STRIKE LAW.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1931, 13 December 1913, Page 6

STRIKE LAW.

V THE GOVERNMENT'S NEW PROPOSALS. * I MILLAR'S SOUND ADVICE. OPPOSITION LEADER RAVES WILDLY. ; %. MR KERDMAN'S EFFECTIVE IEPLV.

The eud-of-scssioii rush was tempo* ranly arrested in tlio Houso of Representatives yesterday, when a debato arose the second reading of the fti »•„ L ? is l > :i tc3 Investigation Bill, iho BiU itself was frequently only minimally tho subject before the House. ■ llio- topic chiefly favoured during a great part of the afternoon ami evening was tho present industrial dispute m Ue p°n,imon. One Labour member (.Mr. \,. A. Veitcli) unreservedly supported tho Hill, as did most ,of tho Opposition members who spoke, and even the Federation sympathisers had lit-tlo to. say against tlu; principal features of the Government proposals. Attack and counter-attack in connection with matters arising out of tho strike, however, sufficed to make tho debato animated and sometimes embittered. Incidentally Sir J. AVard made a. wild general attack upon; The Dosiikiox.

.'ho Prime Minister, in moving tho second reading of the Bill, said it would bo jecQgiiisji'd that it would Jk> inipossiblo to deal that session with such st measure; as tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. It had therefore been decided to talse' out the clauses relating to strikes and lockouts, and those woro incorporated in tho Bill beforo the House. Mr. Davey: Couldn't you ]eavo this over until next session ? Mr. Masscyj No. This Bill is asked for all over New Zealand, and I make bold to say that if it had been upon the Statute Book it- would probably have averted the present industrial trouble. He! continued that ho did ' not say tho Bill would ho useful in bringing tho present strike to an end, but it would bo useful in preventing; or discouraging such strikes and industrial difficulties in future. Tho original Bill had been subjected to a great deal of criticism which was neither just nor [•warranted. The Underlying Idea. Tho idea underlying tho Bill was that time to consider the position should bo given beforo a strike was declared. Given that time for consideration, iii all probability thero would bo 110 strike. Many a man went 011 strike ono day and was sorry tho next day, and sorrier still on tho day following! Tho obj-cct of tlso Bill was to prevent a strike taking place until men had been given an opportunity of properly considering what they should do in . their owji interests and tho interests ; of their families. The Bill also applied to lock-outs, but tho provisions were necessarily different. lie considered that the Arbitration Act had. been- an extremely useful one. Proof of tlie fact was that it had stood the test of nineteen years. It was tnio that tho Act and tho Court were not nearly bo popular now as they were ton years ago, but both had been extremely useful, and he would bo a-bold man who would get up in tho. House and suggest seriously that they should bo dono away with. There were, a number of industrial organisations registered, not under the Arbitration Act, but. under tlso Trades Union Act. Tho Bill applied to these bodies and to unregistered unions. Several of the proposals in iho Bill worn new, so far as New Zealand was concerned, but they wore not new in other countries. The proposals wero based upon tho law in . Canada and upon tho law in. several of tho Australian States. It was not, tho case that tho BUI was intended to make strikes or lock-outs illegal. In certain circumstances it would mako a strike or lock-out legal, but tho provisions of tho Bill must in the first instance be complied with. Tho Canadian Act did .not apply, to every industry, but it -applied to a number of industries listed under the head of "publie utilities." As showing how successfully the methods incorporated in tho Bill had operated in Canada, Mr. Masspy said that out of 132 disputes dealt with only 15 strikies arose. That was a particularly good record.

The Canadian Act. Tho Canadian Act provided that no strike or lock-out must tako plaeo in an industry affecting ten or more workers until tlirity days' notice had been served on tho other side. If tho other side desired, it, an investigation was made by a board. This board sat in public. One very important feature of the Act was that public influence was brought to bear. No strike could last for very long if public opinion was against it. Mr. Webb: Public opinion is with tho one 'at tho present time. Mr. Masscy said that ho did not want- to discuss tho present difficulty ; it was near its end. Mr. Webb: A long way yet. Mr. Masscy: If tho hoii. gentleman wero doing his duty ho would he endeavouring to bring tho present difiiCiilty to an end. Mr. Webb said ho had tried to do so. Force of Public Opinion. The I'rimo Minister resumed that tho recommendations of the Canadian boards wore public, so that public opinion might be exercised towards a settlement. lis (juoted Lord Haldaiie as saying; "The great force that lias actuated mankind in observing laws is not fear of tho law or of its officers, but tho fear of public opinion." Massachussell's, Mr. Massey continued, had a strike law similar to that ol Canada, and a similar reliance was placed oil public opinion. In Queensland an Act in some respects similar was in force. In tlie Commonwealth, Now South Wales, South Australia, and West Australia strikes and lock-outs wero mado altogether unlawful. Mr. Webb: They havo had mora striker, there'in oito year than wo have had in ten.

