ARBITRATION ACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 6

ARBITRATION ACT

THE AMENDING MEASURE SOME SALIENT FEATURES INTEREST IN WANGANUI In common with other centres in tht Dominion close interest is being taken in Wanganui in respect to the amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, a measure which restores the Arbitration Court’ and enforces awards governing the basic rate of wages and conditions of work. Holding to the belief that unionism represents a bulwark of safety for the people of the Dominion as a whole, the Labour Government seeks .to facilitate the formation of unions throughout the country. A question at the last meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board drew forth a reply from one of the stalwarts of the Labour cause which was indicative of the mind be hind the policy of the present Government. “Are our cooks, laundresses and so on to form unions?” Air. A. S. Coleman wanted to know. Air. W. J. Rogers: “Certainly.” Mr. Coleman: “And nurses, too?” Mr. Rogers: “Yes, if they want to. ’ ’ Dominion Unions. The amendment to existing provisions for conciliation and arbitration throws further light on the subject of unions. Clauses four to nine deal with the registration of unions. Au entirely new provision is included in the Bill enabling unions to be registered on a Dominion basis. This, according to an authoritative opinion, is safeguarded to some extent, in that Dominion unions may be registered only if all existing unions of workers engaged in the industry for which Oominion registration is sought concur in the application for registration, or, alternatively, if a majority of all the workers employed in New Zealand in the particular industry concerned are iq favour of the registration of a Dominion union. .It would appear that registration of a Dominion union would in every case cancel the registration of all existing unions. If that is the case it is probable that unions already in existence will seek to preserve their own identities and, because of that, fewer Doni inion unions than are anticipated in some quarters will be registered. In the shipping industry a Dominion union is almost certain, in that, to all intents and purposes, the various unions operating under that head—waterside Workers’, Seamen’s Union, Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union, Marine Engineers’ Institute, and the, Merchant Service Guild have been more or Jess Dominion organisations for many years. Jt, is probable, of course, that registration of too many Dominion union! may result disastrously to the personnel of the Government. Wellington would almost surely be chosen as a headquarters for a majority of the Dominion unions and that would concentrate in the capital a strong force of union officials, and their influence upon the Government would be correspondingly strong. That, of course, would be in accord with Labour’s policy, which prefers to hear representations through unions rather than from some less organised source. County Councils Affected. Countv Councils and Road Boards have been exempt from the provisions of the Arbitration Act in the past, excepting in those cases where application has been expressly made to have awards enforced. Repeal of such exemption will mean that it will no looker be necessary for unions, when citing county councils or road boards, to show that they actually have authority to act on behalf of the em ployees of such bodies. .that effect will undoubtedly cause local bodies to take a more live interest in industrial disputes than they have done in the ' Rate of the Basic Wage. Jn its fixation of the basic wage the Court will pay regard to the economic and financial conditions of the industry concerned, also the cost of living. I’he rate fixed must be such, which, in the opinion of the Court, is sufficient to nnintain a man, his wife and two children in a fair and reasonable standard of comfort. While such a Court order remains in force no adult or female worker under any award or agreement mav be paid less than the basic rate. If the procedure adopted in New South Wales is adopted the basic rate will be the rate for the absolutely unskilled worker. Clause 17 of the amending Act empowers the Court to include in any award provisions giving the right of access tu employers-’ premises to union officials. The 40-Hour Week. Introdueti'in of a 40-hour week is left to the Court, which is required “in every award after the passing of this Art to fix the hours of work at not more than 40 per week unless, in tin: opinion of the Court, after hearing the representations of employers and workers, it would be impracticable to carry on efficiently any industry to whirit the award relates if the working hours were so limited. ’’ It is fur* tiim required that if the Court fixes the hours in excess of 40 per week the reasons for so doing must be stated in tiio award.