COMMONWEALTH PROBLEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19142, 7 October 1925, Page 11

COMMONWEALTH PROBLEMS

LEGISLATIVE EEFOEMS. MR. BRUCE'S PROGRAMME. CONCESSIONS TO THE WORKERS. By Telegraph—Pre-w Aaswciation—Copyright (Received 5.5 p.m.) A, and N.Z. MELBOURNE, Oct. 6. In the course of his policy speech at Dandenong last evening the Prime Minister, Mr. S. M. Bruce, dealt with the question of working hours. He said the Government desired to find a solution of the problem, bat considered that the hours should be uniform throughout, the Commcsjwe&lth. The Government, therefore, proposed to suggest that the matter should be submitted to the Judges of the Commonwealth and State Arbitration Courts with a view to them making recommendations for uniform hours for the whole country. ffhese recommendations would then be considered by a conference between representatives of the Commonwealth and State Governments. , The question of child endowment was a national one, said Mr. Bruce. The Government proposed to refer that also to the Judges of the Commonwealth and State Arbitration Courts, with a view to a policy being evolved. National Insurance Scheme. The Government would also introduce legislation for a national scheme of social insurance, to cover old age, invalidity and unemployment. Another measure would be introduced for the purpose of utilising the machinery of the Commonwealth Bank to enable assistance to be given, not only to manaal workers, but also to people of small means, to help them to acquire their own homes. The basis of repayment would extend over a long period of years. The Government stood firmly for the principle of the peaceful settlement of industrial disputes by arbitration, said Mr. Bruce. It would legislate to restore to trades unionism the control over unions and their officials and funds. By means of the provision of a second ballot democratic control of the unions would be restored to the workers. The powers of the Arbitration Court would also be strengthened by the introduction of legislation to provide that judicial appointments should be for life, for the vesting in the Court of powejr to enforce its awards and for giving the Court better control over the parties under its jurisdiction. Provision would also be made to prevent overlapping by the Commonwealth and the Stat 3 industrial authorities. Roads, Railways and Ports. Referring to the matter of transport, the Prime Minister said the Government proposed to hold a further conference with the Governments of the various States with a view to arriving at a scheme for the provision of a uniform railway gauge throughout the country. In outlining his policy of road development he said the Government would make available a sum of £20,000,000, to be spread over a period of 10 years, for the purpose. This sum would be derived from a tax on motor users. The Government would also call a conference with the Governments of the States in order to lay down a national policy for the development and control of the ports and harbours of Australia. Mr. Bf-uce concluded by saying that the paramount issue of the present election campaign was the maintenance of law and order, and the supremacy of constitutional government over the efforts of the wreckers who would plunge the country into class misery and class war.