LABOUR LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 220, 10 June 1908, Page 5

LABOUR LAWS.

STATEMENT BY HON. J. A. MILLAR FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE. I'OSITION OF CONCILIATION BOARDS ; ! (by telegraph.—press association.) , - Christchurcn, Juno 9. • Tho Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, arrived in town last night from Dunodin on his way to Wellington. Asked regarding tho present position of matters in connection witli tho farm labour- • ors' dispute before tho Canterbury Conciliation Board, Mr. Millar said that all ho could '• add to what lie had already said on tho sub- . ject was that, seeing that the members of tjio old board had beon re-elected, ; ho didnot think that the Board was under any necessity to apply for any extension of tuna within which to draw up jts report to the Arbitration Court. He had received the minutes of tho meetings of the Board held on May 29 and Juno 6, and from tho minutes of tho meetings held on the last-mentioned; date (last Saturday) ■ he'learned that tho . Board had decided that no further extension of time having been granted, and the Board , being unable to completo its report within tho timo allowed, it had handed in the whole of the evidence, the summing-up speeches of both sides, and a copy of tho minutes of tho , board's proceedings to the Clerk of Awards for the uso of tho Arbitration Court. Con-; scquently, Sir. Millar remarked, tho Court would now bo in'full possession of' the ovi- 1 dcnco in tho case, v ' ■ Referring to '-ho general question of tho - position of Conciliation Boards, tho Minister said that they had developed into a lower court, whero all' chanco of conciliation had disappeared. - They merely wasted the time and money of tho workers, and only served the purpose of allowing employers and employees to feel one another's strength. Tlia boards had drifted away from the original > idea of conciliation, until now they were con-:' ducted with all the formalities of a court. Referring to the contention that domestic servants could not tako advantago of the Arbitration Court, Mr. Millar said that ha thought that it was wrong'that they should not be able to do so. "Under his proposed' Industrial Councils Act any workers who desired could take advantage of tho councils if thoy were formed into unions. ' • i '