STRIKE MENACE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1932, Page 6

STRIKE MENACE

AWARDS BILL IN COUNCIL

SIX MONTHS’ DELAY SOUGHT

SECOND READING DEBATE

CONCILIATION EMPHASISED

MR. FAGAN’S OPPOSITION

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Wellington, Last Night.

Moving the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and -Arbitration Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Leader of the Council (Sir James Parr) said he did not propose to send the Bill to a select committee. The provisions of the Bill had been exhaustively discussed both inside and outside Parliament and all that could be said had been said on the part both of employers and of employees. The amendment was a drastic one.

A note stressed by the Bill, Sir James said, was one of conciliation and goodwill. Conciliation councils in the past had been regarded as mere channels to the Arbitration Court and he was afraid every effor' had not been made to settle disputes in the councils. The Government proposed to make an important concession to women workers, for whom a minimum wage would be secured. Women would have the right, Sir James pointed out, to approach the Court to ask that a minimum wage should be fixed. The concession would apply solely to wages and not to hours and general conditions. EXAMPLE NOT FOLLOWED. Sir James agreed that there was room for disagreement over the provisions of the Bill, but there was no doubt the Act was proving a drag on industry and delaying a general recovery. The Act was hindering’the -employment of thousands of men. It was significant that no other country but Australia had followed New Zealand’s example, and the workers of England and America had always opposed compulsory arbitration. The Hon. M. Fagan moved an amendment that the Bill should be read a second time that day six months. He believed the Bill was unnecessary, dangerous and unfair. He was opposing the Bill not rs a trades unionist but as a citizen concerned for the welfare of the country. The co-operation of all classes, was needed at present, and they could not afford to risk ■ industrial disturbances. A strike under present conditions would be a greater menace than the 1913 upheaval. They were making a strike the workers’ only weapon against reductions in. wages. Mr. Fagan did. not see how the abolition of the compulsory clause of the Act would assist the farmer.-’ He had yet to meet a farmer who had been driven off his land as a result of the operation of the Act. He did not believe the Bill would result in one additional man being given employment. The Hon. C. J. Carrington seconded the amendment, and the debate was adjourned, the Council rising at 4.45 p.m. until to-morrow.