ARBITRATION LAW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 880, 28 July 1910, Page 5

ARBITRATION LAW.

! AUSTRALIAN BILL. J MANY EXTENSIONS PROPOSED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, July 27. In tho Federal Arbitration Bill a new definition of an industrial dispute includes a threatened or probable dispute. Tho measure includes as industries larm and domestic work. Tho President of the Arbitration Court is empowered to convene compulsory conferences when mediation appears 'desirable. A penally of ,£SOO for disobeying a summons is provided for. A conference may bo held in public or in private. At his discretion, the President of tiiu Court may allow an amendment of the plaint beioro determination of the dispute, or subsequently. Proceedings of the Court may go heyond a claim when making an award. "Under a new clause it is made mandatory for tho Court to direct preterenco to unionists. ' On the application of any party to a dispute, any association numbering ■ not. jess than 100 employees may bo registered as an organisation. Boards of reference may be created. NOT A FINAL MEASURE. CONSTITUTION TO BE AMENDED. (See. July 28, 0.20 a.m.) Melbourne, July 27. Mr. W. 11. Hughes, Attorney-General, in moving tho second reading of tho Arbitration Bill,; said it was not intended to express the final .views of the Government on what the; Commonwealth's industrial legislation should be. ■ One amendment would aim at meeting tho case of the unemployed.

The Government intended to take an early referendum for the amendment of the Constitution, bo as to give power to legislate on the whole field of industrial questions.

The Federal Parliament can only legislate on the subjects set out in the Constitution; In tho list is included: "Conciliation and arbitration for tho prevention and'settlement of industrial disputes oxtending beyond tho limits of any one State." Tho State Arbitration ' Courts deal with disputes which are confined within the limits of a single State. It has been a nico point to determine just at what stage the Federal Arbitration Court, etsablished six years ago, can intervene. Tho Labour Government's new Bill is obviously designed to pave the way for earlier intervention than has hitherto been tho rule.