The Dominion. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1913. STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1853, 12 September 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1913. STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS.

. An important instalment of the Reform Government's Labour policy is embodied in the Industrial Conciliation'and Arbitration Bill, which was circulated in tho Houso of Representatives yesterday. It is a consolidation Bill, but it also includes a number of new provisions introduced for the purpose of remedying defects in the present law to which attention has been drawn from to time. No measure 'with such a difficult, and delicate problem as the regulation of industrial disputes could bo expected to give universal satisfaction, but people' who are able and willing to look at both sides of a question will probably admit that the Bill represents a sincere and thoughtful attempt to do justice both to employer and workman, without forgetting that the general community also has a very strong claim to consideration. The public suffers by strikes and lockouts almost as much as the parties immediately concerned. It is this fact that provides the main justification for State interference in such matters, though it is extremely difficult to frame laws that will meet all circumstanoes and conditions. In his new Bill Me. Massey's aim apparently is to see that the balance is held evenly between employer and employee, and to prevent as far as possible the industries of the Dominion being hampered and harassed by the wanton creation of _ labour troubles which may. be avoided if opportunity is afforded for the spirit of reason and mutual consideration to bo brought to bear before open war is declared. The most important new feature of the Bill is that which deals with strikes and lock-outs by persons not bouml by an award or industrial agreement. The underlying principle of this section of the measure is to ensure that before any industry is dislocated by stoppage of work time for reflection and inquiry, and for tho silent pressure of public opinion should be insisted upon. This is the basis of the Canadian lav/ of 1907, which Mr. Massey has adopted with certain modifications to meet the special circumstances of pur own country. The Bill provides that if ten or more workers wish to strike they must first notify the Minister for Labour of their intentions, and, it then becomes his duty to bring the parties together in. conference with a view to an amicable settlement or to refer the matter to a/ Labour Dispute Committee for investigation. This committee shall, as soon as practicable, forward a report on the merits of the trouble to the and make recommendations for a settlement which shall be published in newspapers circulating in the district. In this way the parties will have an opportunity of reviewing the whole position in a calm and reasonable way, and public sentiment will have a chance of making itself felt. An agreement will be arrived at in many cases at this stage, but if not the next step provided for is the taking of a secret Dallot of the workers affected by the dispute. This would be within fourteen days after the Minister had been first notified of the intention to strike, and by that timo both sides would have had ample time to think matters over, and the secrecy of the voting would lessen the possibilities of intimidation and enable each man to express his real wish without tho risk of unpleasant consequences which _ open voting too often involves. This is a thoroughly democratic method to which no fair-minded man can reasonably objects -Lock-outs are dealt with in a similar way, and an em- ■ plover who is a party to an unlaw- ; fuf lock-out is made liable to a peno It.v not exceeding £500, the extreme penalty in tho caaa of a worker being

£10. Those provisions are fair to all concerned, and judging by the operation of the Canadian Act they may bo expected to work well and to give additional stability to industrial life in New Zealand. The Bill also deals with a number of other matters, including tho important question of prefcrenco to unionists, but the proposed alterations in the present law on this point do not go as far as many people might reasonably desire. The preference provisions in awards are made a little less oppressive by giving_ members of other unions engaged in the industry, and working for employers bound "by the original award, the right to apply to tho Court for an order giving them the same privileges as those enjoyed by the members of the original union securing preference. Another much-needed improvement is contained in a provision designed to frustrate attempts to contravene tho spirit of the Act by the cancellation of registration in order to secure the right to strike, and having gained certain advantages by such means ; to register once moro and thus regain all the advantages of a union under the Act. This sort of thing is so manifestly unfair that it could not be allowed to continue, and in order to discourage such slim devices tho Bill proposes that any new union registered after the cancellation of an existing union shall' be bound by the terms of the award under which the .cancelled union was working, and that. 'it shall not include in its membership, until after its registration, any of those who may liave_ taken part in such a strike as that indicated above. Taken as a wholo the new parts of tho Bill consist of well-thought-out and necessary provisions, and if. placed on the Statute' Book they should do something to reduce the risk of industrial disputes developing into strikes or lock-outs, and, generally speaking, to make the Arbitration and Conciliation Act a more just and workable measure.