DUE FOR REVISION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26853, 18 August 1948, Page 5

DUE FOR REVISION

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN ACT AMENDMENT BILL S’PASSED 5 ’PASSED P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 17. During the committee stage of the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day, the Minister of Marine, Mr Hackett, mentioned that the principal Act was due for consolidation. This revision of the legislation was now being prepared, and the measure would probably come before the House next year. Mr W. A. Sheat (Oppn., Patea) said the Opposition offered no strenuous objection to the Bill except on the ground that the necessity for it had not been proved. If, however, it were a prelude to a further overhaul of the main Act, that was all to the good. Mr Sheat said that when the Bill was before the Select Committee there was some discussion of the clause giving seamen the right to claim recovery within two years (instead of within 12 months, as at present) of any difference between the wages paid and the wages to which they were entitled under the award. It had been suggested that the position might have been met by an amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but the Minister was apparently not prepared to commit himself as to whether or not an amendment to that Act 1 would be introduced this session. The of Labour, Mr McLagan, said he was glad to assure Mr Sheat that the Government did intend to introduce this session an amendment- to the I.C. and A. Act which would give workers generally the right to recover within two years any wages due to them. The Bill was passed.