FEDERAL POWERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1926, Page 9

FEDERAL POWERS.

IN INDUSTRIAL MATTERS

EXTENSIONS TO BE SOUGHT

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COP YRIGHT. Received 12.40 p.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, May 20. The first business in the coming session of the Federal Parliament will bo the introduction of Bills by the Prime Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce) for a referendum. in August on the question of giving the Government extended powers to deal with industrial matters and control over trade unions; also to deal with essential services in cases of national emergency, such as a general strike, and additional powers to deal with trusts and combines in restraint of trade: These proposed alterations to the Constitution which the electorate will be asked to endorse, are th© outcome of events arising out of cue late shipping strike, involving the matter of deportation of undesirables and uniform working hours connected wtili the present troubles, wherein a clash between the Commonwealth anc State legislation was involved.

THE BILL INTRODUCED

PURPOSES OF THE PROPOSALS

MELBOURNE, May 20. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Bruce (Federal Prime Minister) introduced a Bill for the proposed law to alter the Constitution in relation to industry and commerce. The measure proposes to enable the Commonwealth to establish authorities with power to regulate the conditions of industrial employment and the rigljiv and duties of the employers and employees.

Mr. Bruce, in introducing the Bill, said it was in no sense a party question. On it depended the future prosperity of the people of Australia. The hopes based on the exisffng industrial legislation had not been realised. Many things had happened to undermine the principle of arbitration, and the position had been reached where every thinking man must realise that something was wrong with the present system of trying to settle industrial disputes and regulate wages, and conditions. The overlapping authorities of the six States and the Commonwealth created an element of uncertainty, which was a Ear to progress. Referring to the 44-hour week judgment of the High Court, which held that Federal awards were supreme, Mr. Bruce explained that if the Commonwealth was given the power it desired it would not mean that the same hours would be worked in every part of Australia. The court would have the power to fix different hours for different parts. It was 'proposed, continued Mr. Bruce, that the Federal Government be given power to conduct a secret ballot of the members of the unions in certain emergencies, to audit the unions’ funds, and to look after the interests of the members. He concluded. “If the States’ rights are going to interfere with the progress of the country, then the State rights have got to go.”

The' debate was adjourned Mr. Bruce then introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill, which proposes to give the Commonwealth power to protect the interests of the public in case of actual or probable interruption of any public service.