Second Edition. PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 89, 15 December 1913, Page 6

Second Edition. PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCiL.

TO-DAY'S SITTING. 121 |Pbb Press Association. 1 Wellington, December 15. The Legislative Council met at 10 o'clock.

The Hons. McCardle, Carncross, and Bell were appointed to confer with the managers of the House on the amendments made in the Law Practitioners' Bill.

The Monopolies Prevention anu Shops and Offices Bills were introduced and read a first time.

Mr Bell moved the second reading of the Labor Disputes Investigation Bill. He explained the provisions anu reminded the Council that the BilljJbad passed the second reading in the House by an overwhelming majority, and had bee*n read a third time without challenge.

Mr Bigg said he disapproved of the provisions of the Bill, and defended the Workers right to strike in combination with others. He contended they should not be punished if they break no other law, and he held that wrong administration of the Arbitration Act had driven union after union out, which made necessary the introduction of the present, measure. The Arbitration Court should have power to make the workers profit-sharers and co-partners. This would go a long way to restore workers' confidence in the. Court. The Hons. Mills and Earnshaw supported the Bill, the latter claiming that the present condition of labor renders such legislation necessary. The unsatisfactory condition of organised labor was not the result of the administration of the Arbitration Act, but ott'ing to the propaganda of the Red Federation. He strongly condemned Strike methods except absolutely as a 'last resource.

HOUSE 6f representatives.

The'House met at 11 o'clock. Oft the motion of Mr Herdman, " Messrs Okey, Davey, and the' mover were appointed managers to make a final" effort, to agree with the Council on the" "amendments' iriade by the latAct 1 Aniendmeni-Bill relative to tramways. On the tjhestioh that the House go into CJoniMftee of Sdppty' to consider the, Supplementary Estimates, Mr Bussell &slted whether the Estimates were in conformity with the Public Service -Ac* in th e sense of whether the in<j&?atse of salary were made by Govern"ment or whether they were made at the request of the/Commissioners. Sir Joseph' Ward asked ; how the Minister for Finance proposed to make up the difference of £200,000 between the Estimate in the Budget and the actual amount voted on the Supple-, menlary Estimates. He also drew attention to the pronouncement by Admiral Henderson that New Zealand should join" forces with' Australia in with a controlling board: afr v Melbouriie. He asked the Minister w'Hether he favored that proposal. lie'ftiffingto' views Expressed by the Minister, hej said, that gentleman did not know the eirciimstances' under which the Bill passed and was necessarily ignorant of public opinion oh the subject. Personally he was dead against a local navy, as Avherever that system had been followed the" Navy had" taken charge of the finance of the country. ' Mtf '■■ Massey: "We have had all this before."

Sir Joseph Ward: "It is too important a matter for the hon. gentleman to say we have had it before. We are now committed to a course which I regard as dangerous, and when the Estimates are before the House for the first time if will be the proper time and place to discuss the whole question."

Replying to Mr Russell, Mr Allen said the Estimates were the Estimates of the Government, but were framed partly in accordance with the report of the Public Service Commissioners and partly in accordance with the views 01 the. Government.

Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Allen said the increase in the amount of the Estimates was due entirely to the cost of the strike and the smallpox epidemic. He anticipated being able to make up the difference out of iricreased revenue, which he was pleased to say he was now able confidently to anticipate.

On the naval question Mr Allen said he had told Australia plainly with his own lips that New Zealand would never surrender control of her own ships in times of peace. There was no reason why New Zealand should not worK with Australia in many ways, hut Australia W6uld not he allowed to control us. He entirely endorsed the remarks enunciated by Mr Myers. He was not responsible for the views expressed by Admiral Henderson, Imt that officer only said we should have representation on the Board sitting in Melbourne. The House went into Committee on the Estimates.

The House passed the Estimates for -legislature finance, post and telegraph, international affairs, railways, Native Ministers' and Justice Department.

During the discussion of the justice estimates, Mr Herdman, in reply to Mr Russell, denied that there was *ny likelihood of his going on the Supreme Court Bench as rumored. (Left sifting.)