BRITISH LABOUR BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 39, 10 November 1919, Page 5

BRITISH LABOUR BILL

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION ABANDONED

THE ABNORMAL TRADE

CONDITIONS

I By Tolecraph-Frces Aaiociation-QopvriKht I (Rec. November 9, 5.5 p.m.) ■ j London, November li.. I Sir If. S. Horne, in'moving the skoiio • readimr of the Industrial Courts Bill,,esj tablishimr a permanent industrial court j and a court of inquiry, also providing that it will lie illegal to lower wages before SeiHembcr, IiKO, admitted that a I persistent state oi interference- with I n-acre-3 would lead to disaster, but trade j conditions were still most abnormal. j Stability was necessary. Nothing all'ect]ed trade like uncertainty. The GovernI nient whs abandoning the clauses enforcj ing compulsory arbitration, which trade ■ unions considered an infringement of their rights. The Government aimed at svstcmatisiji.g wages and encouraging settlements by arbitration, thus avoiding ; strikes. He believed tho Bill would j create a better atmosphere regarding inj.dustrial relations. During the past year I 853 disputes lino' been decided, and there i were only throe strikes against awni'ds.— ! Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i i'l'ho Hill as at first submitted made ! strikes and lookouts illegal to tho execu- | lives of the societies of engineers, the Na- • tional Federation of General Workers, i and other unions. It extended tho pay- ] ment of ajl war "bonuses to tho end of j Seotember, and set up industrial courts, i the awards of which would he legally onj i'orcon'. The ofjkinls and executives of I the trades unions or employers' nssocijii lions were to bo amenable to tho law in j case of ftrikos or lockouts, and a finan- | rial wnalty was to be leviable upon the j funds of trades unions and associations if fouud guilty.] j BILL READ A SECOND TIME. j (Bee. November 9, 11.5 p.m.) I London, November 6. In tho Industrial Court's debate in the House of Commons Mr. J. R. Clynes raid that, the Labour Party .would have preferred a simple measure guaranteeing a continuance of tho present wages. Instead of this the Government proposed far-reilching and permanent innovations. Tho Government had done nothing to solve the uemployment difficulty. The Labour Party shared in tho desire for industrial nease. This was proved by the Di'evention of an extension of and the successful efforts to settle the railwave strike. Unemployment pay ought to be abolished. It would be better to pay the workman sixty shillings weekly for some work, even if not fully earned, than thirty shillings for idleness. Mr. J, B. Reiner moved tho rejection of the Patchwork Bill, which he said was calculated to foster industrial war. « ' Sir Donald Maclean regarded tho industrial courts as a. useful development of State intervention in great disputes. The Bill was read a second time.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. iron andlteel trades INCREASED WAGES GRANTED. (Rec. November 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 6. The lutcrim Court of Arbitration has delivered a far-reaching decision effecting the wages of forty-seven trade unions concerned in the engineering, iron, and steel trades, who have been grantod a ss. weekly increase, based on the present nrosoective increase in tho cost of living. The increased cost compared with that lirfnro the war was on October 1 120 per cent., and on November 1 it was estimated at 13(1 per cent. The Court anticipated a further increase during th& winter. The decision affects a million workers. The extra wages will amount to thirteen millions pounds It is expected that other unions will demand similar increases, causing; a. further increase in tho cost of living, thus initiating renewed wages demands.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MOULDERS' STRIKEJAY EXHAUSTED AN APPEAL TO TRADE UNIONISTS. (Rec. November 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 5. The ironmoulders are appealing to trade unionists for funds. The moulders had set aside .£300,000 for strike-pay, and that is practically exhausted. Kindred trades are angry. The moulders in their appeal declare that the interests of their members were not consulted when the strike was initiated.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. NATIONAL UNIOrToF RAILWAYMEN DECIDE TO APPOINT TWO HIGHLYPAID SECRETARIES. (Rec. November 9, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 5. The National Union of Railwaymen at first decided to appoint a secretary at .£IOOO a vear, to devote his whole time to tlie duties. Mr. J. H. Thomas did not desire to quit the House of Commons. The railwavmen then decided to appoint two secretaries at JiIWW each, giving Mr. Thomns all the jwwer, and also decided to Dresent Mr. Thomas with a large lionse and grounds.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.