LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1924, Page 7

LABOUR IN SOUTH AFRICA

AVOIDING INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

(t/NITE» PRRBB ASSOCIATION. COHRtGHT.)

(AUSTRAUAX-NEW ZSALAND CAILI ASSOCIATION.)

(Received Ist February, 10 a.m.)

CAPETOWN, 31st January. Moving the second reading of the Conciliation Bill, Mr. F. Si Malan, Minister of Mines, said. that the industrial atmosphere was much calmer, and the ■moment was opportune for legislation designed to minimise the risk of future up--heavals.

i i.Jl£-n Sf nps,oll (Lab°ur) said that, if the Bill had been passed ten years ago, a great deal of industrial strife might have been avoided.

lne Conciliation Bill follows similar •lines to a measure passed by a Select Oommittee last session. The chief amendment is the deletion of a clause matoig- a ballot obligatory before a strike, the idea being to keep the voluntary principle intact in" the settlement of'disputes. The Bill provides for compulsion on two points, namely; (l) The two parties can ask the Minister to make any agreement binding, not only upon them, but upon all other employers and employees i n - similar, industries in the same area; and (2) in regard to essential services it is provided that whero tho Conciliation Board fails to settle a dispute, both parties must submit to arbitration.