THE INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION ACT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1193, 11 January 1895, Page 31

THE INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION ACT.

Tlio regulations tinder the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1891, are publisbod. For the purposes of tho Act the Colony is divided into six industrial districts — namely, tho Northern (including Auckland and Taranaki), Wellington (including Ilawlco’s Bay), Nolson, Westland, Canterbury, and Otago and Southland, the boundaries of each being co-terminus with those of tho respective districts constituted under tho Supremo Court Act, 1882. In each of tho districts tho Doputy'Rogistrar of tho Supromo Court shall bo appointed Clerk of Awards, and tho Board of Conciliation for each district shall consist of four members, in addition to tho chairman. Tho application for registration as an industrial association shall be accompanied by a list of the industrial unions which the council or other body making the application represents, as well as by a list of its members and oflicors, and by two copies of its rules. In tho months of Januai'y and July of overy year there shall bo forwardod to the Registrar of Friendly Socioties, Wellington, by overy industrial association, a list of tho industrial unions constituting such association, and by every industrial union a list of the members of such union. Tho Clerk of Awards in each district shall keep in his office (being the same office as the Supreme Court office wherein ho is Deputy-Registrar) a register of all industrial agreements, duplicates of which are filed in tho office of the Supreme Court in that district. At any election of the Board of Conciliation an industrial union may distribute its votes at pleasure amongst all the candidates to be elected by its division. Thus, if there bo two candidates to bo olectod by tho industrial unions of workmen in a given district, a union of workmon may give two votes to one candidate and none to tho other. Any party to an industrial dispute who is dissatisfied with tho report of tho Board may, by filing in tho office of the clerk a notice,’require the clerk to refer the dispute to tho Court of Arbitration. Tho following are tho fee 3 -For filing industrial agreement, ss; for filing any other document, 3s; for issue of a summons (including seal of Couit), 33; for affixing seal of Court, 3s ; report or recommendation of Board, 10s; certified copy thereof, 3s ; in procedure for obtaining evidence at a distance, the foes prescribed under the Magistrates’ Court Act, 1893 ; award of Court (including seal), 103; order of Court (including seal), 3s; notice of application to Court, 2s. The Labour Department lias boen honoured of late by calls from a number of stonebrolce individuals from the country, who, having come down to town lor the holidays and wasted their substance in riotous living, wished a paternal Government to furnish them with railway passes back to their rural haunts. But the officers of the department keep a wary eye on all such characters. They have had nothing to give them but excellent advice. 1 hey were complimented upon their bodily vigour, which oven the liberal gratification of°holiday thirst had not impaired, and they were reminded that tho weather was balmy, tho roads good and free from tollbars, and that walking tours afforded a wholesome exorcise, in which even many pleasure-seekers wore glad to find their recreation. Some little misunderstanding appears to have arisen in Christchurch and Dunedin on the part of factory-owners with respect to that clauso of tho now Factories Act which prescribes that “ in all factories and work-rooms situated oil the third or fourth stories of buildings one or more fire-oseapes connected with each floor shall bo provided.” Certain factory-owners considered that their premises did not require those fire-oscajjes, but the local inspectors, taking a contrary view, referred the matter to headquarters. As a consequence Mr J. Mackay, of the Labour Department, went South last week to sottlo tho point. In both Christchurch and Dunedin he was successful in convincing tho factory-owners, not only that tho Act applied to their premises, but of tho desirability of complying with its provisions as speedily as possible. During bis visit nows arrived of tlio recent fatal fire in London, and it proved to be a tiraoous illustration of the importance of taking all possible steps to prevent loss of life by outbreaks of fire in factories. Mr Mackay lias now returned to Wellington. Sydney, January 4. • A mooting of mine owners lias beon hold to discuss tho question of taking concerted action in tho present; difficulty. Tho mooting lasted sovoral hours, hut the result has not boon allowed to transpire. , . , Tho difficulty at tho Wallsend mine lias boon practically sottlod, the company having allowod tlio mon tlioir demand for “ cavil*” places, and work will bo resumed on Monday. Tho proprietary has submitted an amended price-list, with the proviso that it is not to bo made public at present. It

is understood that tlio terms will be found acceptable to the majority of the men. Sydney, January 7.

A number of colliery proprietors have drafted a schodulo of rates, which has boen sent to other owners for endorsement; but it is hardly likely to receive general approval, as some owners have mado private arrangements. A. deputation of Helton minors waited on the manager, but the latter would not agree to their proposals. However, a further conference with the directors will be held during tho weok. The Socialistic League has passed a resolution expressing its belief that the Government is not sincere in its efforts to provide work for the unemployed, and affirming that tho time is now ripe for the unemployed to concentrate in Sydney without delay, with tho view of forcing Parliament to take immodiato action.

A new labour organisation, to be stvled tho Australian Knights of Labour, is being formed.

Sydney, January 8.

There is overy reason to anticipate a satisfactory settlement of tho coal difficulty. Tho proprietors state that figures show that moro than half the coal obtained in tho colony must find an outsido market, and that unless it can bo supplied at pricos low enough to compete with coal from other parts of tho world some of tho Nowcastlo mines must close. Under such circumstances they think it will not bo easy to indxieo tho minors to agree to tho extreme step of striking generally. Tho settlement at Wallsend has been a potent factor in dispelling tho threatened trouble.

Tho attitudo taken by tho Australian Agricultural Company, whose superintendent some time ago expressed tho opinion that wages wore low enough, has played no little part in averting the difficulty so far. London, January 5. It is bolioved that a groat strike of builders in London will tako place in the spring, owing to non-Unionists being employed. ' The Unionists have raised .£50,000, and the masters are issuing notices of resistance. " ■ Gisborne, January 7. The Borough solicitor has given his opinion that the special resolution declaring Wednesday the day for the statutory half-holiday is ultra vires, because seven days' notice of tho meeting was not given prior to the Act coming into force. A fresh meeting of tho Council will be held, when it is that there will be a majority in favour of Saturday.