INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6488, 7 April 1908, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

MR WADE’S BILL IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS TO LABOUR. THIRD READING CARRIED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 7, 0.23 a.m.) STDXKY, April 6.

Tho Industrial Disputes Bill was recommitted ui the Legislative Atsscmbly tonight. Tho Premier (Mr Wade) explained that tho preference provisions had been remodelled as follows:—In any claim ns between members of trades unions and other porsons offering to labour at tho same time, such -members should be employed in preference to such other persons; no members of ono trades union to bo employed in preference to those of another. Mr Wade said ho and his colleagues had carefully considered tho Bill since it had passed through committee. The Government was not going to have tho right of having grievances redressed confined to one section of tho community, and the Bill said when other individuals than unionists had substantial grievances they should have tho right of approaching the Court. Tlie Government recognised the good work done by unions, and that they were a convenient medium for approaching employers and dealing with industrial, matters.

During the debate on the third reading, Mr McGowen (leader of the Labour party) declared that much that ho bad intended to say against the Bill was rendered unnecessary by Mr Wade’s amendment. Ho had never dreamed the Government would go so far as to actually encourage organisation. Tho Premier’s concessions showed that ho tolerated unionism whore ho had formerly discouraged it. Ho opposed tho penal provisions of the Bill and outlined other objections, but said if these were amended it wowld make a workable measure. Tho Bill was road a third time by 40 votes to 39, and forwarded to tho Legislative Council.