ARBITRATION BILL.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20490, 8 March 1932, Page 9

ARBITRATION BILL.

EXPRESSION OP VIEWS. - OPPORTUNITY TO BE GIVE!! PARTIES. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.} WELLINGTON, February 7. Although Cabinet has plenty to occupy its attention, the House.of Representatives itself is in danger of being short of material to keep the legislative wheels revolving until further, measures come from the draughtsman's hands. The Address-iu-Reply debate, which is next for consideration on the Order Paper, will be resumed to-morrow, and will take a further two days. So far as can be gathered, the Government will not introduce aijy major Bills this week, except an amendment to the Mortgagors' Relief Act, which is designed to extend the provisions of the existing legislation. It is the intention of the Prime Minister to take the second reading of the Arbitration Bill on Thursday and. Friday, but before that occurs an opportunity will be given trades and labour representatives to express their views on the measure, and, if necessary, the views of the employers also will be heard by the Government. The passage of this Bill, it is said, will not be easy because there is a sharp division of opinion among members of the Coalition on its provisions. Several members are said to have declared privately that the amendments moved by the Labour Party in certain directions will secure their support if they go to a division. "The-Bill goes too far," one member said discussing the question over the week-end, "and hope it does not go through the House in its present form." The Bill will be discussed at a caucus of the Coalition Parties some time this week, when it is expected, that opinions will be frankly expressed * and individual attitudes defined. One member, Mr R. A. Wright, has already backed his expressed intention of fighting the measure at every stag<s by voting against the first reading in the House last week. =- Mr Forbes will move to-morrow to alter the sitting hours fbr this session to midnight instead of 10.30 p.m. to facilitate business. The final points concerning the tentative trade agreement with Canada cannot be put into legislative form, because a few details which were not decided at the Honolulu consultation are at present the subject of cablo negotiation between the. Canadian and. New. Zealand Governments, Until these are settled the Bill cannot, drafted, and the terms of the Treaty are a Ministerial secret. Conference. To-day. An opportunity to state their views on the Bill has been given J>y the Government to representatives of the Employers.' Federation on the one hand and the Trades and Labour Council and Alliance of Labour ou the other. A deputation frojn the latter group asked the Prime Minister on Saturday to allow the Bill to. go .to a Select Committee to hear being given that the witnesses would" be limited to six. However, Mr .Forbes was unwilling to follow that - course, mainly, it is believed, because o£ the time' factor. A proposal. .that the respective parties should present their views to the Ministry was suggested as an alternative, and accordingly both sets .of organisations will ineet Mr Forbes and the Minister for Labour,;, the Hon. A. Hamilton, to-morrow after--nooii. The proposal is that both' parties ■ should simultaneously, and hopes are held by -Mr Hamilton, . who. has charge of the Bill, that it may be possible for an agreement to be, readied between the parties on some proposals in the Bill on which they are aow'divided. ' I'he Indications are that the Government will stand by the main points Of the Bill, particularly the compulsory conciliation feature, but it is possible that concessions may be made on some other points.