PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 56, 2 November 1914, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

United Press Association

Wellington, November 2

The Council, met at 10.30

The Imprest Supply Bill,2s'o. 5 passed all stages without debate, and the Council rose at 10.35 till 2.30.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 11 o'clock

In reply to Mr Ngata, the Premier said no answer was yet to hand from the Imperial authorities to the request that the whole Maori contingent be sent to one destination instead of being divided as at present.

T.lie Speaker announced that the conference with the Legislative Council on the Legislative Council Bill, had conie to an agreement on the question of admitting women to the Council. The. Premier explained that the agreement meant that as soon as the House agreed to admit women to the Lower Chamber then automatically women were entitled to become members of the Upper House. He had either to accept' this arrangement or lose the Bill. ' Sir' Joseph. Ward strongly objected to accepting such an arrangement without further struggle,' and he moved an amendment to have the matter re-con-sidered.'

The Premier admitted that the Bill ftould have to be re-considered by Parliament Ijefore it came into effect. In the meantime he was not going to have the measure killed. Mr Eussell said the Council asked the House to stultify itself by imposing such conditional legislation upon it. The Legislature Amendment Bill as received from the Council was read a first time.

The amendments made by the Council in the Iron and Steel Industries Bill were agreed to on the motion of the Hon. Mr Fraselr.

The Hon. Mr Fraser moved the second reading of the Mining Amendment Bill, explaining that the Bill was based on the evidence given .before the Mines Committee. The Bill was much the same Bill brought down last year.

Mr Poland" said the'Bill contained many provisions beneficial to miners. He regretted the Bill did not abolish the night shift, establish a fixed temperature ins miiies, or provide for the appointment of medical inspectors.

The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment at 1, o'clock. Mr Isitt accused the Premier of insincerity; if he, >yas, prepared to abandon this: great step forward Without a struggle. Di\ jN'ewman said the amendment of the Council did not advance the cause of women one bit. He hoped the Bill would not be killed, as the whole question .depended on the votes of the future.

. Messrs Wilford and Ell accused Dr. Newman of deserting the cause of which he was a prore.ssed champion. Anyone endorsing this compromise was %Lse to the cause of women.

Mr Escott contended that those supporting Sir Joseph Ward were merely trying to kill the Bill. The Premier, in reply,' said the conference had gone into the matter closely and was convinced, that there was'a grave danger of losing the Bill if the compromise was not accepted. If this arrangement.. was accepted, then no further Council could raise the question if the House, deoidied to admit women to the Lo\ver Chamber. It was therefore a great step in advance. He agreed that women should be admitted to the .Council, but was not going to sacrifice the whole,Bill.for one clause.

Sir Joseph Ward's amendment was lost by 30 to 21, and the report of the conference was agreed to. t