THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 8

THE HOUSE.

Tlio House of Representatives met' at "&P-H. -T- I'- OKEY (Taratiaki) asked tlio Prime Mmis-

ter, without . notice, whether, in view of the large' sum being spent b.v Canada and other countries 011 the development of the iron industry, the Government would, during tho recess, make investigations with a view to encouraging private enterprise, to take up the industry in the Taranaki district: Tho. PRIME MINISTER replied that tho Government had already had ■ a great many communications on > tho Bubject. .Negotiations had been entered into and the position now was that proposals had been mado to certain persons who had been iti communication with the Government with a view to' furthering the industry. Before anything definite was done, however, the proposals would bo submitted to Parliament- for its sanction. Tho Government, the I'riino Minister added, .was fully aware of tho jjmportance of tho matter, and was doing all it could to make a good beginning with tho iron and steel industry. THE FORESTRY COMMISSION. Mr. 11. SCOTT (Otago Central) addressing a question to the Prime Minister, without notice, said that 110 supposed 110 opportunity could now bo afforded this session of discussing the report of tho Forestry Commission, but he hoped that tho Government would exerciso caution in giving effect to its recommendations. Home of tho recommendations were of extreme importance and if given effect would bo disastrous to certain districts.

The PRIME MINISTER said that ho hardly thought members desired to discuss the report of the Forestry Commission at that period of tho session. Ho considered the report a very valuable 0110. Tho same applied to tile recommendations. Each of thes« would be considered 011 its merits.

THE STOCK BILL. COMPENSATION RATE TO BE INCREASED. Jho Hon. W. F. MASSE Y (Prime Minister) moved the second reading of tha Stock Amendment Bill. He said that it was tho result of suggestions made from time to time by numerous deputations. It raised from £8 to £12 per head tho value in respect of which compensation could be paid upon condemned stock. The reason for this was that a dairy cow which a. fow years ago was worth £8 was now easily worth £12. . Mr. Okey: More! The Prime Minister" said that the amount paid in compensation with half tho value of the animal. The result of tho amendment would be that £6 instead of £-1 would bccomc the maximum payable as compensation for a dead cow. Another proposal extended from January (instead of February) to (April tho period within which sheep in the South Island could be dipped. It was further proposed that sheep-brands should be legally protected. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) commended tho Bill, and particularly tho increase in the maximum compensation payable 011 condemned stock.

The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) also supported tho Bill, but criticised tho proposal to legallv protect sheep-brands. SIR WALTER BUCHANAN (AVairarapa) said that the measure was a useful one. ' ,

Mr. It. M'CALLUM (Wairau) said that tho extension of the dipping-period would bo of particular value In A'ur!borough.

Mr. G. V. PEAIICE (I'atea) said that there ivas an anomaly in the far.-t tl at compensation was paid in respect of stook condemned in tho' paddock, but not if the owner, voluntarily took such animals.to the boiling-down works. It was very necessary, he said, that it should bo made legal to dip sheep in tho North Island at least a month hvtcr than was now permitted. Mr. H. J. IT. OKEY .(Taranaki) supported tlio Bill, and, expressed ft'hnpo' that the good work done by tho Veterinary Department would be continued. The Bill was rea'd a second time.

LAW PRACTITIONERS. POINT OF ORDER...RAISED. Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved tlio second reading of the Law Petitioners' Amendment Bill. M. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) raised a point of ordor, which ho had mentioned when the Bill was introduced. He contended that the Legislative Council (in which the Bill originated) bad usurped n prerogative vested solely in the representative Chamber, inasm icii as tlio Bill imposed a tax of 10s. en all solicitors.

The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN S' id thattho Bill did not affect tho revenue cf the Crown in any way. A sum of money would be collected, by a public officer, it was true, but not for a public purpose. The money would be spent in upkeep of a Judges' library. ..The PRIME MINISTER upheld the view taken by tho Attorney-General.

The SPEAKER ruled that the Bill did not contain ail appropriation clause, and vras in order.

.The Hon. J. A. MILLAR (Dunedin West) said he proposed to move in Committee to add to the Bill a new clause, making it compulsory that all trust ac-, counts in the hands of solicitors be audited by a Government auditor.

Tho Hon. A. L, HERDMAN, in reply, said that tho Bill liad emanated from the Now Zealand Law Society, and it was therefore approved' by representatives of tho loh.il profession all over the Dominion, Ho thought it was ridiculous to suggest that the proposed extra levy upon solicitors of 10s. a year would Dress heavily upon them. The Bill was read a second time.

