BETTER CONDITIONS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1946, Page 5

BETTER CONDITIONS

Press Association

Aim of New.Factory Bill

By Telegraph — .

WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. A feature of the afternoon 's sitting of -the House of Representatives was the acceptance by the Government in the committee stage of the factories' Bill, of an amendinent moved by Hon. A. Hamilton (Wallace) making the Bill binding upon the Crown. The Minister of Labour (Hon. J. (O'Brien) in moving the second reading of the Bill, said its purpose was to reenact the Factories Act, 1921-22. The Labour Bills Committee had given the measitre a thorough ovfirhauling and every section and clause had been caref'ullv considered. Representatives' of

the employers and employees were heard by the committee and presented their views, and after consideration the committee endeavoured to reach a good compromise. A good job has been done. There • were some sixty amendments agreed to and of the .101 clauses ninety or more were non-contentious. Mr. O'Brien said the committee, in remodelling the Factories' Bill had not given way to either one side or the other, but had struck a compromise and had produeed a very fine Bill, wliiclT would be of great benefit to the country. All factories Affected. . Mr. Polson said the Bill affected the whole of the factories, of this country and would be elosely watched by all employers and employees from one end of the land to the other. Tlie committee had worked to produce the best possible Bill under the circumstanees. It was an ambitious measure whieh set out to imitatc what had been done reeently in Great Britain in factory legislation. The old Factories Act, 1921 22, was not a bad Act, and a great deal of it had been incorporated.in the new Bill. Mr. Polson said that those who administered the Bill would either be pillars of it- or Avould be responsible for its downfall. He said that the Federation of Labour had criticised the Bill for the reason-that tlie Crown was not bound by it. He said that in view of the extension of State enterprise into the industrial field-, this was an oecasion on wliicli he concurred with tlie views of the Federation of Labour that tlie Crown should be obliged to observe the provisions of the new Act. The worst feature of the Bill was that in numerous instauces the GovemorGeneral had power by Order-in-Council to modify various regulations, said Mr. \V. J. Polson. The Bill had gone a long way toward improving health and safety conditions for factory employees and he considered that factory inspectors should be more fully trained than they were at present. Oue of tlie peculiar ities of factory legislation was tliat all niachinery was inspeetcd by the Marine Departnient. Hon. J. O'Brien: They are specialists. Mr. Polson said he was not suggesting those inspectors of tliat department Avere not doing a good job but that tlie Labour Department should be in three divisions einbracing employnient service, factory welfare section, and conciliation service, and if this were done it would go a long way further in preveutiug disputes. The health provisions were most urgent. If the Bill were administered witli restraint everytliing would work smoothly. The Bill set a high standard and was a measure of wliicli both eniployer and employee could be proud. Alr. C. H. Chapman (Wellington Nortli) said the Bill was a good one, was on Ihe right lines, and would tend to keep New Zealand in tlie foremost position in the world so far as factory legislation was coneerned. Bill Thought Workahle. ITon. A. Hamilton said that all would agree that tlie factory laws of New Zealand should be brought up-to-date and t'lie Bill made that attempt. A propei balance, however, should be kept between wages and conditions 011 oue hand and costs 011 the otlier. He thought that some factory owners would liave diffieulty in briuging their factories up-to-date in ai-cordance with the provisions in the Bill. He considered the Bill would be quite workahle and its success would depend on sympathetic administration. Mr. W. Sullivan (Bay of Plenty) said tliat so far as the sanitary arrangements for employees were coneerned, the BilJ should operate as soon as possiiile. It was hopelessly impossible to carry out improvements to factories with the present limitation of building supplies. He said the Bill was one instance where the Dominion had followed Great Britain 's legislation. Hon. .J. O'Brien, replving to the debate, thanked the Opposition for their co-operation on the Bill. He said where difficulties arose in administration of the Act, modifieation orders could be made with the consent of both parties. The Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed, the amendment binding the Crown being agreed to with little discussion.