PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE COAL MINES BILL. • Sir Francis Bell gave notice of his intention to introduce the Institute of Architects Amendment Bill. In committee on the Mining Amendment Bill the Hon, J. MacGregor protested against the proposal to give the warden's court certain extended discretions given by the Bill in the determination of suits for forfeiture of mining privileges, in respect of water, in the determination of suits now pending, and in which judgment has not been delivered, as well as in suits yet to be commenced. He said it was wrong to alter the law between the time an action was commenced and the time judgment was given.

The clause was retained bv 21 votes to 4.

Various amendments explained yesterday were inserted in the Bill, which was put through its final stages and passed. The Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment Bill was also finally passed. On a proposal to go into committee on the Coalmines Amendment Bill the Hon, J ,T. Paul suggested that the proposed State colliers should not be limited to the carriage of State coal. He protested against the proposal to bring Supreme Court judges into the question of whether the Minister should allow men with less than the qualifications at present stipulated to work on the face in a coal mine. Judges should be kept fre P from politics, If the Government wanted a solution of the coal problem it should adopt the Whitley system.

The Hon. .T. B. Gow supported the strike breaking clause. The Boil. 0. .T. Garland. rtiVl the Hon. W. Earnshaw thought''.State colliers for the oarrinw of State coal only would not be sufficient.

Sir W. Buchanan said, the country must, defend itself if it was continually "stuck up" by a small section. Sir Francis Bell said the power about which there had been so much discussion was essential in emergencies. Thg only amendment made by the Mines Committee in the Bill was to put the provision in regard to judges in a more proDcr form in committfco.

The Hon. «T. "MacGrcgor wished to safeguard the' mining companies from being undnlv harassed tmder the clause giving the Minister power to require the owners of coal-bearing lands to work them or forfeit them. He suggested adding a proviso that in cases where the owner is already carrying on mining operations capable of being extended in time over the whole area the clause should not apply.

Sir Francis Bell contended that no Minister would exercise the power unless justified in the interests of the community on insisting on further development.

The Hon. E. W. Alison protested strongly against the power proposed to be ffiven to the Minister. The Hon. J. T. Paul said the clause fairly administered would protect the interests of the community;

Sir William Hall .Tones considered that the proposal to take coal land at merely double surface value was .unfair. He felt, too, that the powers micrht be misused in some circumstances.

The original clause was retained by IS votes to Ift.

The Council adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until S o'clock.

The proposal by the Hon. J. T. Patil to permit State colliers to carry coal from private mines was defeated. The Tlill was passed. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was read a first time.

The New Zealand Institute of Architects Amendment Bill, to extend to Slst December, 1820, the period for registration of men who served beyond New Zealand, was introduced and passed the committee stage. The Maori Representation Bill and the Statutes Repeal and Expiring Laws Continuance Bill were received from the House and were passed through all stages. The Council adjourned until 11 a.m. to-morrow. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. TRADE WITH THE COOK ISLANDS. Sir Joseph Ward asked Mr Massey if he wotild appoint a commission to' inquire into the falling off of trade between Ifcw Zealand and the Cook . Islands during the past five Tears, and at the same time enquire into the great increase in trade between the Cook Islands and the United States of Amenoft.

Mr. Massey, in reply, said Cabinet had been considering the matter and had decided that a commission of one or two should l) R appointed to inquire into trade with the Islands. As soon as he could get a little more time he was going into the matter more closely. ITc would now acknowledge we were losing onr trade with the islands and America was gaining. Perhaps this was due to the fact that copra was wanted in America and not wanted in New Zealand, but a great deal could he done to bring hack the trade which we were losing and likely to lose if proper steps were not taken. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Mr. Massey said he would next session consider standardising the air space allocated to-each individual in accommodation provided for shearers and agricultural laborers implying to Dr. Thacker, Mr Mnssev ?aid as soon as the Board of Trade could clear off the accumulation of work i>o would ask them to look into the ouestion of prices charged for island fruit.

Replying to Mr P. Fraser, Mr Massev sit id a Bill Rinpii'linir widows' pensions was almost ready for submission to ."aliinot, Replvinar to Mr. MeCombs, Mr. Mass,t said he could fot 'ivormsc to subsidise by £ for .6 funds raised by Development Leagues as rn.incy was renniml for more urgent purposes than that, mentioned. NEW BILLS Tho following Bills introduced by Governor's raesßage and read a first time: The Government Railwav Amendment Bill, the Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, and the Housing Amendment Bill. Mi*. Massev explained that the amendments in the Railway Bill werq practical? tha amendment! nude by, the

1 .Railway Committee put in better for». -i The Housing Bill was a consolidating j measure embracing the ameadßtttstr suggested by the House, which must b» ; introduced by Governor's mMMtt. \ There was a new clause giving b&nu power to purchase land at a IoW prist for the purpose of erecting dwelling! j * thereon for their employees. A j 'The Hon. J. G. Coatea explained that * the Post and Telegraph Bill gave the Department control over the erection of private telephone lines along maio % roads. It also provided for appeal ' against non-promotion. THE BULLER VACANCY. , Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. ' Masscv said it was not intended to hold - a by-election for the Buller district OB the old boundaries, seeing that the gen« eral election will be held in a few weeks . | on the new boundaries. . \ -; AN EQUAL VOTE. The Speaker announced that at ■ amendment moved by the Minuter in r tlie Land Bill last night had been dt» clared lost by 23 votes to 22. Singe • then an examination of the division, list > shows the figures should have been'CSq to 23. The clause would be reinstated) in another place and members of the ; Ifouse would have an opportunity-off voting on it again. ■/'.