LABOR LAWS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14440, 29 October 1917, Page 7

LABOR LAWS.

SUSPENSION FOR SOLDIERS

(Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter.) !■"" ■ r \WELIJNGTOtf, this day. The clauses m the Statute Law Amendment Bill proposing to suspend all labor laws and. restrictions upon, the liberty of private contracts m matters of trade or employment, if for the purpose of training or employing disabled soldiers, were temporarily held up m committee of the House on Saturday night.

Mr McOombs raised a point of order that they did not relate to anything m the Bill.

The chairman said the member could save himself .' further' trouble. He had looked, into the position -and found the clauses -were foreign tK> thle {Bill; therefore they were out of order.

Mr (Herdman stated he had been negotiating with employers for the employment of disabled discharged soldiers, but fouifd it absolutely impossibly to' get facilities unless this legislation was passed. The House must accept responsibility for rejecting the clause, and presenting these' men from getting opportunities for training. The cry would be that something': would ' be done, but if members did not like it the responsibility would 'rest with them. The committee' unanimously agreed to waive the standing orders,. and the discußsion consequently proceeded. Mr McOombs suggested that there was enough power under the Arbitration Act. „ Mr Herdman : The under-rate permit system is useless for discharged disabled soldiers. Mr McCbmbs declared that before modifying the which had taken; .laboi* 2(f years iiqZ fiu,ild-',np'' labor unions should be'-'tonsulted. Mv Herdman : Do you want to help disabled soldiers? ,7 Mr MoCombs: I don't want disabled soldiers to be exploited. Mr Herdman : I don't wish to proceed with tho clause. (Dissent fronr. members.), y Mr Hanan stated -'that, the labor unions of Scotland were agreeable v to alio w special consideration ; to soldiers similar to the proposal m the Bill. i The Premier said -anyone who had seen pai*tially-incapacitated men comiftg back must «cc the necessity for. some leirislation. He did say the legislation before the House was perfect. He a'drnitted ho labor unions' interests slionld" be consulted. The member for Wangaiitii had usug'gested to him that provision be added that all applications go before the; Arbitration Co\iti,.l>cfor» the men were enlplbye'd . Tf the committee would jSass the t clause he would see that a suitable arnenidment was inserted ' iir the Bill before it passed' to the jgjtatute Book. .Mr Iterdman declared that there was trouble about the under-rate permit system. Now if the. ' suggestion advanced were practicable he would be willing to adopt it. , ' The clause was accordingly adopted on the voices. •- , ■ . '