ARBITRATION BILL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 10

ARBITRATION BILL

Passed By Legislative Council UNIONISM BY LAW Close Voting on Clause With other legislation banking tip, the Legislative Council has not dallied over the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was passed yesterday. The second reading debate was completed shortly before 5 o’clock, and instead of adjourning then as usual, the Council continued on with the committee stage. Several clauses were attacked, but the measure was not amended, except for the deletion of one clause by the Leader, Hon. AL Kagan. He had an anxious moment, however, over clause 18, which provides for compulsory unionism, and the deletion of which was sought by the Hon. AV. Hayward (Canterbury). The clause was retained, but by only 18 votes to 13—the closest vote yet recorded this session. The committee stage was completed at 5-40 and the Bill was read a third time and passed at 5.45 by 24 votes to 7. On the resumption of the secondreading debate, support for the Bill in principle was given by the Hon. V. Ward (Wellington), who nevertheless expressed dislike for compulsory unionism. He favoured the basic wage and agreed that single and married men should receive the same wage for the same work, but said the basic rate should not include'allowances for children, who should bo otherwise provided for out of some national fund. He did not oppose the principle of the shorter working week, but he thought it too early to introduce the 40-hour week, the application of which should be deferred for a year or two to enable industry first to adjust itself to other features of the Government's labour legislation. The onus should not be on the employer alone to show that the 40-honr week was impracticable, but the workers should also be required to adduce evidence to prove I hat a reduction of hours was possible and desirable. Ho fully approved compulsory arbitration, provided it was compulsory on both sides, and that both parties were made to suffer equally in event of breaches of awards. Compulsory Arbitration.

The Hon. K. Masters (Taranaki) said lie favoured organised unionism, as it was better that employers should negotiate with recognised bodies of men in an official way, rather than individually or in small sections. “I approve of the 40-hour week where it is practicable, and I also approve the principle of the basic wage,” he said. There was divided opinion even in the ranks of organised labour as to the desirability of compulsory arbitration. The legislation of 1932, had it been given, longer trial, might have proved more successful in re-establishing in dustry than appeared at present. He found himself in a difficulty as far as the present Bill was concerned. In 193-1 the Hon. T. O’Byrne (Southland), one of the most successful union secretaries, had stated that the feeling between the workers and the employers was of the kindliest possible relationship, and the workers had lost nothing beneficial to them as a result of two [years’ experience of the former Government's 1932 legislation. Mr. O'Byrne: Read the rest of my speech on the question. Mr. Masters said the Chamber would .recognise his difficulty in view of ths of such an authority as Mr. Sj'Byrne. The late Mr. H. E. Holland tiiad condemned compulsory arbitration fend Mr. James Roberts, of the Alliance k<f Labour, said in March of this year [that the workers could not expect fair [treatment from the Arbitration Court. sThe alliance, moreover, bad unaniimously passed a motion at its annual ’’conference condemning the court. It (was therefore apparent that not only /the employers and the public but also industrial labour was divided on the Question of compulsory arbitration.

Replying to Mr. Fagan. Mr. Masters claimed that the 1932 legislation had brought about industrial peace, a reduction in the number of working days lost through industrial disputes, and a lower cost of living. Since 1932. moreover, 287 new industries had been started, employing 10.500 more workers. spending £1,200.000 more in wages, and £500.000 in new capital had been invested in industry. Turning again to the basic wag". Mr. Masters reaffirmed his support in principle, but contended that, the proposals in the Bill in that connection were unsound. A direct charge was placed on a particular industry, and industry was to be called upon to perform a social service that properly should he a charge on the nation. The Government was burdening industry with the maintenance of 500.000 child ren unborn, and 103.000 wives who were not yet married. The basic wage should bo fixed on the basis of a married man, and the family allowance should be extended to take care of the children. “Wrong Impression.” Mr. O'Byrne, in a personal explanation, claimed, that Mr. Masters had a wrong impression in reading

to (die Chamber oul.v portion of a .speech he (Mr. O'Byrne) had made on industrial relations. He began to read, but was stopped by Mr. Masters, who contended that his colleague was reading from a different place altogether.

Mr. Speaker informed Mr. O'Byrne that lie would have opportunity to reply later on. Mr. O’Byrne subsequently road on "from where Mr. Masters knocked off ” and showed that he "would never forgive a Government that had taken from the workers their right to go bo the Arbitration Court.”

Exception to Mr. Masters’s suggestion that industry and labour were becoming used to the 1932 legislation and satisfactorily accommodating themselves to it was taken by the Hon. T. Bloodworth (Auckland), who said the reason why industrial disputes were fewer was that the workers had the alternatives of accepting whatever agreements they could arrange or face unemployment. It was not a fact that the workers were growing accustomed to doing without compulsory arbitration. Individual opinions in movements did not count, but it was the collective opinion that mattered, and that opinion was embodied in the Bill. Mr. Bloodworth said he disliked the clause providing for compulsory unionism, as he disapproved compulsion in any form. One could not make a trade unionist by Act. of Parliament,

Boplying to the debate. Mr. Kagan said it had been asked why provision had not been made in fixing the basic rate for workers with more than three children, but a point had to be fixed somewhere. The Government had legislation in mind to provide for more generous motherhood endowment, and for the encouragement of larger fami lies.

Answering Mr. Masters, Mr. Kag.,n said the reason why industrial troubles were fewer since J5)32 was that, the workers knew that unless they accepted the employers’ terms they would get only the agreement placed on the factory wall by the employer. Tlie fact could not be avoided that since the late Government’s legislation m, fewer than 97 awards had been cancelled. Tito second reading was agreed to on (■be voices. Commit tee Stage. In the committee .stage the Hou. IV. Perry (Wellington) unsuccessfully moved an amendment to provide that the Arbitration Gouri may amend its general order fixing the basic wage ■it intervals of 12 mouths in place of .the six months provided in the Bill. The Hon. AV. Hayward (Canterbury) moved the deletion of the clause providing for compulsory unionism. He was supported by Mr. Perry, who contended that it restricted the liberty of the individual and wa.s fundamentally wrong in principle. Mr. Hayward described it as a provision that had caused consternation and anxiety throughout: the country. The Hon. L. M. Hilt (Canterbury), also condemned the clause. Replying, the Leader said a worker who declined to join a union and yet was willing to participate in the benefits the union had secured for the employees in the industry concerned would be rightly considered by every member of the Council to be a mean person. A division was called for, the voting being as follows:—

For the amendment (13). Alexander -McLeod Allen Masters Burns Kerry Carrington Russell Davis Snodgrass Hayward Ward Isitt Against (J 8 Fagan Hunter Bloodworth LarkBrindle McCullough Buddo Mclntyre Connelly Marlin Cotter Ma whole Doyle '’’Byrne Dye Robbins Goodall Trevethick