HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 39, 17 September 1892, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday,. September 15. The Industrial Conciliation Bill was further, considered in committee. Fart 4, Government Railways. Clause 74, ' Bailway;Commissioners to be subject to jurisdiction of Court, of ' Arbitration.' The Hon. Mr Furgna moved to strike oat this clause. The Leader of the Opposition opposed the clause, remarking that the Bill would practically repeal several of the clauses of the Government Railways Act, which provided for the management of the railway servants. ,J|lr Earnshaw supported the clause/asking why a body of 4000 mea should be debarred from its provisions. . Besides the system of ap peal tiow in vogue was of a nature that prevented the men getting justice. Sir George Grey said,, be was firmly convinced of the necessity for a Court of Appeal for railway men, and he believed such a court would greatly strengthen the hands of the Commissioners. Oppression was certain to obtain in such a large body of men, and he. thought both the men and the Commissioners would benefit if the proposed clause was passed. After a debate extending over nearly three hours and a half a division' was taken, which resulted in the clause being retained by 26 to 19. The BUI was then reported with amendment*., The Bill was immediately recommitted,' when the Minister proposed to strike out clause 2, * Act not to affect Trade Union Act, 1878.' Agreed to on the voices. The amendments made in the BUI were then agreed to. The Leader of the Opposition objected to their reading now, and read a letter from the Chief Justice expressing on behalf of other Judges of the Supreme Court a hope that Government would not press the clause making one of their number the President of the Court of Arbitration. He wished to postpone the third reading to allow of the Supreme Court Judges to notify their objections to the House officially. The Minister for Labour consented to the postponement. The amendments made in the Shops and Assistants Bill m committee were agreed to. , After some discussion the Bill passed its final stages.