PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

ARBITRATION BILL THE LABOUR.POINT OF VIEW. REPLY, BY HON. J. A. MILLAR. COSMITTBE STAGE REACHED. The Council,'-at tho instance-of Mr. Rigg, spent sohiij'tiliicj yesterday afternoon in discussing {lie meaning bf oiio of the Standing Orders, but without reaching finality. Several minor measures were :dealt with, and tho debate on tho second reading of the Manawatu Kailway Purchaso Dill was begun. In tho. Houso tho second reading debate on tho . Industrial. Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill was continued. Mr. T. H. Davey (Christchurch) held tho floor from the previous evening, and his remarks dealt chiefly with the Arbitration Court as applying to the farming industry. One of the most interesting -speeches; of tho sitting was delivered by Mr. J. F. Arnold, a Labour member. Ho agreed that pure conciliation was desirable. -In the . course of other speeches suggestions for tho improvement of the Bill wore made by'mombers on both sides of the Houso. Several of the members defended tho Minister; from tho attacks that had been made upon him by Labour leaders. At 10.45 p.m. tho Ministe! - . replied. One of liis statements was that if it were thought in committee that more than two Conciliation Commissioners Wjero necessary, power might possibly be given to'mako the increase. Sinco the tendency, however, was towards an understanding' botween employer and employee jvithout reference to tho Court, tho likelihood was that two Commissioners would v be sufficient.' Tho Houso then went into committee,, arid at 12.35 a.m. had reached Clause 5 when progress was reported.

THE COUNCIL. PARLIAMENT BUILDINCS SITE. : A notice of motjon by .the Hon. J. R. Sinclair, to agree to the recommendations of the Joint parliament Buildings Site Committee, y^s','postponed' until Thursday next. . THE M.OKAu' LEASEHOLDS; Tho petition-of Joshua. Jones, praying for inquiry andu'edrossin connection with Mokau .land transactions,' was again '-presented by tho Hon.'J, -'Rigg, but in a revised form, so as to comply-with the Standing Orders. It was ordered' that 1 the petition lio 'on tho table. THE STANDING ORDERS. Tho Hon. J. IUGG had given notice to move: "That tho ruling of the Hon. Mr. Thompson, .when tho Council was in commit-' tee_ on tho Second Ballot Bill—viz., that a division shall not bo taken on the question in debate unless called for by a member, when tlie committee had already decided, iii accordance with' Standing Order No. 218, that'the committee do' at onco divide upon tho question in debate —bo disagreed to." Tho Hon; - Captain BAILLIE raised a point of order.. He'contended that the motion could not bo moved because the chair-, man of tho committee had not referred- it to tho Speaker. Tho SPEAKER over-ruled this contention, and Mr. Rigg moved his motion. He stated that he intehded 'no reflection oh the actiiig-' chairman; ' ■ " ' The Hon. W. C: 'F: ' CARNCROSS ' sec-. onded tho motion. After discussion, . Mr. Rigg, replying; said his object was to expose the. clumsiness of the closure-.-motion.-as a device,; for stopping debate. The motion" : was eventually withdrawn, tho Attorney-General having' promised to givo notice of motion to refer tho wholo matter to the Standing Orders Committ-ce for , tho revision of the Standing Order No. 218. DECLARATORY JUDGMENTS BILL. The amendments made by tho Lower House' in the Declaratory Judgments Bill were agreed to. LOCAL BILLS. The Inangahua County Empowering Bill was put through committee (without amendment) and final stages. The Matamata County Bill; the Hokitika Harbour Amendment Bill, and the Auckland (Symonds Streot) Cemeteries Bill wero read a second timo; : MANAWATU RAILWAY BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL" (Hon. Dr. Findlay),.;:in -moving the second roading of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Purchase Bill,- " said the acquisition of tho railway, by tho State would mark an epoch in the history of New Zealand. Never again would a railway of such importance bo privately owned. . The result of the purchase of this line-would bo exceedingly beneficent to tho district through which it lay, by means of the closer'''Settlement"of tho rich lands between this city and tho progressive town of Palmorston North, and tho Dominion as a wholo would bo making a profitable investment. Tho Prime. Minister, during tho difficult and anxious time of the. negotiations, had had . only "the interests of the ■ c'ountry at heart. . lie had made an honourable bargain, fair to. the company, and exceedingly satisfactory to tlio peoplo of New Zealand. A Lesson to be' Loarnt. . The Hon. T.X. MACDONALD (Wellington) said; he considered that, it would liavo been a good,investment to purchase tho lino for two millions sterling, whereas tho Government was giving' less than ono million. Yet the bargain was quite satisfactory to tho company, as they were freed from all anxiety and were able to return to the shareholders their invested capital, and ampie interest._ • The railway had benefited VYellington in. tradej-population, and land values to the extent of ten millions sterling, yet the' original share capital was only £70,000. The total cost of making tho lino was £1,047,000. A lesson- to be learnt was that tho building of main lines connecting the country with the ports coul<J_ not proceed too fast in a country like this; but he deprecated the policy of dispersing expenditure on a number I of smalLlines. ■ The debate was continued by tho 1 Hons. W. W. M'Cardie and W. Beehan. Tho Hon.