ARBITRATION AMENDMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 February 1932, Page 6

ARBITRATION AMENDMENT.

HOUSE TO SIT TO-DAY.

WELLINGTON, Last Night, Labour Forces Closure.

The Labour opposition to the introduction of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill continued throughout the afternoon sitting. At 2.40 p.m. the Prime Minister said he thought it time the Opposition allowed the House to go into the committee stage to enable the Bill to be printed. The ‘ Government's object in introducing the Bill to-day was to enable the contents to be made known by the week-end so that those interested would have sufficient time to study the legislation and make any representations they desired before the Biil was further considered by the House. The Labour party should give trade unions sufficient time to make representations and the Government would be prepared to accept any reasonable amendment to the Bill.

The leader of the Opposition said at present his party was free from a closure, but next week it would not be free from that weapon. The Government had only itself to blame for the delay at the present stage . The Labour party was pledged to oppose the measure and it was apparent this would be the only opportunity freely to do so.

Mr. H. T. Armstrong said it was no use contending the Bill was necessitated by the depression because the original Act had been passed at a time of depression. It was decided to protect workers from a section of employers which had taken advantage of the depression to impose unfair conditions on the workers. He considered the Government would have been more honest had it proposed a straight out repeal of the Act because the Bill before the House would have the same effect. Messrs. Schramm and Johes also made maiden speeches in opposition to the Bill. The former said there were no undesirable restrictions in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Power was provided for granting any relief necessary for an industry. Mr. Jones alleged the New Zealand Employers’ Federation had exercised its influence in conciliation proceedings. He believed that if many employers were left alone they would agree to reasonable terms. Adjournment Opposed. When the time for the rising of the House arrived at 5.30, Hon. Forbes moved an adjournment till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

Labour members questioned whether the motion was in order, but the Speaker ruled this was so. Mr. Fraser submitted that the Gov-ernor-General’s message introducing the Bill was capable of very minute examination in committee and he did not anticipate to-mororw would provide nearly enough time. Hon. Forbes: If wo can’t get it done to-morrow there is Monday.

Mr. Fraser suggested Monday also might be occupied -without any further progress being made. Mr. Leo contended that in view of the Prime Minister’s expressed intention to introduce the closure, no member had been unreasonable in taking his full fifteen minutes to express opposition to the Bill. Mr. D. G. Sullivan suggested that the Prime Minister would he guilty of an exhibition of petty, vindictive bad temper if he insisted on the motion. Mr. W. J. Jordan: You’re coaxing him now.

Continuing, Mr. Sullivan said Hon Forbes knew- members had engagements in their own constituencies to-morrorv and ho proposed to punish thorn because Labour speakers had exercised their constitutional rights in a matter of vital importance. Ho urged the Prime Minister to live up to the stand-

ard of sportsmanship and manliness tnat had been set in tiie past. None Expected, None xo Be Given.

Mr. VV. Ju. i-'arry said ne supported the motion because he expected no quarter from the Prime. Minister who could expect no quarter from him (Mr. Parry). He did not think Hon. Forbes would get any further with the Biil by sitting to-morrow because there were many points at which it could be held up.

Hon. J. G. Coates said he could not recall any instance ■when a Bill had been delayed so long on its introduction. Mr. Lee: But on this occasion the closure is threatened. Hon. Coates suggested that the preliminary stages of the Bill should be permitted to go through immediately to enable members to have to-morrow free. Labour Determined to Fight. The leader of the Opposition said he was sorry' Hon. Forbes had taken up a petty attitude because no one coulor claim the debate on the Bill had been waste time. If the Prime Minister's motion was an indication of the tactics he intended to pursue he need not be surprised if he found thousands of working men storming around the doors of Parliament buildings. Such-.a development would be the direct, result of the line of action he was taking. Mr. Holland assured Hon. Forbes that the Labour party would employ every power of opposition that the forpis of the House permitted, to defeat the legislation now proposed. Labour members continued to discuss ■ the motion until it became apparent at 6.45 p.m. that there were only a few Government members in the Chamber. A °TOup of Labour members thereupon hurriedly left and on Mr. Jordan s drawing the Speaker's attention to state of the House, the bells set ringing to summon a quorum. hen the requisite number entered the ber, the debate was continued and a division reached at seven p.m., the voting being carried by 33 to 24. _ Messrs. Atmoro and _ Blacky 3® 1 the Labour members voting agains. the m( The ll House rose at 7.5 till 10.30 tomorrow morning. _