COMMERCIAL LEGISLATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 22 March 1912, Page 3

COMMERCIAL LEGISLATION.

THE MERCHANTS , ASSISTANTS' UNIOiN. Tho annual report of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce touches on various mutters of interest under tho lieai!;ng of legislation alfecting oomnieree." j'i>rluips the. most important reference is that made to Ihe Merchants" Assistants an.! Warehousemen's Union, which created n good deol of mild excitement about tin , middle of last year. The report slates- - During the year a Merchants' Assistants' and Warehousemen's Union was registered under the Industrial ('onciiiaticm and Arbitration Act. The union purported to embrace not only a variety nf trade?, but different classes of employees within these trades. It was apparenf, (hat there w;is no community of inlerr.-t in (he union, including asit'did different H-iii.-es of workers. Vour council considered il was undesirable in the interests of employees, as well as employers, that it should lio lawfuly possible to register a union such as this. It was, therefore, suggested to tho Minister for Labour that it. was desirable that the Industrial Conciliation iind Arbitration Act, IMS, lie amended 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 industry to oppose the registration of such proposed industrial association or union. (3) That there should bo a right of appeal from tho decision of the Registrar upon such matters to the Arbitration Court.

In the representations made your council had the support of fifteen of the principal Chambers of Commerce throughout New Zealand. No steps wero taken to amend the Act in tho direction asked.

Sewls Sale Control Bill.—This Bill, which was introduced at tho 1911 session of Parliament, purposed to regulato tho sale of seeds for agricultural and pastoral purposes throughout the Dominion. While your council realises that it is dosiraMo that (he sale of seeds should bo under proper regulation, it felt that the Bill as drafted contained many objectionable feature.-?. I'epresontations were made to the Minister for Agriculture, requesting him to delay tlie progress of the Bill until merchants and others concerned could have an opportunity of placing their views before, him. Members nf your chamber, working in conjunction with other chambers throughout New Zealand, gave evidence before the Agricultural, Pastoral, Stock, and Commerce Committee of tho House, and brought forward suggestions to make the Bill workable. Time, did not permit, of Parliament proceeding with the Bill.

Sale of Poisons Bill.—This measure was introduced at tho last session of Parliament by tho Minister in charge of the Health Department. Your council, in conjunction with other chambers, and with the New Zealand Employers' Federation, in representations made to the Minister, poiuted out that if tho Bill as drafted became law it would prove harassing to wholesale druggists, manufacturers, also purveyors of sheep-dips, weed eradicators, and horticultural preparations. Your council was given to understand thnt the restrictions in the Bill would bo so far removed that little, if any. inconvenience would be felt by merchants and others handling these' lines. The. Bill was dropped for the session.

T/ind and Income Assessment Bill.- -A special meeting of thn members of the fhanilvcr and other men wns railed for September .'> last. in consider Hi is Bill, which particularly n (Tcctorl agents nnd representatives nf oversea house?. Tndont and other -agents took great exception to the proposal to make agent? personally responsible for profits niade by their principals on business dono in New Zealand. Arrangements wero mndo for a deputation to pinco its views before the Prime Minister, find the Jlinister in chargc of the Bill. The Bill, however, was eventually withdrawn. Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, mil—This Act provides, inter alia, that medical or surgical expenses not exceeding A'l, shall bo paid in addition to any other compensation pnyablo under tho Act. Tho Act extends tho liability of an employer for compensation when" an accident, results in death or serious and permanent disablement to cases whore the uccidcnt is due to thn serious and wilful misconduct of the worker himself. H also provides for compensation for domestic servants when the employment, is for a period of not less lhan feven day, ami for oil manual workers irrespective of rate of pay.