PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1933, 16 December 1913, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

END OF THE SESSION, ' MORE ABOUT NAVAL DEFENCE ■'■ THE CLOSING SCENES. SESSIONS WORK DETAILED. ; The Legislative Council eat at ■ 10 a.m. ', ••• A Message was received from'tho House of Representatives insisting on its amendments to the Law Practitionw \nn C '"il mo \i BilL Tll e Hons. W, tr n tiTi ' Carncross, and 11 O. Bell were appointed managers for a conference with tho Houso of 'Representatives on tho subject. ■. Later it was reported that tho conreronco had como to an agreement, br which Clauso 14 was struck out, and a clause inserted by which tho Governor might make provision for an annual audit of trust accounts. This would liavo the eil'ect of making workable, but more stringent, regulations. Tho report was adopted. . A Message was received from, the House of Representatives disagreeing 1 with the report of tho third conference on the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, and asking for a fourth conference. This was agreed to, and tho FJf.ns. C. J. Johnston, J. E, Jenkinson, Slid H. D. Bell appointed managers for tho Council. Later it was reported an agreement had been arrived at on tlie contentious Auckland clauso. An amendment providing for tho collection of water rates already levied was agreed to. v The report was adopted.

. DISPUTES' INVESTIGATION.

. LABOUR MEMBERS' VIEWS. * The Hob. H. D. BELL moved the second reading of the Labour Disputes' Investigation Bill, and explained at length the provisions of the Bill. Tho Hon. J. I!IG(j said that had tho Arbitration Act been administered in a more liberal sense there- would have been'llo reason for tho introduction of strike legislation, such as was contained in the present Bill. But it was the bad administration of tho Arbitration Act which drove union after union out. In later years the administration had been too one-sided, too much 011 the sido of the employers. Tims had arisen the Federation of Labour, comprising unions ■ driven out by the Arbitration Courts. This led up to the July Labour Congress, which drew up an entirely new constitution, on two lmes, providing for industrial and political organisation. As the result of the July Congress tho Red Feds, ceased to exist. Hon. H. D. Bell: Oh! Hon. J. H-igg: Ceased to exist. In a short time many unions- not at all concerned with tho old Federation of Labour had joined in. Hon. H. 7). jJcll: \ on mean they swallowed jtne Red Feds, not that the Red Fetls swallowed them. Tho Hon. J. Rigg said tho point 110 wanted to make was that the political and industrial organisation had been steadily going on. They must hare men prepared to lead a forlorn hope. It took all sorts to make a labour or-* ganisatiou, but ho was suro the conservative element would havo ruled had it not been interrupted by tho strike, Had their organisation been perfect they would not have had tho present strike Hon. H. D. Bell: Would not have had the present Government. (Laughter.) j Hon ,J. Rigg: We Mould not have i'.ad the present strike, for under tho constitution of the congress it was necessary before a' genera! strike took place to have it approved by all tho workers in New Zealand. Hon. W. C. F. Caracross; Was that course followed in tho recent strike? Not Properly Organised. Hon. J. Rigg: That course was not followed beeaaso tho organisation was not properly organised. Continuing, Mr. Rigg dealt with the socialism contained 111 tile proposals of tho July Constitution. There was no •spoliation _ contained in it. Dealing further with the failure of tho Arbitration Act, ho showed that strikes had been occurring milch more frequently during later years. In twenty year's there had.been 03 strikes; in tlio last three years tlio number was: 1011 15IM2, 20; 1913, 23. In ISO", too, twelve strikes wore of slaughtermen onlv. When tlicy realised that in Australia they had over 100 strikes yearly, they saw they compared very well. An lion, member: That is an argument against Labour Governments. HOll. J. Rigg: My point is this: Is tho number of strikes sufficient here to warrant, tho drastic legislation which it is now proposed to introduce P Men did not strike for the sake of striking. Workers suffered a _ great- deal before they took the drastic step. His suggestion was to give them a chance to mako strikes unnecessary. There was nothing in the Bill that would havo the effect of restoring tho confidence of the workers in tho Arbitration Court. He bad suggested from time to time that .the Court should have power to givo a portion of tho profits of the industry to the workers. That would bring about a better state of industry and profit. Those profits should bo invested in tho shares of the companies, which would make the workers not only profit-sharers, but co-part-ners. This had been very -successful in many eases. An hon. member: And disastrous in others. The Hon. J. Rigg proceoded to enumerate cases of successful profit-shar-ing. The Hon. C. H. MILLS advocated the ballot-box before -strikes should take place. He had spoken to many strikers, and many of them thought" that be- - cause tho Government had to spend a large sum of money on the strike it was a sort of retaliation. Bill Absolutely Necessary. The Hon. J. T. PAUL regretted they had not an opportunity to review the whole Labour question." It was not fair that they should do s« in the dying state of tho session. The Bill provided legislation which had been necessary for some. time. It was not necessary years ago, but had lately become absolutely necessary. When tho Arbitration Act was brought in there was a good deal of opposition, but when it was found to be for tlio good of tho workers it was generally accepted. With tho inception of the Red Federation some other steps were necessary, and ho held that this Bill met it, Ho held that tho disturbance which had taken place could be laid more at the door of tho propaganda of the Red Federation than at the door of tho maladministration of tho Arbitration Act-. With the inauguration of the Red Federation strikes had increased. The Red Feds preached the: doctrino that the workors could gain all their demands. That appeared to lie upheld by tlio success of the seamen in 191].' It then took a groat deal to hold tho unions, and it said a great- deal for the men who lor years had' advocated arbitration that- the unions were not led away then. Now lie regretted to say that thousands who broke away were regretting their step. It was fair to argue that the strike method was not the first method, was not the best method, nnd was not the- regular .method, (Hear, hear,) Tho strike was

