INTERNATIONAL LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 41, 12 November 1920, Page 8

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR

THE BUREAU OF THE LEAGUE NEW ZEALAND'S REPRESENTATION An explanation of tho attitude of the > Government towards the International . Labour Bureau of the Leacue of Nations ■ was asked of the Prime Minister by Mr . 1. 1 laser (Wellington Central) in tho , House of Representatives yesterday morn- ' ' n iVi •, « o,n l'lained that in connection • with the conference recently held in Washington, the Seamen's Conference and i the .Immigration Conference, the Labour • institutions, had never been consulted : He asfcod if the Government -regarded i the whole questicta'seriously or merely • ns a farco. • Sir William Hcrries said It was a ■ question whether the Dominion should' • go to the great exix-riso of sending dele- ' (rates to every conference held by tho League of Nations. He believed it could bo represented by tho High Commis- • sioncr. It was just a question if it 1 was worth while sending two or three ' representatives of Labour, though New [ Zealand might be teiy glad to got rid ■ or 6orao of them. He did not givo that as his own opinion. He was very glad 1 to have the benefit of their advice by deputations and in Parliament. It would J would have to bo seriously considered whether New Zealand would not have to appoint one or several Labour people to bo practically permanently in England 1 to attend these conferences. The Labour ' members might choose them. (Laughter.) A member: That's a good iob for some- \ ono. [ Mr. Holland: Is the League of Nations s a farce that you treat this matter as a | comedy? Mr. Fraser: It is an insult to the King .nd Empire. Mr. H. Atmoro (Nelson): They gibed at you and they cannot take your retort. Mr. Holland: You are always heard defending the Government. _ Sir William Hemes: "I wish to take it seriously, but perhaps I was drawn away by interjections." Ho added that tho Question whether we should not have Komeono in London permanently to attend these conferences would be considered. Tho Prime Minister, supplementing the reply, said that New Zealand-was a member of the League of. Nations, nnd in consequence was supplied, with piles of documents in relation to its'proceedings. ■ Unfortunately the authorities appeared to forget how far away the Do- ■ minion was, and they generally arrived too late for any action to bo taken if necessary. That had happened in the case of the Seamen's Conference. Mr. Fraser: How was Australia represented? Mr. Massoy: "Australia is a little nearer than we are." He had already indicated that the Dominion would be glad to receive' these documents at an earlier date. He would 6n.y this, that when any other question arose in which Labour was concerned, he would see that some action was taken. He did not think that we missed much in the Seamen's Conference. There seemed to bo more bickering there than in the dying hours of a session of- tho New Zealand Parliament. Mr. Vigor Brown (Napier) said that , if anyone was to be 6ent to a conference, could it be someone who would sing "God Save tho King" before going. He was very grieved to see that a few moments before some of the Labour members did not join in the 6inging of ;i tho National Anthem. A QUESTION OF~ INITIATIVE GUARANTEE OP ADVANCES TO ' PRODUCERS. Tho Government had been accused of having ;io initiative, said Sir Francis Bell, while explaining to the Upper House what the Finance Bill contained. Every member, however, must see that the Goverment proposed to toko up a heavy burden on behalf of the country, in view of the possibilities in tho market for New Zealand produce.All the country's produce was at the moment unsaleable, with one exception, at anything like tho prices obtained in tho past'. If'the worst happened, nnd the producers were left without assistance, either there; would be no sales at all or the produce would fall into the hands of people who would eventually "make large sums out of that part whicil could be stored. Without tho support of the country the banks were unable to bear the burden of the demands that might be made upon them, nnd tho country, under the Bill, had deliberately .put itself behind the.banks. No doubt the advances must be carefully scrutinised. The banks would see to that on their own account, because they would havo to p'av; but in the meantime the money would be available under tho Government, guarantee. The Government was taking action quietly and without fuss; but anyone who thought could understand how serious a responsibility it was for the Government to take this initiative, and ask the confidence of Parliament that the Government would see the funds of the'eountrv were not unduly imperilled by this undertaking of the country s business for the country's sake. . AUSTRALIANJVAR PENSIONS AND OLD AGE PENSIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. In the Legislative Council yesterday the Hon. D. T. Fleming drew the attention of the Attorney-Ueneral to what he considered a hardship inflicted by a provision in tho New Zealand pensions lawupon ' parents whose sons had served with the Australian forces and been killed. These parents received pensions from the Australian Government, but such pensions were not exempted income under the old-Gjjc pension 6cheme of this country. Thus some parents of men who by the merest accident had happened to" enlist in Australia were denied the lienefits of the- New Zealand old-ago pensions scheme. He thought tho Government must realise that an .injustice was being done. Sir Francis Bell said that if individual cases of hardship were brought to the notice of the Government, 'the Government would see what could be done. CONSOLIDATION OF THE LAND LAWS ' Mr. R. M'Callum (Wairau) yesterday asked the Minister of Lands if the Government would, during the recess, bike up the question of consolidating the New Zealand land laws. He said that at present it would puzzle a -Philadelphia lawyer to mako sure of any point. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie said that the matter had been under consideration. It was tho intention of the Government to have a consolidation of the Innd laws. Mr. M'Callum nuked the Minister if' he would givo members a copy of the digest that had been prepared by an officer of tho Departniqnt. Mr. Guthrie: I think the Government ns a parting gift might very well present members with a copy. I am told it is regarded as exceedingly valuable by tho legal fraternity, and I am sure it would bo so to members as well DECK CARRIAGE OF BENZINE CARGOES The reduction of a vote in tho Supplementary Estimates for the Alnrine Department was yesterday moved by Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), who said that his motion was intended as a protest against tho deletion from certain draft regulations of a clause prohibit- : ing tho deck carriage of benzine cargoes. The issue of the- regulation contained iii tho elauso had been strongly ndvocated bv representatives of the workers, who thought, that it would be in the interests both of the seamen and tho passengers < on the coastal vessels. If the clause had been kept in; it would have prevented entirely tho carriftEo of benzine on a number of small vessels upon which some of the country districts depended for their benzine supiiltes. was the reply given by Sir Williain Ilcrries (Minister of Marine). The Minister did not agree that life wns endangered bv ttin system in force, nnd ho assorted that there had brcn no undertaking on Iho part of tho Marino 'Department that tho clause in question would bo retained. Tho motion was defeated by 50 votes to 7. I