COMPENSATION ACT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19889, 28 March 1930, Page 12

COMPENSATION ACT.

ENQUIRY INTO ANOMALIES.

RUMOURS OP LABOUR BOYCOTT.

[THE PEESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, March 27. Reports are current that a section of the Labour organisations" has decided to declare "black" the enquiry the Government is holding into the operation of the Workers' Compensation Act. An indication that such aloofness might be expected Was given last week, when a deputation representing the Wellington Tradeß and Labour Council and the United Miners' Asso ciation expressed to the Minister for Labour (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) its displeasure with the Government for not consulting- the industrial organisations regarding Labour representation on the investigating Committee. It was made clear that the deputation objected to the principle governing and not the personal, nature of the appointment of Mr T. Bloodworth, who had been described by the Minister in his announcement of tht personnel, as "representative of Labour organisations." At the same time, one of the speakers declared that a fairly large section of the Labour movement might refuse to appear before the Committee to tender evidence.

The Committee began its sittings on March 19th; and after hearing some evidence adjourned on Friday last until April 4th The reason given for the adjournment was that several witnesses desired time to prepare their statements fully. There is now good reason to believe that the miners' organisation, which was expected to come forward early in the enquiry, has definitely decided to wash its hands of the investigation, and to offer no evidence. The representation complication i# said to be the cause of the trouble. What support this action will receive from other sections of the Labour movement is not clear at present, but it is understood that the Wellington Trades and Labour Council has sought, though unsuccessfully, a further opportunity of discussing the question with the Government. It is expected at present that the enquiry will proceed» notwithstanding the difficulty which has arisen.