Conciliation or Arbitration

Southland Times, Issue 14101, 14 July 1898, Page 2

Conciliation or Arbitration

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, July 13. A conference of representatives of ths Industrial Associations throughout the colony opened to-night, Mr S. Brown, President of the Wellington Association, in the chair. A discussion took place on certain proposals to amend the Conciliation and Ar bibration Act. The opinion was advanced that it would he a good thing to abolish either the Conciliation Board or Arbitration Court, and Mr Millward (representing tbe Wellington Association) moved that the Conciliation Board should be abolished, as hitherto there has been no finality in its proceedings. Other delegates considered that there was no chance of the arbitration and conciliation legislation being removed from the Statute Book seeing that similar legislation had been and was bling promoted in other countries. Eventually the motion was carried nnanimously. The conference passed a lengthy resolution with regard to the localised nature of the awards given by the Arbitration Court, and it was decided to suggest that the Conciliation and Arbitration Act be altered in the direction of allowing inspectors to visit factories “ during working hours ” instead of “ from sunrise to sunset.” The Workmen’s Cornpensition for Accident Bill was considered, and it was decided

to add certain words to clause 5, with a view to the exemption of employers from liability for accidents to their employes caused by the latter’s misconduct or negligence. A res' lution was carried to the effect that labour bilh'sbould apply equally to private employers and all departments of Government labour as well as to the Government itself. . Members of the conference will interview the Labour Bills Committee to morrow.