DEREGISTRATION LAW,

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 9

DEREGISTRATION LAW,

Action of Minister Criticised LABOUR FEDERATION’S ACTION Legislation introduced this week to deregister unions which strike is considered so important by the Canterbury Council of the Federation of Labour that a special meeting will be e id at the Trades Hall to-morrow morning. Consideration of the legislation was ruff reached until a late stage of the federation's meeting on Thursday night, and an adjournment till Sunday was taken on a motion that the federation ask the Government to repeal the amendment to the act, Mr H. G. Kilpatrick presided at the meeting, but as president of the federation, he declined to comment, stating only that the question would be further discussed on Sunday. However, as secretary of the Canterbury. Freezing Works and Related Trades Union, Mr Kilpatrick criticised the action of the Minister for Labour (the Hon. P. C, Webb) in introducing the amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and said that the I hour Department in Christchurch was not getting the support it" deserved from the Minister. .Mr Kilpatrick contended that if Mr Webb gave his department full support in enforcing awards the amendment to the act would be unnecessary. “The effect of the amendment to the act will depend mainly upon whether the Minister* for Labour intends to support his department on the enforcement of awards,” said Mr Kilpatrick. “I have no complaint to make agairist the local Labour Department officials, with whom I am on friendly terms, and from whom we have received all the assistance we could expect,” added Mr Kilpatrick. Freezing Workers’ Award “But I am of the opinion that the local department is not getting thei support it deserves from the Minister. The question which is still giving the local union concern is' the matter of the enforcement of the provisions of the freezing works’ award in regard to dining and dressing accomrhodation. These provisions were made by Mr Justice Hunter in. December, 1937, and were to come into force on or after May 15, 1938. “I am pleased to say that most companies are doing their best to comply with these provisions, with the exception of one firm. It is this company which is likely to be the cause of some industrial disturbance, which may affect the whole industry locally next season, unless it falls into line with the rest of the companies. “We have stated the question clearly to the Minister, and consider it is now up to him to support,his department in seeing that this company observes the award. More than sufficient time has been given for the provisions to be complied with, and any disturbance which may ensue cannot possibly be laid at our door. The workers have been more than patient, and they are not likely to be deterred by the re9ent amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. which gives, the Minister power to deregister.: unions and cancel awards, v?**'”.'". “I wiP say definitely that/provided the Minister gives his department full suooort in ‘enforcing awards his recent legislation is entirely unnecessary.”