APIARIES BILL. I ho Hon. W. F. MASSE V moved tho second reading of the Apiaries Amendment Bill, explaining that the proposals in it emanated from a conference of beekeepers held ill Wellington during tlio 'year. The second reading was agreed to on tho voices. DIVORCE LAW. Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN* moved the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. The principal object of the Bill, lie said, was to restore to parties to divorce suits the right- to appeal to the Privy Council. Tho only clause in the Bill which could possibly be contentious he pronosed to drop. The Bill was read n second lime. TRAMWAYS BILL. COUNCIL'S AMENDMENTS. OPPOSED. The Hon. W. FI'ASER moved that (lie 'amendments made in the Tramways Amendment Bill by tho 'Legislative Council bo agreed to. He, explained the effect of tlio amendments, the most important of which was a clause cmtxnvering the Governor, by Order-in-Couneil gazetted, to suspend the law requiring persons to bo employed as niotormen to have certain qualifications. The object of tho amendment was to avoid the compulsory laying up of cars in times of strike.

SIH JOSEPH WARD (A«-itrua> said the. Bill made it possible for tho flover-nor-in-Council. which meant tlio Ministr of Public Works for the time being, to suspend any provisions in any authorising order. Tliis power was too wide. Flo agreed that it was desirable that in times of strike the Government should liavo power to prevent tho stopping of tramway services, but lie thought, provision could be made for it in another way, as it had been in tho railway service. The proposal in the Bill was a "drastic, form of gmllotino held over tho 'heads of tramway employees." Tt. would prevent the average employee from representing to his employers a legitimate grievance on behalf of his fellow workers, and if ilmt grievance was uot met, ho would be helpless

and unable to say what ho was entitled to sav, that lie would not go 011. Mr.' T. H. DAVKY (Christeliurch East) protested against the way in which the Council had altered the Hill, and said that the alterations endangered the fato of tho Bill. The proposals in regard to the suspension of regulations lie characterised as panic legislation. A Bill of this : character should not be loaded with legislation dealing with strike matters. He protested against a proposal that tho Minister should be authorised to delegate to a. local body his-powers of inspecting tramway rolling-stock. Ho would oppose the Bill as it now stood. The Hon. W. FRASER said that- ho would move to disagree with the clauses relating to t.lio suspension of regulations, and to the delegation of the Minister's powers of inspection.

SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The PRIME MINISTER moved that the .House should rise from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. in.order that Ministers might finally review the Supplementary Estimates. Sir .T. Ward (laughing): I hope you won't forget me! Tho House rose at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. MORE ABOUT TRAMWAYS. The. discussion on tho Tramways Bill was resumed at 3 p.m. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) objected to the deletion of a clause restricting the height of tramway steps to fourteen inches.

Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui) said that the restriction of tramway steps to a height of 14 inches was impracticable. .Ho strongly objected to tho clauses inserted by the Council providing that 011 occasions of industrial disorder tho regulations might be suspended.

Messrs. Lee, Hanan, and the Minister were appointed managers to meet managers from the Council, and confer on the subject of the disputed amendments.

Later in the afternoon a Mesffigo was received from the Council to "the effect that it insisted upon its amendments. It was then deeided to ask for a conference between the representatives of the two Houses. TRAMWAYS BILL. The managers who had conferred with managers from tho Legislative Council on tho amendments to. the Tramways Amendment Bill reported that they had been unable to agree with tho representatives of another place. The Hon. W. ERASER moved that another conference bo requested. The managers from another place,, he sayl, liad insisted on their amendments, and 110 agreement had been arrived at.

Tho motion was agreed to, and tho managers appointed were the Hon. W. Eraser. Mr. D. 11. Guthrie, and Mr. W. A. Veiteli.

These managers subsequently reported that they had agreed with the managers for the Legislative Council upon the amendments made in the Bill by the Council, with some modifications.

Tlio report was agreed to after a division by 34 votes to 21. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. Tho report of the conference of managers of the two Houses regarding tho dispute over tho sub-clause added by tile Legislative Council to Clause 22 of tlio -Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill (affecting the right of tho Auckland City Council to run motor-bus services), was presented to the House. Tlio report stated that the following addition to the sub-clauso had been agreed to bv the conference:—

"The establishment and maintenance of a motor service for the purpose only ,of serving areas not served by, or not .adequately served, by, tlio tramway, shall not bo deemed to he in contravention of the provisions of this sub-sec-tion, notwithstanding that part of tlio course of such service is through streets in which tile said tramway is laid, ami which are served by the tramway." Tho report was agreed to. SIX-DAY WEEK. The Shops and Offices Bill providing for a six-day week in tlio hotel and restaurant trades, was introduced by Governor's Message. (Left Sitting.) .