Mr. Mnssey: I quite agree with that-, but thcv are unlawful just tho same, and the fact that there are bo many proves that ii is impossible to prevent strikes by legislation. 3tr. Webb: That is what you nro tryins to do iiow. Mr.\ Massey: No, I admit that a strike is not to ho settled by legislation. Jlr. Webb: It could have broil settled in ten hours. Jlr. Massey said that ho had his own opinion based upon bis familiarity with the early negotiations, 110 went on to explain tiio provisions of tho Bill in detail. Originally, ho remarked, it hail been proposed (hat the Bill should apply to all workers Init, with his approval, tho Labour Bills Committee had made it applicable only to organised workers. Ho thought that every member oi !ho House would recognise the necessity for some such provision in the legislation of this country. Ho did not say that the Bill was pcrfect. No

doubt it would be -accessary to amens it later, and he would be quite jUT-p-ar-cd to accept amendments in Ceimuiltecv Sir Joseph Ward Gets Angry. Sir Joseph Ward (Awarua) hoped that the - Bill would do all that tho 1 rime Minister expected of it. Ho proposed, when tho Bill was in Committee, to move to impose a secret ballot upon the employers as well as upon tho workers. Further, ho would propose that institutions which wero controlled by employers should also lmvo tho right to a secret ballot as to tho course to bo pursued. In the interests of every section ho would do what ho c-nuld to provide machinery that would enable the whole of the industrial, pastoral, agricultural and commercial affairs of tho country to bo can-fed on without resort-' fig to civil war. {Sine© tho strike startcu ho had been subjected to all sorts ot misrepresentations in regard to tho attitude ho had taken op. Many hio-s-. saROS had coiiiii to him on tho subject or tho stnke, including one which read: _ J 1 or Heaven's sake do something , to Jieip tho people in their extremity. "• (Laughter.) lie did Mot support syndicahsm or 1 W \V. tenets. The people who did had fought him from -cud to end oi this country at last election. Tlm n !'. lo Mmister had supported the Federation of Labour. 51 r. Massey: I did not. Sir Joseph' Ward: You supported the nominees of the Federation of Labour, the member for Otaki, and the member lor Oro.y Lyim.

Wild Talk. ''And," continued Sii; J. Ward, "you W n C VU(Hcli!xl creature who runs lia ])oMiNioK"-tlio tool of a political party lowering himself to the meanest una lowest depths of journalism to try and create lies from end to end of this country in order to injure a .public man. And you find that where the Press Association cannot bo used )>y tho reprewnjf^ lvc °' '' l 0 licfoi'w Association iu Wellington, that representative of .tho Ketorm Association says: 'Send it along to fiii; Dominion,' and ho will see to the rest. Mr. Speaker, 1 am not going into personal matters o.vi this occasion." Members: Too late I Sir J. Ward said that iio had alluded to these eases because of his absoluio ami utter contempt of the point of view of those who did these things. Ail effort was Doing -made tor party purposes to "create an impression npon the troubles of the people." Men had gone to his own electorate to spread stories that lie was responsible for tho strike, that his was behind tho strike, and also to appeal to farmers to give tiiera money for tlie Reform Association. He hail" evidence on the subject in his .possession.