- J. E. JENKINSON (Wellington) considered, that Mr! Macdonald had advocated a policy of plunging. Tho Government was doing very well in regard to railway construction.. ; ; . The Hons. R. A. Loughnan and J. T. Paul also spoke. In a personal explanation, Mr. Macdonald said he had not advocated anything oxtravagant, as Mr. Jcnkins'on and Mr. Paul seemed to think.Tho Hon. G. JONES spoko briefly. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose at 4.55 p.m.

THE HOUSE.

THE ARBITRATION BILL. ' CONTINUATION' OF SECOND READING debate. Tlio Speaker, took the chair at 2.30 p.nn The first order of the day tr-as- the resumption of the debate on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. Mr. T. H. DAVEY (Christchurch East) Er"ued that compulsory arbitration had decidedly been of benefit. Against the statement of Mr. -J.. Allen that compulsory arbitration tended to place all workers on a level by declaring a minimum wage, which becamo a maximum wa«c, lie quoted the words of Mr. Marnier, .who the previous evening had admitted that the North Auckland employers in a caso under review hud not taken advantage of the minimum wage.-

Regarding tho Canterbury farm hands' dispute, ho agreed it /was impossible to mako an award for all phases of farm lifo, but in view of tho voluminous ovitlenco taken, surely it had been possible to have dealt with somo features. What right had tho Arbitration Court, under the present law, to say it could not mako an award because it might create ill-feeling among tho parties? Mr. Davey also thought it wrong that tho Judge should declare a member of the Court could not attach his minority roport to nn award, as in tho case of Mr. M'Cullough. Mr. J. T..M. HORNSBY (Wsirmpa) recalled conditions of the past before the passing of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Mr. Arnold: There were 600 girls working for nothing in New Zealand before 1894. • Mr. Hornsby then sought to show tho benefit that Act had been. In time, lie believed, classification of labour would come, and ho would liko to see somo attempt in that direction in regard to this Bill. If it wore possible to classify in tho Civil Service why should not tho principle apply in trades and labour? He would like to see more elasticity in tho awards. Ho believed that there was a way to enablo men to classify themselves. (Hear, hoar.) Tho law at present was compelling the brilliant man to work down to tho dead level. (Approval and dissent.) Ho believed the unions could bo induced to classify within themselves by setting up their own boards. A Labour Mombar. Mr. J. F. ARNOLD (Dunedin South) was glad to see the way this question had been approached. In tho past tho introduction of labour matters had been tho signal for hard feeling. Referring to Mr. Hornsby's arguments for classification, he said what a picnic -these would result in I The only possiblo classifiers would bo tho individual to be classified _ and the employer. It would bo absolutely impossiblo for anyono not in close touch for somo time with tho workman to know his ability. If there was a tendency to level up or down it was not tho fault of tho Act, but of tho employer. In some trades in New Zealand not more than 5 per cent, of the men were working for tho minimum wage. Why? Becauso the men know that if they did their best they would get moro money. (Hear, bear.) stili Coocl. Compulsory arbitration would never fail until tho law appertaining thereto was wiped out. Ho was sure that not 10 per cent, of the employers would like to seo tho Act abolished. It was iricorrcct to say that a feeling of greater strain prevailed now botween employer and employed than beforo tho Act. Though thero was a stato of unrest greater than over , beforo in the Dominion, the feeling between employed and employer was as good as ever before. Mr. Baume: Why is there this unrest? , Mr. Arnold: It is this: that tho workers believe, and rightly so, that they aro passing through a period—when they nxo being emancipated slowly from serfdom to a position which they have desired to occupy, but which they havo never been able to up to tho present time. It is becauso they Temember tho history of their predecessors and what they had to pass through in tho Old Country, because they remomber tho distress and. poverty through which thoy had to pass, and because they beliovo that, with