PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, . The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Statutes Revision Committee reported the 'Board of Trade 'Bill, which the leader oi. the Council moved to refer to the coinmittee. Sir Francis Bell traversed "syhslt had been dorie in England and America and commended the Bill to member., •> The Hon. Sinclair said the success of the Bill jsvould depend greatly upon the calibre of the Board of Trade, and the way in which it was carried out. The root cause of the increased cost of living, however, was the lessening of production. Half the purpose of-' l the Bill would be achieved by its mere placing on the Statute Book. The Hons. Barr and Garland supported the Bill. Tiie Hon. Michel supported the Bill, but said the board must not put too many restrictions on trade, for otherwise a shortage, of goods might be brought about. The Hon. MacGregor deprecated the giving of too wide powers to the Board of Trade. 1 The Hon. Earnshaw urged care in the applying of associate members of the board. Elasticity in dealing with individual profits wa3 A essential. The greatest profiteer in ; the country atf present was the miner, with his "go-slow" policy. The debate was adjourned, and the , Council roso at 4.45 p.m. until tomorrow. EVENING SITTING. The House met at 7.30, THE COAL TROUBLE. Beplying to Mr. Sempla, Mr. Massey said he wa3 as anxious as any one to end the dispute between the coal owners and the coal miners, but he had no power to compel a conference betwesn the two parties. Mr. Seraple asked if tlic Premier would use his moral influence to bring about a conference. Mr. Massey: I have done so, .Mr. Semple, end there has been no ifesult. Sir Joseph Ward said the matter was a most important one and was of growing importance. He heard of it oi* all sides. He suggested that if othept means had failed there should be a cli&nge in the personnel of the conference. Partners in industries and Parliament, through the Premier and leader pf the Opposition, .should be the conference. He saw no reason \yliy the Parliamentary Labor Party should alto be on tiie conference. Mr. Massey said he had used his best efforts in the direction of a conference, but the position taken up by the owners was that their offer was still open, and they cannot go further without showing signs of weakness. He asked that either of the two Conciliation Commissioners should lie chairman at the conference lffe had endeavored to arrange. THE 10 MILLION LOAN. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Jan. Allen said he was not in a position to supply any information as to the support being given to the ten million loan now being raised. The time for making applications had been extended for a fortnight. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Counties Amendment (Mr, Wilkinson, who introduced the Bill, explained that it was intended to abolish the wheel tax imposed by some of the counties); Justices of the Peace Amendment (Hon. J. G. Coates); Palmerston North Abattoirs Bill, Tiie following local Bills were read a second time: Tauranga Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Hon. \\l H. Harries), Tauranga Borough Council Electric Loans Empowering Bill (Hon. T. W. Herries), Manawatu County Loan- and Empowering Amendment Bill (Mr. E. Newman I. The House went into committee on the Kauri Gum Industry Amendment Bill. After the supper adjournment the Bill passed the committee stage without amendment. The Auckland University College Site Bill was taken in committee. The Bill passed the committee stage unamended, and both measures were then read a third time and passed. Tiie House rose at 11 p.m. till 2.30 tomorrow.