EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8593, 21 September 1893, Page 5

EVENING SITTING.

The Legislative Council resumed afc 7.30 p.m. INDUSTRIAL BILL. Mr BOWEN resumed the debate. Referring to the arbitration clause, he said the difference ot opinion between workmen and employers was extreme, not between the parties but rather between themselves. They all knew it was impossible to compel employers to continue any industry which did not pay them to carry on, and, on the other hand, it was equally impossible to compel men to work for wages which did not pay them. What the State, and what, he considered, both employers and workmen required, was cosciliation. They could saver expect any conciliation if compulsory arbitration was thrown in tien'o teeth. He regarded the State. o£ Massachusetts as a typical one. Immediately a disagreement occurred in trade matters a Board enquired into the dispute, and their endeavour was to get both parties to come together and endeavour to come to a decision, and, if such were arrived at, it could be terminated after sixty days' notice ; this was the only compulsion employed. There was another alternative, and that was to call in arbitrators, whose decision was regarded as final. Public opinion was for arbitration ; it had invariably proved successfc!, so far as he could see, in Massachusetts. The thing was to bring the parties together, neither party acting on eompnlsion; conciliation was what was required, and if the arbitration clause was struck out the Bill would have his support. ~Mr W. C- WALKER was a, supporter of the compulsory clause. The whole Bill was an experimental one. The assumption that the compulsory arbitration would prove cruel and harsh was ill founded, fie regretted, however, thai the word " penalty" had crept into the Bill because it raised op ; a bogey, which might prove a matter of I contention. He thought Courts of Arbitraj tion would act beneficially to both, parties " i instead of creating dissension and ill-feeling. He expressed the hope that the Bill would be passed in its present form. Mr MACGEEGOR remarked that the Bill, so far as the question of compulsory: arbitration was concerned, was obo jh expediency, a measure similar to those in other countries who, in hia opinion, had fallen short in that they did not, pitmae for compulsory arbitration. He thought it would be futile to emasculate the BUI ac proposed by some boo. members and substitute voluntary for compulsory arbitration. Mr STEWART expressed his intention of opposing the BUI because he believed the compulsory H^tt* , would prove disastrous to all parties. Mr JENNINGS said he should support the Bill as it came up from another place. He advocated compulsory arbitration as being necessary, and if rejected would cause wages to be lowered. Mr RICHARDSON expressed himself in favour of the Bill. Mr SHRIMSKI said he was opposed to the compulsory clause, which instead of being of advantage to the working classes would prove disastrous to them. Mr JENKINSQN warmly supported the compulsory clause, and in doing so adv&aced ac an argument in it* favour that during the last Btrike an anonymous offer came to him wreck the Government train*. This proposition, he said, would never have been, mftda had the eompaisoiy clause beta is

operation. fie should vote for the Bill in it* entirety. Dr. GRACE remarked that the Bill would strengthen the hands of th* officers of various Unions if paesed, but on the other hand it would materially injure the trade and commerce of the colouy. The late strike had caused £15,000,000 to be placed in the Banks, instead of that vast amount being placed in circulation in commercial enterprises. He maintained that credit was the basis of commerce, and if credit was shaken, then goodbye to prosperity. No country was worth a button in which the workmen and labourers were not *ell paid, bu« if confidence was withdrawn then good-bye to prosperity. All he could eaj*, as one who had invested every penny he had ever earned, was, let them us men and employers be happy together, and once and foe all be done with these wretched Labour Bills. Mr MONTGOMERY having replied, the motion for the committal oi the Bill was agrcea lo and the Bill wtu committed. The interpretation clause was postponed, %nd progress was reported on Clause 3, with leave to Bit again. CONSPIRACY LAW AMENDMENT. The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the eecond rending of the Conspiracy Law Amendmeut Bill, which came from the other House. After remarks by Messrs Stewart and Rigg, the second reading was agreed to md the Bill was referred to the Statutee Revi■ion Committee. The Council rose at 10.10 p.m.