PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 29, 29 October 1919, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

COAL MINERS' CONDITIONS

CONCERNING VOLUNTEER WORKERS

WATER POWER PROPOSALS

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. NAURU AGREEMENT, Sir Francis Bell moved that tho Council assent to tho ratification of the agreement between the Imperial Government, the Commonwealth Government. and tiio New Zealand Government with regard to Nauru Island and the mining of the phosphates therein. lie exul,lined' lo the Council tho effect oi the agreement. The motion was carried. mining bill. The Mining Amendment Bill was received from tho Lower House, and was read a first time. Tho second reading was made an order of the day for to-day. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. The Hon. It-. Mooro gavo notice to ninvo that n return be laid 011 the tabie showing the number of workers dwellings built by the Government each vears since tho passing of the workers Dwellings Act, 1905. LOCAL BILLS PASSED, Tli following local Bills wero passed without amendment:—' Westporf. Technical School Site Bill, Tolaga Bay Harbour Bill. Wairoa Harbour Bojird' Empowering and Loan Bill, Wainiakariri Harbour Board Bill. Wellington City Abattoir Churires Bill. BOARD OF TRADE BILL. A message from the ilouso of Representatives notified the Council that tho House disagreed with two of the amendments made in tho Board of Trade Bill. The reasons -for disagreement were stated 11s follow:—'"The amendment in clause 28 is unnecessary, inasmuch as a resolution of the House of Representatives is (l' l ' l ' o nullicieiit for tho satisfactory working of the section. The amendment to clauso 33 would, if passed into law, create difficulties in connection with the successful administration of tho Act." SIR FRANCIS BELL moved that the Council insist upon its amendments. The effect of the first amendment was to require n resolution of both Houses (instead of u resolution of the Lower House alone) to ho passed for tho revocation of any Board of Trade regulation. Ho did not think tho matter-very material to the Bill .under notice, but he contended that the principle embodied in the amendment should be upheld. Tho Council's amendment to clauso 33 requires the Board of Trade to base upon the selling price of specific good? its conclusions on the question ■whether an undue profit is Iwing made by vendors. The Leader of the Council said that ho thought the Council would be satisfied if tlie managers representing it and tho Lower Ilouso respectively could reach an agreement 0110 way or the other upon tho points in dispute. Tho Council carried the motion, and appointed as its managers the Hons. J. liarr, A. F. Hawkc, and Sir William Hall-Jones. The committee drew up tho folWing reasons for insisting on tho amendments:— "As to the amendment in clause 28, it is not desirable that one branch of the Legislature should alone and without the concurrence 01 tho other branch bo empowered to terminate the effects of statutory regulations. As to tho amendment in clause 33. it is not apparent what special difficulties will be created by the Council's amendment, which was inserted after a committee of the Council had heard evidence and opinions of a number of business men against tho clause as no* amended." The Council adopted the above statement of its reasons. Tho Council mso at 5 p.m. .