"Lying" the Only Wert!. , As to some of the things that had been written .about him >11 the tifnvs- • papers, lying #*as the only word for it. (Laughter,) ; He stiid this with the utmost deliberation. The writers of wWiu ■ he- was speaking lied deliberately bei cause they hoped that they might be 1 able to use this strike in order to sibtain some advantage over him because > he happened to be Leader of the Liberal ■ party. If this were dono to some man on the other sido ho would have tiia 1 most absolute contempt for it. Those [ who wero responsible for the strike were wrong not only in that, but in failing io • settle it speedily. It should havo been i confined to the shipwrights and the Uii- ■ ion Company, When the dispute had > spread to the watcrstdens and goiao to • the Federation of Labour, the .Ifiinploy* • ors' Association slioukl havo settled it • upon reasonable lines, lie wont on to • claim that lie had gone to a leading • man and informed him that he was in a position • to settle • tho striko "for three years at any i late." Then lie found that there fras ■ no desjre to settle, and that what the ' employers wanted was a fight to a finish. Ho Latl then said that if the strike were not settled it would spread to Australia wtthiii a month. This had been borno out by events. Mr. F. H, Smith: Von must havo been in tho "know." Sir J. Ward (furiously): Well,'if I was as little in tho "know" as you I would go and shoot myself! 1 Ho went on to declare loudly that tlio Iron, gentleman had never done- anything useful in tho House, and should allow him to deal with ;t diificult matter in his own. particular way. Ho went on to contend that legislation to settle tho. strike should havo been brought down at an early stage. Tho official police, ho declared, wcro absolutely ignored and Here Hover used. Mr. AVilson: Crowds 1. Mr. Miissey (to Sir J. Ward): Don't shriek! , . Sir J". Ward said ho was dome; ))« • best in his own Way. Legislation could have been introduced making it a criminal offence for a strike committee to impose any disability tipou any persons approaching the wharf. Mr. Lee: It was criminal. ■Sir *f. Ward eontinned that if tho official police cob Id not have maintained trder, tho nest thing would have been to employ the foot police in Wellington, If they hiid not sufficed, tho roonntod men could havo been called in. A great deal of tiro trouble could have been avoided if n practical, sensible, determined courso 'had haul taken by tho Government.' The "specials" Commended, He believed that the mounted cousin blcs had done good work, aiid recognised that tliev were a. fine body of men. (Laughter.) "lie hoard lion, gentlemen laugh", but he was not speaking of them —ho was speaking for hiniseH, It was right that when tiio mounted «wm wero asked to come they should but lie considered (hat it would never iia\c been necessary to introduce them it .tiro Government had doiie the right thing. Ho continued that liumircrts ol peopw who supported the Prime S, mister baa written to him about the «lnl:e. Mr. Masscy: 1 InAc bad hundreds of your supporters writing 10 u><? nwll who Wi re vour supporters. Sir J. Ward said that many ot the Prime Minister's supporters had »liv owned tho tilings said about himse.l. "If I Had Boa——" "If I had been isi the Prime Minister's piaec," he went on to state, "I would havo gone down amongst ihoso nieii on the wharf an hour after tho trouble had arisen. 1 wovtld have done what I did at Denmston, when I went right into tho jaws of men who, i was told before I went there, wero going to eat me. It could have boon ilone" in the present instan.ee if it had been done in a humane way—a heart-to-heart talk." It was not right, ho contended, "to bring our own kith and kill down hero' against our, own kith

