STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 31, 31 October 1917, Page 6

STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT.

CONCERNING MODIFICATION OF AWARDS. The Statute Law Amendment Bill, which had been left in Committee after the dropping of clause 19 (relating to the employment of disabled soldiers) was reported from Committee. Sill FRANCIS BELL moved the ihird reading of the Bill. The Hon. ,T. BARK- said that Clause 19, providing for the suspension or modification of ; industrial awards, etc., to allow of the employment and training of disabled discharged soldiers,, had been deleted from the Bill in Committee of the Council. He considered that in principle this clause had the approval of the representatives of Tjabour aJid' of other people who had at heart the interests of disabled soldiers. He believed every trade union would uphold him in saying that the unions would waive anything and do anything in order to secure the proper training and employment of their returned comrades from the front. But tho clause aa drafted had given the Qovornor-in-Council power to modify or suspend awards, and the clause, moreover, would have been operative not merely during the poriod of the war, but for ail indefinite time afterwards. _ Thiß arrangement might havo caused friction. The proper authority to exercise power of that kind was the Arbitration Court. Ho was sorry tho matter had not been dealt with in some way. Failing the granting of power to the Arbitration Court to deal with cases as they aroso it would bo necessary for tho unions to aet in co-operation with the Government in the interests of the disabled soldiers. It would be necessary to remove all suspicion that employers were taking advantage of the workers. Mr. Barr added that lie did not wish it to go forth that the Labour members of the Council had prevented the Government securing powers needed for the disabled soldiers. ■ The members approved of tho principle of the clause.

SIR FRANCIS BELL said lie hud not liad any reason to apprehend difficulty from the Labour members of the Council. He had had the benefit of the advice of the Hon. .T. Barr, and had been assured that tho Labour councillors would offer no opposition provided the clause was bo framed as not to interfere unduly with the rights of organised Labour, But the difficulty had been to arrive at an agreement that would satisfy the righteous requirements of organised Labour and at the same time satisfy tho Discharged ■Soldiers' Department, which naturally desired not to be hampered. The Government had thought it best to let the clause drop for the? present. No great difficulty had arisen with regard to <usabled soldiers, and if difficulty arose within the next year the Government would have to devise means of surmounting it. The difficulty might be the best evidence to .Parliament of what really was needed. , . , ~ j The Bill was read a third tame and passed. The Council met at 8 p.m. and adjourned until 18.30 a.m. to-dny. -