IN PARLIAMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 November 1913, Page 4

IN PARLIAMENT.

| Questions By Members AND MINISTERS' PEPLIES. The following questions wore asked by members anu answered by Ministers in the House of Representatives last week:— ' STATE SHIPPING. Mr Payne to ask tlie Prime Minister, Whether he will take steps to acquire a State shipping service in the interests of fanners in this country!" (A'ote. —At the present juncture enormous loss is being' sustained by the farmers of the Dominion owing to the fact (hat the shipping services are held up. If we followed the example of Western Australia and acquired a State shipping service, ttie interests of tin 1 settler would be conserved, and they would not be subjected to the great loss they are now a uttering.) The Hon. Mr Massey replied, The capital funds of the Dominion are more urgently required for development llian for the acquisition of a State shipping service. UNIONISM. Mr Robertson (Otaki) to ask the Prime .Minister, Whether, seeing the dogged determination that is characterizing the effort now being made to coerce waterside workers of the Dominion to come under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, he will bring in a bill to compel all union* to come under the Act, including the farm labourers and agricultural workers Y ! The Hon. Mr Massey replied, If there is a genuine desire on the pari of the workers of the Dominion that all unions be brought under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, I shall be pleased to give the House an opportunity of considering the proposal by introducing legislation with that object in view. FREE LABOUR. .Mr Robertson to ask the Prime Minister, Whether he can justify the alleged action of the Government in enrolling, transporting, and maintaining men as free labourers at the cost of the whole of the taxpayers for the purpose of assisting the shipping monopoly to smash a workers' organisation, which was formed in a const it utional manner and in accordance with Statute law?. (Note. It is alleged that a member of this House was engaged on the night of Wednesday, November r>th, rerecruiting free labourers from (he ranks of special constables at Mount Cook Barracks, and those men have been enrolled, brought here and maintained at the Government's expense). The Hon. Mr Massey replied, I lie statement that the Government have enrolled, transported, and maintained free labourers at a cost to (lie taxpayers is not correct, and should not have been made even by way of implication. INS I' LTING LA ,\ GUAG E. Mr Escott to ask Ihe Prime .Minister, Whether any complainL has reached the Government to ill., choct thai a member of the House of Representatives had used insulting language towards Ser-geant-major Young, of the F squadron on the afternoon of the sth November: and if so does the Government intend to take any action Y The Hon. Mr Massey replied, No direct complaint has yet reached the Justice Department, but if the honourable gentleman will supply particulars of the occurrence the matter will be investigated.

"OUTCASTS COME." 31r Okey to ask the Government (1) W hetlier their attention has been drawn to a statement said to have been made by Mr E. Treg'ear at the women's meeting held on Wednesd >ay, sth instant, referring to the farmers and their sons who have cd',iu> lo town for the purpose of assisting 111 the shipment of their produce, as the "Outcast senm of the country, brought down to bludgeon _citizens into submission to the Government'' ? C-3) Whether this is E. Tregear, -I -1.'., oj) whom (lie Imperial Service Order has been conferred: and, if the facts are as alleged, 'will the Government take the necessary steps to bring his action before (he represei Native of His .Majesty in the Dominion? The Ron. Mr/Massey ilr Tregear denies the accuracy of the report of his speech, as ii appeared in the newspapers, but the Government is still in cominnication with him on the subject..