PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 9 June 1891, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. Tho Induatrial Conciliation Bill, drawn np by tho Hon. Mr. Eccvcs, provides for the registration alike of trades unions and of employers' associations, and also of federations of either class of body. It also makes provision for Boards of Conciliation and Courts of Arbitration, to the jurisdiction of which all registered bodies are to be subject. Industrial agreements between Unions and Associations are to bo mado lawful, oithor in regard to general induntrial arrangements, or the settlement of trade disputes, and any breach of these agreements is to bo punishable by heavy penalties. There are to bo two classes of Boards of Conciliation— Trado Boards, to decido disputos arising in any particular trade ; and Diatriot Boards, to settlo troubles affecting various trades in one district. Trado Boards aro to be elected by the employers and ohiploytfs engaged in the industry concerned in equal proportions. From either class of Boards! an appeal may be made to Courts of Arbitration in each provincial district which aro to bo set up by the Govornor-in-Council, consisting of a president, one assessor recommended by the Employers' Associations, and another assessor nominated by the Trade Unions. One of Hie most important provisions is the Railway Commissioners aro to bo subject to tho jurisdiction of the Arbitration Courts, and may be compelled by summons to bring any dispute in which they and tho Eailway Servants' Society aro concerned into Court. The Colonial Secretary is to have tho administration of tho Act, and will have power to causo compulsory arbitration in cases where ho Bb all consider it necessary. Full provision is made for ehfOrding tho decisions of tho Courts i THE DEPARTMENT OP INDUSTRY. The Hon. Mr. Reeves is busily engaged just now, with two members of the Civil Service whose assistance has been temporarily secured, in organising tho proposed new Department of Industry. The system cannot, however, be put in foreo for somo little time. It is not proposed to create any new billet, but home oflicer now in tho servico will bo given thoduty of oolleoting all the required information at tho head office. I PRECAUTION AGAINST BOGUS COMPANIES. It is tho intdntion of the GoVornment to legislate) this session against tho promotion of bogus Companies. Tho Minister for Mines will introduce a Bill making promoters of companies responsible for the statements contained in any prospectus they may put forward, and also holding exports answerable for any particulars given m the roports if pnblished in snoh prospectuses. Persons suffering injury by falso representations of tho kind arc to bo empowered to recover damage^ by civil pi'occss. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. Tho main features of tho proposed alterations in tho method of conducting school committeo elections aro : — Tho cumulative vote is not to bo rovived, but votes are to bo recorded at the householders' meeting, the maohinory of outside ballot-boxes being dono away with. Resident ow.iers and occupiers, and the father or othor guardian of a child attending, whether rosiaoht or not, aro to voto ; but,only residents can bo on tho Committeo. This is subject to reconsideration and rovision. MBMBKRS EN ROUTE. The Takapunn, will arrive from Onohunga to-night, having on board Messrs. Hamlin, R. Thompson, T. Thompson, Lawry, and Houston, M.H.R.'s, tho Hon. Messrs. Dignan and Swanson, M.L.C.'s, and the Auckland press representatives for the session. :