THE ARBITRATION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2300, 19 September 1908, Page 3

THE ARBITRATION BILL.

SLOW PROGRESS BEING MADE. ;' (Special to “Times.”) '7 WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. The House made very slow progress with the Arbitration Bill in committee, to-day; Early in the afternoon- it started on clause 5, and until the dinner adjournment the discussion centred around the equalisation of penalties ,as between master and man- in the case of lock-outs and strikes. The new clause 6, regarding offences in connection with a strike or a lock-ont by persons not narties thereto, provoked a great deal of discussion. A decided spirit of opposition was evinced when the sub-clause to clauso 6, making it a punishable offence for newspapers to publish any expression of opinion regarding a strike, was -reached. Air. Guinness moved to delete the sub-clause, and lie was supported by several other members, who deprecated the “introduction of any more gag” clause. The Minister was urged to withdraw the sub-clause, and he complied with the .request amidst a general chorus of “Hear, . hear.” Clause 6 was passed at lialf-past eleven, and during the following halfhour somewhat better , progress was made; Althought Air. Barclay, who has taken a prominent part in the discussion, still continued to be most frequently in possession of the floor.