THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 10

THE CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION ACT.

; SUGGESTED IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. WELLINGTON, February 12. A deputation waited on the Premier today to bring under his notice the recent decision of Mr Justice Edwards that the Drivers' and the Grocers' Unions were not industries, and did not come under the provisions of the Industiial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It was explained that under j this section there were very few unions in j the colony that did come iiiidei the act. " | The Premier, in reply, s-aid he was in favour of the acu being amended in the direction of bringing all workers within its - operation. Preference should, in his opinion, . be given to unionists, and there should be periodical sittings of the .Court of Arbitration. He was considering the question of a. consolidating act, an<? simplifying its phraseology so that unions could have . the whole law on the subject attached to their books of rules. Febmary 13. At the Industrial Association's meeting Mr Samuel Broiwi, president, in discussing the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, urged J that if the act were to be amended the . Government should take the advice of those | experienced in the working of the act, and do nothing to restrict and lidra^s manufactures and industries. One speaker pointed out ihat the act appeared to be in force only in towns. It pressed heavily on employers in the city when in competition ■nith outside district? 1 . The speakers .-^vercly criticised the Conciliation Boards, I urging that they should be differently constituted or abolished.