Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1901. CONCILIATION ACT AMENDMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 July 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1901. CONCILIATION ACT AMENDMENT.

All Acts of Parliament especially in cases of experimental Acts as are for instance the Acts relating to labor and industry are capable of amendment, in consequence of the experience gained in their working, and this is the cause of the introduction of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. It proposes that when g company registered out of New Zealand is carrying on business in the colony through an agent acting under a power of attorney, such company may be registered as an industrial union of employers. Trade unions are entitled to become parties to industrial disputes, and it is proposed to render it lawful for a solicitor to appear before a board if he is a lona fide principal in the dispute. Trade unions may also be bound by an award and joined as parties to a dispute, and provision is made that a resolution to refer a dispute to the board or court may be carried by a majority of those present at the meeting called for the purpose instead of a majority of the members of the union as at present. Another amendment is one which seeks to preserve harmonious relations between employers and employed not mly as at present during the dispute

and afterwards, but before the dispute. In moving the second reading of the Bill on Friday, the Premier dealt with the subject of the proposed amend--1 ment and urged the necessity for their acceptance. That there is necessity for some alteration is at once apparent to anyone who has watched the proceedings in connection with the working of the Conciliation Act and also that it was desirable that trades unions should come under its operations which they do not at present. It would then be putting them on the same footing as an industrial union The real forward movement in the bill is the safeguarding of the employees before a dispute actually commenced. There is no doubt but that a feeling of unrest prevails among the industrial classes, not only in New Zealand but throughout the world, and the Labor Party is steadily and persistently working its way in endeavouring to made headway against the opposing power of capital, and any endeavour to mitigate the strain and misery consequent on open rupture, should be hailed with welcome. Much good has been effected by the labor legislation ef New Zealand; but it is far from

perfect. Already notice of a father amendment has been given which is sensible and practical. It is to the effect that in the event of a dispute between two parties, each party shall appoint two members of the board and pay their expenses ; that the Ohairmah shall be appointed and paid by the Government, his object being to ensure that trade disputes shall be adjudicated upon by experts, and not by those who have no knowledge of the trade concerned. This evidently seems a common sense view to take of tbo subject.