PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 2999, 23 September 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Abridged From Press Association Report. WELLINGTON, September 22. When the Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock, the Attorney-General the third reading of the Second Ballot Bill, pointing out that seamen were not disfranchised at the second ballot under the new proposal. Strong objection was taken to the "gag" clause by the Hons Carncross, Loughnan, Paul, Samuel, Jones, Colnan, Luke, Rigg, and Sir M. O'Rorke. Mr Rigg moved an amendment that the Bill be recommitted to reconsider clause 19. The Attorney-General took strong objection to the amendment, and claimed that it was an attempt, to kill the Bill. He contended, that there was a consensus of opinion in favour of the clause, which was absolutely necessary to give effect to the principle of the Bill.. The t lird reading was passed on a division by 16 votes to 15. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Purchase Bill was reported from Committee unamended. The second reading of the Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill was agreed to. The Council adourned till 7.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The second reading of thw Public Bodies Leases Bill was agreed to after members had criticised the restricted powers of leasing boJies as existing at present. The Impounding Amendment Bill was passed. The Fire Brigades Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Council rose at 9.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. Formal business occupied the H f use unlil 5.10 p.m. The Industrial Concilintion and Arbitration Bill was further considered in Committee, and the House adjourned at 5.80 o'clock. The House on' resuming at 7.50 o'clock discussed clause 19. The Hon. J. A. Millar said that he did not wish any misconception to exist about the clause. There was no intention of allowing persons fined from £2 to £5 to appeal. Mr Izard said the curse of the Bill and its procedure was that it involved too much law, too much court and too much of lawyers. (Hear, hear from ail parts of the House.) The Hon. A. R. Guinness muved an amendment in the direction of giving the right of appeal on questions of law and of fact in all cases in which the amount claimed exceeds £SO. The Minister said that he could not accept the amendment. I The amendment was lo.t by 49 votes to 14. At clause 20, dealing with the enforcementof judgments, Mr Millar moved the drafting, of an amendment in the new proviso re-enacting in a modified form the clause struck out by the Local Bills Committee requjr* ing an employer to deduct f torn wages. The Minister, after considerable Oisrassion, said that he would accept the amendment proposed by Mr Sidey to include, smonifft the category of ' nu.ried paisohs a widow or widower wkh children, but he did not think it necessary to include a single man supporting his mother as proposed by considerable dljctisH&i &l<* prioviso as amended was agreed to: At this stage progress was reported to allow ihe Public Works Statement to be presented. Consideration of the Arbitration Bill was then resumed. Part two of the Bill was concluded with slight , drafting amendments. Part three, dealing with conciliation, was proceeded with. Clause 26 was passed in an amended form proposed by theMil ister without debate, enabling the Government to appoint as many as four Conciliation Commissioners, if necessary. Mr W. F. Massey said that counr sela of conciliation with seven members would be unwieldy. Mr Wilford strongly objected to the whole system of conciliation provided under the clause. He said there should be no permanent Commissioners, who would simply be ; looked upon as officials looking for trouble. < ' . A protracted discussion ensued. Eventually the clause passed without further amendment. Clause 28 was passed without debate.