LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11108, 29 October 1901, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The Maori Councils Act Amendment Bill [ was introduced by the Minister for Education, and read a first time. i The Land Tax and Income , Tax Bill ' passed through, all the stages. CONCILIATION AND ARBITR.TTION. In Committee on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, at Clause 6 (power to set up special conciliators on the j application of either party), a discussion j took place on the point whether employees ' appointed as special conciliators who must, be experts in the trade concerned would be made marked men. j

Mr RIGli mentioned five names of employees alleged to have been dismissed for naving ta&ea part in disputes under the -Act, and advised the Government to take measures to find out whether the allegation was true.

Mr KEEVKtf and Mr JENNINGS supported an enquiry being made into the matter.

*The Minister's amendment to maEe the setting- np of special conciliators possible only on application of both parties was negatived by 24 votes to 8, and the clause passed.

The Laboyr Bills Committee's amendments were then passed up to Clause 13 (power to limit or extend tne scope of the awards), which, on a division caJled by Mr Rigg, who strongly opposed the clause, w,as retained by 26 votes to 4. Tha Labour Bills Committee's amendments were then passed up to Clause 21 (power to refer dilutes direct, to the Arbitration Court on the application of cither party). ~ Mr JENKINSON here mo*ed to 'substitute "bnlh parties" for "either mrty." The MINISTER FOR EDUCATION opposed the clause, stating that it had been pitchforked into the Bill by an enemy in the other House, Two strings had" already been given to the bow, in that Conciliation Boards or special conciliators could be availed of by either party. This clause proposed a third string, that either party could go to a court, which would Oβ overburdened if the work was taken from the Boards. Air Rig.g was speaking against the clause when the Council rose till 7.30. On the Council resuming after rapper. , The MINISTER urged members t« V ; ceed with the business, stating that he regretted , that, opponents of the clause could not prevent it passing, and the Council was not the place for extreme tactics. Mr FELDWTCK interrupted the debate on Mr Rigg's motion to report progress by moving, under the Standing Orders, that thip Council divide on the question of reporting progress. It was contend'od that this was really an application of closure. The Chairman of Commritteee npheld the motion under the Standing Orders, and: it was carried by 21 votes to 5. the consequent motion to report progress being tived by 20 votes to 7. - -,' S

Mr LEB-SMITH saW it was the first trme the closure bhd been applied in his experience. Mr FKLDWICK considered the application of it, which had not taken place for thirty-five years, was justified on this oc-' easicn, and considered it well to let 'fflemy bers know of the potency of the& own/ Standing Orders. . * ' *. •■ ■, In accord with the Labour tee's recommendation, . .. •- Mr BOLT moved the inclusion of words to the effect«jffiat;^ther^rty.may applyfor the diwctlpefejitKJe Court of an industrial dispute!'tha% Ij'm been, referred to a Conciliation 'Board", j«icn application to be "previous to the hearing of such dispute by the Board." * • The amendment . was carried on the voices, and a division vras then oaUed on the -whole clause,, which passed by 19 votes to o.

Mr RIGG moved a new clause to give tradfe unions power to initiate disputes Rejected by 19- votes to 4. , Mr RIGK* moved that clause 21 (direct i reference to the Arbitration Court) do not come into force till two weeks after the next session of Parliament;. L Negatived on the voices. : The bill was reported as amended, and tne third reading was set down for toe next day. The ■Council rose at 12.50. a.m.