Masterton Mutual Improvemerit Society.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4773, 14 July 1894, Page 2

Masterton Mutual Improvemerit Society.

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Mock Parliament, ■' • The Speaker (Rev, J. Dukes) took > the chnir at 7,45 last evening. V The leader of tlio Opposite (Mr W. 11, Easthope), asked why poloncl Eraser, occupied the position of Sei-geant-at-Aims in tho House, alid by whose authority lie was there. I j The Premier, (Mr 0. Pragnoll) | said Colonel Eraser wtwitipointed to act until such time mont brought in a tho T he leader of the moving tlie adjournment House said this deserving of much condemni^^^^^^^^ not legally The Premier's to and four through the (ication Act position. He asked who to pay the line of £SO per curred by Colonel Fraser. Mr HaumlFer of the Premier aud attack on the Government , _ Stewart was a breach of According to the law had right iu the House, been advised by the Officers that the position action of the Opposition as Mi' Rigg said tho werelayingdownasafacttji^^^^^^^H trilling thing to Colonel Eraser was the position, in a difficulty and it. (Cries of Oil vornment Benches).Tho Premier, Opposition law liad not

, v Col.Fra69rwaßrocßivingnoßalary.or remuneration whatever. If Colonel Frasor was not qualified for the posiftjonj after sorving bo many-years' as ft* member of the House' ho did not know who was, Ho criticised tho action of Mr Stowart ingoing to tho Crown Law Officers for advice. [ It was a matter that rauat beenquired into. Tho Government were responsible for thoir actions and would abide by them, (hear, hear), A would bo tabled dealing with '.WO subject. Tho motion for adjournment was negatived on tho voices. SHOP AKD SHOP assistants' mr-i.. ..!» Tlio Minister of Labor (Mr, J. :'■-.' Johnson) moved tho second reading of this Dill, which he said had boon brought prominontly beforo tho electors at tho Inst general election. Tho Bill provides that tho local bodies shall settle a day for a half-holi-day, A timo limit was put on the hours of shop-assistants. Vendor 4* of porishable goods were exempted. Tlio bonefits of tho Dill would be oxtended to hotel servants. This Bill was demanded by tho country bocauso some employers were so avaricious that thoir employes must, bo (Cheers). The leader of the Opposition obj\jectedtothisßill because it interfered (with trade, and was a restriction upon oxchnngc. It interfered with tho liberty »f the subject, and would dislocate labor. Ho doprccated it ns ■ monstrous that a man should not Isell his labor forsix days of the week, Tho business men wero capable of ~ settling this matter themselves. Mr K. Dixon would support tho Bill because it was desirable that hours for recreation should bo given . tothosowhosoomploymentkcopthem ' indoors. Mr Stowart would offer no factious opposition to tho Bill, but contended that hotels should come under its provisions. Ho was in favor of the Government fixing ono day for tho wholo Colony, Mr Baumber did not agree with all tho clauses in the Bill; bntconsiilercd it was a good Bill. The Government, N iu his opinion, should fix tho day and close the hotels. Tho Bill did not lessen tho labor of assistants but shortonod the hours of labor. Mr Higg contended tho Bill did not elevate tho lower strata. It was a class measure and decidedly unstatesmaulike. Ho opposed it because it would be no boon to the country ns fit whole, Tho Premier contended that the Bill would not interfere with trade nor dislocate labor, becnuse its application was nnivorsal. Every law in tho Statute Book interfered with the liberty of tho subject, and it wns very desirable it should be so. Business mou could settle tho matter for themselves, but unless legislation was passed,, the minority would ~*~-~ ruler ".' The Minister of Labor replied that any reasonable amendments to tho Bill woiildjbo accepted in committee. He ridiculed the flimsy arguments of the Opposition, nnd taunted them npon their position at tho last general election, Measures such as s~ ... these for the amelioration of the workers, would continually find in him a champion. Ho did not fear the opposition of his frionds opposito as ho had an overwholm- *< ing majority of the electors of the Colony at his back. (Applause.) The second reading was agreed to on the voices, PETITION'. The leader of tho Opposition presented a petition signed by 213,000 electors praying for a poll of the whole colony as to whether or no the liquor traffic should be abolished. He asked the Premier what steps he intended to take regarding it. *'"' Tho Premier said the Government did not intend to grant the prayer of the petition, as by so doing the principle of representative Government would be violated and the functions of numbers would be usurped, The House adjourned at 10.5 p.m.