PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3000, 24 September 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph—Abridged From PressAssociation Report.) WELLINGTON, September 23. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Agricultural and Stock Committee recommended that the Agricultural Produce Sale and Importation Bill be not proceeded with this* session. The Attorney-General said that the Government did not intend to proceed further with it this session. The Auckland Harbour Board Loan Empowering Bill, County Act Amendment Bill, . Matamamau County Bill, Hokitilca Harbour Amendment Bill, Auckland Cemeteries Bill, and Christchurch City Sanitation Bill were reported for the third readings. All except the Counties Amendment and Christchurch Sanitatior Bills were agreed to. The Council adjourned at 5 u.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Replying to questions this afternoon Ministers stated: — That all information regarding the conditions of labour under which sawmill hards work in America will be submitted to the Ruval Commission on Oregcn pine when setup; that when geological surveys now in hand in Poveity Bay are completed an examination the oil-bearing resources of Taranaki will be made; that the Government was considering whether further e>periments in the matter of coping with small birds nuisance could be made with any hope of.success; thst the question of the State taking over spraying of orchards cannot be entertained at present; that there is every prospect of the scheme of district nursing becoming general throughout the Dominion. In the evening the Arbitration Bill was further considered in Committee. At clause 36 the Hon. J. Millar moved to amend the clause in the direction of requiring the Council instead of the Commissioner to notify the failure to agree at the end of one month, and requiring the assessors to iftake separate recommendations. This was agreed to.-' Clauses 39, 41 and 42, which had been struck out by the Labour Bills Committeee were reinstated at the instanco of the Minister. Considerable discussion took p'ace on clause 45 as to the number of men necessr.ry to form a union. The Minister said, that the increase from 7 to 15 would not prejudice more than half a dozen unions. He objected to duplication of unions simply for the benefit of two or three men. The clause was retained on division by 47 vote? t$ 20. • At clause 47 some discussion took place on the voting powers of unions* some members thinking one man one vote should apply. Eventually* however, the motion to amend the clatiEfe was defeated by 45 votes to 19, and the clause was passed. Clauses 48 to 56 was passed with minor amendments. Clause 57 was strurß. This clause was the needs and exertion wage clause struck out by the Labour Bills Committee.