ARBITRATION ACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2271, 17 August 1908, Page 3

ARBITRATION ACT.

amendment bill reviewed

DISCUSSION BY TRADES COUNCIL.

Tho Gisborne Trades and Labor Council mob on Saturday evening to discuss tho Arbitration Act Amendment Dill, which has been circulated by tho Government, and will bo dealt with during tho present session. Mr. M. G. Nasmith, junr., occupied the chair, and there was a large attenunnco of delegates. . Tho Chairman explained that no had only two eopies of the Bill toi tho uso of those present, and asked speakers to discuss general principles rather than details, and to be bnei and to the point. The first question dealt with was tho clause in the Bill providing for tiie punishment of unions and individuals! causing, aiding, or abetting strikes or lock-outs. The general opinion expressed was that the clause was too drastic. The secretary to the Council took strong exception to tho clause, and said it was not right that -a union should be punished for the action of n minority of its members. Ho moved, “That the. Council recommend that the words ‘any member striking’ bo struck out, and the words ‘a majority of members striking’ be inserted. The motion was carried.

The Secretary further added that lie thought, as members of unions were law makers, they should also uphold tho law. Strikes were undesirable, and as the law appointed tho Arbitration Court to judge between employer and employee, tho ruling of the Court should be obeyed. He would move, in order not to encourage strikes, “That the Council disagrees with the tactics of unions in setting at defiance the laws of the country, and recommends that should any change in the law be required the' desire be shown 'at the ballotbox.”

The motion was unanimously carried.

A short discussion took place on tho clause dealing with tho payment of Court fees, but after the meaning of the clause had been explained by Mr. Darton, it was allowed to pass. One delegate disagreed with the clause fixing the fine for striking, and for breaches of award at less for workmen than for the employer. He said both should receive equal punishment, because a light fine was easily met, and encouraged breaches to continue. The clause was accepted without any resolution being moved.

Tho next condition of the Bill discused was that giving Labor Inspectors power to attach wages for the payment of fines. ’ At this point a. number of delegates asked for the postponement of the. discussion as they wished to study tho Bill before .agreeing to any" resolutions.

The Chairman was against any adjournment, and Mr.. Darton said that, if the Council would only pass resolutions on the main points of the amendments, the delegates could feel assured that the passage of the Bill through the House would be closely watched by the Wellington Trades and Labor Council.

The clause dealing with-the setting up of Councils : of Arbitration was passed without any recommendation being made. The definition of the “needs and exertion wage” clause was then considered, many delegates being of opinion that the present minimum wage would become the intermediate wage, and the minimum wage would be reduced and called a needs wage.

Mr. Darton differed from ttiat view. A needs wage was the necessary wage, and would be the present minimum wage. Other delegates said there was nothing in the law to prevent employers paying an exertion wage at the present time, and they could not see how the Court could fix an exertion wage. A motion was passed recommending that the exertion wage clause be deleted from the Bill.

The Council also objected to the proposed increase in tlie number of workers that shall constitute.a. union from 7 to 25, and pissed a resolution recommending that the law rema n as at present. , - A motion that the recommendations he forwarded to the Labor Committee of tlie House was then carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned.