Arbitration Amendment

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6810, 17 March 1932, Page 7

Arbitration Amendment

Closure Again Applied MORE CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS WANTED Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. Consideration of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill in Committee was resumed in the House to-day, and discussion on the short title was continued till 5.15, when Air. Forbes moved that the question bo put. The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that the Alinistor of Labour had spoken on three occasions while a number of Labour members liad spoken only once. The Chairman of Committees (Mr. S. G. Smith) stated that five hours had been spent on the short title. Ho was satisfied the rights of members had not been infringed. Tho closure was applied by 43 to 23 votes, and the House adjourned at 5.30. When .it resumed at 7.30, Air. Schramm moved an amendment to tho short title to provide that the measure should not come into operation until January Ist, 1936. This was defeated by 44 to 30, and on a subsequent division the short title was retained by 42 votes to 31, Alcssrs Atmore, Connolly, W. W. Massey, Rushworth, Samuel, Stallworthy, Wilkinstf/i and Wright voting with Labour against the clauses. An amendment was introduced by Governor-General’s message. lion. A. Hamilton said it simply gave the Government power by Ordcr-iu-Council to appoint one or two additional conciliation commissioners for a term not exceeding one year. The present Act was somewhat rigid and it was considered tho amendment would enablo the measure to act more smoothly. Labour members expressed opposition to this proposal. Air. Armstrong suggested that tho reason for it was that tho Employers’ Federation was not quite satisfied with the present conciliation commissioners and ho believed no new appointment would bo made unless it was approved by the Federation. Ho predicted that there would not be more work for the conciliation commissioners as the minister seemed to imagine. There would be less because unions would not waste time going before the Commissioners when they realised the whole thing was a farce.

The introduction of the amendment was still being debated when the House rose at midnight. Does it Mean Abolition? At question time to-day, Air. F. Jones risked the Alinistor of Labour (Hon. A. Hamilton) whether his attention had been drawn, to the statement that at a moeting of Dunedin manufacturers the trend of the discussions showed clearly that a large number of manufacturers were distinctly opposed to any legislation that would have the effect of abolishing the Arbitration Court.

Air. Hamilton said the Bill before the House would not result in the abolition of the Court. Labour members: “Nonsense ! "