and kin before ordinary methods of settlement had been tried." Not ono watorsider in his own district 1 liad struck. Mr. Smith :. in'Timaru either. ■ Another member: Nor in Wanganui either. Sir J. "Ward went on to refer in scornful tones to a time when "some pcoplo lost .their •heads.':' A member ::SomconoMias lost' his now. Sir J. "Ward appealed to" tho Primo Minister to "bring half a. dozen men ■together," with a view to tho settlement of tlio strike. . Ho. said, that, ho had proposed a skiret liallot- at an earlier stage in tho session. Members: AVhen it was in tho Bill. Sir J. Ward said that ho considered that the legislation before tlio Houso was on right-linos. He declared that every time an Oppositionist'had tried to open his mouth on tho subject of tlio striko ho had been accused of trying to embarrass tlio Government. _ His own Administration, .ho claimed, had administered ; labour legislation without fear or favour, and had impartially prosecuted employers and workers. , MINISTER OF JUSTICE. OPPOSITION LEADER REBUKED. ■ Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman said that tho position was that in n."difficult, industrial crisis tho Government had succeeded," ill a very short time, in opening the porta so that overy farmer in the country-could get iiis produce away from these shores. . ■ Notwithstanding tho strike,' thero' was not . a blade ot grass less in tho country, not a pound of wool 'less, or a pound of butter or cheese less; Tho staple products wero ..still being' manufactured, and tho -barriers ■ had been taken down which, ■for a- time,-provontcd theso products reaching "their markets." Th.o Minister went on to remark that ho had not seen-the-personal attacks to which Sir _J. ,:Ward had referred. • Ho did not think lit was dignified on tho part of tlio right lion, gentleman to make such a speech as they had just heard. It was a yelling denunciation from beginning to end,, and'was not a discussion of the Bill boforo the House. Apparently a .sensitive' l spot in tlio right hon. gentleman had: been • touched, and ho laboured under , great stress—probably ho had .•laboured under it for weeks. Sir J. . Ward.- had ■ inado ono referenco to tho local newspaper, and had mado a reflection upon its editor. Ho (Mr; Hcrd,man). read .tho articles in tlio paper in. question, and considered them perfectly -fair. -..He; asked tho right lion, gentle"man to name ono passage in the paper, which was not fair, or to point to one article which,was not based on truth. It ; was all very well to cotne into' tho .:Houso;' : and."'"rilako ; indefinite "statements about''attacks made-on him. Tho right • lion. :gentlemoii : had' behaved like a child. Every public niau had to put up .' with ' attacks, and every public man with any manliness in him did so. Tho • right lion, 'gentleman, however, ran about tho country crying-.lil«v a spoiled child because legitimate criticism was flung at him. : ' • • Mr. Isitt: Lying criticism! Mr. Herdman: I.might quite well rcvtort: '-'Look- at' tho 'Times,'" but I don't earo; - It doesn't hurt mo and I am sure it doesn't liurt any Minister of the Crown.

Mr. Massey: Not a bit. ■ Mr. Hcrdman: Somehow, as soon as the .name Dominion is mentioned, you 1 see tho right honourable gentleman fly into a tempeiv They' had heard timo safter time, '■ ho continued, that ■ tho 'Strikoi trouble might havo ■'been settled •■by legislation'; but no details had been - given.'-"In :liis opinion ho legislation •would''have"served this purpose._ Ho ■did know, however, that by his . indis-creet-Utterances in the House Sir Joseph .Ward had done as much as anybody elseto fan the ilamfr' and'Jiut' kerosene 011 tho tiro. . • l> Sir Joseph .orio of the iitories ■ that' havo been cii'ciilated.. -„-i,Mi-. i Herdiian;.,j-cpeii l tcd.,' that-. .Sir, .Joseph.Ward's utterances-in tho,House, -had doucnsimucliirns,anything .else to keep alivo tlio industrial trouble in New .Zealand.. Tho present troublo, he had do. hesitation, in saying, .was due to the weakness of tho Govornment over •which Sir Joseph Ward had presided, lie was quito certain that if tho Wellington ... Tramways.ustriko.. had been rlian'dletLvatii-courage. and.firmncss tlicy would fhovor-have luul tho, W aihi striko jor thoi.striko-.of 1913.: Weakness and -pusillanimity ,-iii .connection , with . the •Wellington Tramways striko had dono more than anything else to fan the flamo and strengthen tho courage, if it could bo so called, of tho Federation of Labour. Tho Government of which Sir ■Joseph Ward was at tho head had dono -nothing to. stop the growth of the Federation of Labour.:. Mr. Robertson-: You can't do it

neither..-!: ■ ■: 'Tho.-Minister..went onto trace tho history of tlio strike from its inception.' At tho ontsot.lio.said tho wharves were taken possession of by tho jvater■siders and .tho Red Federation. Ho emphatically denied 'that tlio regular -police could .havo settled trouble. There wero ninety polico in Wellington • at tho time,-and,oven when, others wero -drafted in,< making: tho total 150. they wore insufficient to cope with.the Waterside Union.' " ; Mr. M'Galium: ; Did tlioy 'ever try!' An Impossible Task. ■ Mr. Herdiuan: .'They tried on the ivliarf. . A band of lawless men, ho continued, had taken possession of the , Citv, and, if tlio available force of regular" polico liad attempted to deal with them there'would havo been bloodshed. Ho : was not going to ask 90 men to attempt to ' deal with 1200 howling human beings. Immediately it was recognised -bv the polico. authorities that the local polico were insufficient to cope with tho trouble they had to search around and get somebody else. There was an excellent response. Tho mounted and foot special_ constables had been of immense, servicc to the country. The citizens of New Zealand might well bo proud of tho men who came down from tho country. Ho ventured to predict that, within tho next twelve months, Sir .1. Ward, would liavo cause to regret tlio sneccli ho had made that afternoon-. Neither would tho ■ people of New Zealand ever forget the 'speech made by Sir J. Ward after the events in Post Office Sqiiaro.

