PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 191, 22 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Laurenson asked the Minister of Mines if his attention had been drawn to an article in the Christchurch Press relative to the conditions at the State coal mine and the accommodation there, and the number of accidents which have happened in the mine. Hon. R. Mclvenzie replied that he had heard of one or two of the matters referred to. The Mines Department had nothing to do with the accommodation of the men. As regards the conditions generally, he would be glad if Mr. Laurenson would have the question put on the order paper. The Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill passed its second reading. Hon. Buddo moved the committal of the Auctioneers' Amendment. Bill.

Mr. Massey desired an explanation of the new clause 56 inserted in committee as follows: —At any auction sale of fish, fruit or vegetables, every lot shall be sold to the highest bidder, and it shall not be lawful for any autcioneer to refuse to accept a bid from any person present at the sale who is willing to pay cash for the goods on delivery thereof. Any condition or stipulation in the condition of sale in any manner violating this provision shall be void, and of no effect." He asked why this clause should apply solely to sales of fish, fruit and vegetables. Mr. Witty said the clause had been inserted in response to a general request from all parts of the Dominion. It was a fact that auctioneers refused to sell the commodities named in the clause unless to people who were members of rings. Hon. Buddo, replying, said the sales of fruit, fish and vegetables were cash transactions. It had been found that there were inconsistencies in regard to these sales, hence the insertion of the clause. It would not be wise to make the clause apply to country sales, where credit was given. The committal of the Bill wap agreed to.

Hon. Millar moved the committal of the Shops and Offices Bill, which specifies the hours of labor to be worked by assistant in hotels and restaurants; also for night watchers and porters.

Mr. Herdman said the Arbitration Court ought to fix the conditions of labor in awards. The Bill was a harassing and irritating one. Mr. Fisher referred to the tobacco trade, and the desire of the tobacconists that some restriction ought to be placed on Chinamen and others selling tobacco. The Labor Department was powerless to deal with the Chinaman, who was allowed to keep his shop open after 8 p.m., when European tobacconists had to close.

Mr. Poole advocated restrictive xnea sures on Chinese traders.

Mr. McLaren, replying to Mr. Herdman, said the industrial legislation complained of by the latter had been adopted by many countries, and for good reasons. Surely it was necessary to pass legislation to provide against female employees working excessive hours. : ■. Mr. Fraser believed the House would do well to place the Bill (which was a compromise) on the Statute Book in the interests of industrial peace. Hon. Millar said the Bill had been standing over since last year. In every State of Australia the hours of hotel employees had been fixed, and the hours were lower than those provided in the Bill. It was too late in the day for Mr. Herdman to say such matters should be dealt with bv the Arbitration Court. The will of Parliament should be paramount and the Arbitration Court should have no power to over-ride the statute law. He proposed to add a new clause providing that any person employed in a shop other than the occupier and. his wife should be deemed an assistant. This would have the effect of doing away with unfair competition of shopkeepers who did not employ labor and kept open beyond 8 o'clock. The Bill was committed.

The following Bills were read a second i time:—Stamp Duties, Hospital and Charitable Aid, Slaughtering and Inspection.

The Rivers Bill was read a second time.

In moving the second reading of the Crown Suits 'Amendment Bill, Sir Joseph Ward said the Bill was intended to amend the Crown Suits Act by placing the State in thp same position as any other employer in respect to breach of contract, and any cause of action in which a petition of right would lie against the Crown at common law, any injury independent of contract, and for which action would lie if the defendant were a subject of the King. No claim for damages would be payable when the Crown was liable to pay compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act. The Crown would be safeguarded against speculative prosecutions. A jury would be enabled to try cases.

Mr. Massey .approved of striking out the clause excluding trial by jury. He considered the law as regards compensation to workers should apply to all State workers in the same way as it applied to ordinary employers. The Bill was read a, second time.

The Census and Statistics Bill was read a second time on the motion ot the Hon. Buddo. The Pouakawa Native Reserve Bill was committed, on the motion of the Hon. Ngata. The House then went into committee.