LABOUR LAWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23206, 28 November 1938, Page 12

LABOUR LAWS

[ TIME FOR OVERHAUL MINISTER'S PROPOSAL DISCIPLINE IN UNIONS APPRENTICESHIP ASPECT Obsolete nnd anomalous provisions of the industrial law will be reviewed in a proposal to consolidate the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, described by the Minister of Labour, the-Hon. H, T. Armstrong, in an interview last night. While explaining that there was no suggestion of altering the principle or of making any drastic alterations to th'o Act, tho Minister said an overhaul was necessary. He hoped to bring clown appropriate legislation during thfc approaching session of Parliament.

Although tho Act had been patched up from time to time, said tho Minister, a stage had been reached when an overhaul was essential, as there were a number of anomalies which acted against both tho employers and the workers. There was no intention of departing from tho principles of arbitration. Bather was it desired to have them moro generally applied. "Compulsory arbitration should give tho country somo guarantee of industrial poaco, and wo must look to tho labour organisations of the Dominion to assist in bringing about this result." Mr. Armstrong continued. "Amendments to tho Act may ho necessary to givo trado unions the powers of dealing effectively with any unruly elements that are inclined to break away at tho slightest provocation, more particularly when thero are constitutional means of settling any differences that may arise." Mr. Armstrong referred to tho shortage of skilled tradesmen, and tho fact that very few apprentices had been trained over a of five or six years. Handicaps wcro imposed by the antiquated apprenticeship legislation and, although tho adult apprentices' scheme had resulted in 1200 contracts being arranged, moro apprentices we:re required. Ho preferred tho training of skilled workers in New Zealand to thoir importation from overseas, and, as a result, tho present legislation was being thoroughly examined with a view to improvement. When tho proposals were formulated, the Minister said, they would no doubt be discussed with representatives of the organisations of employers and workers.