What is the position with regard to the Workmen's Compensation Bill, the next item?
Private Deputies' Business. - Workmen's Compensation (Increase of Compensation) Bill, 1929—Report.
When this Bill was last before the House it was adjourned owing to the absence from the country of the Minister, because it was considered desirable that a statement should be made by him, having regard to the fact that he had some Departmental figures which he wished to examine. I think Deputy O'Connell expressed the hope that the Minister would prepare a general Bill dealing with several matters in addition to the matters mentioned in this Bill. I hope the Minister will be able to make some statement to the House now.
A reference has been made back to a previous Committee which dealt with the whole situation in regard to workmen's compensation. As a result of figures that were published that Committee produced a new report. That second report is being published, and it should be in the hands of Deputies quite soon. The report of the Committee has changed the proposals I had in the completed measure, and to a certain extent delayed its introduction. The Bill, however, is prepared as far as the Department is concerned, but it has not yet passed through the Parliamentary draftsman's office, and I cannot promise any date for its introduction. There is a general Bill on the whole matter, and it will cover the ground much more fully. I do not promise that the terms are exactly the same as those of Deputy Rice's Bill, and I cannot make any statement as to the date of its introduction, but it is coming.
I am prepared to withdraw my Bill. I hope that the Minister will soon introduce his Bill, and also that the terms will be better than those in my Bill.
Can the Minister give us a definite undertaking as to the date of the introduction of his Bill?
I cannot give any undertaking. It depends on circumstances entirely outside my control.
If the House is asked to give leave to withdraw the Bill that has been on the Order Paper for the last nine months, I think it should have something more definite than the Minister's statement. It is many years since the original Committee presented its report. Apparently the Minister had the draft Bill in his office ever since, and it is now going to be changed on the second report. Is the second Bill going to be as long in his office as the first one was?
No.
Question—"That leave be granted to withdraw the Bill"—put and agreed to.