their greater education and larger reasoning powers to-day, and their knowledge of tho economics of production, thoy appreciate tho fact that they are not getting a fair proportion of tho results of tho products of the sweat of their brow." (Hear, hear.) Why the Boards had Failed. As to tho failing of tho Conciliation Boards, Mr. Arnold said tho men had como to feel that in the methods of tho Court thoy were being victimised by the other side. Consequently, they had set about to preserve thoir interests,- and this was the first step in the breakdown. Tho labour people had gone to tho Government and had urged greater power for tho Conciliation Boards, so that long delays/- to the-advantage-of tho employer, should not'- take plate/ Iho reply had been tho "Willis" blot, r which'had enabled tho cases to go right : to tho' Arbitration Court. But if tho advice of the worker had been listened to in those days they would not havo had tho feeling that existed in regard to Conciliation Boards: Conciliation must been tho main factor in a successful measure, ami ho generally approved of tho bringing together of tho parties, as proposed in tho Bill. Never Look Up. He: proceeded to deal with those who said that the workers had little to grumble at-in New Zealand. "It is a fact," ho said, "that some men in this city go to . work in the morning and never look up from their employment until the bell goes for tliom to knock olf. Thoy don't even have time to look tho clock —but perhaps I had better not say anything more about that, because, I might bo led to allude to some of tho clocks that are used in somo of tbo factories." Why was it that tho men worked liko ..this? Only to be able to take their' money home on Saturday night —and give' half of it to tho landlord, knowing, that the remaining half was insufficient to hand to their wives to keep the body and soul of tho family • together. Members, if they kept their eyes open, .would sec clearly that all tho difficulties and evils of tho moro closely congested cities of the older countries woro gradually coming into the Dominion, and that ivo were gradually | getting our slums, extrcmo poverty, disease, and filthy corners; while, on the other hand, wo wore getting our wealthy classes. "And it is becauso of this," said tho Labour member, "that wo aro getting the agitation of today. Who is the agitator? The man who is spoken of with such contempt is tho man, pcrhap3, who has come from bigger cities, who has had experience, and has seen tho trials and difficulties that his own .classes are passing through; ho is the man who has the courago to sec the position and stands up and speaks boldly on behalf of those who are striving to place themselves in a better position in life. That is tbo agitator—(hear, hear)—and I must admit I havo sympathy with such a man as that." (Hear, hear.) V/hat Had Happened. What had happened in 1890, continued tho member, was happening to-day. The same attempt was being mado to rescfto tho political machine in order that hotter results might obtain. At present the masses were looking to tho Minster for Labour and expecting—what? Not only an Arbitration Amendment Act, becauso that was morely the fringe. • Thoy wore looking to tho Government beeauso they expected an attempt to bo mado to meet their difficulties— some of which ho lio.d just spoken about. Ho believed that in conciliation was to bo found tho best solution of the difficulties. Strikes Not Wanted. The working classes of tho Dominion di<j not want strikes. (Hear, hear.) Thoy knew all tho difficulties involved. In one striko in Auckland tho loss in wages had represented about £16,000, and the striko pay was £6000. Lut even these figures did not represent the mental worry. Thoy wanted both conciliation and arbitration. Mr. Arnold was clad the imprisonment clause had been obliterated, out even that clause would havo been preferable to tho provision regarding tho collection of fines oy employers. Tho Most Important Eiil. Mr. T WILFORD (Hutt) felt, like many others, that the Bill was perhaps the most important measure undertaken bv tho Government since. 1891. ("Question!") No doubt tho Minister did not intend it to bo a solution of the difficulty, l„,t something better than existed Thero never would bo a final settlement of the labour troubles. No statute law could solvo an economic problem, and all its phases. Time should Lno object in passing this measure. Parliament should not count its Acts as a sportsman counted his bag; anil ho hoped every "pro vision would bo carefully considered. FJe agreed with the abolition of the Conciliation Boards. Tho boards had come to that state that a phrase had actually been' coined in their connection of "stirring up conciliation" —(laughter 1 —a phrase, ho believed, traceable to Mr. M. C. Keane. Tho boards had become incubators of disputes instead of councils of conciliation. Ho did not think the conciliation councils of tho Bill would meet the trouble.