Mr. Isitt:..AV.hy did jour organ have to alter the speech?' Mr; lterdman said that the speech ■was circulated, and stirred up feeling .at a tinio vli6n a. peaceful -speech would '.have done a f;rcat deal of good. It .was couched ill very had taste. Jt "was incorrect, based on, hearsay ovi.deiice, And spoken without a true knowledge of'tho'facts. The Minister went "on to detail tho. official reports of the events' in Post Office Square. Ho was quite satisfied; lie said, that no legislation would, wholly prevent strikes. 'There were strikes that were absolutely justifiable —as when men weio being oppressed and had no other remedy. The spirit of tho Bill before the House was ono of conciliation. No strike had ever been less justified than tho striko of 1913. Many of tlio men who wero out on striko. ho did not blame, but ho did blamo. and everlastingly would blamo tlio moil who iiacl led those workers and deluded them. Many general statements had been rando about what tho Government should have dono, but nono of tho critics had said in so ninny words what it should liavo dono. Mr. M'Callum: Uso tho hob-nailed boots. A Federation Without Honour. Mr. Tlcrdman: In what way could that have been done? V/liy, ho continued, iiad not tho men appealed to tho Arbitration Court? They had to deal, lie continued, with a Federation wii'cli said; "Wo liavo no regard for a bond or even for honour." Mr. Webb: That is not truo,

. Mr. Herdman said that Federation leaders stated that an agreement was not binding. Mr. Webb: That is not true. • Mr. Ilordniaii: ! How • can you deal with men whoso lenders say: "To 1 101 l with agreements'' ? It useil to be said, ho added, that ait Englishman's word was his bond, but at the present day it seemed that his word was not his bond. ■ Ho believed that tlio 1913 strike would bo.a lesson for many years to come. It would bo recognised, ho thought, that the Government had been determined and fearless, and had endeavoured to the best of its ability to maintain order and repress rioting. Mads In Cermany. The TTnitod Federation of Labour, tlio Minister went on- to remark, was affiliated to 'tlio "International Secretariat at Berlin." "Made in Germany," he commented. Mr. Webb: "What about the "Onion Company? Hasn't it got shareholders in Germany?

Tho Minister said that he believed strikes would be fewer as time went on. It was to bo regretted that tho Loader of the Opposition had made tho sneech ho had that afternoon. "Whether Sir J. "Ward was in alliance with tho Rod Federation Party in tlio House ho did not know. ■ Sir. .1. Ward: I would like to say at. oneo that tho lion, .gentleman knows that is not correct. Mr. Herdman: Very well. Tlio right lion, gentleman, I hope, is in favour of preserving law and order, and lie ought to gel; up"in:the House and say that wo havo done everything wo can under very difficult circumstances. Tfis Member for Avon. Mr. C. W. Russell (Avon) furnished tho Houso with an extended set striko statistics. ■Ho stated that tho Minister of'Justice'had made fierce, and bitter and unfair attacks on Sir Joseph Ward. The doubt expressed by Mr. Hordman as to whether the Leader of tho Opposition was not in alliance with the "lied Feds" was the grossest and most impudent insult ever levelled at a public mail in tho House. Mr. Webb: And against tlio "Red Feds," too. (Laiightor.) ■ 'Mr. Russell said that ho was informed on good authority that in presiding at conferences between the parties, the Primo Minister had never oneo raised his voice on behalf of Labour. Tho Prime Minister: That statement is a falsehood.

Mr. Russell said that 110 had also been informed that when, at the conference, a representative of the employers said that it was arbitration or nothing, and a workers' representative replied. "Then it.is useless for us to continue,tho Primo Minister said: "If that is tho case, it is 110 uso for me to stay." Tho Primo Minister: That statement, Mr. Speaker, is also a falsehood. Mr. Speaker asked 11011. members on both sides to express themselves in milder language in future, Mr. Russell said that within two minutes of the confercnco assembling those attending -it were out 011 Lambton Quay again. Mr. Massey: I was thn last man to leave tho room or tho chair.

