BILL TO PUNISH STRIKERS AROUSES LABOUR ATTACK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18465, 17 May 1928, Page 5

BILL TO PUNISH STRIKERS AROUSES LABOUR ATTACK.

FIRST BLOW STRUCK AT ARBITRATION, SA OPPOSITION LEADER. < United Pre#s Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received May 17, 1 T.o a.m.i CANBERRA, May 17. An amending Arbitration Bill, designed to overcome strikes, punish Strikers, and to give unionists complete control over their officials, to control lawless!ess in times of unrest, and generally to strengthen the Commonwealth Government’s powers in industries. is now before the House of Representatives. Mr Scullin. Leader of the Opposition, declared that the Bill was provocative and constituted the first serious blow by the Commonwealth Parliament against the arbitration principle. It was calculated to destroy the faith of the community in the impartiality of the law and to destroy the faith of the workers in the arbitration principle. The Bill certainly would not bring peace in industry. Indeed it was tantamount to a declaration of war upon the workers. The whole tendency of the Bill was to increase penalties on unionists. Any irresponsible officer of a union, if he incited a strike, was liable to expose his union to a fine of £IOOO. Mr Blakeley declared that employees would be compelled to form secret organisations. and a system of espionage would soon arise. The debate was adjourned.—Australian Press Association.