ARBITRATION BILL

Evening Star, Issue 21055, 18 March 1932, Page 9

ARBITRATION BILL

PREMIER SPEEDS UP PROCEDURE URGENCY ACCORDED MEASURE CLOSURE REPEATEDLY APPLIED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March. 17. On tho motion of the Prime Minister urgency was, by 37 votes to 26, accorded the passage of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill in the House to-day. Labour members continued to discuss tho amendment brought down by Go-vernor-General’s Message. The formal motion to refer the message to a committee was adopted by 41 votes to 26. .Replying in committee to Labour .speeches, the Minister of Labour (Hon. A. Hamilton) said that the number of additional conciliation commissioners that would be appointed W'ould depend upon tho demands. It had been said that there would be no cases for the Conciliation Council, and in that case there would be no appointments. However, he personally anticipated that there would be a large number of cases. Commissioners would be appointed until their work was done, and would be paid two or three guineas a day. It might not be necessary to employ them for more than a few days. It had been said that the amendment would result in additional expense, but this was uot so. If additional commissioners were appointed under the existing legislation they could not be engaged for less than three years. It would therefore be apparent that the amendment would reduce expenditure. Mr Forbes pointed out that the clause to which the amendment referred had yet to come before tho House. He considered it had been subjected to lengthy obstruction at the present stage, and therefore moved that the question be put. Tliis motion was adopted by 42 votes to 23, and on a further division the committee recommended by 40 votes to 27 that provision be made in accordance with the message. The amendment was then reported to the House, and the Labour members thereupon debated the question that tlio House agree to tho committee’s report. The closure was again applied prior to the 9.30 adjournment, and the House agreed to the committee's report by 44 votes to 27. Continuing their opposition, Labour members debated the last stage of tho formalities in connection with the introduction of the amendment until 10.30 p.m., when the closure was applied for the third time during the evening. The House agreed by 42 votes to 28 to refer the amendment to a committee on the Bill, and it then became possible to resume consideration of the Bill itself in committee.

, Amid applause and vigorous “ Hear, hears ” from the Labour benches the Minister’s intention was announced to withdraw the clause which empowered the Government by Order in Council to exclude specified industries or persons from the operations of the principal Act. No objection to this course was raised, and the clause was thereupon withdrawn.

Exception was taken by the Opposition members to the clause increasing the maximum number of assessors on the Conciliation Council. It was contended that the more assessors appointed the more difficult it would be to reach an agreement. The closure was applied after twenty minutes’ disoussion, and the clause was adopted by 38 votes to 24. There was an hour’s discussion before the closure was applied in connection with the next clause, which permits evidence to bo taken from persons outside the industries concerned in disputes. The clause was adopted. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) moved that the Chairman of Committees should leave the chair as a protest against the method of rushing business through the House. Mr Forbes said that the patience of the members had been fully tested, and the House had had ample opportunity to discuss the last clause, to which the closure had been applied, but members of the Opposition had preferred to speak on everything lese. The debate had been reaching the tedious repetition stage, and members felt that the business of Parliament was being depreciated by wdiat was going on. The closure was applied to Mr Fraser’s motion, which was defeated, and the committee proceeded to deal with the remaining clauses of. the Bill.

ALL-NIGHT SITTING COMMITTEE STAGE UNCOMPLETED AT BREAKFAST PAUSE (Peh United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March. 18. The frequent ringing of the division bells and numerous applications of the closure characterised tire all-night sitting of the House, urgency having been accorded the passage of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. The committee stage was still in progress at 8.30 this morning. The clause which provides that the terras of settlement effected by a Conciliation Council are to operate as an industrial agreement was under discussion when the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m.

Mr Chapman moved an amendment to enable the terms to bo regarded as an award on application by the assessors. The closure was applied, and the amendment was defeated, the clause being adopted by 118 to 23. Mr Fraser then moved that the acting chairman (Mr J. A. Nash) should leave the chair on tho ground that the rights of the minority had not been maintained by the chairman, only two speakers having spoken on Mr Chapman’s amendment.

Mr Forbes protested against remarks which be bad heard in tho lobby from Labour members as he was going out for a cup of tea to the effect that he would soon be brought back. He complained that ho had actually been brought back into the Chamber by the call for a quorum. He added that if that sort of thing was going to happen the members on tho _ Government benches would have to insist on the closure in the interests of tho rights of tho majority.

The Leader of tho Opposition contended that Mr Forbes had moved tho closure solely in a fit of pique. Mr Holland, in turn, insisted that the rights of the minority and of fair speech must be maintained. Tho motion was rejected bv 38 to 23. When the clause was submitted empowering any employer or trade union to seek exemption from an industrial agreement within one month of its notification being received. Mr Lee interjected. iu the course of a speech by Mr Hamilton; “ You arc using this clause to break awards,”

Mr Hamilton: No. Mr Lee: You are telling a he. The Chairman of Committees (Mr Smith): Do I understand you accuse the Minister of lying? . Mr Lee: Yes; deliberately lying. Mr Smith: I hope you realise the seriousness of the statement.

Mr Leo: Yes; I withdraw. The clause was eventually passed by, 38 to 23. . , , After the clause dealing with the conditions under which disputes might be referred to the Arbitration Court had been discussed for some time the closure was applied, and an amendment moved by Mr M'lvcen seeking to provide that the vote of a majority of the assessors should be sufficient to refer' a dispute to the court was rejected by 37 to 22. Mr Sullivan moved that where parties were unable to agree that the matter in dispute should be referred to the court the Conciliation Commissioner should be empowered to refer it in the public interest to tiro court for settlement. This was defeated by 37 to 22. The clause was adopted by 37 to 22. At 7.15 a.m. Mr Forbes suggested an adjournment for breakfast. The Loader of the Opposition submitted that an adjournment till 2.30 p.m. would meet the wishes of the House.

Chorus of voices: No. “ All right,” said Mr Holland; 1 w* will go right on, then.” The committee went on to consider the clause making provision for reference back to a Conciliation Council of disputes in respect of which an award had not been mado by tho court at the passing of the Act. The Leader of the Opposition said this would mean commencing proceedings de novo, and would bo a senseless duplication of the work.

The clause was adopted after the closure bad been applied.

Tlio Minister moved an amendment to tiie next clause, which provides for re. views of existing awards. The amendment stipulated that any award that had been in existence for more than six months and had an unexpired term of more than three months at the date, of application could be brought under review and a new award made in lieu thereof if asked for. Mr Sullivan: That makes the clause worse. The Minister; The clause goes further than it did previously. The Minister’s ■ amendment was adopted, and the clause passed. /r* i • 1 .. 1 O V

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