THE SECRET BALLOT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15482, 13 December 1913, Page 8

THE SECRET BALLOT.

BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE. APPROVED BY LABOUR MEN. MR. Mil LAB'S ADVICE. "LABOUR MUST BE SANE." THE STRIKE CONDEMNED [BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. The debate on the Labour Disputes Investigation Bill was opened in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Labour Disputes Investigation Bill, which, he explained, contained part of the Industrial and Conciliation Bill brought down earlier in the session. It provided for time being taken for consideration of ; the case before a strike took place. The Bill could not settle a strike, but he was convinced it would prevent a strike or lock-out occurring. If legislation had been on the Staute Book he was sure there would not have been the trouble existing now. The Bill gave the men time for considering the position before the final step was taken. Ho wished to say that the Arbitration Act and Arbitration Court had been exceedingly useful, and had stood tho test of 19 years. Though the proposals in the Bill were new features to New Zealand, they were not new in other parts of the world. Fourteen days' notice must bo given of an intention to strike or lock-out, he explained, and alter seven days a secret ballot must be taken. Provision was also made for setting up a committee of arbitration before a strike or lock-out. Tho party precipitating either must notify the Minister in writing 14 days beforehand, setting out the differences between the parties. He did not say tho Bill was perfect, and admitted that it would probably need amending from time to time, but it was a step in tho right direction.

Opposition to Mounted Men. Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., Leader of the Opposition, said that thanks were due to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act for the manner in which it had assisted both employer and employee during the recent trouble. He hoped "the Bill before the House would act up to the eipecta!l° nS 1 the Primo Ministe >-- When the Bill got into Committee, he would move to have a clause inserted providing for a secret ballot for employers before the country could be put under "the dotnmaUon of any set of men on either side. He would move, in addition, that a secret ballot be taken by those behind the representatives of sections of employers who had it in their power to move in such a contingency. Continuing, he said that had be been n Mr Masseys place at the inception of the strike ho would have gone down to the wharf among the men and had a heart to heart talk with them. Ho Jen made an attack on the action ot the Government in bringing the mounted constables from the country. He wanted to know why the official police bad not been used, and amidst laughter from the Government benches he declared that if the Government had "done the right thing" there would have been no need to bring in the mounted men from the country, although the services of the loot specials might have been necessary. He admitted, however, that the mounted constables were a fine body of men, and that they did good work when they were •in Wellington. ~-

Late Government's Ineffectiveness. .T.' I ?!u H ?,- A - L Herdman submitted that the Government had in a very short time reopened the ports of the country, lie strike was due to the pusillanimous attitude of the late Government. In his reply to Sir Joseph Ward, he pointed out how impossible it was for an ordinary force of about 80 men, even when assisted by such ordinary reinforcements as were available to cope ' th a mob of 1200 or low howling human beings." Mr Herdman dealt in a trenchant manner with the tactics of the leaders of the federation of Labour. "What is the use," he asked, "of making compacts with people who say 'To with agreements?"' He also referred to the statement that the Federation of Labour is affiliated with the International Secretariat at Berlin. Mr. Russell, who followed Mr. Herdman spoke with great vehemence. He asserted that he had been told that when the Prime Minister was presiding over the conference in Wellington between the employers and the representatives of the strike,, he showed partiality towards the employers.

