In Parliament

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 November 1913, Page 2

In Parliament

Questions by Members AND MINISTERS' REPLIES. STRIKES. Mr A'eitch to ask the Prime Alinister, AVhethor he will take into consideration immediately the following resolution, which was adopted by the Auckland Branch of the .National Arbitration and Peace Association: "That the Government be called upon to set ii]) an independent tribunal to bring about a settlement of the present industrial dispute, such tribunal to report, to the Legislature for immediate action to be taken in accordance therewith?'' The Hon. Mr Massey replied, The Government will ask Parliament to agree to legislation which it is hoped will prevent or discourage strikes or lockouts in the future, but so far as the present strike is concerned moderate counsels and wiser methods are now prevailing, and there are strong indications that industrial peace will soon be restored. With an intimate knowledge of the difficulty the Government do not consider that at this stage the settingup of a tribunal as suggested would expedite a settlement, but that it might possibly have the opposite elVect. Nearly a month ago the Government oifered the principal parties to the dispute to appoint one or two Supreme Court judges as arbitrators, hut the offer was not accepted. The lesson of the strike is that, while sane unionism is decidedly useful and worthy of encouragement, syndicalism and the doctrines of the I.W.W. are detrimental to the interests of all parties and all sections of the community.

OVERCOATS I'LMvK. Air Brown to ask tlie Minister o! Railways, Whether the Government will provide free overcoats for the guards and shunters on the New Zealand railways!"' (Note. The police force, territorials and telegraph message boys are provided with free overcoats, and there is no reason why the railway guards and shunters should not be placed on the same fooling as the above-named Government officials). The Hon. Mr Herries replied, it is not intended .to provide guards and shunters with overcoats free of charge. Some years ago the Department, at the request of the men, entered into eontracts with manufacturers of overcoats, under which it was possible for men to obtain overcoats of various kinds at a very low rate. The contracts were entered into on the supposition that some thousands of overcoats would 'be required annually. The men, however, displayed no genera] desire to take advantage of the. arrangements made for their benefit, and tlie contracts were therefore abandoned. It is inadvisable to single 'out any particular section of men for free issue of overcoats, especially in view of the fact that other members of the railway service besides guards and shunters are called upon to equally expose themselves to the inclemencies of the weather Afhen discharging their duties. MAORI RESTRICTION . The Hon. Mr Ngata to ask the Minister of Public Health, In what portions of the Auckland Province the proclamation restricting the movement of Maoris is still in force z and when He expects the same may be completely withdrawn'? The Hon. Mr R. H. Rhodes replied, As 110 cases of smallpox have been reported for some weeks it may be possible to remove all restrictions on natives travelling at an early date. Restrictions in the Bay of Islands, Marsden-Kai-para, AVaikato, Bay of Plenty, and Thames districts have been so far removed that natives are able to travel by public conveyances and trains in their own districts, but are not allowed to leave those districts without a special permit. Restrictions with regard to natives from tlie North Island travelling to the South Island are still in force.