HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 48, 24 August 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House meh afc 2.50. Owing to most ot the Ministers being engaged on the Banking Committee the questions were postponed till Tuesday. Mr Dathie gave notice to ask when it was intended to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court Bench. On the motion of the Hon Reeves, the Chattels Transfer Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Wages Attachment Abolition Bill was committed. Clause 2, which provides that no order is to be made attaching wages, provoked nearly two hours' discussion. Mr J. W. Kelly moved an amendment that no order be attached for wages where the wages arc less than LI per week without board. Mr Houston moved fco add the words " unless ifc be for the supply of food and clothing." Hon Reeves said he would leave the amendments to the House. Mr Houston's amendment was lost by 80 to 19, aud Mr Kelly's amendment was lost by 30 to 2-1. The Bill passed through Committee witli slight amendment, and was read a third time. Hon. Ward aunounccd that the AgeutGeneral had received tenders for the construction of the new cable steamer, rauging from .£27,000 to .£42,000, and Government had decided to accept the lowest tender. Hon. Reeves moved the committal of the Public Tenders Contracts and Works Bill to limit undue competition in tendering, and otherwise to ensure fair wages aud working hours. Sir Robert Stout agreed with the principles of the Bill. He asked, however, whether it was right that wages to be paid to Government servants should be decided by a Court instead of by this House. lie contended there was no provision at all for fair wages in the BillMr O'Rcgan opposed the Bill ou the ground that it would cause too much interference with private contractors. Mr R. Mackenzie (Butler) said that if many more Bills of this nature were brought in by the Hon W. P. Reeves, the Liberals of this Colony would very soon sustain as great a defeat as the English Liberals. Mi R. Thompson (Marsdcn) said lie would use every form of the Houss to prevent the Bill passing, and moved a* au amendment that the Bill be committed that day six. months. Mr T. McKenxle in seconding the motion, said the Hou. W. P. Reeves' legislation had done more to create the unemployed than anything else. The Hon. W. P. Reeves denied that the Bill prevented subletting. On tho contrary, it allowed subletting with the permission of the contractee. He knew there was a strong opposition to the Bill in the House, but he assurred the members that there wes a very strong feeling throughout the Colony in favor of it. Those who had spoken had offered very few practical objections fco the Bill. After the supper adjournment, Mr Buchanan moved that the Banking Committee be granted an extension of time until Tuesday next in which to bring down their report. Mr Seddon said the committee had been sitting continuously since their appointment and had taken a vast amount of evidence. The Committee had now to consider their proposals, and he believed he would have reason later on to congratulate the Colony on the result of Committee's labours. Mr Buchanan'-"-; motion \raf- agicetl to on the voices. Several other members having spoken on the Public Tenders Bill the motion of Mr McNab for the adjournment of the debate was carried by 31 to 19. The House rose at 12.30.