Mr. Russell, roaring loudly, asserted that tho Prime Minister was under tlio whin of the Employers' Federation. Mr. Massey: You wait until I reply.

"Dominion" Again Assailed. Mr. Russell went on to accuse. The Dominion of publishing inflammatory articles at a critical juncture in the strike. This," ho'said, was the most blackguardly and deliberate attempt to foment mischief that ho had ever seen in tho course of his life. Mr. Russell also made a violent attack upon Mr. James; organising secretary, of the Reform L'ea'gife: I ''" A Lack of Dignity. Mr. F. 11. Smith (Waitaki) said tliat if any . man in the. House .had shown a lack of dignity it was the mcihbor who had .just- sat dowri. He .went- .on t.o criticise Sir J. Ward. "The member for Avon," he said, "bawled, and you (Sir J. Ward) screeched. If I iiad been in Parliament as long as you liavo, I think I could control my temper a little." Would the Loader of tho Opposition, lio continued, settle tho striko as lie had settled his own-party? Sir J. Ward took control of that party when it had a majority of 55, and how ho iiad lost control 'of .it altogether. He did not bolievo that the Leader of tho Opposition could got a dozen men to go into the lobby wi'Ch him at tho, present time. Where was tho Opposition candidate at Lyttelton the other day? A Federation Advcicato. . Mr. P. C. Webb (Grey) said that the striko was due to tho shipping companies going back on an agreement with tho shipwrights tliat had existed for many years. / Sir W. Buchanan: Tliero was no agreement. Mr. Webb said tliat there was an understanding between tho parties. Ho wont on to deal with the history of the strike on lines frequently followed by tho Federation of Labour. There was not one man in tho House, ho declared, who would 'stand for disorder in any shape or form. Ho objected to the provision in the Bill enabling tho Government to dccido in. what group of workers a sccret ballot should be taken. It was unfair that 110 provision was mado for taking a ballot of tho employers. It was quite wrong to say that if tho lato Government had acted firmly tho Federation of Labour would never liavc como into existence.

After referring to the attitude of the employers and the Government, Mr. Webb, discussing the- enrolment of "specials" in the centres, said there had been no reason whatever for doing this. (Ironical laughter.) There had been no trouble before they came. (Cries of "Oil!" and laughter.)

An lion, member:. What about the Basin Hesorvc? What about Lyttelton?

Mr. Wobb declared that amongst the special constables thcro were criminals who had served fairly loiifj terms of imprisonment for law-breaking. But the strike, ho declared, was «till going on. and there was no sign of a settlement. If the Hill wore passed lie would not care a rap for an.v of the penalties under it. Approved by Mr. Millar. Tho Hon. J. A. .Millar (Dunedin West) taid his idea was that tho sooner tho strike was over the hotter it would ho for tho workers. When was tho worker going to ' c;,rn t ' K! l° sstm 11 section of tho pnhlit: cannot defy the wholo of tho public? Tho strike was never any good for tho working man. The sympathetic strike was always ardent at lirst, but it cooled quickly, as soon as the strikers felt their pockets touched. He was surprised at any :»■ presontative of Labo:;:' opposing this Hill. It was the missing-link in our arbitration system, providing as it did for tho settlement of labour disputes among workers not under, tlio Arbitration Act. Tho Hill was drafted mainly on tho model of the Canadian legist tion, but it was hotter than the Canadian systom in that it recognised the union and not tho individual workers only. From a unionist's point of view this was a great recommendation to tiie Hill. Tlio workers-concerned would he protected against themselves. Mori iu a crowded meeting, who Itad boon addressed by an orator, could be indu'jc'l to voto for any resolution when their passioii3 were aroused. Ho know that this was si), becauso lie had seen men a<rrec to strike against advice in just such circumstances. Nothing could bo fairer than tho Bill. All that it prevented was the hasty strike. A Real Defect. The one defcct in it, ho thought, was that iu it tho sympathetic striko was not touched. Tho liill presupposed a

dispute, lie would point nut to the iiiLMiibcr lor Avon that nu Government had had anything to do willi ihe 1 Sill) strike, and no Government could have slopped it, chiefly because it originated in i\ew .South Wales. Sir J.-nm.'S Mills, of tlio Union Company, and lie, as secretary ul' tlio union, did all (hoy could to prevent that strike coming to New Zealand. Jn this tliey tailed, hut (lie conditions were very different then from what they were to-dav. There was no machinery then to investigate a .dispute. A strike was all vorv well for a union while it could keep its men together, but as soon as individuals hegait to go hack to work t.lie strike wan virtually over.

