INDUSTRIAL LAW

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12865, 20 May 1936, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL LAW

‘•FULL OF DOUBTFUL BENEFITS” HON. H. HAYWARD ATTACKS MEASURE. QUALIFIED SUPPORT BY HON. j. McCullough. ll'ress Association - ). WELLINGTON, May 19. Moving the commital of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council, the Tlon. M. Fagan intimated that, when the Bill was in committee, ho intended to move the deletion of the clause which restricted tho application of awards and industrial agreements in cases where work Was not carried on for the pecuniary gain of any employer. He said that there had been misapprehension in the House in the event of domestic servants’ unions being formed and union officials being annoying. Without the deletion of the clause, an unemployed man or returned soldier on casual work would have to secure an underrate workers’ permit. He said that charitable and religions organisations were still covered under Clause 154 of the principal Act. The Hon. H. Hayward said the Bill was full of doubtful benefits on the one hand and definite penalties on the other. Tho amendment made in 1932 brought the Act more into line with tho object of the late Hon. W. Pember Reeves’ Act, which was intended to settle industrial disputes and not create disputes. Disputes had been created b’v workers seeking impossible conditions. Dealing with compulsory unionism, he said that it was unjust for a minority to force their will on tho majority. ~ ~ , Tho Hon. J. McCullough said that Mr. Hayward had attacked arbitration laws all his life. While he (Mr. McCullough) was not wholly sympathetic with every clause in the Bill, yet lie believed that it was in the best interests of the workers. He was not satisfied that the Bill had not rcbounded t(.*o fust and too far and that it did not in its present form contain clauses that experience might prove to he inimical to those whom it 'Primarily sought to help. ' The Hon. Mr. Carrington said that he was not in favour of compulsory unionism, hut ho saw nothing to put in its olace. Tho Hon. Mr. Lark said that, with tho' establishment of tho basic rate, tho Government was laying down a principle which would induce people to come to the Dominion. Employers would always select the militant unionist as the best worker. The debate was adjourned.