LABOUR MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 5, 6 July 1910, Page 3

LABOUR MATTERS.

THE MINISTER SPEAKS OUT. UNION FUNDS NOT TO BE USED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

The question of shearers' awards, which has been fully ventilated in the newspapers of late, was mentioned by Mr. T. E. Taylor in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, and considerable discussion arose. Mr. Taylor remarked that the New Zealand Shearers' Union had been refused. registration because one or two sentences in their rules permitted the construction that the union cotdd undertake political work as well as the ordinary work of the union. Leaving that point, Mr. Taylor insisted on the necessity for a Dominion award on the ground that shearing is a national industry. He added that the various Sheep-farmers' Unions were trying to get a minimum award in a district where a low^rate is in force, in order to use that as a lever in further application to the court. "It is an absolute farce to have one rate of wages (in any industry) in one part of the country and a different rate in another," said Mr. Wright. "It is simply an absolute farce," lie repeated. "Here we are, up hill and down dale all the time." After a quantity of more or Less layman talk, Mr. W. C. Buchanan remarked, with gentle sarcasm : "The short discussion shows very clearly that this is not a court in which the shearing rate should bo fixed." ilr. W. Fraser pointed out that if there was a legislative award for one industry it would open the door forsimilaT awards in other industries, and then what would become of the Arbitration Court? Mr. Taylor said he only desired that the court should be given power to make one award for tho Dominion instead of a number of awards. A SUBJECT OF GREAT DIFFICULTY. The Hon. J. A. Millar, in replying to the discussion, said that there was no power under the Act to do what the Shearers' Union wanted— to make an award for the whole Dominion. It was, he added, the workers who had opposed a colonial award. If they allowed a colonial award to be made the court would have to travel to all parts of New Zealand and enquire into conditions before it could make such an award. There would bo an amendment of the Act brought down this session, but the subject was one of great difficulty. If the Farmers' Union and the Shearers' Union would meet together they cGuld get an award for 20s per 100 without it costing them' a shfllihg. OBJECTION TO SMALL UNIONS. Continuing, the Minister said that on tho East Coast of the North Island eight branches of unions had applied to bo formed into separate districts, so as to get the management of their own affairs, as they were not getting satisfaction from Wellington. He (the Minister) refused the application on the ground that their interests would be better looked after by a strong union than by a number of weak unions. '"I believe," he remarked, "that one strong union is better than half a dozen weak unions. I object to making a number of small unions." RIGHTS OF UNIONS. Then he dealt with a point made at ths, beginning of the discussion, but not since emphasised — the right of a union to use its funds for political purposes. iThat, he said, had been done, but there was a vast difference between its being done in the way that it had been done and legislating to provide that it could be done. What, he iisked, was the object of unionism? Tbe individual was not in a fair position to enable him to strike a bargain and the union was formed for the purpose of enabling collective bai-gaiulng. Now it was urged that every member of a unia* should be forced to contribute to a political organisation, whether he believed in it or not. The law was perfectly clear. Their advice was that under the Trades Union Act and the decision of the House of Lords, no union could use its funds for political purposes. . Mr. M'Laren.: Are those objects registered undet tha Trades Union Act here? The Minister: Both our Acts are Industrial Acts, and we are governed by the English Act where we have no specific Act here. Mr. T. E. Tayior : Our Act has never been before the House of Lords. The Minister: Before I introduce-such a Bui there^ ought to be a ballot taken of every union in New Zealand. It is necessary to do that before you can give the necessary authority; was it worth the while of the House to waste its-time in altering an Act which some people said was not wanted, and which some would not take advantage of? If it was not to the benefit of the workers, what, he asked, was the use of the House wasting its time on it? They could not make a man subscribe to a policy of which he did not approve. He did not believe the unions would agree to it. A Bill would be brought down, and members would have the opportunity of moving such amendments as they thought proper. s