Tho Government Powerless. A great deal had been said about tho Government taking action to end tlio •strike. With all duo respect to those men who had said this, lie would tike to ask them what tho Government wuiddo? Could tlio Government bring down legislation to say that all members of tlio Federation of Labour would have to join unions under the Arbitration Act? No Government in die world had over ventured to interfere in contracts between employer and employee.. It was impossible to lorco a man to work under certain conditions unless ho approved of them. And employers could not bo compelled to employ men unless tliov wished to do so. 110 admitted that if he had been Minister of Labour he did not see how he could have brought in any proposals to Parliament that could luivo done justieo to the present trouble. It was a great pity the striko had ever occurred, and ho was credibly informed that if the whole of tho Australian unions came out it would not force ail agreement between tho strikers and the employers here. The men might as well understand at once that no matter what happened the employers would not enter into any | agreement with tlio Federation ot Labour. The men might stay out for six , months, but they would fiiul -themselves in exactly tho same position at the end of tho t'imo as they were in now. He had just the same sympathy for Labour as he had '30 years ago, ami no man would do moro for Labour yet than ho was willing to do, so long as Labour was sane. But if Labour was not sane, then there was only ono thing to do—Labour must be allowed to go its own way. lie congratulated tho Minister of Labour on having introduced the Bill. (Applauso.) Mr. Veitch Supports tho Bill. Mr. W. A. Veitch (Wangamii) said ho agreed with a, groat deal of what the last speaker had said. The Bill contained a prineiplo which could not bo logically opposed. It meant that the will of the ■ majority of members of a union would bo expressed. Sucli an- investigation' as the Bill proposed would assist tlie public to come to a proper conclusion upon* tlio merits ol a strike, and this was most important, because no striko could possibly succeed if the community was.against it. The Bill, of. course, would not prevent strikes, but it would discourage strikes, and as' his experience/as a. Labour leader convinced him that strikes Wcro no good to tlio worker, ho wished to dis-. courage strikes. ■ Ho would vote for the Bill, and ho hoped it would bo passed into law. Ho did not agree with tho I'rimo Minister that Parliament should not have interfered to end the strike. His opinion was that Labour had lost in tho light, and ho-was/very sorry to havo to say it. He was sorry, too, that the wealthy commercial organisations' had benefited as thoy had by tlio striko, and got not only the .workers but most of tlio rest of tlio community under their control.' . Tlio workers had learned that industrial action was useless. Ho hoped that tliey had learned that lesson thoroughly, and that- they would realise thero was only one placo in which Labour was stronger than Capital, and that as at the ballot-box.

Mr. Isitt-Speaks. - Mr. L.. M. Isitt (Christchurcii North) said tlio Opposition had been for weeks past misrepresented*, .'l'hoy had been accused of being friends of- Red Federalism, and . this was not true. Ho had been an eye-witness to. tlio chargo in the Post Oflice Square, and his opinion of it.was this:' "A.weaker, madder,; more foolish, more reckless action L havo never witnessed." He also said the specials had wagged their batons with a. provocativo grin on their faces. This, they had no right to do. An lion, member: Oh, get out.

Mr. Isitt said the polico had boon pelted with stones, detonators ivero thrown, but they wero past tlio crowd, and out of range when they turned and rodo through the crowd in which tliero were many innocent people.. This was what ho had scon.

Mr. Massey: Did. you sbo tlio horso shot?

Mr. Isiti said tli.it ho had not, but ho believed a horse had boon shot. Jlo wont on to discuss the strike. Ho said that if the Government had insisted upon a secret ballot being taken, the result lvonld havo boon that a great majority of the strikers would havo declared for going hack to work. They wero being bullied and misled by their leaders.

