WEST AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 129, 1 June 1907, Page 9

WEST AUSTRALIA.

I Members of the Kalgoorlie Chamber of Mines have liberally given to the fund in connection with the Bonnie Vale rescue. It is probaoia that tho money , subscribed will be used to provide a ■ free course of tuition at the School of Mines for Mr. Hughes's son. In Chambers at Perth, on the 21st May, an injunction was granted against J. B. Holman, M.L.A., T. H. Bath, M.L.A., T. Ryan, M.L.A., D. Jones, and Senator G. F. Pearcc, members of the Timber Workers' Defence Com,mittee, restraining them, their servants, and agents from doing anything whatever for the purpose of abetting former employees of Millar's 1 Karri and Jarrah Company in doing any matter or thing in the naturo of strike, anekfroin operating on moneys now standing to the Timber Workers' Defence Committee in tho Wjest^rn Australian Bank, in any manner, except under and by laave of the Supreme Court. Senator Pearce, lately acting secretary of the relief committee, explained >-o tho press: — The committee received money from all sections of the community • and from all I parts of the Commonwealth for the 1 purpose iof seeing the women and children affected by the strilcc did not suffer want. The injunction restrained the four officers from continuing to distribute the funds contributed for this purpose. He had no doubt others would make arrangements to carry on the work. If the act of assisting these people was to be- criminal, then there would bo a large number of criminals found in Wcstosn Australia. He felt satisfied that public feeling has been brought to boiling point by this last action of the combine. .lecent telegrams report that tho court has since released £300 of tho fund for relief purposes). At the meeting of tho Fremantle Trades and Labour Council oh tho 21st March, Mr. J. Jeffrey moved: — "That this association, recognising the inefiicacy of the Arbitration Act ac at presont administered as a medium for the settlement of industrial disputes, lecommends all affiliated unions to take stops to havo their registration under such Acts cancelled or withdrawn." He said that, in his opinion, the administration of the Arbitration Act was generally unsatisfactory to local workers. As an instance he quoted a case wherein I tho Plumbers' Union had approached the court., and a little while after the case had been heard the President of the Court was taken ill, and had to go on a health trip to England. What was the result? Tho Plumbers' Union ha"d to wait 'eleven months fur an award, and when it again approached the court it was informed that it would have to cito its case again. Mr. Bolton, M.L.A., while not agreeing with the text of tho motion, congratulated Mr. Jeffrey in bringing the matter forward j as ho did. A prominent member of Parliament w.as going to movo for the repeal of tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act as coon as Parliament met. This member had boon promised a cood deal of biippoit in the House, and there was every chance of the Act being repealed.