He suggested tho automatic sotting up of Conciliation Boards immediately on a dispute occurring, one representative coming from cach side, and tho two to select a chairman, In this way technical details would bo understood without having to bo explained. Tho ovidcncc of every witness would bo appreciated to its full value by tho judge. "If you put tho most skilled and, trained lawyer in the Dominion upon the Bench to deal with 1 the trades of tho Dominion lie will, be absolutely helpless." Mr. Hanan: A square bung in a round hole! (Hear, hear.) Mr. Wilford: Lot us have no fixed Arbitration Court or Conciliation Boards, but'let them bo set up automatically, and consist of men who know the details of tho trades under review. Therefore, ho did not consider the proposals of tho Act in this respect would altogether moot tho case. . Propsr Administration. Mr. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) said thnt if the conciliation clauses were well administered there would be fewer appeals to tho Arbitration Court than at present. He was glad the needs and exertion wago proposals had been struck out. but ho thought wiso employers would always pay higher wages to fast workers than to others. He hoped tho House, in view of the seriousness of tho question, would support tho stand taken by the Minister/in regard to aiding and abetting. ' Mr. T. K. SIDEY (Caversham) emphasised the fact that'none of tho witnesses examined by the .Labour Bills Committee, advocated repeal of the Act. Ho suggested that more than two commissioners of conciliation should be appointed, and that they should adjudicate in enforcement cases. It appeared to him that if tho inspector sued for the maximum penalty in such cases there would be a right of appeal, but ho did not think thero should be an appeal where tho magistrate had imposed only a smail fine. , Would tho inspector always sue for the maximum fine? Tho'point needed clearing up. Proceeding, Mr. Sidey said tho conciliation councils were objected to by tho workers becauso they feared victimisation, and because they might not in every case have a competent man in their own ranks to act on the council. In the latter connection, ho was glad the Minister had promised to move an amendment enabling tho Commissioner to admit one assessor not a member of tho trade concerned to sit with him. Legislative Interference. Mr. C. LEWIS (Courtenay) said that history had proved that successful compulsory arbitration was an impossibility. He objected to the attempts mado in several instances to ovcr-rido awards by means of' legislation. The first of theso attempts was mado in 1899, and ho protested against it at tho time, pointing out that it destroyed the sense) of stability which was supposed to be tho great benefit conferred by tho Act upon tho omployers. Theso legislative interferences had always been undertaken on one sido— 'the sido . of tho workers. Yet tho Court of Arbitration, was a Court of justico, liko tho Supremo Court. Ho protested against the contemptuous references mado in that Houso to the Arbitration Court. If one sido could abuso a judge, the other sido could praise him; if one side could punish him, another sido could reward him. We had begun this interference and decision, and we could not bo surprised if the others should tako the only steps that were open to them in reply, and which had been taken in Amorica. Turning to another pliaso' of the subject, Mr. Lewis said that tho man who, when times were bad, gavo another man £2 a week and his tucker for working, say, in building a woolshcd, and thus kopt him from unemployment, ought not to bo' treated_ as a felon or a sweater, through a prosecution for a breach of' award. Tho wholo system of industrial arbitration was no better than an attempt to mako water run uphill. Quick Conciliation Wanted. Mr. C. H. IZARD (Wellington North) said tbo Bill, as liTst introduced, contained much of which ho did not approve, but tho Labour Bills Committee had greatly improved it. The Arbitration Act had, dono good to omploycr and employee. Tho Bill would go far to prevent strikes and lock-outs. Ho would liko to seo immediate conciliation, and lie thought that might bo better secured by other machinery than