WILLSTAND BY COURT ARBITRATION PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1913, Page 7

WILLSTAND BY COURT ARBITRATION PROPOSALS

(deputation to the minister I OF LABOUR. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. Various amendments to the Arbitration Act were urged on the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) in his capacity as Minister of Labour, by a deputation to-day representing tho Marine Engin- | cere, the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, the Carpenters and Joiners' Union, and tho Tramways Union. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr. j T. M. Wilford, M.P., put forward the following proposals :— That Inspectors of Factories should take tho initiative in seeing that the awards are observed; j that in regard to apprentices tho Act be amended on 'the lines of tho West Australian Act, providing that indentures be registered m the Arbitration Court; that apprentices be subject to periodi- I cal examinations, and that if it is found that the employer is not doing his duty to the apprentice he may be cited, and, if • convicted, fined, and that, on the other hand, if the apprentice be' found to bo unfit for the work the Court may deal with him accordingly; that where industries overlap provision should be mado to prevent tho Act working unfair-, ly; that the Arbitration Court be converted into an Appeal /Board, to which unsettled disputes shall be referred, consisting of two experts, one representing ■the employees and ono the employees, with an independent chairman ; and that aJiy- association of employers or employees can obtain a Dominion award. DEPARTMENT'S ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Elston, organising secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, said the society was folly convinced that the administration of the department was anything but satisfactory. There was general discontent among the workers and unionists. The employers got a considerably better deal than did the employees. ' If the depart* ment were agents for the employers they could not get a very much better deal. It was almost impossible to get ,a prosecution, no matter how glaring the case might be. That being so the deputation desired to ask for a Commission of Enquiry Into the .administration of the department. The speaker went on to complain that inspectors of awards did not take proceedings for breaches of awards until complaint was made, though he urged that it was the duty of such inspectors to initiate proceedings, and he contended that if inspectors of awards took that view of their duties the work of administering that -part of the Act might just as well be handed over to the various unions. (Laughter.) He gave several instances in Which he alleged the department had failed to take action in cases of breaches of award which he had reported, and contended that it was the duty of the department to look for such cases and not wait until they were reported. A member of the deputation remarked that in Auckland there was no complaint to make as to the apathy of the inspector of factories, who was charged with being over-zealous. Another member of the deputation, representing the carpenters in Dunedin, said he had no complaint to make about the department. They had, he said, always received the utmost courtesy, and when matters had to be referred to Wellington they had always received a quick reply. Mr, Elston said they did not want the Arbitration Act to be put in danger, but unless they gt>t a better deal out of the Court and the Labour Department the Act would be in danger. Speaking to another phase of the subject Mr. Elston declared that some shops are flooded with boy labour and apprentices are not given sufficient opportunity to learn the trade. He also contended that, as engineering is at the basis of all trades, an engineers' award shall >apply to engineers in whatever industry* 1 they may be employed. A member of the deputation said the feeling of the workers in the engineering industry was that the trade needed tariff protection. If that was not done boots and clothing duties should be reduced. THE MINISTER'S REPLY In replying, the Prime Minister said that every opportunity would be given for the taking of evidence on the various subjects before the Labour Bills Committee next session. So far as the charge of bias against the Department 1 was concerned he hardly thought it could be borne out by the 'facts. He was very glad to notice that there was a difference of opinion even among the members of the deputation. As head of the Department, his (Mr. Massey's) instructions conveyed to Mr. Lomas, who was a particularly good officer, were to administer the Act fairly and impartially, without fear or favour. The position of Inspector of Awards was sometimes a. very difficult one. He had to see that the Act was properly administered, but m regard to the Assistant Inspector at Dunedin (Mr. J. F. Arnold) he had had , letters from various sources expressing approval of the appointment and of the waj; in which he was carrying out his duties. Every case mentioned by Mr. Elston would be enquired into. An inspector must do his duty, and if he did not do ifc he must take the consequences. Instructions to inspectors generally were to carry out the inspec-tion-of awards irrespective of complaints being made, but to a large extent the time of the inspectors was taken up in investigating romplaints. He could hardly set up a Royal Commission to enquire into the matter, but enquiries would be made, and he thought he would be able to satisfy them that the right thing was being done. As to the Arbitration Act. he had given instructions to the Law Drafting Department to have a consolidating aud amendiug Bill prepared, bo as to- simplify the working of the Act as far as possible. The Government intended to stand by the Arbitration Court. He did not say that the Arbitration t Court was perfect. He wanted the assistance of persons qualified to deal with amendments— men who had had practical experience of the working of the Act— and he would be very glad to submit any suggestions to the Labour Bills Committee-. He wanted to make the Act as perfect as it was possible to make it.