HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 73, 26 November 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

. ■ ('•rThe House met.at 2.3,1), p,m. Replying to Sir, Josepli Ward, the don. W. F. Massey said,'he!,could not ;ay whether the'House would adjourn ,ii order to enable members to visit die AucklarlcVExlilhition. The Prime Minister spi<|■ icing made to enable members who dedre to do so to visit the Auckland [Exhibition, but if the House adjourned t would only be* for one day. The Hospital and Charitable Institution Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor?s Message; and read i first time. • The West Coast Settlement Reicrves Bill was introduced by Goverlor’s Message, and read a first time md was referred to the Native Afairs Committee. The Public Revenues Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s Mesage. The Bill was read a first time nd referred to the Public Accounts’ .'ommittee to report within one week. On the Orders of the 1 Day being ailed on, Sir .1 oseph Ward moved that he Legislature Airiendmeht ’Bill be rebmmitted,‘for tlib purposeffcff insertag t’a clause providing 'proferen-ial-voting, i- ' ■ The Hobfe resumed at 4 Ml. 1 The debate on''the amdMrlieirt was •an'ied ori’fty the- Cppositiodpwho deuianded a more‘ 'scientific' ittethod of V fee-living la majority representation that)' known 1 Vis “first Cpast the >osfi. ; ’ ’ II -- *' >' eb ■ tMPltfe debate waß‘l con I. i n he’d until 2.30, when Sir J. Ward’s amendment •as rejected by 3-3 to 2-1. The third reading was then taken, N ‘Sir J . Wanl < 1 Crtwin ced *' tiiF; method aken to force through the House a Bill upon which the people had never •,xj>ft>ssed mp opi«kiQn and, which wag if), pits impure tq. Pgill the s>?>Wfd tb:<V wlnjij. fjuul prt- jseverjal j .occasions . nfipipted itliat «n<Ufßf subs fit would ■ft provide*! for the- spcond'MmlJpt. V?-.r,g r ft!-* !V _LTTAC JC -4J.N- -SLR -JOS EP H -W-A-R D i l’ D.l Wellington, Xovfernftlr liter the Telegraph Office closed at *1 Fisher, in his reply, de•lared that the obstruction,■ Ipqd #kgn ilaee on the Bill because it was .likely o destroy an unholy alliance which 'X is ted between two minorities in the mlitics of the country. • ~x , Sir Joseph Ward denied there was my alliance between his and any other . larty in the country.

Continuing, Mr Fisher said the Opposition had /endeavoured to emharass lie Government inside the House .vhile they were face to face with a ■jreat industrial struggle outside, It vas= about time the Leader of the Opposition declared which side he was in, whether he was ,/m the,.side,, aw and order or ,on, the.eide of anirehy. :’t. '

At the conclusion of the Minister’s speech, Sir Joseph Ward again ew* phaticallv denied tliat there was any

compact between* tha < Liberals /and the Labour 'Party. The statement was a most unfair one. He also stated that the Opposition had purposely'refrained from referring, to;thd‘ strike in" the House, hut he would take!an‘.early opportunity of doing so in a constitutional way.

A division was then taken on the third reading, when the Bill was earned by 33 to 19.

The Home rose at 3.30 a.m. |