THE ARBITRATION ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19677, 1 July 1927, Page 13

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

SOME PROBABLE CHANGES. PAYMENT ON PIECEWORK. EXTENSION OF CONCILIATION. PREFERENCE MAY BE RETAINED, [BY' TELEGRAPH.: —SPECIAL R.EPON.TEE.] : WELLINGTON, Thursday. A topic of discussion and speculation among primary producing interests ,in lobby xircles relates to the probable amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act which the Government proposes to introduce this session. Although no official hint lias been given on the.subject there is ground for, the belief,that the essence of the measure may be the provision for payment by results and piecework. It may be found also that the bill will aim at an extension of the conciliation aspect. For instance, in the case of an industrial disy pute an authority such as an appeal board, consisting of representatives of the employers and employees engaged in the industry affected, would ,be established and wages would be fixed not on the basis of the cost of living, but more on the ability of the industry concerned to pay the wage. At the same time cognisance. would be taken of the industrial conditions of the country. It seems possible that the bill will not provide for the abolition of the preference 'to unionists clause. When it reaches the committee stage, however, amendments to cover that omissioa will not be lacking.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION. SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY. FURTHER ASSISTANCE URGED. [Br TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. iWaday. Increased financial assistance for technical schools in country districts was advocated by Mr. J. Bitchener (Waitaki) in the House to-day. In a question to the Minister' of^'Education, Hon R. A. Wright, he said -Something should be done to encoirage the teaching of wool classing and kindred subjects. Replying, the Minister said it -was unfortunately true that technical schools in country districts were dirninshing in number. The reason- was obvious. Efforts had been made by education boards in the , large centres, where there were excellent technical high schools, to induce country pupil's to. attend the main centre, the consequence being tfyat the technical schools in the country were fast disappearing. He considered it ncessary. that some effort should be made to teach wool classing and other kindred subjects concerning agricultural pursuits.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. RELIGIOUS EXERCISES BILL. PRIVATE MEMBER'S MEASURE. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] ' V WELLINGTON, Thursday. Notice of his intention to introduce, the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill was given in' the House to-day by Mr. H. Holland (Christchurch North). The bill is on the lines of that introduced in the Legislative Council last session by the Hon. L. M. .Isitt. Mr. Isitt's bill applied to public schools, native schools, secondary schools and technical high schools, and provided that part of the school hours—not less than 15 and! not more than 20 minutesshould be allotted to the performance of religious exercises, provided that on one day in. each, week there may be substituted patriotic exercises as prescribed by the regulations. No child or teacher is to be compelled to attend, and in cases where all teachers object the school committee or controlling authority is to be empowered to nominate an authority to take control.

The Bible in State Schools League has decided to make an amendment in the clause of Mr. Isitt's bill which says the exercises are to be compiled by the Education Department after, consultation with the Christian churches. This definition, the promoters of the bill think, is too vague, and before the bill comes up for discussion the clause will be redrafted. The statement on the voting cards now being circulated by ! the Bible in Schools League in its plebiscite of the' parents that the cards are being issued with the 'approval of the Minister of Education led Mr. It. Atmore (Nelson) to give notice .to-day that he intended to ask the ' Prime Minister whether ■ this could be taken as an indication that the Government intended to make the question a party one.