LABOUR DISPUTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 5

LABOUR DISPUTES.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. NEW BILL ADVANCED. (Fbom Ocr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, December 3. The Prime Minister to day' made known to the House his intentions with regard to labour legislation for the present session. It will be remembered that about the middle of the session there was brought down the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, which proved to be a big amending and consolidating measure of the whole law of arbitration. The measure, in fact, was probably the biggest in point of actual size of the session, for it ran to 54 pages and 166 clauses. The size of the Bill and its importance proved in a way to be its undoing, for to-day’ the Labour Bills Committee reported through its Chairman (Mr Bradney) that it was unable to recommend the whole Bill to proceed this session. But, as has already been hinted at different times, the whole Bill is not to be sacrificed. One portion of it, dealing with strikes and lockouts by persons not bound by awards or industrial agreements, is so important that*at the present juncture the committee decided to save it, and to recommend that the whole of this section—part six of the Bill, together with clauses 154-158 and 165 of part seven—should he lifted from the Bill and incorporated in a new measure to be brought in by the Prime Minister. THE BILL’S PROVISIONS.

In view of the importance of at the present time it is worth while repeating the main provisions of the parts of the Arbitration Bill indicated. In the first place the proposals deal with workers not bound by awards or agreements. If 10 or more such workers decide to strike they shall notify the Minister of Labour of such intention. Thereupon the Minister may : (a), direct the holding of a conference between the parties to the dispute; or (b), refer the matter to a Labour Disputes Committee for investigation. This committee shall consist of not less than three nor more than seven members appointed by the Minister, of whom one shall be chairman. Apart from the chairman the interests of employers and employees shall be equally represented. This committee shall investigate the dispute and endeavour to effect a settlement. If this proves unsuccessful the Minister _shall direct the holding of a secret ballot amongst the workers as to whether a strike shall be declared, or whether such proposals as have been made for a settlement shall be accepted. If the course outlined is not followed and'a strike is declared every worker taking part therein shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £lO. Supposing a lawful strike le in operation a secret ballot may be taken at any time on the requisition of 10 per cent, of the strikers as to the continuance of the strike. Similar provisions apply to employers contemplating a lockout so far as giving notice to the Minister is concerned. If an employer does not give suca notice and abide by such regulations he will be liable to a penalty of £SOO. A comprehensive clause imposes penalties for inciting to strike or lockout. If a worker does so he is liable to a penalty of £lO, and if an employer or any person who is not a worker does so the penalty is £SOO, and if a union does so the penalty is £IOOO or £lO per member (whichever amount is the less). Persons making gifts of money, etc:., to strikers are to be deemed to bo aiding and abetting the strike or lockout. Provision for the making and filing of voluntary agreements is also made, and powers to make regulations is given by another clause to the Governor. It is further provided that every person who commits an offence against this Act for which no specific penalty is provided is liable to a fine not exceeding £lO for each offence. If the offence is a continuing one there may be a further fine of £5 per day.