THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 33, 3 November 1919, Page 6

THE HOUSE

The House of met at 7.,'i1) i).m. on Saturday. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and .Public Bodies Empowering Bill (the AVashing-lip Bill) .was introduced bv Governor's Messago, and read a first time. GOVERNMENT BILLS, The Electric Power Boards Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first time. The Institute of Architects Bill was also received from the Legislative Council and read a first time. Mr. Massey gave notice to introduoe the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION The PRIMt: MINISTER moved that thu House should disagree with amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Shearers' Accommodation Bill. The motion was agreed to. THE WORK AHEAD. SIR JOSEPH AVAUD asked if any more Bills were to be introduced during the session. Air. MASSPiY said he thought there was o»lv one more Bill, the Eiwuico Hill This Bill dealt: with widows' pensions and miners' plhisis. Sir Joseph Ward: AVhat about Lord Jcllicoe's report on naval cefencei' Air. Mnssev said he • did not think the problems of naval defence could lie dealt with this year. The matter li«d better lie left over until next year. Sir Joseph AVard asked what; was intended to bo (lone about members' honorariums. Mr. Massev: I will either movo a resolution which tbo' honourable gentleman can second, or wili mate a statement which ho can endorse. A Bill is not necessarv. COAL MINES BILL. SIB WILLIAM PHASER (Minister of Alines) moved that the House should agreo to amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Coal Alinea Bill. Mr. ]?. SUMI'LE (Wellington South) protested against (he "strike-breaking" clause, providing that a Judge, or Judges, sittiiiK ns a Commission, might recommend the suspension of the rules reirardinK the qualifications of men workinit at the face. Tbo Hon. AY. J), S. MA CD ON ALD said tho amendment had been prepared by tho i Alines Department in consecpipneo of an instruction issued by him that any features of Australian mining law likely to bo of value to New Zealand should bo embodied in the New Zealand lair. It would be far ]>etter for the miners to avoid quarrels and socure the settlement of disputes in a just and peaceful

Mr. H. E. HOLLAND (Grey) suggested that from "certain quarters" a great effort was being made to precipitate an industrial crisis in New Zealand. The newspapers and the "hirelings" of tho employers' association had sought lo make trouble. Mr. Holland argued that by taking power to man the mines in case of emergency, the Government was endangering tho lives of miners. Mr. T,. M. TSTTT (Christchurch North) snid Mr. Holland was poorly qualified to appeal lo fho House 011 grounds of humanifarianism. The chairman of the Labour Party was the ono man in the House who never =poke from the point of view of humanity, but always from the point of view of parly interest. He was always the cold and calculating agitator. Tlie Council's amendments were ngTeed to. NATIVE LAND BILL. non. W. 11. HERRIES (Minister of Native Affairs) moved the second reading of tho Native Land (Washing-up) Bill. He said it contained amendments considered to bo necessary by the Native Land Court and other authorities. ]Io assured the House that it contained "no swindles." (Laughter.) SIR JOSEPH WARD protested against the introduction of a mass of amendments dealing with Native lands without adequate explanation. He was not satisfied with a mere assurance that the Pjill contained no "swindles." Mr. Herries said he would gladlv explain the Bill if members wished him to do so. TIo proceeded to explain tho clauses in detail. The Hill was read a second time and committed. The Hon. A. Ngata (Eistern Maori) moved an amendment, which was carried, providing that Maori councils should have power to work as health committees. The Hill was read a third time and pa.sscd. UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS. The Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Bill was further considered in cenimittce. Clause .I.requiring person' -n'riving 111 New Zealand lo give informal ion regarding nationality and other particulars, was carried on a division bv .'III voles to 2. Messrs. .Holland and Somplo constituted Hie minority. Mr. Holland objected lo clause 5, empowering the Altoruey-G'enei-al fo prohibit, the admission lo New Zealand of per<oiif. deemed undesirable. The clause was adopted bv -15 votes toL The Hill was read a third time and passed. PROVIDENT SOCIETIES. I Tho Hon. W. 11. HERRIES moved the

second reading of tho Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment. Bill. The Bill was put through all stages ami passed HOSPITAL DISTRICTS. Mr. MASSHY moved the second reading of the Hospital* and Charitable Inst Millions Bill, received from tho Legislative Council. He said it proposed to abolish the Bay <■i Islands liospilol district and to transfer its duties to the four county councils operating in the district. The people concerned desired I hat the district should Ik: divided iii this wav. SIR, JOS WIT WARD (Leader of the Opposition) asked why special consideralion should be .thriven to a particu-hu* inch If Uio arrangompnt proposed was a good one it: should have general application. 111'. WTI/FOUD (Hutt) asked why tho Bill, which was really a local Bill in disguise, had come through the other ChamMr. ELL (Christchurch South) objected lo ininortant port folios being held by a .Minister silting in the Legislative Council. The Biil was read a second time and committed. Tt was reported without amendment and pa=sed. DIVORCE AMENDMENT. The Hon. .T. G. COATES (Minister of Justice) moved ilie second reading, of the Divorce and Jlaii'imoni;il Causes Ameudr menl: Bill.' He said the Bill provided that women of British nationality married to enemy aliens might nbta'ii divorces and have custody of children if their husbands left New Zealand, nml were absent for more than twelve monllis. The Bill provided also for the adontion of the British '.Matrimonial Causes (Dominion Troops') Act, dealing with the divorce of unfortunately married soldiers. The Bill was r-ead a second lime and committed. Mr. Wilford moved to amend the existing law by allowing divorce after throe years' dc.ierlion. instead of five years. He said Ihis would bring the New Zealand law into line with the Australian law. The amendment was adopted without discussion. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 11.25 p.m. until 11.30 a.m. to-day.