PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12582, 1 October 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Legislative Council.

(Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 30. T!m* Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Wellington Harbour Board Empoweiing Bill wa« read a third time and passed.

The Education Reserves Leases Validation and Empowering Act, 1908, was read a fast time.

A committee wa.s set up to consider the lower House's disagreement with the Ootm.'ilV: amendments to the .Second Ballot liill. The Justices of Peace Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed.

The H( 11. Rigg, resuming the debate on the second reading of the Arbitration Bill, Gaid that the Lill in its present state was an improvement <11 the existing law. He approved of the tption giving workers the right to strike or go to arbitration, and lie defended the right of workers to strike. He detested any suggestion of m exertion wage, as it would result in the degeneration of the rare. He urged that the Conciliation Council's recommendations should bo given t lie force of an :uvard. He condemned, the Arbitration Court for failing to make an award in the farm labourers' dispute, and expressed the opinion that in refusing to make an award the Court had exceeded its jurisdiction. He intended to move amendments in the direction of restricting the powers of the Court, the repealing of the clause making the President of the Court a liie officer, and removing the necessity of having a barrister or a solicitor appointed as thy President.

The Hon. Thome George contended that the small number of strikes during the last eighteen years was not due to the existence of the Arbitration Court, but to the fact that the country ha* -passed through a long sjries of prosperous years. He expressed dio=ati?faction with the constitution of the Com iliation Councils under the Bill. He advocated introduction of an energy wage as it had proved succeeshil at the Wai hi mines.

The Committee recommended the Council to adhere to its amendments in the Second Ballot Bill because ,a 500 majority was inconsistent with the principles of the Bill and because the amendment to clause 19 was necessary. The Council endorsed the Committee's recommendation and adjourned at 5 p.m.

The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m

The Hon. Barr resumed the debate on the Arbitration Bill. He deprecated strikes as having a demoralising effect on the community, and urgfed that strikes •should not be tolerated in any shape or iorm. He added that the increase in the 11 urn her of workers necessary to form a Union from 7 to 15 would be a real hardship to numbers of workers. The Hon. Jenkinson thought that Unions should not be allowed to approach the Arbitration Court or Conciliation Councils direct, but through the Trades and Labour Councils, who should also guarantee the observance of awards.

The Atlorney-Oeneral, in reply, ouoted statistics to show that the wealth of the colony was distributed over a wide area of 4t/(X) firms and traders of all classes; 4018 made less than .£IOOO a year, and 1204 made less than .£4OO a year. Of 2488 persuus mho earned <wer JE:i(JO a. year, only 150 earned more than ,£7OO a year, and* there were only 116 persons in New Zealand who received more than .£IOOO a year. Dr. Findlay strenuously defended tne administration of the Arbitration Court, and. advocated an exertion wage. If they were to pi ess everyone to a dead level it would be a poor outlook for the workers of the Dominion. The bcroiul reading agreed to on the voices. The Council adjourned at 11.30 p.m.