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the interests of both parties. At the present time they are not meeting and discussing it. Each side seems to be afraid that the other may get some political point on to it. But I believe that if both parties did discuss the matter—not from the point of view of their own particular interests, but from a national point of view, from the point of view of the industries concerned and of the Dominion as a whole—we could get a sensible law regarding these matters. I understand there is very little difficulty in coming to an agreement in regard to the Factories Act; but, as regards the other measure, I think that it would be a wise thing if this resolution were embodied in the Conference report, as a sign-post to these people, who are engaged to-day in a veritable tug-of-war, that it is time for them to stop their family quarrel and become good friends. Mr. Bishop : I understand that Mr. Roberts's motion is merely a suggestion to the parties tha't they should meet and endeavour to compose their differences. We could support a resolution on these lines, but we could not go any further than that. Mr. Roberts : That is the motion. It does not bind them in any way to meet. That would be a foolish thing to do. Hon. Mr. Weston : Would you word it, " That it be a suggestion to the parties concerned . . 1 Mr. Roberts : Yes. Then it would read, " That it be a suggestion to the parties directly concerned in the Factories Act and the Shops and Offices Act that they should meet and discuss such amendments as they may deem advisable to these Acts, with a view to making joint recommendations to the Government." lam only wanting to get them together, and I believe it will have the desired effect. Hon. Mr. Weston : I take it that you do not mean that the Government should call a paid conference of this sort ? Mr. Roberts : No, just that it be a suggestion to the parties that they should meet and confer together. Hon. Mr. Weston : I have much pleasure in seconding the motion. Motion agreed to. Employers' Recommendations for Amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Mr. Bishop : Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, It is with very great regret that I have to submit to the Conference this morning ex parte recommendations on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. We had hoped that we would have been able to arrive at complete agreement, and that the Special Committee would have been able to submit to this Conference definite joint recommendations. However, we found that, although the dividing-line between us was a very narrow one, it still was a definite one, and we were not able to reconcile our conflicting views. I have therefore to submit to the Conference this morning the recommendations for the amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act which are unanimously approved by the employers' delegates. I trust that even at this stage they may prove to be not altogether unacceptable to the delegates on the other side. Perhaps it would be too much to hope that they may prove wholly acceptable and that an agreement may be reached. But I have some hope, at any rate, that even that may be accomplished. Failing that, these are the recommendations that the delegates on this side will submit to the Government on their own behalf. The recommendations, which are before the delegates, are as follow : — EMPLOYERS' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDMENT OF INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT. "1. When in conjunction with any industry there are persons, other than actual employers or workers in the industry, whose business interests are directly or substantially dependent on the industry, any organization of such persons shall be entitled to appear in any proceedings before a Council or a Court in relation to such industry, in every respect as if it were a principal party to the proceedings. "2. The number of assessors in District Conciliation Councils shall be increased from three to four, and for Dominion Conciliation Councils from six to seven. "3. In any dispute in which the assessors fail to agree in Conciliation Council the dispute shall be referred to the Court only if three of the four assessors on each side in a district dispute or five of the seven assessors on each side in a Dominion dispute consent thereto : Provided, however, that if a Conciliation Council finds difficulty in arriving at an agreement, the assessors on either side may require a direction to be obtained from the Arbitration Court, for the assistance of the Conciliation Council in its deliberations, as to the minimum wages that should be paid to the lowest-paid group of workers in the industry in question, and the maximum ordinary hours of work without payment of overtime that should be worked therein : Provided that if 60 per cent, or more of the workers members of the union concerned in the dispute are females, reference to the Court shall automatically follow the failure of the Conciliation Council to reach on agreement. " 4. A majority of the assessors in any Conciliation Council may at any time during the Council proceedings agree to adjourn the proceedings for a period not exceeding one month if it is considered that the adjournment might assist in securing a settlement of the dispute : Provided there shall be only one such adjournment. " 5. The award or agreement existing shall continue in force until the final disbandment of the Conciliation Council, or, where the matters in dispute, by agreement of the assessors as provided in clause 3, are referred to the Court of Arbitration, until the Court shall have made its award. "6. In any case in which the .Judge of the Court of Arbitration is of the opinion that a strike or lockout is likely to occur in any industry, or during the progress of any strike or lockout, the Judge shall have power to summon representatives of the parties to the dispute, and such other parties as

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