CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13704, 19 September 1908, Page 3

CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION.

THE BILL IN COMMITTEE. IVr Tress -Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. To-day the House of Representatives resumed consideration of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill in Committee. The Hon. Mr MLillar moved to redraft clause 5 to read to the effect that every worker under an industrial agreement or award who becomes a party to a strike .shall be liable to a penalty of £lO, and every employer bound by any award or industrial agreement who becomes a party to a lock-out is liable to a penalty of £2OO. No worker or employer to be liable to mora than one penalty in respect of the same strike or lock-out. Mr Poland moved a proviso that, the total amount levied against all workers involved shall not in any case exceed £2OO. After a long discussion Mr Poland's proviso was negatived by 44 votes to 25 votee. Mr Barclay moved the following:— u Provided that such strike takes place in respect of any matter or thing which is the subject of such award or agreement."' ~ The Hon. Mr Millar declined to accept the amendment which was negatived by 55 votes to 8 votes. i Mr Baume moved to amend sub-section 2 by striking out the words "two hundred pounds" at the end of the clause with a view of inserting the words "ten pounds in respect to each worker locked out. The Hon. Mr Millar said he was quite prepared if Mr Baume would withdraw his amendment to raise the penalty to £SOO as under the old Act if the House thought £2OO too low. ilr Baume wished to alter the wording of his amendment so that it should read "ten pounds in respect of every person employed by him and locked out." i After considerable' discussion Mr Baume's amendment was defeated by 44 votes to 18 and an amendment by the Hon. Mr Millar to increase the penalty from £2OO to £SOO was agreed to. The Hon. Mr Millar moved sub-sectior 4 as follows: —"No proceeding shall be commenced or continued against any worktr or employer who is a party to a strike or lock-out where judgment has been obtained under the next preceding subsection against any industrial union or industrial association." The'motion was agreed to on the voice®, and clause 5 was passed as amended. The Hon. Mr Millar moved to strike out clause 6 as contained in the Bill reported from the Labour Bills Committee in favour o( a r.diafted clause, the effect jf which was —That a person who indites or abets a strike or lock-out or a continuance of either is liable if a worker, to a penalty of £IOO, or if an industrial union, trade union or any person o.lier than a worker to £2CO; Every person who gives anything of value to any person who is a party to a strike or lock-out or to benefit any industrial union or trade union of which such a person is a member is deemed to have abetted a strike, unless he proves he had no intent to do so; While an unlawful strike or lock-out is taking place any person who publishes in any newspaper any expression of approval or disapproval of the unlawful action of any person in relation to that strike or lock-out-, is liable to a penalty not exceeding £SO. When a majority of members of an industrial union or industrial association are parties to a strike or lock-out, the union or association are to be deeaned to have instigated such strike or lock-out. Mr Barclay moved to omit sub-sec-tions 2 and 3. After some discussion in which several, members objected to infringement of the liberty of the press, subsection 5 was deleted. With gome further minor amendments clause 6 was passed. The amendment made in clause 7 by the Labour Bills Conunit»e waj« ueleieU and the clause passed. Clause 8 was agreed to. In clause 9 the amendments of the Labour Bills Committee were agreed to. The penalty against a worker was increased to £25. On the motion of Mr Barclay a new clause was added providiijg- a £2OO penalty against- the emplojwr locking out workers in dangerous trades without a mouth's notice. In clause 10, the period of suspension reduced from three to two years. Verbal amendments in the appeal clauses were agreed to. Clause 10 was agreed to by 47 votesN to 15 votes. Clauses 11 and 12 wer«> agreed to. At clause 13 Mr Masjmy pointed out that clause 97 of the Act of 1905 would liave to bo iepealc<l. The Hou. Mr Millar said that lie would look into the matter. The clause was agreed to. Clause 14 with an amendment that a summons shall bo served five days before the hearing was agreed to. Clauses 15. 16. 1/ and 18 as an.endcd by the Labour Bills Commitleo were agreed to. Progress was icjKirted. The House rose at 1.50 a.m.