that provided in tho Bill. The proposed Councils of Conciliation would bo an improvement on tho present boards, which, owing to want of trado knowledge, wero not in sympathy with the parties that came beforo thorn. "Give us conciliation, givo us good feeling, and I don't think," sai'd Mr. Izard, "that thero will be any aDpeals to the Arbitration Court." Ho went on to advocate tho appointment of more than two commissioners. There should be at least one for each industrial district. Drastic penalties should bo provided to guard against victimisation of workers who acted as assessors on tho councils. In Clause 20 (enforcement of judgment) tho portion of a married man's wages to bo exempt from attachment should bo greater than £2 a week. Tho unions should bo mado liable for tho acts of thoir members. Natural Laws. Mr. G. LAURENSON (Lyttelton) alluded to such expressions as "superseding natural law," "violating economic law." He declared that to build a flying machine, or to cut down a tree, was to violate natural law. Economic law said you could not carry on an industry in one country if tho natural conditions of a neighbouring country favoured it more. Yet England, by means of high protection, flow in the face of that law, and thus built up hor economic independence. Dealing with arbitration and tho cost of_ living, Mr. Laurenson said that candles, jam, tea, and soap were cheaper than they wero, while kerosene, sugar, clothing, boots and shoes had not increased in price.- Tho necessaries that did cost more wero butter, cheese, meat, and bacon, which were not affected by our labour laws. As against Mr. George Booth's contention that tho "ca' canny" tendency uudor arbitration had reduced the output of tho workers, Mr. Laurenson quoted statistics to show that moro work per employee was done on the New Zealand railways than those of the United States, and that more coal per man was produced by Now Zealand miners than those of any other country. Figures to a similar effect were adduced from several other industries. Ho also contended that tho moral fibre of the workers had, improved under arbitration. Mr. F. R. FLATMAN (Geraldine) emphasised the. difficulty of making a workablo award for tho agricultural industry. Ho deprecated agitation for tho removal of Judge Sim. Mr. C. MAJOR (Hawera) spoko in favour of tho Bill, and hoped it would bo approached in Committee in a national spirit, since on a proper amendment of tho present law depended a great deal. Too Much Court. Mr. J. HANAN (Invercargill) approved the principlo of tho Bill. So far, conciliation had not had a fair trial, owing to tho Court methods pursued. There had, as a matter of fact, been too much Court. This was tho best attempt yet mado by any Government to secure industrial peace. Ho suggested an increase in tho number of tho proposed commissioners. The selection of chairman should also bo in tho hands of thoso concerned in tho dispute. If tho appointed tlie commissioners and dissatisfaction was expressed with any awards blamo would bo laid on the Government, -and ho thought tho Government should bo freed from blamo as much as possible. Mr. Hanan then followed largely in Mr. AVilford's tracks regarding tlie inadvisability of export lawyers or judges acting as heads of the conciliation councils. Mr. FISHER (Wellington) said ho was going to support tho Bill, subject to somo of tho amendments to bo moVed by tho Minister. Ho would not speak now on, tho Bill, but lie desired his attitude to bo known. There would be a good opportunity at tho general election for members to dca.l with labour matters. * THE MINISTER REPLIES. Tho MINISTER rose to reply at 10.d5 p.m. He said it could not bo advanced that tho Arbitration Act had been a failure, since it could be shown that industries had <*oho ahea.d in the country silico'-its..incep-tion. Mr. Mnsscy challenged this statcmont, and tho Minister cited a number of industries

