PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 37, 30 September 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ELECTORAL ROLLS. Sir Joseph Ward again raised the question of the position of decimal rolls.

Mr Massey said that everything would he done to give every electorate a clean roll. The main roll would he closed on October 7. WAR RISKS INSURANCE. An amendment to the War Risks Insurance Act, extending the limit of cover from £SOOO to' £IO,OOO, was introduced by Governor’s Message, and transmitted to the Legislative Council. FIRST READINGS. Mr Robertson introduced the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which provided for the terms of industrial agreements being referred to members of a union before, being registered by the Arbitration Court. The Bill was read a first time.

The- Imprest Supply Bill, making provision, for the payment of salaries, wages and contingencies, was introduced by Governor’s Message. Discussing the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Ell drew attention to the amount of unemployment in the building trade, due to the fact that only £350 was being advanced towards the erection of workmen’s homes.

Mr Allen, in reply in the evening, said that hon. members must realise that there were considerable demands :m the financial resources of the country at the present juncture, but he was doing his best to provide funds for building operations under the Ad-

trances to Workers Act. He had fixed the amount obtainable at £350, and was considering the possibility of raising it to £4OO. Mr Webb condemned the antiquated nature of our mining law, and blamed :he Government for not compelling nine-owners to provide life-saving appliances at mines in case of accident. The men should have the right to appoint their own inspectors, and not to be dependent on officers appointed by their employers. Mr Witty charged the Government with delay in fixing the price of foodstuffs. For seven weeks they had been vacillating on the questiqn, and although they had had the Commission’s report on the price of wheat and flour for ten days, they had done nothing with it. Hon. W. F. Massey, in reply, claimed that the Commission was a good one, and thoroughly impartial. It was absolutely untrue that the Commission’s report had been referred back to them because the prices fixed were too low. Concluding, he deprecated statements calculated to show that t!io country was in a bad way. The Commission was still sitting, and i would go on dealing with the price of,meat, sugar and drugs. Sir Joseph Ward said ho know of no one who had decried the country, but it was useless t to say that everything should go on as usual. They could not meet their difficulties by slapping themselves on the chest. There was going to be difficulty in getting away their produce to London. The loss of the refrigerated vessels taken as transports, and the sinking of the Kaipara, meant a difference in the carrying capacity of one million carcases. The ships would not be available in December and January, and these refrigerated ships [Would bo undeniably locked up. Speaking on the position of electoral laws, Sir Joseph put a direct question as to when tho other legislation would bo introduced this session, to whicli the Premier replied that the Electoral Bill would be down in a few days.

Speaking after the supper adjournment, Sir Joseph . Ward said ho did not agree with the cry that the Government should at this stage declare what war taxation they thought necessary. The position was very complicated, and no announcement should be made on the point at the present moment

Mr Nosworthy dealt with questions of marine insurance and the work of the Foodstuffs Commission, defending the Government against the charges of delay.

Mr Poland charged the Minister of Mines with great neglect in not having a Mining Bill brought before the House tin's session. Our mining legislation was far behind the rest of the world. Not one of the recommendations of the Mining Commission had been put into effect. Mr McKenzie pointed out that for the last throe years nothing had been done in the way of mining legislation. In view of the number of accidents, legislation was necessary. He wanted to know if the Government would supplement any fund raised for the relatives of the bluntly miners.

Mr Buxton claimed that his figures regarding wheat supplies a month ago were well within the mark. Wellinformed millers had told him there would be a surplus of two million bushels at the end of the year. He was informed that the cost of wheat to the farmer was fis Id on trucks. The difference between that price and <ls 9d was particularly large. The Minister replied, and the House rose at 2 a.m.