INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1018, 6 January 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

, . ■ ■" 9 — ' . . A COUNSEL OF.CAUTION.'

Touching last evening upon the subject "of industrial arbitration, Mr, Beeby, Minister for' Labour, in New South Wales, remarked that there was a limit to the benefit, to bo obtained from regulation of industry. They had approached that limit in New Zealand. "At. the same time,'* continued the speaker, "you want to think very carefully before you destroy,the machine that has. done to much for.you during tho past ten years." Possibly, male workers m skilfed trades, had derived little benefit frqm industrial arbitration, but it liad enabled .women, children, and "unskilled workers to attain a living wage. It would be simply suicidal; in looking out for the next step that would lead to better .things to throw down the latter that had served thus far until a solution had been reached which would-render the use of. expedients or palliatives unnecessary. ''Wo.hope in our State,", said Mr. Beeby, at a later stage, "to brins: our industrial.and social legislation up to your standard, and I hope to carry back with mo . valuable ideas which will enable us to approach as nearly to the ideal, as is possible:under the regulative system. You have been able'to achieve certain.changes and reforms which lead the civilised world today.'' ("Rats"—"Bunkum!") Concluding his remarks' under this head, .Mr. Beeby said he believed that, information obtained from Mr. and others would be of great assistance in the framing of certain ..necessary'legislation n-hicb ho hoped to see passed in New South Wales dnring the coming session of Parliament. Among other Acts he hoped to see passed was a Workers' Compensation Act, evoiv better than that which appeared on tho Statute-book in New Zealand.. .