PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3541, 31 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

INDENTURED LABOUR. WELLINGTON, July 30. The House resumed at 7.30, when the discussion on the Samoan mandate was resumed, and was continued by Mr Holland, who moved: that the words after "that':' in the formal motion be omitted, and the following substituted: "Thi s House records its opposition to the continuance of indentured labour in Western Samoa," WELLINGTON, This day. Continuing the debate in the House last night on the Samoan question, Mr MacDonald said this was not a party question, but w"as a big Empire problem, and hi s side of the House would not take up any concerted action to embarrass the Government. He was firmly of opinion that Samoa was better under British rule than under any other; hut he agreed with t)ie Premier that they should get rid of indentured labour at the. earliest moment. If the Government could give the House some definite idea of when that could be, it would" create a better feeling in the House. Mr Massey: "So far as I am concerned, I wfll do my level best to replace indentured labour with free labour."

Mr 1 MacDonald concluded by slating that under all circumstances he would vote with the Government on this

question. Mr Veitch emphatically opposed indentured labour. If the House agreed to it that night, it may be many years before they would be able to eradicate it. • Messrs Reed, Forbes, Luke,' Horn, and Harris gave qualified support to tbe Government proposals. At 2.40, the debate concluded, when a division was called and the amendment moved by Mr Holland was defeated by 33 to 11. The House rose at 2.47. The following 4s the division list: For the amendment (1) —Bartram, Dickson (Chalmers), Fraser, Hanan, Holland. Jennings, Kellett, Smith (Taranaki), Veitch, and Wilford Against the amendment (33): —Atmore, Bollard, Campbell, Coates, J. S. Dickson (Parnell), Field, Forbes, Guthrie. Haimlton (Wallace), Hamilton (Awarua), Harris, Hawken, Herries, Hockley, Horn.' Hunter, Isitt, Lee, Luke, MacDonald, McLeod, McNicol, Malcolm,' Massey, Nosworthy. Parr, Pomare, Potter, Powdrell, Reed, Rhodes (Thames), Sykes, Young. Pairs: For: McCombs, and Parry, Savage and Sullivan. Against: Glenn and Nash, Bitchener and Craigie.