WAR LEGISLATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 136, 5 December 1918, Page 7

WAR LEGISLATION

THE INDUSTRIAL LAW. The War Legislation and. Statute Law Amendment Bill, as reported from tho Select Committee in the Legislative Council, yesterday, contained several new and important clauses, which are dealt with elsewhere in this issue. On the motion to go into Committee on the Bill, the Hon. J. T. Paul spoke in commendation of the provisions for the establishment of a Forestry Department and for the prevention of accidents on the waterfront. The clause in the Bill providing for alterations in awards and industrial agreement would not, he thought, be of chief benefit to the workers. Increasing wages was only of doubtful benefit, but it was'the only solution of the problem open to the workero if nothing could be done to bring down the cost of living. He suggested that there should be. some coordination between the Legislature, the r Board of Trade, and the Court of Arbitration in Vegard to such matters. He quoted the opinion of the President of the Arbitration Court that raising wages, unless something could be done to regulate the 1 cost of living, was merely chasing a will-oVthe-wisp. He asked if the clause continuing tho operation of the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act would have the effect of continuing the mispension of industrial statute law.

Sir Francis Bell said he would have this latter point looked into and guarded against: The Bill was reported from Committee of the Whole Council with amendments nnd passed.