Another Bad Bill

Maoriland Worker, Volume 12, Issue 293, 11 October 1922, Page 2

Another Bad Bill

. The following is a resume of the very bad Bill brought down by the (government last week to obtain knowledge (for the use of its friends) of tho financial standing pi #}<■» Trade Unions, under cover of a camouflage to secure a proper administration o£ union accounts: : ... "A general statement showing fully t&e'assets and liabilities of the union, association,, or society am at tho end Q$ its financial yeai% and the receipts &$& payments for the year, and also Rowing separately ail amounts paid: <Jurmg tliat year hy way of salary, allowances, wages, or howsoever to every officer, auditor, trus■tKie, member of tlt<» union, assoctat'on Or society, or of any union affiliated with the association, and any other nardculars that the Registrar may from time to time require, within one month of the close of the financial year to which the statement relates. i- 'Tiie statement shall, so s,oon as practicable after the close of the finxvncial year, be audited in accordance j xvith the rules of the union, associa- j ton < or society, and a copy of the statement duly audvted shall be transmiUed to Lhe within one month after the completion of the I eudir, being not later in any case! than three months lafter the end of j tho financial year. Tho said copy j Khali be made available by the Keg- j istrar for inspection by any member j of the union or society or of any un-j ion aiJlHated w-ith. the -association # as j Hie cane may be, at an oflice of the | department cf Labour on a written j or verbal application •in that behalf, j and any such member ; sh.all be entitled i to make a copy thereof or such tx- . traevs therefrom as he thinks fit.

'"Such statement, together wi'.h iha j register of members' and f.he booita j and accounts of the union, association,!

or society, shall be open at all reasonable times at the .office of the uuVn, association or society to the iii?*pociioß of. the Registrar or of any norsoe appointed in that, behalf by the lieg-3U-ar in writing, and 'the llegisti'rj.r and every person so appointed by. him shall be entitled to lu-uk-e----such copies thereof or ■cxlract/s therofroin as 'they tliink fit.

"The Registrar njay at atty time and from time to time require any union, association, or society as aforesaid to submit :s f s accounts to a public auditor .appointed as suck under the Friemdly Societies Act, 1909, and it shall be the duty of the union, association, or society to submit its accounts for audit In respect of Uio audit *o directed the auditor shall have and may exorcise all the powers and cliuies concurred upon auditors by section thirty-five of the lust-mention-ed Act.' , The Bill contains new provisions to govern the appointment of the two dominated members of the Comvt and \he two acting nominated members. The γ-ritten consent of tho persons nominated is required and. where the> a oik motions are in .excess of Hie number required, each union may, in accordance with a, resolution passed at a special meeting, recommend 'io the Gbvc-rnor-Genoral itho names ot two persons for appointment and from the naii>:s submitted the Governor-Gen-eral will select the nso.mfls ot four persons tor appointment. Power is gVen for any industrial association of employors or of workers including in its membership unioHgi in more than one industrial district., to make application for the one hearing, by a council ot conciliation, of any dispute affecting two or more industrial districts. On the filing of an application of this kind the industrial districts affected Khali be deemed to t> c one industrial district. In the case of any dispute .':o which this proposal relat.es tho Commissioner may increase the assessors to any number lie? exceeding six. Pounty councils and road boards are exempted from the provisions of the principal Act:, sava pursuant to an ordvr cf the Court made on application by the council or board or the union ot workers. Every award Is to provide for setting up a disputes committee. Xo member of a union is to lie required to give more than three months' notice of his intention *o discontinue his membership. No person, if the Bill is passed, is to be required to pay an. entrance fee, or other fee, exceeding ftve shillings on his admission as a member of any industrial union of workers, or of a society, of workers bound by an agreement under the Labour Disputes Act, and no levy or other charge (except such subscription as may be payable in accord-

aiice with, the rules) i« to 'be, or become, payable by any member until the oxpiratlon of at least ono month after he has become a member. Suing paid in contravention of this clause may too recovered as a debt at any time before the expiration of six months after n worker has ceased to be a member, -