ARBITRATION COURT CONSTITUTION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 119, 16 November 1911, Page 3

ARBITRATION COURT CONSTITUTION.

Referring to the Conciliation Council he said 80 per cent, of industrial dis- [ putes had been settled without coming before the Court at all. As. he had stated from the floor of the House, however, if he was re-elected he intended next year to have a complete alteration in the constitution of the Court. He was working at the matter at the time, and hoped by next Parliament to evolve a system of arbitration which would give greater satisfaction. A voice : You won't go back. The speaker : I am not particular. Plenty of good men have had to bear an adverse vote at the electionc. A woman : Ifc won't be a better man that will beat you. (Loud applause.) T-he speaker traversed the clauses of the National Provident Fund, and Widows- Pensions Act. As regards the Litter it was nob much, perhaps, but it wad a commencement, and they hoped to do better later on. Ho hoped by this measure to lighten the burden of the widows of this country. (Applause.) He asserted that the present Government were pioneers in this Liberal legislation. (Applause.) As regards the cost of living the Government intended to appoint a. coinmissioft to give them the fullest advice and information in this important subject with the object of trying to obtain relief. It was not a mere question of increase of wages, as this increase was added to the cosb of production, and thus passed on, and thej\ were no nearer a solution. (Applause.) The desire of the Government was to deal with this subject, and if possible to find a solution of the increase of cost. He hoped to be able to bring down something at next session to provide for insurance against unemployment. They intended to maintain the land policy Act of 1908, and keep 9,000,000 acres of land now available for national endowments. He explained the Land Settlement Finance Act. and the Family Homee Bill. He spoke for himself as regards the licensing question, and was in favour of the three-fifths majority. In conclusion, the speaker spoke of the work he had don* in getting through local Bills, and referred to the irrigation of Central Otago, which he was highly in favour of. He had been in Dunedin since the year 1870. and intended to spend the rest of his life here. He had been told he was never in Dunedin, but they must remember if they wanted a Minister who came from Dunedin, they must be prepared to see very little of him. He had conscientiously and honestly tried to do his besfc while he had represented them. (Loud and continuous applause.) After answering a number of questions, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Millar was passed, amidst cheers and counter cheers.