STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 180, 29 July 1912, Page 9

STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

SUGGESTED PESIAL LEGISLATION". ('From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. June 21. Mr. Gilbert Anderson, of Christchnrch, ■who ■was one of the oversea delegates at the eighth Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, which concluded its sittings at the Guildhall last Friday, was responsible for the following resolution, carried on the final day: — •'That this .congress reaffirm? the 1 previous resolutions in favour of amic- 1 able methods of preventing strikes and I lockouts, and urges upon Chambers oi), •Commerce the desirability of forming boards of conciliation and arbitration, 'composed of elected -representatives of employers and employed, for the settlement of labour disputes in their respective districts, where such do not already exist, and considers it should be made penal to organise a strike or declare a lookout until any matter in dispute hoe been inquired into and reported upon by such boards." In New Zealand, he said, strikes "were not only illegal, but -unpopular. Sir Samuel Bolion, as an amendment, moved to delete th * penal clause, and 'Mr. E. H. Langdon seconded. Lord Desborough stated that 50 disputes had been settled by the Labour Board of the London Chamber of Commerce, a purely voluntary organisation. The Chamber went to "the trade unions and asked them whether they would appoint twelve men to represent the unions. A similar number was appointed by the Chamber, and out. of the body so formed a panel was elected, comprising four froui e.Teh side. That machinery was entirely vohrnUry on both sidee, and it had worked very swressfnlly in settling disputes. The London Chamber ] wished to extend that eyetem of arbitra- ; tion which bad been set up, and to see : it carried oat by Chambers of Commerce j throughout the world. They hoped to ' ccc Chambers of Commerce in the future ' more important bodies, and they could take up no more important work for the j good of the community than the attempt to settle those devastating labour ; disputes. i Air. B. F. Stiebel expressed the view that the elimination of the penal clause would make the Teenlt totally ineffective, . The penal provision wes very essential. ': If the agitation of strikes -was made a : penal offence no strikes would occur. | •Workmen themselves were sick of j strikes, and if the agitator could be held : legally responsible it would be the best j thing that could happen. In the course of further discussion, a j delegate suggested 'that the resolution : should be withdrawn, as it would be of no practical use, but liis suggestion was cried down, th« amendment defeated by a. large majority, and Mr. Anderson's resolution carried.