PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 123, 24 April 1936, Page 9

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY’S SITTING

THE LABOUR DEPARTAIENT.

AN AMENDING BILL.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, April 24. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m.

Hon. H. T. Armstrong moved the second reading of the Labour Department Amendment Bill. He said it was purely a machinery measure that would make possible the more efficient working ot tne department. Hon. A. HamiUon said, he thought no particular importance was attaciied to any ot the amendments, but he stressed the need for consolidation of the labour laws. He thought it wise to strengthen the head ol the department, as was proposed. Mr J. A. Lee quoted figures showing that the number of inspection visits to shops and factories Jmd decreased very materially since 1930-31. The department, he said, had become a dead letter. The present Aiinister would operate the machine for the benefit of the employees. Hon. I' - . Langstone said that in Hie past workers Jxad been forced to strike in order to extract a little that should have been given freely had the employers been intelligent. Employers nad opposed everything of a progressive nature. 'The position to-day was similar to that of a new tenant entering a house that had been kept by a slatternly housekeeper' and it had to clean up the mess that had been left. It was merely a matter of housekeeping. The previous Government had done everything it could to break up and destroy the organisations of workers of the-Dominion. The reduction of wages and the abolition of the Arbitration Court we re acts inimical to the workers, and decent-minded employers were forced to follow the example of those who had forced down wages. MINISTER’S ERROR.

There was a lot to be said for collective bargaining, and the Bill provided an opportunity for the workers to organise in the interests of the workers, Alp Langstone added. The Speaker at this stage pointed out to the Minister that he was referring to the wrong Bill. Air Langstone said he thought the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was before the House. However both Bills were similar in nature. ADMINISTERING THE ACT. Air W. J. Jordan asked if it was tlie Aiinister’s intention to transfer permanently to the Labour Department tliose men of the Tost and 'J slegraph Department who were working at present under tlie department; also whether the men engaged at low wages, almost relief rates, would be engaged as officers of the department. They were looking for men who would administer the Act sympathetically and efficiently, especially now that awards were to be established, and who would see that propel wages were paid. The department should track down the allegations of employees signing for more than they were being paid. Employers as well as employees liad to be protected in that matter. How could a man contract for a big job till he knew what wages he had to pay ?

SACRIFICES BY EMPLOYERS. Mr AV. J. Poison said Mr Lee had led the country to believe that the late Government had been slack, that it had neglected to protect the workers of the country, and that generally it had been guilty of improper practices in its administration of tlie labour legislation. His experience was that great pressure was brought to bear oil the Government, due to the depression, to ease up a little and they refused to do it. He considered it a grave reflection, not only on the Government, but on the department, to say they had neglected work that should have been undertaken. He paid a tribute to the employers for the sacrifices they had made in the last few years in order to keep their employees in work. He thought the sacrifices made by the employers were not sufficiently recognised.