HOW TO END THE STRIKE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14821, 12 November 1913, Page 9

HOW TO END THE STRIKE.

I LEGISLATION OR j EXHAUSTION? DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. ! SIR JOSEPH WARD RAISES ISSUE. SHARP PARTY ENCOUNTERS. (SPECIAL TO "THE rBBSS.") WELLINGTON, November 11. Another discussion between tho Leader of tho Opposition and the Prime Minister regarding tbo striko took place in tho Houso this afternoon. Sir Joseph Ward asked tho Prim© Minister whether he could give any indication of the present position in regard to the striko. Tho last time that the matter liad been beforo the House, ho said, the Prime Minister stated that the Conciliation Commissioner had prepared certain proposals to lay beforo tho parties, but he understood that frhi* effort at settlement had failed. UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS. The Hon. W. F. Maseey said he was sorry to say that Mr Hally's proposals had not beon accepted in their entirety by either party, and that, therefore, for the time being, negotiations had been broken off. There was now [ less prospect of a settlement than there was a week or ten days ago. In tho two principal centres now unions under tho Arbitration Act had been formed, with about 400 members in one case, and between 300 and 400 members in tho other case. Whatever settlement now took place, tho interests of those m«-n mast be considered. A settlement was not possible undor any other conditions. (Hear, hear). He had done his best to bring about a settlement, but these efforts had failed. Rightly or-wrongly, there was a very strong prejudice against tho Federation of" Labour on the part of the shipowners and other employers, who stated tKat they had boen subjected by this organisation to pin-pricks and annoyance, and in some cases to a form of terrorism. (Hear, hear). This sort of thing must be stopped once and for all. (Hear, hear). If the Federation of Labour would stand out of the way, which he did not suppose it would do, ho fully believed that a satisfactory settlement could be arrived at within 24 hours. (Hear, hear). So long, however, as the interference of the Federation of Labour continued, it was very difficult to arrive at a settlemont. He was glad to say that work was now going on in a fairly satisfactory manner, both in Wellington and in Auckland, and he was hopeful that they would see the end of the strike by, say, a week from tho present time.

PARLIAMENTARY ACTION WANTED. Sir Joseph Ward, in a lengthj speech, outlined his reasons for suggesting that special legislation was roquired to settle the strike. Ho considered tho matter so important, he said, that no longer could he observe silenco in connection with it, even though he might be misunderstood or misrepresented. He had suggested from the" beginning that special legislation would be required to prevent a national calamity falling upon tho country, 3nd he now objected to the matter being left m the hands of the two parties concerned, irrespective of : the dieaster that might fall upon tho country. His opinion now was that matters should be taken out of the I hands of those parties, and special ! legislation introduced to effect a settlement. If both sides of the House could agree upon a Bill to meet the diffic.ilty, and the Standing Orders bo .suspended to put tho measure through quickly, then Rood work would be done. The measure should contain not more than three or four clauses, and should be designed to prevent a recurrence of trouble, as well as settle the present dispute. CRIBBED IDEAS. Sir Joseph Ward procoodwl to indicate in detail the principles of the Bill which would end tho trortble. First of all it should provide that no strike or lock-out should be made without a secret ballot. (Hear, hear, and Government laughter.) Mc Okey: That is our proposal. ; Sir Joseph Ward: But you have not brought your Bill down. ; Jlr Mftseey: The Bill is before tse Houso now. Sir Joseph Ward: There is nothing proposing a settlement now before the House. Mr Okcy: It is in the Arbitration Bill. Sir Joseph Ward dropped the dialogue and repeated his proposal that no strike or lock-out should be made without a secret ballot being conducted by

an outside tribunal, with semtineore selected by each side, "ayo" or "no." There should be a special penalty im|x*>ed upon executive officers for breaches of this provision, and a lower penalty for members of tho unions., Tho whole point, Sir Joseph urged. was that there should be t a clear and definite expression of opinion from all concerned before a strike, was decided upon. AN IMMEDIATE BALLOT. Sir Joseph Ward next suggested that a secret ballot should now be takon of the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union upon the strike. Mr Massey: It is not in tho hands of tho watersiders now. Sir Joseph Ward said it should bo put into their hands by legislation, and tho legality of the strike be determined by the result of the ballot. A tribunal should be set tip forthwith to secure a satisfactory agreement- Thi« tribunal should consider proposals and arrivo at, an equitable decision, which should then he referred to thrc>» judges, the Chief Justice and two others, who should be final arbiters and their decision should bo made a binding agreement by an Ordor-in-Council. The position at the moment was that thero was an impasse. The employers demanded registration under the Arbitration Act, and the employees said they would not have that Act. Voices: No, no; tho Federation of Labour says ro. Sir Joseph Ward: Well, the Federation says it won't. Mr Young: Are they going to rule tho country ? TIME FOR ACTION. In view of the striko having now lasted for days, Sir Joseph Ward strongly urged that members of Parliament should act, and not allow the country to suffer longer. Thousands and thousands of people wero suffering, and no ono could say that it would end in another week. So far as agreements under tho Trade Unions Act were concerned, ho behoved it should bo considered whether or not they should be registered and recognised as such. Ho alluded to this, ho said, because he recognised that this trouble would not bo settled except by a process of exhaustion. What would that mean? It would mean bitterness, ven'gefulness, hatred, suffering, whichever side won. It was absolutely imperative, therefore, that this strike should not be allowed to continue. Parliament should tako legislative action in tho interests of all. and to prevent tho ruin of many.