DECISIONS TO STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1947, Page 7

DECISIONS TO STRIKE

-Press Association

BiU Makes Secret Ballots Compulsory

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 30.. The holding of compulsory secret ballots amon'g members of a anion before a decision is made to strike, is provided for in the Iniustnal Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives tonight. The Bill, which was orieliy explainfed by the Minister of Labour., Mr. McLagan, ' was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labour Bills Comniittee. The Bill states that it shall be . Jeemed to be a rule of every industrial union that, if members of the union or any section of them are concerned in a dispute likely to result in a strike, no such strike shall take place until the question of vvhether a strike shall take place has been submitted to a secret ballot of the union members concerned. There is to be a similar rule in regard to disputes likely to result in a lookout. If a strike takes place withoiit such a ballot being held, every member of the union who is a party to it shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £20. Every officer of the union shall be liable to a similar penalty unless he proves that he had no means of knowing of the imminence of the strike or that he took every step possible to ensure compliance witb the rule and to prevent a strike. Every member of a union who is a party to a lookout shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £1000 and every officer will be liable to a penalty not exceeding £400 unless he can prove that he took every step possible- to ensure compliance with the rule and to prevent a lookout. Xothing in the setion shall he deenied to render lawful any strike or lookout which would otherxyise be lawful. ' Provision is also made in the Bill for the appointment of Deputy Judges of the Court of Arbitration. The salarv of such Judges shall be £1750 a vear. A Deputy Judg'e is empowered to ac*t as Judge of the Court in the absenec of the latter. The Court of Arbitration may delegate work to the Deputv Judges. Another elause .in the Bill gives the Court direct authoritv to interpret awards and industria! agreements or to give its opiniou upon Ihe eonstruction of aoA statute relating to matters within Ihe jurlsdiction of the Court.