Mr. Massey: You know they refused a secret ballot? Mr. Isitt said the Primo Minister should have forced 'the ballot upon tho men in order to protect thorn from their leaders. A Rebuke for Mr. Isitt. Sir Walter Buchanan (Wairarapa l / said the House had just hoard a speech from a man who could Jiot bo described otherwise than as a "blustering demagogue." Tho member for Christchurcii North, who had always professed temperance, was tlio most intemperato speaker in tho House. And tho less he knew of a subject tho moro dictatorial ho was. Even tho desk in front of him was apt to be demolished by the vehemence of ignorance. lie (Sir Walter Buchanan) said ho had begun life as a worker with his own hands, and some time after that lie became and had remained ever since an employer of labour. 'l'ho honourablo gentleman could inquire in the AVailarnpa district if ho chose whether ho (Sir W. Buchanan) was a just employer, lie was not an extremist as tho lion, member had said. Ho was quite content with the judgment of tho Hon. Mr.. Millar and the member for Wangalitii on tho Bill. lie congratulated tho Government 011 having introduced it, and 110 would support it.

That Old Explanation. Mr. J. Robertson (Otaki) _ said tho Federation of Labour was not a body that, did not recognise agreements. The statement upon this accusation was made in n newspaper article, written by n man who was not an officer' of the Federation. Who Shall Control Ballot. Mr. A. H. Hindinarsh (Wellington South) said that tlio lirst breach of agreement leading up to tho present strike was committed by tho Union Company. At the same time ho blamed the Wellington waterside workers for holding a stop-work meeting. Dealing with tlio Bill itself, ho declared that the secret ballot- was neither hero nor there. ■Everything would depend upon the inquiry into tho circumstances of an industrial dispute, for which tho liil! provided. A serious objection to the secret ballot proposal was that- tho unions objected to/a ballot being taken by an officer-over whom they had 110 control He thought it was probably desirable to have some provision for a secret ballot, but the Minister would bo well advised if ho would allow the secret ballot to be conducted by the officers of tlio unions concerned. Mo argued that if the I'riino Minister had introduced tl-o present Bill beforo the strike position bccanio complicated by tho introduction

of free labour, the st riki ; SiiugliJ; ; ;:Jin.nv been rlhtefl weeks - ,t n) : it\l\uial. l 'l\ : :. (lie I'riiue Minister h:i(l public capital nut <>l in;; In appear as the |):(iferi Mr.:nl..:-:(|j(;' sumll fanner, and the and order. It was a vile: shame-M'taj; tile sinkers' cry i'nr assistance hadfgoiie unheeded. Who eoulil. not admirolyhif loyalty of the men who had' ru-1.. back to work? .'sfsifisiiSJ

Legislation Pnv.oripbs. Jlr. (.1. .1. Anderson (Alat:i!ira),.said;hß! would have admired the; loyally Vil' I he. men if they had licen 'strikiiig ioiv ai great principle. As ' a nuiUcra of fact tiicy had not struck for ';i';*'|)i iiij ; ciple, bill because they had been "led!' ii'to it by foolish loaders, llouou'raiilej mcnibcrs. had saicl a good <ieai 10 ilie. elleet that legislation at the beginning'" ol the {."oiiblo would have ended it, bn!j neue of them had said what that ■ iogisj';.' latiou should be. Mr. Russell: What about tiio\ jiis'jf sent Bill:' •Mr. Anderson said the nill-wouhPnol; havo ended the strike, once., entered; upon, 110 hoped tho Mill would' havi>; the effect of preventing hasty v iitrikesr : and if rash haste cnuld-hc avoided niaiiy.; strikes would be avoided. " lie was'very lunch afraid, however, thai it. would no: have that effect, fn the present trouble the Prime Minister had done all he pds-,. sibly could to bring the parties-to the dispute together. And tlio party ; had' not endeavoured to make party' capital out of the strike. Mr. J. A. llanan (Invereargill) said' lie would voto for tho se< cui<l readingof the Bill to reaffirm his allegiance to peaceful methods: and arbitration ill'the settlement of strikes. The history' of strikes showed that they had inflicted tho greatest injury upon tho working men. This BiM would never ■ end discontent among the workers. The reasons for 'that lay ■ deeper. Tlio debate was carried on by Messrs, A. 15. Glover! 11. G. El!, 11. Alaiore, and E. 11. Clark.