ARBITRATION ACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1347, 26 January 1912, Page 3

ARBITRATION ACT.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DISCUSSION. THE MEASURE UPHELD. The new waterside workers' agreement, in its bearing upon the interests of the mercantile.community, was discussed yesterday by the-council of the Chamber of Commerce. The proceedings were taken in camera, but eventually the following resolution was -passed:—' "That this chamber desires to affirm its confidence in the principle of the Industrial, .Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and'regrets (hat the existing law of the land has not been _ fully supported during recent negotiations." In a subsequent discussion, the council discussed a number of suggested amendments to the Aibitration Act, which have been several times pressed upon the attention of the Minister for Labour (Hon. J. A. Millar). The correspondence first arose in reference, to the circumstances connected with the formation of the Merchants' Assistants' Union, better known as the Warehousemen's Union. The proposed amendments framed by the chamber re.ul as follow:— "That it is desirable that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1908, be amended this session to provide:— "(1) For notice to be given by sufficient advertisement or personally to employers or employees in any industry in connection with which any application is made, for registration of any industrial association or union, of such application.

"(2) That an opportunity should ,be given for employers or employees in any such industry to oppose the registration of such proposed industrial association or union.

"(,3) That there, should be a right of appeal from the decision of tho Registrar Upon such matters to the Arbitration Court."

Tim correspondence. with the Minister has not yet led to any delinit" result. The existing position, .vi fas- as the Minister is concerned, is.shown in a lettw which he addressed to riie Uliann.i'r uii November 17, 1011. In this he .stated that ho did not think it desirable to prevent any section of the workers from registering under the Act, so lons as they made up the number required, viz., 15, and complied with conditions generally. Mo agreed that other workers in the same industry should be afforded the right to appear before a Council of Conciliation' or the Arbitration Court in order that they might state their views'on any dispute filed which might concern thorn. The Minister further stated that he had under consideration the question of limiting the registration of each union to one trade or industry. There were difficulties in the- way, as, for example, in the case of a small district' where there might not be 15 workers in the particular industry in which the workers desired-■ registration. At the close of its discussion. yesterday the council passed tho following resolution :— "That the suggestions forwarded to the Minister for t!;e amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act be remitted for the consideration of the associated Cliam..bcrs." ... The projected amendments to the Act will come up for discussion at a conference of the associated Chambers of Commerce of the Dominion which is to be held, probably in April.