HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12640, 30 October 1905, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. Continuing the debate on the second? readmg of the Agricultural Implement. Manufacture, Importation, and Sale*. Bill, Mr Massey expressed disapproval ofr the constitution of the proposed board and urged that it should consist of the? President of the Arbitration Court, the* President of the Farmers' Union, a representative of the Agricultural Associations, and representatives of the* manufactures and • a representative of: the workers. " / . - ■•■■;.

Mr Seddon said he would accept the* proposal. . • Mi" Hogg expressed strong disapproval or the Bill, which he regarded as. being; unconstitutional and likely to injqretrather than benefit the workers. Ifc took from the hands of Parliament the. control of the public purse. The BilE was " protection irun amuck." SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. At 2.45 the debate was adjourned taxable an amendment to be' brought, down by Governor's message to the* fehops > and Offices Bill, providing thafc the wife of the occupied* of a 6hop andl the members of his family shall not be* deemed to be shop assistants, but thafc the members of the occupier's famihr must get a weekly half-holiday and must. not work more than 52 hours a week. This was agreed to. IMPLEMENT BILL. Continuing the Implement Bill debate, Mr Buddo suggested1 that the BoardL should make enquiries. and.report within ten days of the next meeting of Parliament so that if legislative action was; round necessary it could be taken without delay. Mr Laurenson considered the Bill v?j». a reasonable one, and should commend itself to any reasonable man. As a. matter of fact he would have liked tohave seen the Bill go further than ifc. did.

Mr Dutbie saw-no occasion for the? Bill, as most of the implements mentioned in the schedule were imported from Great Britain.

Mr Buchanan said if taxation was to> be imposed it should be done by the people's representatives and not by the* methods proposed in. this Bill. Mr Taylor said the Bill'did not pretend to solve the question. It was » compromise, ■ but N he was inclined to» think it would prevent the trust from. setting up an organisation to ruin ouruidustries. . •

Mr R. MoKenzie saw no necessity forsuch panic legislation, and moved ahostile amendment—" That the Bill be> read six months hence.

Mr Kirkbride, in seconding the* amendment, took a similar view of thes matter.

In the course of a lengthy debate,, several members deprecated a Bill of this kind being brought down at the* end of the session-

Mr Harding declared that he would: use every form of the House to prevent, the Bill reaching the Statute Book. Mr McKenzie's amendment was rejected by 45 to 18, and the second reading carried on the voices.

It was proposed to take, the Bill im Committee immediately, but .Mr R^ McKenzie moved and Mr Harding seconded that the Bill be committed threemonths hence. ' Further lengthy debate* ensued, which was interrupted by the? dinner adjournment at 6 p.m. With regard to the Methylated SpiritsBill, the Extension of Commerce Committee reported that.whilst the question will require the careful attention of the? Customs Department it has not beent made clear that the passing of the Bill th;s session i& a. matter of urgency. Regarding the point raised as to the spirits being us&d for adulterating articles foar rfa-inking purnoses- the evidence taken? by Hie Committee did not disclose- anysuch tendency. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. The ddbats was continued on Mr R_ McKenzie's motion that the committal of the Agricultural Implement Manufacture Bill be taken three months 1 hence.

Eventually the committal of the Bill: was agreed to on the voices.

HOROWHENUA BLOCK BILL

The Horowhenua Bloc7k Bill was received from the Legislative Council and 5 read a first time on the casting vote of tlhe Speaker, the ayes being 29 and the* noes 29.

The motion that the second reading of the Bill be taken "-presently" wasnegatived by 32 to 28. OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Two hours were occupied with a discussion concerning the attitude of certain members ooi the Old Agen Pensions. Bill, and in reply to quest-ions Mr Seddon said ihe hoped to bring the* session to a close on Monday afternoon^ The Supplementary Estimates would bebrough down early on Monday. At 11.45 p.m. the House adjourned till 11 a.m. on Monday. Mr Seddon stated that on meeting ore Monday he intended to ask the Houseto adjourn till 2.30 as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mi- Alfred" Saundeirs, wiho had been for very manyyears a member of the House and1 colonist wiho had done good service foihis country. Mr Seddon added that hedeeply regretted Mr Saunders' deathand he was sure the House's warmest sympathies were with those who had! been bereaved.