BRITISH LABOUR MEASURES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 35, 5 November 1919, Page 7

BRITISH LABOUR MEASURES

A STORM OF PROTEST BY THE TRADES UNIONISTS SIR R. S. HORNB MEETS THE LEADERS.

By Telr.craEh--Prc.E» Assaclnti-jB-CoiijricM London, November 1.

The Ministiy of Labour's proposals raised a storm of indignation, in Irndfi union circles, necessitating Sir K. S. Home announcing the deletion of tho clauses empowering industrial courts - to, make awards binding, and denying tlio right to strike against an awards

.It is scmi-qificinlly pointed out that the Minister's draft proposals were submitted only as a basis for di-enssioii. during yesterday's negotiations in connection with the continuance d the Act' establishing tho present wages -"or another year. The Labour representatives inunediatelv repudiated t!ie proposals., They considered them 'it. direct attempt to involve Labour in tiie responsibility t'or making strikes illegal.

Tho situation was strained throughout to-day, the trade unionist leaders declaring .Hint they preferred to let the Act lapse and come immediately to grips on the wages question rather than be a party to the Hill.

Sir K. S. Home had a prolonged conference with the trade unionists in the afternoon, after which the Labour lepresentatives announced their decision to call on Wednesday a special conference of the trades immediately concerned, principally shipbuilding and engineering; and also, as the proposals affected tho whole trade union movement, to invito the Parliamentary Committee ol tho Trades Union Congress to attend. Later in tho evening Sir R. S. Home announced the deletion of the clauses to which objection had been raised. He states that he will introduce the Bill on Monday. Tho Bill retains the proposal to establish an Industrial Court, which will ho available to settle disputes with consent, after the parties have failed. It also empowers the Minister to appoint courts of inquiry into the causes and circuit), stances of disputes. The Bill omits the provision compelling employees .to go to arbitration in reference to demands for increased wages.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.