Couciliation and Arbitrat on

Southland Times, Issue 15058, 30 September 1901, Page 2

Couciliation and Arbitrat on

[Per United Press Association.] Wellington, Sept. 28. A deputation, representing the Executive ot th. Wellington Ti-dea C __n-il (wliich. it was explained, was acting _JJ executive for the trades councils of the colony for this year) waited on the Premier last night with regard to labour matters. Mr W r . Naughton, president, said with regard to the proposal that trades unions should be registered as industrial unions, it was held there was no necessity for that, inasmuch as all tradeunions had been registered under the Act of IS7B. Moreover, it would also residt iv the multiplying of unions. They objected to the proposed amendment to clause 86, in the direction of making it possible for a Judge to limit an award to a portion of a district. The award should bo made to apply to a whole district, otherwise it might work unjustly. They asked that the Judge of the Arbitration Court should be empowered to overrid.an industrial agreement. In the millers case in the South the Judge had staled that he would have awarded superior conditions had it not been for the existence of an industrial agreement. Mr Naughton objected to certain resolutions recently passed by the Wellington Employers Association and said that the suggestion that each side should appoint two delegates would not be practicable, especially as the representatives of the workmen would be " marked" by their employers. Mr Cooper, secretary to the Trades Council, naid it had been complained that the Unions were keeping the colony in a state of industrial strife, but there would be no finality until they got what they wanted, namely, a week of 44 hours. The Premier, in reply to the suggestion that Trades Unions should be included in the amending legislation with regard to industrial unions, said that this had been op posed by tho employers, and it was now opposed by the Trades Council. He had gone into the matter, however, and it had been submitted to him that unless this were done there would be unions outside the industrial unions, which would not be bound by awards. He thought there was power if the Judge of the Arbitration Court did not do so, that the Government should declare | outside workers to be related to a particular industry and the award would then apply. However, he would have to look carefully into this matter before expressing any opinion as to tho work of a Judge. As to the claim that an award should apply to the whole of a district, this was the law at present, and it would be better to keep it that way. With regard to the application that the Judge of the Arbitration Court should have power to override industrial agreements, this waa a big question, Such a proceeding would be against equity, and it would have to be a very extreme case in which that should work. Speaking of the point raised in regard to the "marked" men. Mr Seddon said he had noticed that employers had beeu guilty in that respect. He condemned the action of such employers, and said it caused him in some cases to step in whore men had suffered in this way, and, other conditions being equal, to give thorn Govornment employment where it offered, He was uot satisfied with the present constitution of the Conciliation Boards, and considerated that there was room for improvement. He was inolined to think that if there were trained men to take evidence it would be preferable. In conclusion, he said the colony was in a better position than arty other part of the British Empire, so far as conditions of labour were concerned. The conditions of both workers and employerhad improved ; that of the latter in greater proportion, if anything. He looked forward ne_t year to a period of industrial peace.