POLITICAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12015, 17 October 1904, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") THE ARBITRATION BILL.

The fact that the Labour Bills Committee has abandoned the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill may be taken as a pretty clear indication that there will be no amendment of tho Act this year. Tho main point of the Bill which was before, the Committee was a provision for the breaches of awards being heard by the magistrate, and the committee was largely influenced in dropping the Bill by a letter received from Mr Justice Chapman, .President of the Arbitration' Court, who expressed his opinion that the present pressure of work on the Arbitration Court would not continue. The witnesses who were examined by the committee were not by any means agreed on the advisability of haying breaches of awards heard in the Magistrate's Court, and several suggested that a better remedy for pressure of work would be to set up an Arbitration Court for each Island. .PARLIAMENTARY OFFICL\LS. It is understood that the Government intend to introduce a Bill making the salaries of the Speaker and Chairman of Committees in both the House and Council independent of their honorarium as members of Parliament. The Speaker of the House would thus draw £800 altogether, the Speaker of the Council £700, and tho Chairman of Committees in the House £600, and in the Council £500.