STATE POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10175, 9 June 1911, Page 1

STATE POLITICS.

TAXATION OF MOTOR-CARS. CARE OF THE SICK. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY. June 8. The Minister of Public Works promised a local government deputation that he would outline a scheme for the taxation of motors for the upkeep of roads. Mr Flowers. ActingrChief Secretary, told a deputation that the time was coming when the Government would accept the whole of the financial responsibility for the care of the sick. In the Legislative Assembly a Bill for the creation of a separate Industrial Department of St&te was read a first time.

INDUSTRIAL ARBITRATION. THE AUSTRALIAN SCHEMES. [From ax Avstrai.iax Coeeesponivent.] SYDNEY, June 3. New South Wales and South Australia are amending their arbitration laws, and in each case the New Zealand example is being taken advantage of. According to ministerial forecasts, the objects proposed are similar in both States. The bulk of the work is at present being done by Wages Boards, but in New South' "Wales the multiplicity of these Boards has caused overlapping and confusion. It is now proposed to group the trades, and to give each trade board a permanent chairman, with a temporary vice-chair-man to preside over each branch of a trade. In this way a better co-ordina-tion of awards is sought. The wages boards at present operate as if they were a hundred little arbitration court*. The division of work saves the New Zealand delay but ends the chance of uniform awards. The new scheme will make a compromise between the disadvantage of delay and the disadvantage of disharmony. Instead of a hundred there will be a score of little arbitration courts, with a big Arbitration Court to keep the lot in line. Some such plan must inevitably be followed; since, having regard to the greater area and population of New South Wales as compared with New Zealand, one Court could not possibly do the work, however slowly. Mr Beeby, the New South Wales Minister of Labour, is also adopting the New Zealand plan of preliminary conciliation where a dispute is in progress or is probable, though it is not at present clear that his application of the scheme has the flexibility that is wanted. Bis introductory speech referred to the possible appointment of a permanent official (other-, wise employed) as a conciliation committee for the State. The New Zealand conciliators will see at once that this will never do. But Mr Beeby went on to speak of the appointment of local conciliation committees in centres such as Newcastle; and, until the Bill is available, it is impossible to say precisely what is the scope and reference of his scheme. New Zealand experience, of course, is all in favour of the most informal means of conciliation possible until a decision is actually reached. The Arbitration Court, is to deal with workers' compensation cases. Rural workers may apply for a wages board. Absolute preference to unionists is not to be given (to the expressed disappointment of the Trades Hull). The principle of the suspended award is to bo applied to strikes. Unions may exercise t.b.A New Zealand choice Rjf registering under the Act; but if ftiev register and strike there is to be £lyi)o penalty, and the wages of individual strikers may be pursued on garnishee orders. Imprisonment for striking is to be abolished. The plan is in the main the best that could be followed. It leaves workers the option of arbitration or strike, but appeals to their good sense to realise that arbitration is the better course, ant! gives a definite status and definite privileges in return for cession of the right to strike.