Heated Interchanges. Mr. Massey (heatedly): That is a falsehood. This expression was objected to, but Mr. Massey pointed out that it was not applied to Mr. Russell, but to the statement that had been made by the latter. Mr. Russell then asserted that when the two parties came to a deadlock Mr. Massey said: "Itis no use my staying here," and walked out of the room. Mr. Massey : That also is a falsehood. This remark led to another appeal to the Speaker, who asked members generally to be more moderate in their language. Mr. Russell asked whether it was not a I fact that within two minutes after the represervatives of the employers had stated that U\t>> insisted cm ttglstkUon under the. Arbitration Act the room was empty. Mr. Massey : I was the last to We the room. Mr. Russell : Was not the room empty in two minutes? Mr. )ki*scy : It may have been fivo minute. lie. Russell also hrouabA trwU* iv, V.iw.self by referring to the Minister for Public Works as " the paid hireling of a Conservative crowd." He was requested to withdsaw it. Mr. Webb : He should have said "mouthpiece." * Mr. Massey : I demand that that expression bo withdrawn too. Mr.' Webb accordingly withdrew. Mr. Speaker reproved members for tho unseemly character of the interjections on both side of the House. The tone of the debate, which was quite electrical for a few minutes, then quietened down considerably. Mr. P. C. Webb (Grey), who was the next speaker, cot into conflict with the chair through alluding to the Hon. A. L Herd man as the " Minister for Injustice an expression which he was promptly called upon to withdraw. Ho indwWA n a tirade against the special constables, am said that there was no necessity for c ji rolling one of them—a statement wluc] j was rece'ivea w'ifti "hilarious laughter.

Vtas\ SWittug Speech o\ De'ba'te. After Mr. Webb's effort* came the most striking speech of the debate, that of the Hon. J. A. Millar, ex-Minister for Labour ma the leader of the -maritime strike of .890. It is seldom that any member of the louse is listened to with the rapt attention with which Mr. Millar was honoured n extending his hearty support to the Sill, he gave th» House the benefit of his experience as an experienced labour leader >f 30 years' standing, of the utter. utility of strides. "I have had » states m my lime:' w \ • wA I «» TOwtemg vi\wYi ttie workers are going to learn «ie lesson and realise workmgman. Ho expressed surprise that ,any vepmettlalive uiT.aW stwuM oppose! the BdU as. A wuKjUfiA. * "jssaaksa. W*A lin our legislation. He dealt with the contention of Sir Joseph Ward that a secret' \\riisK tS ftie sWehdtoere of companies affected by a strike should he taken, and pointed out that it would be absurd, for

instance, to talk of takine a ballot . „ '■' shareholders of the %t B pitcl# 1 pany who were scattered all over the fell In refernng to the strike of 1890 -°#ffl Millar made an effective reply to j« Russell s implication that the AtkSl Government was in anv m» .. 0n H for the strike of 1890 H? pohftedT* 1 the trouble had originated Stft 1 Wales, and said that no Govenrment T& I possibly have avoided the sp J' f 1 strike to New Zealand. Mr Milt h ° 1 referred to the oft-reiterated statement fc ' the Government should have don 1* : thins to settle the strike. He asKw '"' the Government could have done. Haft ". been Minister for Labour he did not Sink he could have done anything to settle Ji. ' strike. He sued that he Sit * formed that if the whole of , he worfci Australia came out to morrow the \> ~ Zealand employers would not consent tl enter into an agreement with the Federal' tion of Labour even if the strike lasted it six months. He did not see what Z Government could do in these circam •stances " I have the same sympathy with Labour said Mr. Millar in conclusion « I had 30 years ago. \o man in New Zealand would do more for Labour to-day than I will, but Labour must be sane'' (Hear, hear). Mr. Millar Was greetfd with loud an plause from the Government benches as ho concluded his speech,- but the Op™, sition members did not participate in tip demonstration. ' tte "Labour Has Lost the Fight." Mr. W. A. Veit.h (Labour member for \\antranui) said the Minister was to ha' commended for introducing the Hill. Tha Bill contained much that lie approved of especially as it retained to the workers the right to strike. Clause 13 exposed a secretary o{ a union to danger, and it should be recast, but, on the whole the Bill was a good one, and he hoped it would pass into law. He then proceeded to argue that Parliament ought to have intervened in the strike, as its inaction was the greatest confirmation of the area ment of the syndicalists, who said political action was no use to them. His advice to the strikers was to go back to work a* once and start from to-day and reorganise* so that at the next election they would completely strengthen the hands of Parlia merit He was sorry to say that' Labour had lost the fight. (Left sitting.)

