PEACEFUL PICKETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 12

PEACEFUL PICKETING.

RELIEF WORK PRACTICE.

EFFORT FOR PROHIBITION. KEEPING MEN FROM COUNTRY. [BY TET.FGE APH.—SPECIAL REPORTER. ] WELLINGTON, Friday. -A suggestion that provision should be made to prohibit the peaceful picketing of relief work was made by Sir Francis Bell (Wellington) in the Legislative Council to-day during the discussion on the Unemployment Amendment Bill. He suggested the Council should invito (he Government to insert in the bill an appropriate clause to that effect. It was well known that cne of the objects of peaceful picketing was to keep young people, iu the towns and prevent them going into the. country. The Leade" of the Council, Sir James Parr, said 'he question required some consideration, as that was the first intimation he had received of it. It might be that the situation could only be met by special legislation, but he did not know. He suggested, with deference to Sir Francis Bell, that the whole question should be left to the Government to decide. It would not be right for him to commit the Government, nor did he propose to do so. Personally, lie was not aware that peaceful picketing was going

Voices: What? Sir Francis Bell said in addition to the prohibition of peaceful picketing, it should be riade an illegal act abo to prevent young men from going into camps. Sir James Parr said amendments would

ho made to the bill by Governor-Gen-eral's Message. Opportunity would then be afforded the Government to consider

representations. The Hon. R. Moore (Canterbury) said a vote of the Council should be taken on the question. He thought the proposal would bo carried unanimously. If would show to the Government just what views were hold by (he Council. The Hon. J. A, Hanan (Otago) suggested that the Police Offences Act was the appropriate Statute in which, to embody the amendment. The Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland) contended that some provision should be made in the bill to prQtect relief workers from what was known as intimidation.

Sir James Parr said he agreed that the Police Offences Act might be the proper place in wh.eh to incorporate the amendment. There were provisions in the Police Offences Act to deal with peaceful picketing, but it was a question whether they were sufficient to meet the position.