' an appeal to : force,' and not an appeal to reason. In a serious Position. Tlio workers of tin's country had to do a groat deal of thinking in tho near future. Tlioy wore in a very serious . position, and had to ego that thoy did not lose what it had taken 20 years to gain. In fairness to tlio employers at the present timo he would say thoy ■ were very tardy in forcing the fruits of victory they had gained'. Ho believed they did not propose to penaliso the workers by reducing wages or increasing hours. lie did not say ti)oy could do so, Imt there was 110 attempt to do so. The difference which led up to the present- strike could have been adjusted in half an hour by any six sensible men. {Hear, hear!) A propaganda had been pre-aohed to tlio men that the first- thing to do was to down tools; that was the last thing tiiey should do. (Hear, hear.) After referring to the Arbitration Act Mr. Paul said one of the brightest spots in connection with this industrial dispute, and ho know ho incurred the odiimi of a certain section, wa.s tlio loyalty to tlio people of the railwayman in this country. In tlio interests of labour tlio of the strike propaganda had to bo condemned, Tlio object of the I. v> ,W. was to steal from tho present owners tho means of production, so far as thoy. woro controlled by capital. It proposed to so annoy controllers of industry that industries would bo handed over to them. That sort of propaganda was being preached in this country. Tho Hon. J. Riggi.Qnly a very few arc preaching it. Insane and Immoral Doctrine. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul: That doesn'tmatter- We liavo to remember thnt it has grown in America with a Continental tinge. 'Chat shotdd bo condemned by thfl workers refusing to believe tho preachers of such an insane and immoral doctrine. He contended that tho co-partnership proposals put forward by the Hon. J. Rigg would not bo accepted for one moment by the revolutionary school. Thoy said all profits wcro wrong, and that industry should bo owned and controlled by the workers. He proposed to vote for the Bill, and behoved it would effect reform, and enable them to preserve industrial peace. hear.) Tlio Hon. W. EADNSHAW contended that the propaganda which had been introduced from America had to bo stamped out. What was being preached in Now Zealand to-day was anarchism and not Socialisiii. Ho stood for the liberty of tlio subject, but he had attended tho Rod Federation meetings and stood appalled at- th© ignorance, impotence, and fatuity of tho loaders of his class. Surely the proposal of the measure that timo should bo given for consideration before aclion was taken was reasonable ? . The Bill was a measure of persuasion and not oppression. Tho Hon. W. D. H. BAILLIE heartily agreed with tho remarks of tho Hon. J. T. Paul and would support tiro Bill. Tho Federation's Assertion, The Hon. J. DUTBIE offered his con- i grat-ulations to the Hon. Mr. 'Paul for so lucidly setting out- tho position and disclosing tho aims of tho Rod iFeds. and tho IAY.W. Undoubtedly in Now Zealand they had a well prepared problem. riiey stood in great danger from tins society _ in their midst- Ho admitted arbitration limited to some extent the liberty which men ef enterprise thought thoy woro entitled to. but tho progress of the Dominion could only be maintained when all wcro employed to tho best advantage. Ono honourable gentleman still attributed the blame for the_ strike to tho em* plover and tho Union Company. Ho could not agree with this. On their wharves there wore largo and valuable stocks to be shifted, when suddenly the men decided to stop work. That was an action so unreasonable and wild that it should never have been taken. Tlio' honourable , gentlemen passed over that point. A condition of tilings could not be allowed to exist which would cause such a loss a,? that at the whim of a few men. It was from that that tlio strike started. Tho workers' assertion Was that they were so strong that they could stop industry when they liked. ! With regard to tlio success achieved by tho employers, there was no intention to take advantage of the victory. In tho adjustment to take placo one. of tho prominent matters was tho question of preference to unionists. It deprived men of tho rights of freedom. It was right -enough Tor men to combine, but that all tlio men should bo forced into the unions was not right, and the condition should not exist. Industries of tlio country had to bo carried on in peaco and quietness, and there must bo an assurance of this before progress could go on. The employing class had been robbed of all that souse of security warranting them in pushing on industry. If there- had been a large enough civil foroo there would probably never have been a- strike, ami tho Government would liav© to maintain a larger eiVil force. It was a good thing that thero woro thoso in the country prepared to com© forward and keep the wheels of industry tjoing. The Hon. R, A. LOUGHNAN. Regretted tlio measure had not taken some steps to put an end to ilio present strike. It was a pity tho sympathetic strike could not bo settled somewhat c : n the- lines la-id down by. the Suprtvmo Court when dealing with tho question of tho finances ef a union. Ho was satisfied with tho Bill, so far as it went. Tho Hon. J. E. iIIiNKINSON took occasion to resent what he declared was an "aspersion cast on (ho raihvaynien" by the Hon. W. Earnshar. Tho Hon. W. Earnshaw: You are absolutely and entirely incorrect. I cast no aspersion at- all. "What Nonsense!" The Hon. J. E. Jcnldnson, proceeding, said ho was sorry that the Bill had not been passed before the strike. Then, ho believed, there would have been 510 strike. Ho disagreed with tho Hon. Mr. Duthie, and contended tho strike was brought about by tho Union Company. The Hon. H. D. Bell: Oh, what nonsense I 'Plie Hon. Mr. Jenkinson concluded bv statiug ho would vote for the Bill, H it did anything towards arbitration and conciliation -it would do good. The Minister's Reply. Tho Hon. H. D. BELL congratulated tho Labour members on expressing their views so lucidly.. With regard to tho Hon. Mr. Rigg, he dissented entirely from what ho had said, and did not believe that lion, gentleman had been quite candid in regard to tho constitution of tho Federation of Labour. Tho constitution of tho Socialist- Democratic Party, tho political sido, was entirely in favour of taking all property for tlio benefit of tho workers. Tho Hon. 51 r. Rigg advocated as n panacea profitsharing. He (Mr. Boll) had nothing to Say against that. He believed in the_ end that that- would be tho relief of industrial strife, but the Hon. Mr. Rigg should have gone further, and said the Federation of Labour was against him in this. It was not tho capital' ist who was opposed to profit-sharing, it was the organisation of which his lion, friend would very likely soon ho one of tho feeders. Regarding the- recent- strife, he assured thorn tho Govern* went would have dotio their dutv iii keeping tlio peace had all Labour boon against them. Thoy never consulted as to the attitude of employer or' employee. When it was said'the turmoil was due to tho Union Companv, something entirely wrong was said. It was, perhaps, the pin.firp setting alight to the bonfire which had boon piling up for same long time. Practically. with 0110. or two exceptions, tho Bill 'seemed to meet with approval from Labour representatives. Whether it would do what was d&sircd thoy could not, say,