which hud gone ahead undor the law of tho Arbitration Act. Mr. Massey: Tlicn why amend that Act? Sir. Millar replied, that there was 110 initiatory legislation that did not require amending. Dealing with other speakers, 110 proceeded that the Canadian system had not been altogether a success, and no system would that had 110 element of compulsion behind it. Mr. llnssey was sorry to hear tho Minister say that. Compulsion Nscossary. llio Hon. J. A. Millar did not agree. In no part the world was tliero a system of arbitration that had not an element of compulsion nt the back of it. ■ A member cited tho English system, and Mr. Millar replied tlmt 110 only hoped tho Mew* Zealand law would work as satisfactorily as tlio English. Mr. Massey: There is no compulsion in that. Mr. Millar: No, but there were proposals now before tho British Parliament for compulsory arbitration. The idea in his Bill was to mako conciliation paramount, but thcro was to be power behind t-o prevent tho industries of tho Dominion being dislocated. Points of Semblance. The question of last year's Bill was introduced by interjection. Mr. ■ Millar replied that this year tho Typographical -Association of Victoria had gono into the various conciliation systems of the world. Their finding ultimately was that the " amending Bill of the Hon. J. A. Millar, New Zealand, was almost an ideal system." Mr. Massey: Where'is that Bill now? Mr. Millar (pointing to his Bill): Hero. Mr. Massey: No, it is not. Mr. Millar: It is. I can show you it. Ho went 011 to say that tho Bill provided for industrial councils of three. The only difference was that in last year's Bill tho councils selected their own chairman, and in the event of non-agreement the duty devolved upon the Government. In this Bill tlioy provided for a chairman. Ho considered this a superior system, since there would be uniformity of decision in a permanent chairman. "Under tho old system, tho chairman had a vote, and 110 would thus practically settle tho disputo._ In this Bill tho parties would scttlo tho disputo themselves. Tho Chief Objection. The ono chief objection that seemed to bo raised to tho Bill was tho limited number of commissioners. (Hear, hear.) But tho tendency was for' the parties to como together for mutual agreement. For instance, in Auckland ten unions had formed agreements which woro created awards without tho Court being appealed to at all. 111 tho Wellington district tliero had been ten, in Canterbury cloven, in Westland four, Otago and Southland eleven, and there were twenty cases between parties, which had gone to tho Court for decision 011 minor points only. This was a total of sixty-fivo unions with a membership of 10,000, or a quarter of tho unionists of tho Dominion, and these men had made their own agreements with employers outsido tho Court. If tliero was this desire, therefore, for mutual agreements, two commissioners would probably bo enough. But in committeo on the Bill they would probably ask for power to appoint more. However, ho thought two good men would bo sufficient. Mr. Hanan: Tho ■ trouble will bo delay. The Minister: I don't think so. Under tho old system it might bo so, but not under tho new proposals. . However, in. committieo they could go into and consider tho matter. Strong Exception. Mr. Millar took. exception to tho statements that the New Zealand work men wore deteriorating . In 1901 to 1906 tho wages in tho Dominion increased by 35 per cent. In tho value of tho industrial products the inereaso had been 31 per cent. Sir. . Booth, in his evidence, had said tho results should idßu2os'l'uca increase in ratio to tho inereaso in wages. That might apply in some cases, but not in all. Would it be expected that a vessel by doubling its coal consumption would steam twico as fast, or would a man do twice as much for 2s. ; au .hour as.,he did for Is. ail hour? Mr. Booth had not admitted that in tho periods alluded to his' machinery had also changed. Only a fair ratio could bo taken in tho comparison. Ho admitted wo had poor workmen, but talking generally there wero as good men hero as elsewhere. This was proved by tho way Now Zealanders were snapped up in Australia and at Homo after having been trained in tho workshops here. Uniformity of Decision. Replying to tho mombors who had expressed doubts as to uniformity of decision of tho two commissioners, tho Minister said those officers would come to Wellington, and would take copies of awards, and bo told they must make tho old awards a basis, and preserve uniformity as much