THE VICTORIAN TSAR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1907, Page 9

THE VICTORIAN TSAR.

;, MR. BENT ANGRY. ■' Some, .warm passages occurred tho. other day in tho course" ot'a. discussion. botiycen. Mr.,-Bent, the Victorian Premier, .and a deputation representing tho Victorian Employers' Federation, which was making suggestions regarding the wages boards and tactory .legislation generally. Mr.'G. Fairbaim, M.P., president of tho Employers' Federation, said at present if tho decisions of tlio Appeal Court suited the employees they would abide by them; if thoy did not, they would not rccogniso them. Ho thought it might bo better to go back to tho system of voluntary courts of arbitration and conciliation. Mr. E. Jenkins, vice-president of the Federation, after tracing the, events of the bilkers' strike, said that the only remedy appeared to be that, seeing tho wages'board portion of tho Act was brought about by the wishes of the Labour party, tho valuable benefits supposed to'exist under it should ho cancelled for a period of three years from tho date of operatives striking against tho determination. The Employers' Federation had propared a clause to that effect, based on tbe Government's proposed amendment, which should bo mandatory, with some slight modifications. It .should bo retrospective in its operation. The Minister for Labour had mado a most extraordinary statement in the House. At this stage Mr. Bent interposed.angrily. "I have submitted to a good deal of; lecturing and fault-finding with the.Government," he exclaimed. "I won't submit or listen to 3uch rot any longer. 1 wouldn't permit anybody to talk liko that to mo." , Voices: "He's the Victorian Tsar," and "Autocrat." Mr. M'Cutcheon, M.L.A. (warmly): Tho action of any member of the Government in the. Houso is fair matter for comment. (Loud " hear, hears,") , Mr. Bent: It may bo matter for comment at their own meeting, but not hero. ■ I won't hear any more. (Sensation.)

Voices :_ "Give fair-play I" and "We'll withdraw in a body." ' Mr. Bent: I understand that tho deputation came horo to show how tho Act should bo worked. The only suggestion mado was by Mr. Fairbaim. You havo givon us nothing yet except one clause. Do you think it was fight to lecture mo like that?" A Voice: Only tho Trades Hall can receive fair-play from the Government. Sir Alexander Peacock (angrily): You havo no right to say that. It is not true." Good fooling was quickly restored, and Mr. Bont promised that the matter would be considered by the Cabinet.