INDUSTRIAL COURT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL COURT.

NEW SOUTH WALES BIIX.

UNIONS' LIABILITY FOR PENALTIES. PREFERENCE QUESTION. SHOULD PROFITS 13E CONSIDERED? BY TELEGRAM —rItESS,ASSOCUTION —COPYRIGHT. Sydney, March 20. In the. Assembly, Mr. Wade, the Pre.mier, in moving, the second reading of the Industrial Disputes Bill, said they could not rely on moral sentiment only if they wanted awards observed under all circumstances by all parties. Employers generally had tangible assets to levy upon, but the case of the employees was different; therefore tho Bill provided for the recovery of' penalties not only from individuals, but also from tho Unions to which they belonged, unless it could be . shown that the Unions had honestly dono their duty by' seeking to have the .awards respected. He was not prepared to concedo preference to Unionists, but if' two sides agreed to preference, they would be well within their rights.

Mr.'.Booby stated the case for tho Opposition. Ho declared that tho Now Zealand Act bad gradually built up amendments in which encouragoment of tho. formation of Unions and provisions foi 1 collective bargaining wero never lost ; .sight of. Legislation on tho iNow Zealand lines was desired hero. Tho Opposition was prepared to accopt the Bill if certain concossiqns were made. These included a permanent industrial court, presided ovet by a Supremo Court judge, with absolute final jurisdiction, tho maintenance of. the present system of registration, organisation, and encouragement of collectivo bargaining,, and.'extension of tho scope, to include; all matters of industrial dispute, and gower to ascertain and consider profits in fixing wages and industrial conditions.

It will be noted'that, while in-New Zealand tlio slidrtcbmings of tlio'Arbitration Act have become painfully apparent of lato, Now South' Wales legislators turn to it as their chief hope. Mr. Wade,'for instance, advances as a special feature his proposal to mako Union funds liable. for the, recovery of penalties, and regards this as a guarantee that Unionists ; jnll. not 'escape, penalties in such cases as if is* impossible to recover - from' individuals. T'no Blackball miners have demonstrated v tho fallacy of tins-idea. It is stated in a' telegram to-day that they have distributed their Union's funds. amongst tliQ members of the Union, presumably leaving nothing to meet tlio tine imposed by .tho Court. ;