ARBITRATION BILL

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 166, 9 April 1932, Page 12

ARBITRATION BILL

Consideration by Council SECOND READING Committee Stage Tuesday With the defeat by 30 votes to 3 of a hostile amendment moved by the Hon. DL Fagan, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was read a second time in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. • In. response to repeated requests, the Hon. Sir James Parr, Leader of the Council, agreed to refer the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee on the undertaking that no evidence would be heard. The Bill was reported back with one or two minor amendments, the effect of which was to make the meaning of certain clauses more clear. It was set down for committal on Tuesday next. Speaking on the second reading, the Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell said he was apprehensive that a sense of wrong would be created by the method which the Government seemed determined to adopt. A wiser course would have been better to have suspended awards temporarily. The Hon. J. A. Hanan strongly urged that the Bill should be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. It was imperative that the measure should receive the closest consideration. Was there any feverish haste? be asked. Was it right to condemn the whole army of the working people because of the abuses or shameful conduct of one section? Was the Government justified •in sweeping away the Arbitration Court merely because of irksome conditions? He submitted not. There were weaknesses in the present Act, but these only required remedial treatment. He was not prepared to go the length proposed by the Government. The Bill reduced the principle of compulsory arbitration to a shadow. Amendment Defeated. The amendment moved by the Hon. M. Fagan that the Bill be read a second time that day six months was defeated by 30 votes to 3. Those who supported Dlr. Fagan were the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey and the Hou. W. H. Mclntyre. Replying to the second reading, the Hon. Sir James Parr, Leader of the Council, said that the debate had worthily upheld the traditions of the chamber i and had been on a very high level. The speakers one .and all had- admitted that industry was suffering from irksome conditions whicli the state of the Dominion would not allow to continue any longer. The only difference was the method of approach, but there was no gainsaying the fact that expedition was the essence of the business. The sooner, awards ■were reviewed the better for industry and the State. The Bill was an honest and earnest attempt to face the position without further delay. The country was bound .by a system of arbitration so rigid and inelastic'that the only way out was immediate drastic action. The financial position demanded that master and man should get together to reduce costs all round. Sir James declared _ that there were ample safeguards in existing legislation against nine-tenths of the mischief popularly called sweating. He agreed to refer the Bill to the Statutes Revision Committee with the stipulation that there was no delay or evidence taken. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee for consideration. It was reported back with minor amendments. Sir James said it was proposed to take the committee stage on Tuesday next. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m.