JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) THE LAND BILL. WELLINGTON, November 9. The amendments added to the Land Bill by Governor’s message provide that small grazing runs may be withdrawn from National Endowment and convertjed into freehold. The proceeds of the j sale of endowment lands arc to be paid | into the National Endowment Trust j Account, and used for the purchase ol other lands. SHIPPING FREIGHTS. The attention of Hon. W. _F. Massey was drawn to the fact that the shipping companies have raised the freight on cheese, which is now l.]d plus ten per cent, as against 1-Jd last season. Mr Massey replied that lie intended to look into the freight question after 1 the session, and to see if anything 1 could lie done fo'r the producers. | • LEGISLATURE: AMENDMENT. The Legislative Council was emphatic in rejecting the clause added to the Legislature Amendment Bill by die House, giving public servants the right to stand for Parliament. Several councillors stated that they considered it most undesirable that employees of the State should enter politics, and possibly appear as representatives of groups of civil servants. Managers have been appointed By both IToiises to confer regarding this clause, which may have to be held over until next session. and Arbitration Labour members are still resisting clause three of the Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which proposes that any organisation of workers or employers shall have the right to "take part in proceedings before tlie Arbitration Court if their interests are 'affected, although they mar not be registered unions or directly connected with, the dispute. Last nights’ stonewall was continued this afternoon. Labour members are very much in earnest in tins matter. They qonsidejr that the privileges of tilio unions fire .Being attacked', since bodies formed outside the unions are to have recognition, and they declare roundly that they will fight the clause to a- finish. Government has not offered any compromise, and apparently all chance of ending session to-day or to-morrow has gone. STONKWAJd- CONTINUES. WELLINGTON Nov. 10 Labour members continued then stonewall during the evening. Mo-d of them are not experienced Parliamentarians but they stuck at their task 'of obstructing doggedly, despite occa--1 sional warnings from the Chairman about tedious repetition. | The Minister for Labour (Sir Wni. Merries) who was a redoubtable stonewaller in his opposition days informed Labour men before supper that he was prepared to stay there as long as they were. Ho was interested indeed ns an old hand, to see how the new chums would shape after twenty-four or thirtysix hours of obstruction. He intended to stand by the clause. Sir "W. Horrics added that lie believed the public ho 1 ’too long been the shuttlecock between the contending group of workers and employers. He considered that all in ■ forested parties had the right to be heard when industrial disputes were be ! fore tlie Court. He would ask his colj leagues later to agree to a representatire of the Crown attending all proceedlings on behalf of the public, i j Labour members proceeded to tell 1 the House that tlie community was dis cided into two classes, workers and em--3 ployers and that when these two were 3 at grips there* wasn’t any public to bo ,' considered. 2 | The stonewall ended a few minutes > after 1 a.m. when clause 3 in the form proposed by tlie Minister was accen!s ed by 39 to 11. it | A further protest. it t Mr Massey then presented a new n danse providing that the power of arig! hit-ration- Court to vary wages on acv, ' count of the cost of living was discre?d tionary, and was to be exercised only il io the Court were satisfied that the a!n- teratiop would be just and equitable ig to employers and workers in an indus as try affected, and that the economic con j tinuanco of such industry would no le-. be unduly imperilled by the effect o irt alteration on the cost of production.

Labour members hotly opposed this clause which they regarded as an invitation to the Court to reduce wages. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wi)lford) suggested that a proviso should be added to secure a living wage to every worker. Mr Massey accepted this suggestion. He proceeded to say tliet prices and wages were following one another round a vicious circle, and that a daiigerous position was being reached. Industries would be crushed and unemployment created if a check was not applied somewhere. The new clause was adopted By 36 votes to 13 at. 3.55 a.m. STfcVNEWiALL CONTINUES. Mr Massey withdrew a proposal that the Count should be deprived of its present right to review wages on its own motion, without waiting for applications from unions. Tlio House then spent two hours ani a half repeating the arguments and Exchanging hard words, .before passing the third reading motion, after 6 a.m , by 38 votes to 12.