LABOUR LAWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 249, 19 October 1921, Page 8

LABOUR LAWS.

ARBITRATION COURT VACANCIES. SMOOTHING OUT DIFFICULTIES. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. A consolidation of the 'Factories Act and a small amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 'wae introduced in the House to-daj', the latter bein<? read a second time pro forma to enable it to be considered forthwith by the Labour Bills Committee, ac the Minister of Labour explained he wished to expedite the bill. It endeavoured, he said, to smooth out difficulties which had arisen through the resignation of the workers' representative on the Arbitration Court, hie re-election, and a statement he had made that he docs not intend to sit. The bill proposes to add to the ordinary provisions for election of the employers' or workers' representatives on the Arbitration Court, a clause under which the Governor-General may request industrial unions to recommend persons to act as nominated members of the Court, or acting-nominated members, whenever he may think fit, notwithstanding that no vacancy exists; but no appointment shall be made unless a casual vacancy has occurred or the term of office of an elected member has expired. If there is a vacancy in the position of a nominated member of the Court, or there is not present at a sitting, the judge may summon the actingnominated member appointed on the recommendation of the Industrial Union of workers or employers, as may be. and if there be further difficulty in filling the position, the Governor-General may appoint, on the recommendation of ths judge, such other person to be temporarily nominated a member as in his ipinion will effectively represent the workers or employers. Payment of. the acting-nominated member will be at the rate provided for the nominated member. A former provision relating to the acting-member of the Court is to be deleted and the original provision for removal of an elected member, if absent from four consecutive sittings of the Court, is amended by the addition of the qualification "without the consent of the judge."