VIGOROUS STRIKE BILL DEBATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22425, 4 September 1947, Page 6

VIGOROUS STRIKE BILL DEBATE

SURRENDER DENIED SECRETBALLOT CHANGES ATTACKED REMOVAL OF PENALTIES (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. The vigorous debate on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill with its strike ballot clause had to be . adjourned for the second time in the House of Representatives last night. Opposition speakers again accused the Government of capitulation to outside influence. The retort of Government members was to class them with the Communists who were alleged to be against anything tending to reduce industrial trouble. ‘‘Government Uncomfortable The opening speech oi the Minister ot Labour. Mr. t\. McLagan, was described by Mr. T. C. Webb (Oppos., Rodney), as a vain effort to conceal the fact that he had capitulated to those on whom he depended for political support He had never seen the Government members so uncomfortable. Mr. Webb asKea that the penalties be reinstated in the bill, which told the workers that it they took a ballot a strike need not be illegal. Mr. Macfarlane (Govt., Christchurch Central) said that everyone knew those whom he couid describe as “wreckers” operating in New Zealand and many otner countries carrying out the deliberate policy • of undermining respect tor the Government in the hope of causing industrial turmoil. Mr. F. VV. Doidge tOppos., Tauranga): If you reier to tne Communists, why not say so? The reason tor the bill was largely .the activities of these particular people who had a considerable hold in trade unions, continued Mr. Maciarlane. He was not including in this criticism trade union secretaries, who had to be militant in protecting the rights of their membership Urnk and File Strengthened If ioe Government naci surrendered to the mentioned by the previous speaker, there would not have been a oul at ail. Apart troni strengtneuing tne hands of the ranK and me of trade unionists, tne Dill might also have me effect of forcing numbers of unionists to take a great deal more interest it) the affairs of their anions tnan tney dia at present, said Mr. JV aclariane. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Oppos., Pahiatua) demonstrated that uie Government. was .quite unabie to handle the industrial problems. He traced at length events which occurred at the time of the Waikato coat strikes during the war, and had begun to deal with some appointments held by Mr. McLagan when tne Speaker caßed for oraer. 'rhe Speaker said that quite a number of memoers of the Opposition had concentrated on the Minister. Tney snouid cease personalities. The bill was the Minister's atomic bomb, but pressure was brought to bear and lie had to remove tne atomic Cuarge from it, continued Mr. Holyoake. The secret ballot clause, as it now stood, nad no power or strength and meant nothing at ail. “Unwarranted Attacks” “I don't know why tnese unwarranted attacks have been made on the Minister of labour,” said the Minister of Y.orks, Mr. K. Semple. He added that tne amendments to the bill had been n.uUo by the Labour Party caucus, and it was not true to say mat they were due to outside pressure. "I have been a Minister of the Crown for 12 years, but no industrial g-ngsier has ever forced me to no anything,’ said ‘ Mr. Semple. "I hate suakes, but I would hot take away from the workers the right to strike in certain circumstances, although tnere is today m new Zealand no reason for strikes.

‘The wives should have a vote on a strike,'’ declared the Minister, “'iney snouid have the right to say if the b.eaUiiiie snouid be cut off.” Mr. Doidge: Would it not simplify the issue to say that Communists s.joulci not hold office?

'me Minister replied that he would not agree to that action in a democratic coumry. If the rank and file had an opportunity of saying yes or nor on a snake question, then the position would right itself. The Minister of Labour had shown .courage in introducing inis but

in its present state the bill was innocujus, said Mr J. ri. McAlpine (Oppos. Seiwyn). The only evidence before the seiect committee Was neither convincing nor strong, but the Minister had seen lit to rewrite the contentious clause 8. The Minister sought .to make strikes legal without withdrawing the clauses 01 the original Act. 'There must be penal clauses in the bill, or the original Act should remain intact.

"1 do not think legislation will stop stri.ces,” said Mr. M. Moohan (Govt., Petonet. .Nobody who had any experT' ence of industrial unionism would suggest hiac strnces should ever be begun without very s-rious consideration. Opposition speakers had insinuated that the penalty clauses in the bill had been struck out by some “bogeyman” outside the Parliamentary Labour Party, but there was nothing unusual in a bill being altered, and it was unnecessary to have penalties when they were provided for in the main Act. The removal of .the causes of industrial unrpst was the most important consideration, said Mr. J. R. Marshall (Oppos., Mt. Victoria), and for that reason the provision for the appointment of deputy fudges was probably more important than the secret ballot clauses. Long delays in the settlemeni of disputes wye undoubtedly one ol the main causes of unrest.