VICTIMISATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 4

VICTIMISATION

TROtJBLE ON THE WATERFRONTS MENTIONED AG AIN. IN PARLIAMENT. The dispute regarding admissions to certain wjiarf labourers’ unions was mentioned again in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) said ho had received a telegram from Auckland suggesting that the Government should insert in its Arbitration Bill a clause providing simply for the unrestricted admission to labour unions of all persons of good character.

The Prime Minister; “That is exactly what these people are objecting to.” Mr Wilford: “No. That is what they are asking for. They say that every award containing a preference clause provides for the admission of persons of good character to the union. Put that provision in the bill and then the man who is debarred on the ploa that his character is not good will have the right of appeal.” The Prime Minister said that the question was not nearly as simple _as some people had thought it was. He had brought down an amending bill providing that persons excluded from a union should have the right of appeal, and had found that nobody was satisfied. The watersiders’ unions affected were working under agreements, not awards, and he had been deluged with telegrams from both, sides asking that the bill uhovild not be passed until the workers had been given a chance to place evidence before the Labour Bills Comraitlte. Mr Wilford: “I suggest simply that any man of good character should be entitled to admission.” Mr Massey; “I do not think we have any right to let men into a union if those in tho union are strongly opposed on account of the possibility of trouble being caused.” ■Mr Webb (Grey); “You will bo sorry for that policy some time.” Mr Massey: “Twelve hundred men in the union in Auckland say things were never .so satisfactory as they are to-day.” ■ Mr Payne (Grey Lynn): ‘They are in the union.”

Mr Massey said he was going to let the bill stand over until the next session. There was no shortage of labour in the meantime, and no hardship would be inflicted. If he pro-, ceeded with the bill he might do a great injustice to some people. , Mr Webb: “Then the victimisation is to continue!”