FEDERATION CONFERENCE. NO DETAILS DIVULGED. WELLINGTON COAL FAILING. Tbt TELEGRAPH.—PF.ES3 ASSOCIATION.] Welld.t.tox, Friday A conference of delegates from the various unions affiliated to the Federation of Labour, opened this morning, and continued all day. It adjourned until to- - morrow, but the officials decline to make any statement as to what had been done or was contemplated. A meeting of the Arbitration Water, side Workers' Union to-night adopted I with slight amendment, an agreement with i the employers similar to that under which i| the old watereiders worked. It is stated that Wellington's coal supply, which for.r some time has been near vanishing point ; ; is now quite so, as far as the general. % public is concerned. For some weeks re- *' - tailers have only doled coal out in two and three cwt. lots, but now they are un- ; able to supply any at all. Yards are bare, ';' and people who must have fire, are relying on wood fuel.

RUMOURS OP COLLAPSE. QUESTIONS FROM AUSTRALIA. [by telegraph.— association*,] Wellington, Friday. _ The secretary of the Shearers' Association (Mr. Laracy) lias received the follow, ing cablegram from Mr. Grayndler, secretary of the ■■Australian-Workers' Union, yesterday :—" Press reports here state that the coal-workers and others have gono back, and also state there will be- a complete collapse shortly. Please cable reply immediately, and your view of the position." - ; Mr. Laracy replied unofficially as follows '.—"Waterside workers who came.out are solid; seamen are also solid ; and the miners are holding their own. The fight could be won if good judgment were used now. Finance is the main item." 'X:

' SEAMEN AND THE STRIKE. ';. PROSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT. M (BT TELEGRAPH,—SPECIAL COBRESPOKDSHr.]^ Wellington, Friday. •.', A conference of delegates representing the Wellington, Dunedmj and Auckland branches of the Seamen's Union was. held this evening regarding the position to be:'. adopted in regard to the present industrial; trouble. It is understood that a ballot of:. the members of the Wellington brand will : be taken to-morrow to decide whether the ; men now on strike snail go back to The delegates are reticent regarding their proceedings and the prospects 'of af t settlement, but it is understood that' it is i very probable that the seamen, when the ' bal.ot is taken to-morrow, will decide, to , go back to work, and thai the stake : trill f bo declared oft" so iar as they are concerned.

AUSTRALIAN SITUATION. STATEMENTS REFUTES. REPLY TO AUCKLAND CLERGYMAN- ■ By Telegraph-Press Association -Copyriffhtft : . Sydney, December 12. vjfj The conference of the combined unions ft. yesterday received three cables from New ftZealand unionists, refuting the statement ||§ in the newspapers that the strike has col- / • Lapsed or. weakened. Tlviy reaffirmed that,-. the strikers were as solid as ever. '- • jjj A resolution was passed to the effect •": that the Rev. Howard Elliott, of AucKft \sni, -was Wong in asserting in an hit«-ft; view that Mr. W. E. Parry, the New ft.' Zealand strikers' delegate,, came to SydI ney for no other purpose than to create a general strike. The secretary of the conference sayii , that Mr. Parry "throughout has been ono . of those desirous of preventing the dispute spreading. Mr. Parry and Mr. Starr, the seamen's delegate, had been of very great assistance to the conference in maintaining discipline here. (Received December 12, 8.55 p.m.) Sydney, December 12. Eighty-Wo immigrants h»m UwQtswa, whose passages are booked to New Zealand., have been left destitute avid cannot get to their destination. It was hoped that they would sail on the Manuka,.but •fcW % VrNi, •fti-A VW» msS, "M& to 4 Maunganui on Saturday week. "the wharf labourers have aecYs«& *& work the cargo aboard the Canada Cape, which arrived here to-day from San Francisco and Wellington. She carries a consignment of Californian fresh and dried fruits. The Maheno is laid up in the stream pending a message from Melbourne with Mr. Hughes's decision. Mr. Holman (Premier of New South Wales) is ■withholding the publication of Mr. Massey's reply to his strike cable.

MATJH&ATTOI TOR SYMCT- .'.-.; I U MANY PASSENGERS ON BOARftV-vt":.! Wellington', Friday. >'{- : -,d The jUaunganui got away ahoul S* : .--.; o'clock to-night for Sydney'with a \OJM':^ largo number oi passengers. , W& p