MINISTER FOR LABOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 208, 27 May 1908, Page 2

MINISTER FOR LABOUR.

. . . INTERVIEWED AT CHRISTCHURCH. DEPOTS FOR RELIEF OF CASTAWAYS (BY TEMGIUrn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Christohurch, May 26. The Hon. J. A. Millar arrived from Wellington by the Maori'this morning, and left for Dunedin by the first express. , Ho will remain.there for a week or morg .delivering political addresses during his stay. On his return, the Minister Vill spend a .couple of days in Christohurch, meeting several deputations that are to wait on him in reference to departmental matters, afterwards proceeding to Wellington for the session. ' ■■■ • "Unfortunately," the.'Minister'remarked to a " Truth " reporter, " there appears to bo a good deal of truth in the statement made by the captain of the French 6liip President Faure and others that the depots placed on« the desolate southern islands for'the relief of castaways are visited by unauthorised persons and portions of the: It is impossible to conceive a more dastardly form of theft. Indeed, through these, practices, the lives of unfortunate castaways might easily be lost, so that .the crime- assumes much-.graver proportions than ..mere looting. The islands being visited., necossarily so infrequently enables the practice to be carried on almost-with impunity..; .The information to hand seems to show that peo-' pie do visit these islands, but whether they arc whaling or sealing it is difficult to" say. .It is almost certain that a good deal of seal pbaching goes on down there.. I- have-given the matter a good, deal of thought,- and certain proposals will be placed. before ' the Government for a more effective supervision of the islands. My idea is that men'should'be : kept ; permanently- on. these - islands,. , .;under conditions which will'be suggested to. Parliament in due 1 course." , TH E' AUCKLAND TRAM WAT TROUBLE." "The legal course in dealing with the late Auckland Tramway trouble will be followed by. the Government," said Mr. Millar,. It is satisfactory to note that "the 1 trouble, has befell brolight to an end., I have lioted.that the matters in dispute are to -be brought before an unofficial Conciliation Board'.mutually appointed. I sincerely hope the parties will be able to agree among themselves upon a chairman,' without necessitating' an: appointment being niade by: the Government, as-it would be much more satisfactory'i_fj,the „whole Board could be constituted from'among -theparties concerned.' ' • ; LABOUR LEGISLATioN; ; ; "This brings me to, the firstvPoint'of.the arbitration legislation likely. ,:to -beV propounded next session. A measure.similar to , that introduced last session will be placed-be-fore Parliament,with certain alterations that have since been shown to be advisable.. The main provisions, - However, will,be - unaltered." . ..j"..-." ..