ARBITRATION BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19809, 2 December 1927, Page 13

ARBITRATION BILL.

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. PLEA FOR POSTPONEMENT. SUGGESTION OF CONFERENCES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday, Consideration of the Arbitration Amendment Bill was resumed by the House in Committee to-day. The Minister of Labour, Hon. G. J. Anderson, appealed to the committee to agree to allow the measuro to proceed and discuss it from a non-party point of view. During recent years industrial conditions had becomo such as to cause all men serious apprehension whether the present structure of the conciliation and arbitration legislation could be maintained. The primary industries were particularly affected and the Government was anxious to do everything possible for the benefit of these industries. Conferences had been suggested, but these should have something definite to consider. If such conferences were hold, would, asked the Minister, all the parties concerned attend, and, if they did, would they consider matters from the point of view of a beneficial solution and not with the idea of gaining particular advantages to any one section of the community ? Tho bill was a genuine attempt to meet great difficulties that had developed, and was not as had been alleged an attempt to undermine the present system of conciliation and arbitration. The Government could no doubt force the measure through, but would such a thing be of any real use ? Conditions on Farms. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 11. E. Holland, agreed that good would result from a full discussion and suggested that if tho bill was held over until next session, some things useful might be evolved. The Minister had said farmers did not object to the Act on the score of wages, but they did regard the conditions as burdensome. What did "conditions" mean ? Did they desire to lower the conditions under which farm labourers were working or living ? The Leader of the National Party, Mr. G. W. Forbes, considered tho suggestion for a conference of the parties concerned was most likely to be productive of good for industry. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) concurred in the Minister's idea that the matter should be considered in a thoroughly conciliatory manner to see how the position, which contained difficulties, could bo met so that tho best possible results were obtained,. Good feeling prevailed at present, but the bill would outlaw a large section of workers from the benefit of the Arbitration Act.

Several members suggested the withdrawal of the bill for the purpose of enabling the interested parties to confer. Importance of Question. The Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, said this question was one of the most important the country had to face. So far as he was concerned he was not going to do anything to pull down the wages of workers. They were seeking, and ought to seek, to establish a reasonable standard of living, but that was not altogether the question. The question was where was the present system leading to. Not long ago everybody was saying the farmer must be helped. By the present system costs were fixed without the farmer's consent, and the consequence was he was bent and old before his time. Obviously, the Dominion depended on its exportable wealth, and if conditions were made such that the exportable wealth was reduced, then the country must suffer. It was never anticipated the Arbitration Court would go as far as it had gone, and this bill 'was an effort not to reduce wages, but to have wages fixed, not by a tribunal, but to bring the farmer and his employee together in a spirit of conciliation. At one o'clock the Prime Minister suggested the bill should be allowed to pass, with a proviso that it should not come into operation until Parliament had had another opportunity of discussing it next year. In the meantime, a conference of all those interested would be held, when the whole situation would be discussed.

At 1.15 a.m it was agreed to report progress on the bill to enable members of the various parties in the House to confer in the morning regarding the Prime Minister's suggestion. The House rose a few minutes later.