POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6784, 22 September 1893, Page 3

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

(Parliamentary Reporter. ) Wellinutoa, last night. — That pet measure of the Minister of Labor, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, virtually received its quietus in the Council this afternoon, when clause 47, which contains the crux of the Bill in regard to arbitration, inasmuch as it provides for the setting up of a Court of Arbitration for the whole colony for the settlement of industrial disputes, was struck out. The Council, therefore, repeated their action of last sessio-.i on this very measure, and though conferences may be asked for it is almost hopeless to expect that a satisfactory compromise will be arrived at. The Opposition whips, incensed at the frequent breaking of pairs throughout the session by the Government party when important divisions wero called on, have determined not to pair any of their party with a Government supporter for the remainder of the session. Now that the Railway Bill is through the Lower House speculation is rife as to what the Council will do with it. Those who have been dilisrent in making inquiries say that a card had been pricked with the result that the Bill will be thrown out. •'Try conciliation first, and if that does not prove satisfactory, approach Parliament in a session or two with a demand for compulsory arbitration," was the attitude taken up by those members of the Council who deleted the main provisions of the Industrial and Conciliation Arbitration Bill. The privileges committee of the Council will report that the control and appointment of Parliamentary officers should remain with the Speaker of that Chamber, and not in the hands of the Ministry of the day. If Messrs Blake or Marsden Thompson had had the courage to go into the House last night and vote according to their couyictions instead of remaining in the lobbies, the majority on the third reading of the Railways Bill would have been two only. There will not be a sitting of the House on Saturday, as members considered probable. The Managers of both branches of the Legislature met this forenoon over tbe Licensing Bill, but being unable to agree adjourned till 5.30. Clubs are the bone of contention, the Council representatives objecting strongly to their being subject to a poll of the electors. It was agreed that children under 13 should not be supplied with drink. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION. The last batch of nominees made to the Council gave a block vote with the Government on the Industrial Conciliation Bill. With the exception of a few unimportant amendments by the Labor Bills Committee, clauses 1 to 28 passed without discussion. On clause 29, which provides that when a matter is referred to the Board or Court a strike or lock-out is not to take place till the decision is given. Mr Stevens pointed out that there was no power to make this effective, with which Mr Oliver agreed and suggested that the only way to provide against it was by inserting a provision that Unions should have a bye-law voluntarily binding themselves not to go out on strike while the dispute is under consideration. This, however, it was pointed out, would only bind one party, and that was acknowledged the weakness of the proposed amendment. Mr Shrimski moved to strike out and Sir G. Whitmore to postpone the clause, but both were lost, and the clause passed. On getting to clause 42, Sir G. Whitmore proposed an amendment by which lawyers were absolutely debarred from appearing or being heard before the Board, as in his opinion there was too mnch litigation caused by a multiplicity of lawyers. Sir Patrick Buckley defended his profession, and said a great deal of time would be saved to the country by having counsel to conduct examinations. The amendment was lost on the voices. On clause 43 Sir George Whitmore drew attention to the omission of a provision for secrecy on the part of the Conciliation Board, and Mr Montgomery (who was in charge of the Bill) agreed to insert the necessary words, for which purpose the clause was postponed. When the arbitration clauses were reached Mr Stevens suggested that at that stage it -would be well to consider the position in view of the fact that the compulsion clauses bad been struck out. He was against compulsion, and considered the Board of Conciliation sufficient for a start. If no one else would be prepared to move to strike out the arbitration clauses altogether he would. Sir George Whitmore moved to strike out clause 47, which provides for the creation of Courts of Arbitration. Mr Rigg said there were only two remedies, one to anarchy, and the other to State socialism, and it was to the latter that the Bill led. He was against anarchy, and wanted to see people treated with justice, not with Gatling guns, which some clay might be in the hands of the people, and that would put a different face on matters. Mr Bowen deprecated this talk of GatliDg guns. He had enough belief in the common sense of Englishmen to believe they would accept conciliatien. Mr McGullough, while not agreeing with all the clauses, was in favor of compulsory arbitration. The clause was struck out by 20 to 17, the following being the division list :— For the clause : (17) Richardson, Barnicoat, McCullough, Kerr, Bolt, Rigg, Jennicgs, Jenkinson, W. C. Walker, Feldwick, Whyte, Dignan, McGregor, MaDtell, Montgomery, Buckley, and Kelly. Against (20) : Reynolds, Whitmore, Stewart, L. Walker, Bonar, Swanson, Shrismski, Pharazyn, Williams, Stevens, Acland, Oliver, Ormond, Bowen, Johnston, Grace, McLean, Hart, Holmes, and Peacock. Mr Montgomery at once moved to report progress in order to allow of time to remodel some of the conciliation and interpretation clauses in accordance with the decision of the Council to have nothing to do with Courts of Arbitration. Mr Montgomery has determined to go on with the Industrial Conciliation Bill, taking division after division on the clauses, and then asking a conference with the other Chamber with a view of seeing whether it is possible to get any satisfactory arrangement. To-day. — The third reading of the Shop Hours Bill is to be taken this afternoon. The difficulty with regard to the Railway Commissioners is likely to be overcome by their appointments being extended for another year till the country has expressed an opinion through the new Parliament as to railway control. This could be done by a new clause being added by the Council to the present Railway Bill or by special legislation. The Public Works debate will be taken on Tuesday night. Mr Mitchelson will lead off. "* Sir George Grey's candidature for Parnell will mean the displacement of Mr Lowry, the chief Government whip. Members are preparing to leave for their homes, the Southern representatives taking passage by Thurday's and Friday's boats. A large number of Northern representatives leave for Napier on Saturday week to wit-