as possible. Thcro could not be absolute uniformity, because there were differing conditions in New Zealand. Whoro an award was to bo uniform over the Dominion, it would bo made so by the Arbitration Court. As to ■ talk about tho fear of victimising, 110 thought this unlikely, since 10,000 men, as lie had shown, had already entered into voluntary agreements with the masters. Tho victimising lay in tho minds of those who wanted to bring themselves prominently before tho public. (Hear, hoar.) At tho samo time he would not say there was no victimising going on. " / A Member: There is in Christchurch. Ho showed that tho increase in tho number required to form a union would prevent the formation of small bodies where ono union would cover the lot. In a freezing works, for instance, thcro might be several unions whero 0110 would suffice for tho whole local industry. , He pointed to the difficulties in tho way of, classification of labour, and in conclusion thanked tho House for the way tho measure had been received. "And now I only liopo wo will get the Bill through Committee in another hour." (Loud laughter.) IN COMMITTEE. Tho Houso then went into Committeo to donl with tho Bill.' Clause 3 states that "tho term 'strike' •means tho act of any number of workers who are or have been in tho employment," etc. The Labour Bills Committeo had struck out the words "or have been." Tho words wero re-inserted 011 tho motion of tho Minister. Tho definition of lock-out (clause 4) was amended on. tho motion of tho Minister so as to apply t otho act of "employer, in closing his placo of business, or suspending work therein, or dismissing any of tho workers employed by him, or refusing or failing after any such dismissal to employ any worker so dismissed, tho said closing, suspension, dismissal, refusal, or failure being." Consequential amendments woro mado in tho remainder of the definition, tho general oft'ect being to mako it clearer that a singlo employer may bo guilty of a lock-out. Fines for Striking. Tho MINISTER desired to recast Clause 5, sub-clauso 1, as follows: — "When a striko takes place in any industry, every worker who is or becomes a party to tho striko and who is at tho commencement. of the striko bound by any award or industrial agreement affecting that industry is liablo to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds." Mr. POLAND asked whether 300 men goin"' out 011 strike could bo fined altogether £3000. Tho MINISTER said that if tho men acted individually they could bo lined up to £10 each. Mr. Poland contended that thero should be a maximum for the aggregate of tho fines, otherwise, wliilo tho strikers might have to pay £3000 tho employer could not be lined more than £200. Mr. TANNER asked that time should be given to enable members to understand amendments before they woro put. Otherwise tho contention of tho Labour people, that legislation affecting them was usually slammed through in the middle of the night, when the members worn half asleep, would again bo justified. Though his suggestion was a novelty, 110 would try to have it given effect to. ' Tim question was raised b,v Mr. J. Allen and others whether workers who were bound by an [uvnid could bo punished for boiuß parties to a strike which was causcd by. some-

thing outside tho award. Victimisation was instanced. Messrs. Guinness and Colvin supported Mr. Poland's suggestion that tliero should bo a maximum for the total of the lines inflicted 011 men convicted of taking part in a striko. Tho contention of Mr. Guinness was that tho maximum penalty should bo tho same as that for an employer convicted of creating a lock-out. Numerous Amendments. Tho Hon. A. 11. GUINNESS suggested that progress should bo reported, so that the numerous amendments placed upon a supplementary Order Paper by tho Minister could bo printed again and incorporated with tho Bill, as it was very difficult to realise their significance as now presented. Mi'. COLVIN said it would take a Philadelphia lawyer to see what was meant. Mr. CJuiuness's suggestion as to reprinting tho Minister's proposed amendments was supported by the Premier, and agreed to. Progress was accordingly reported, and tho House rose PA 12.-15 a.m.

NEWS AND NOTES.

