INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 May 1928, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN BILL, DESIGNED' TO OVERCOME STRIKE'S. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received 12.17 p.m., to-day. CANBERRA, May 17. An. amending Arbitration Bill, designed to overcome strikes, to punish strikers anti to give unionists complete control over their officials, to control lawlessness in times of unrest and generally strengthen the Commonwealth Government’s powers in industries, is now before the House of Representatives. M-r. Sculling, leader of the Opposition, declared that the Bill Was provocative and constituted the first serious blow by the Commonwealth Parliament against the Arbitration principle. It was calculated to destroy the faith of the community in the impartiality and law and to destroy the faith of the workers in arbitration principles. The Bill certainly would not bring peace in industry; indeed it was tantamount to a declaration of war upon the workers. The whole tendency of the Bill was to increase the penalties on unionists. Any irresponsible officer whereof, If he incited a strike, was liable to expose his union to a fine of £IOOO.

Mr. Blakeley declared that the employers would be compelled to form secret organisations, and a system of espionage would soon arise. The debate was adjourned.