself was very little talked about by tho _ earlier speakers except the Prime Minister, who opoued the debate. Sir Joseph Ward, who followed, plunged at oncc into the subject of the present strike. In the courso of his remarks he delivered himself of what tho Hon. A. L. Herdman'.described subsequently as a "yelling denunciation" of Tue Dominion. In ono of his fow references to tho Bill Sir Joseph Ward indicated that lie would support it. . Tlio Hon. A. L. Herdman defended the Government in a speech which, in its moderation and reserve, was in marked contrast to tho' outpouring of the Leader of tlio Opposition. Speaking in calmly contemptuous tones Mr. Herdman toid Sir Joseph Ward that lie' had behaved like a spoiled child.

lii the subsequent debate'the Bill met with little opposition, even from those members who support" the Federation of Labour and represent it in the House. The Hon. J. A. Millar, speaking in tho evening, supported tho Bill, and declared himself at variance with' tho Opposition contention that the Government 'could have settled tho present strike by legislative means. Mr. "fV. A. Veitch, ,a Labour member, unreservedly supported the Bill on the ground that it would tend to discourage striked. f ' Another -incident' during tho evening was an effective verbal castigation ot tho loud-talking Mr. Isitt by the veteran member for AVairarapa (Sir Walter Buchanan).' ■ -After midnight tho debato on tho Labour Bill was interrupted for about half an hour in order.,to-debate tho report of a conference of-managers set up to consider... tho Legislative Council's amendments in..the Tramways Amendment Bill. Eventually the amendments were agreed to in a modified form. ' The second reading of the Labour Disputes Investigation Bill was carried by 54 votes to 4. The Shops and Offices Bill providing for a six-dav week in the jjotel and restaurant trades was introduced, and read a first time. Tho Labour Disputes Investigation Bill was being considered in Committoo when tho Dominion - went to press. The Legislative Council had practically a clean Order Paper at the beginning of tho day, but more Bills came from tho House, and on these it was engaged all day. The Council roso shortly before midnight, to sit-again at 11 o'clock'this morning.