THE END OF THE SESSION. In tho heat of debate on Wednesday evening tho Prime Minister used the words "that now when nearing the end of tho session." Members immediately took the hint, and murmurs arose. Sir Joseph Ward replied that six or eight weeks was neither hero nor there.. But a littlo later he said that when tho Arbitration Bill was through ten days or a fortnight should suflice to complete tho remainder of the work. A NATURALIST'S CLAIM. At the time of the visit of tho Duko and Duchess of York, said Mr. 11. H. Travers, F.L.S., in a petition to Parliament yesterday, he (Mr. Travers) had been requested by tho late Hon. R. J. Seddon to collect skins of native birds and live specimens for presentation to their Royal Highnesses. The skins and specimens were forwarded to tho Museum Buildings, Wellington, and tho petitioner received £200. Some time after Mr. Hamilton had been appointed curator of tho Museum, tho petitioner had been surprised to learn that only tho live specimens and not the skins had been presented to their Royal Highnesses. Tho collection, said Mr. Travers, was ono of tho finest ever got together. Considering that tho advertise-' mcnt would have been of value to him ho had supplied them at most reasonable prices and at considerably less than he would have done had 110 known the ultimate destination of tho collection. 110 also represented that he had lost further by not, as a consequence, having a chance of supplying other collections to tho museum. He asks that tho collection bo purchased, or just relief be granted. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN ARBITRATION BILL. Numerous amendments which Mr. Millar proposes to make in tho Arbitration Bill aro in circulation. He will movo inter .ilia a now clause providing that any action foi tho recovery of a penalty may be brought by an inspector of awards in tho Court of Arbitration instead of in a Magistrate's Court. Tho decision of tho Court of Arbitration in any such action shall bo final. Ho will also move tho following new clause enlarging the powers of tho Conciliation Commissioners:— "Tho Commissioner may at any time, if 110 thinks fit, after application has been inado to him under Section 27 of this Act, and whether assessors havo been appointed or not, take such stops as 110 deems advisable, whether by way of a conference between tin? applicants and respondents or otherwise, with intent to procure a voluntary settlement of the dispute." Tho Minister also desires to striko out tho now and comprehensive definition of worker and substitute tlio following:—"Section 2 of the principal Act is hereb3' amended by omitting from. the definition of worker tho _ words 'skilled or unskilled manual or clerical.' " Most of tho proposed amendments aro of a . minor character. Tho whole are to be reported in their places in the Bill for tho greater coiivonionco of members. THE VOLUNTEERS. In his remarks on the volunteer service on Wednesday, Mr. Massoy said ho did not believe in conscription, nor did 110 think it was necessary in this country. Ho did think we might do a great deal more for the encouragement of volunteering; but if wo could not placo tho force on a satisfactory footing wo should have to adopt the alternative of providing something in lieu of, or in addition to, the volunteer force. He believed we should provide something additional. All youths under twenty-ouo should bo required to devote two or thrco weeks in each year, or whatever time was necessary, to the learning of drill, discipline, and the handling of tho rifle. He wanted/ to go further than tlio teaching of drill in tlio primary and secondary schools; 110 wanted to teach all youths under twenty-one years of ago. If , that was done for a' few years, they would soon havo a large forco that would be able to_ contend with any difficulty that ■ might arise in years to come. Mr. Herrios asked on Wednesday when tho Land Laws Amendment Bill would be introduced. The Bill, 110 said, was on tho Ordor Paper, but it had not yet been circulated. Ho hoped'that tho custom of previous years, of bringing down Native legislation at tho end of tho session, would not again bo followed. Tho Native Minister replied that the Bill would bo circulated in tho course of a fow days. It would not be a policy measuro, however, being merely an amending Bill. "Tho public judge a member of this Houso by his limelight effects—his speeches 011 the floor of tho chamber," said Mr. Izard last night. "They entirely overlook tho close attention, tho constant strain, tlio hard work, which are given to public matters by somo mombors sitting in the select committees. If people only realised this they would appreciate such members moro than thoso whom I may call tho limelighters." FIRE BOARDS. Tho Tiro Brigades Amendment Bill, which has been introduced in tho Legislative Council by tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, provides that a proposal by a local authority to apply for dissolution of a fire board must bo submitted to a poll of tlio ratepayers. This is already required when a new fire board is proposed to ho created. It is further provided in the Bill that in either of these cases the proposal shall not bo deemed to bo carried, unless at least one-third of tho ratepayers havo validly exercised their votes. Section 4 gives a firo board power to take land under tho Public Works Act for a firo brigade station. Section 6 repeals existing borrowing powers, and provides that a board requiring money for acquiring land, erecting or improving buildings, purchasing plant or .paying off loans, may raise a loan, whothor 011 a bank overdraft or by tho issuo of debentures, or in such other manner as tho board thinks fit. Tlio total amount borrowed and for the tirno being remaining unpaid, must not at any time oxcoed £3000, except in tho ease of "a loan, raised for tlio purpose of paying off a previous loan. It is made tho duty of ovcry firo board to give assistance, when required, to the Inspector of Eire Brigades, and to place tho brigade temporarily undor his control when so requested by him'. Tlio inspector is empowered to call out any firo brigade on an alarm of firo, when and where 110 thinks fit, in ordor to test its efficiency.