COMPENSATION ACT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 149, 5 April 1930, Page 2

COMPENSATION ACT.

LABOUR BOYCOTT OF INQUIRY. NO UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. , t (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 4. Indications are not wanting that the Labour movement is by no means united in its attitude towards the committee appointed by the Government to investigate and report on tiie Workers' Compensation Act. The boycott declared by the Alliance of Labour is not generally! supported and there is a- feebng of dissatisfaction with the decision of the Alliance, which, it is stated, is not in a position to speak for industrial Labour. Evidence has already beeni placed before the committee on behalf of one * or two unions in Wellington, and it is likely that further evidence will be tendered before the inquiry closes. Inquiries made by the "Post" today revealed the fact that there is a general feeling of dissatisfaction ini La* bour circles with the personnel of the committee, not because Mr T. Bloodworth is considered unsuitable, but because Labour was no consulted before the' choice was made. There is also a feeling that on an inquiry that so vitally affects the workers there should be a greater representation of the industrial labour movement. However, the alleged defects of the committe are not generally considered to be sufficiently serious to warrant the action of the Alliance in declaring the committee "black." As one Labour official pointed out, if the industrial Labour movement had been asked to appoint a representative, the choice would probably have fallen on Mr Bloodworth, who had made a special study of the problem and had the confidence of the great majority of the workers. It is also held that the Act is in urgent need of revision and the opportunity of placing evidence before the committee was too good to miss.

It is not likely that the Alliance edict will be ignored in several directions. The attitude of the Labour Party to the inquiry is not yet known, and the secretary (Mr Nash) today declined to make any statement. Another prominent official said that the attitude of the Alliance had given a revival to the break-away, movement.