I.—9a.

16

[j. THORN.

43. It will make it more general than having the men subpoenaed?— Yes, the subpoena protects him in very many cases. 44. In the cases you mentioned it did not?—l mentioned five cases. With three there was no subpoena at all. . 45. 'Supposing the Conciliation Boards remain, is that cause going to be removed —the risk the men run?—lt may not remove the risk any particular man runs, but the Industrial Councils will extend the risk, because they will prevent the permanent secretary, who is not working at the trade, from sitting on the Council and adjudicating on behalf of the union for which he is secretary. 46. The permanent secretary can only conduct a case before the Board at the present time by calling witnesses who do know something of what they are talking about? —Yes. 47. You laid great stress on the fact that the Government had not agreed to the representations made at Conference after Conference in connection with the Conciliation Boards? —That is right. 48. You also gave us the clauses that you approved of in the Bill?— Yes. 49. Have not Conference after Conference agreed that breaches of awards should be taken before the Magistrates?— Yes. 50. Why did you not state that you agreed to that?—lt is in the manifesto. I may say that we have made a suggestion that assessors should sit with the Magistrate if he so desires. 51. That is creating a special Court: for the last five Conferences you always agreed that assessors should sit with the Magistrate?— Yes. 52. That was not approved by the Wellington manifesto?—l think it was stated by the deputation that they did approve of the provision. 53. As far as the Wellington manifesto goes, it did not state anything of the kind, and that is the thing that has gone forth?—l understand the deputation said it did agree. 54. They said that the Conference had agreed to this. You say that all the unions oonnected with the Trades and Labour Council of Canterbury have so far indorsed this manifesto? —I never said that. 55. Those that have dealt with it?— All that I know who have dealt with it have indorsed it. 56. I think you are secretary of the Farm Labourers' Union?— Yes. 57. What part of the Bill are opposed to? —Clause 53. The Farm Labourers' Union have not discussed the Bill. We only had one copy of it when we met at the annual meeting at Leeston. 58. This letter was sent to me: "Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers' Union, 2 Antigua Street, Christchurch, 11/9/07. —Dear Sir, —I am instructed by the above union to forward to you the following resolutions, which were passed at our annual meeting, held on Saturday, August 31st, 1907, in Leeston. The union sincerely trusts that these resolutions will receive your most favourable consideration. —James Thorn, Secretary."?— Yes. I may say that we had no time to discuss the measure. I wrote to Mr. Tanner, and I think by mistake I sent the letter to you, asking that forty copies of the Bill might be sent. I wanted the branches to discuss the Bill. 59. You say that this letter was not intended for me at all?— Yes, that letter was intended for you. 60. The only clause that the union takes exception to is clause 53 ? —As I have said, the union did not have time to discuss the Bill. When it came up it was half past 10 or 11 o'clock, and I and some of the officers had to ride home thirty miles, and it was raining very heavily. 61. If clause 53 had not been in the Bill, do you think there would have been the same amount of opposition?— Yes, just as much. There is only one permanent secretary in Christchurch, and the opposition there is just as strong as it is in Wellington to most of the clauses in the Bill. THE ARBITRATION LAW. — CANTERBURY TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL'S MANIFESTO. [Extract from Lyttelton Times, Monday, 9th September, 1907.] A special meeting of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council was held on Saturday evening, Mr. J. Thorn presiding, to receive a report from the executive regarding the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. The report was adopted, and it was decided that copies should be sent to all members of the House of Representatives. Mr. Thorn was appointed to give evidence regarding the Bill before the Labour Bills Committee of the House. The following is the text of the report: — The Parliamentary Bills Committee of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, together with the executive, after having most carefully and exhaustively considered the provisions of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill now before the country, strongly recommends the Council to adopt the following manifesto: — To the members of trades-unions throughout Canterbury,— Fellow-workers, — As the executive of organized labour in. this province we desire to place before you for your guidance and assistance our views with respect to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill lately introduced by the Government. Recognising the importance of this measure, inasmuch as it vitally affects our movement, and knowing the danger of making recommendations after imperfect consideration, we have taken every precaution in mature deliberation, serious thought, and in a desire for the well-being of our movement, to insure that only the most reliable recommendations shall be made to you, so that in urging you to support our decisions we are confident that you are heing asked to occupy a position which, in our judgment, from the point of view of the welfare and character of the principles of trades-unionism is safe and impregnable.