The Bill gave timo for any disputo to bo -settled by friendly discussion. Such discussions Lad been friendly in, tho past, and would be so ill the future, were not tho United Federation of Labour determined that tlicy should not bo so. They (the Federation) woro determined that thero should be a t-iin.e when a crisis should come, and numbers proVail. He did uo t. think ho was misrepresenting tlio position when ho said 1 -,i 11 enabled tho dispute to Uo settled by this friendly discussion. One Objector. Tho Hon. J. RI.GG called for a division on the motion for the second reading. Tho motion was. carricd by 17 to 1, the Hon, J. Rigg dissenting. Tho Bill was reported from Committee with machinery amendments, read a third time, and passed. Other Gills. The Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill and tho Shops and Offioes Amendment Bill wcro put through all stages without amoiulmoiit and passed. Tho Hon. J. T. PAUL, on tho second reading of the Shops and Officea Amendniont Bill, said it would bo idle to prc> tend that the Bill gave satisfaction. Thero was no necessity in any industry that ft worker should bo deprived of ono day's rest in seven. Tho poorer class of restaurant or industry was not of sufficient im-portando to warrant tho workers thero being deprived of their holiday, lie regret! Ed the Legislature hadlcit this important -question to t-ha Arbitration Court-. The Hon. H. D. BELL, in reply, pointed out that the only possible way to decide on exceptions, if it was decided to allow exceptions, was by going to tho Arbitration Court. ' In Committee 011 the. Bill, the Leader of tho Council said ho was not prepared to accept an amendment to the content tious clause, Clause 8. APPROPRIATION BILL, Tho Appropriation Bill was received from the House and put through all stages without amendment, A Message was reocived from th« Governor, giving Royal' Assent to the Bills passed, at U.lO p.m. farewell utterances. .The Hon. & A. LOUGHNAN to viewed ths session at soiuo length. He congratulated the Leader of tho Council 011 tho manner in which ho had conducted the affairs of tho Council. Hie Hon. J. RIGG also complimented tho Leader. If he had erred at all during tho session it was on tho sido of too much fairness. Ho had never misled tho Council in any manner, and had compared favourably with other leaders. , riio Hons. W. Ea-riishaw, J. E. Jenkinson, and W. YV. Boehan also paid tributes to tho Speaker (tho Hon. Sir diaries Bow-en), tho Leader of the Council (tho Hon. H. D. Bell), tho Chairman of Committees .(tho- Hon. W. 0. F, Carncrossj and officers of tho Council. . Suitable responses were made in each instance. T'l? Council adjourned at midnight till Iriday text.