ARBITRATION BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 11

ARBITRATION BILL.

INTRODUCTION TO-DAY.

KEEN ANTICIPATION. REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. Speculations regarding the proposals contained in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill will be set at rest when the House of Representatives meets to-morrow morning as tlio Prime Minister, tho lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, announced to-day that legislation would then be introduced. The keenness with which members are awaiting the bill was shown in the House during the Address-in-Reply debate tonight. Both speakers, Mr. A. J. Murdoch and Mr. J. Bitchener, referred to the measure, which will inevitably provoke sharp differences of opinion as between Coalition and Labour ranks.

Tho chief feature of the bill will bo the introduction Of tho principle known as compulsory conciliation and voluntary arbitration. It has been recognised for some time that the restrictive conditions governing many of the Arbitration Court awards militate seriously against employment and are, therefore, serious factors in the Dominion's present unemployment problem. Effect oi Amendment. Tho amendment proposes to make it possible for employers and employees to meet in conciliation councils to endeavour to ' settle their differences between themselves without reference to tho Arbitration Court unless they both agree to refer their dispute to the Court. It is also proposed under certain conditions to bring existing awards under review to be dealt with in accordance with the terms of this amendment. Provision is also being made for employers to enter into agreements with their employees to work at piece-work rates. Power will also be taken by Order-in-Council to exempt wholly or partly at any time any industry from tho operations of the Act.

Mr. Murdoch in bis speech this evening reiterated the assuranco recently made by the Pnme Minister that the Arbitration Court would not be abolished. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central): But it will be slaughtered. Mr. J. McCombs (Labour —Lyttelton) : Yes, they will cut its head off. Mr. Murdoch said it was merely proposed to alter the Act to ensure that the provisions of awards would react less harshly upon industry. It had to be considered also bow far the Arbitration Court affected the unemployment problem. Welcome Amendments. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) : Why, half the men out of work were sacked bv the Government. Mr. Murdoch: 1 would remind the House that there are many men out of work to-day who consider they would have jobs but for the Court. Mr. Bitchener, the seconder of the motion, said the proposed amendments to the Arbitration Act would be welcomed by thousands of people throughout the Dominion, not only farmers, but by business people who, under the present conditions, found it impossible to carry on. Mr. Bitchener said incalculable harm was being done by the operation of the Court, which was responsible for hundreds of lads leaving school being unable to secure work. "To-day," he said, "when farmers of this Dominion are struggling hard to make a living and are fighting against the most difficult conditions, they are prevented from carrying on by the operation of the Court." Mr. J. O'Brien ("Labour—Westland) : They could not take men if they got them for nothing. Mr. Bitchener: I am glad to say the Government is at last alive to the fact that the Apprentices Act and the Arbitration Act must be amended if these sections of the community are to be allowed the right to earn their proper living.