THE ARBITRATION SYSTEM

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2238, 9 July 1908, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION SYSTEM

HOW THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO DEAL' .WITH STRIKES. - “NEEDS” AND “EXERTION” WAGES A FEATURE OF BILL. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, July 8. Tho now Arbitration Bill completely remodels tho Act as at present in force. Tho first part deals with strikes and lock-outs. A £lO penalty is provided for strikes together with x further penalty of £1 for every week during which the''strike continues and during which tlio striker remains a party thereto. Tho penalty for the employer who loeke-out is £2OO, and £SO for every week tho lock-out continues. There are penalties for aiding and abetting. Section lo of; thoAet of 1905 is to be repealed. Special penalties arc provided in 'respect of strikes that may cause danger to. the public health or safety, and there is provision for suspension of unions convicted of certain offences. Under this section part 2 refers to tho enforcement of awards and industrial agreements. Penalties lor breaches are: unions £IOO, workers £o. Fines are recoverable in Magistrates Court only. There is provision for an appeal to tho Arbitration Court. If the men refuse to pay on notico from tho inspector of awards.the amount of the judgment is to bo deducted by the employer from the moneys due to the defendant. Part 3 deals with conciliation hoards. These are to bo abolished and in tlio first instance disputes are to be referred to councils of conciliation composed of a magistrate and assessors from tho industry concerned. In cases where no settlement is arrived at councils may state a case for tho Arbitration Court. The Court may affix a “needs” wage and also an “oxertion” wage. A needs wage is such as a worker of average skill and energy would earn. An exertion wage‘is an extra amount for work (lone above the standard. (Such wages may be varied from time to time as the Court thinks fit. Assessors are to he added to the Court of Arbitration. They are to be workers or employees in the industry concerned, but not parties to the dispute. If those concerned fail to appoint assessors the judge can appoint them. It is safe to say Hint tho Bui will bo hotly contested by t-lie workers. WELLINGTON OPPOSITION. PENALTY CLAUSES DISAPPROVED. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 8. It is understood tint the local Trades and Labor Council is strongly opposed to tlio Arbitration Bill mainly on account of the penalty clauses it contains. A special meeting of the Parliamentary Committee of tho Council will be held on Friday night t O . discuss its provisions, land to arrange for the. submission of evidence to the Labor Bills Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday next. MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. COMPULSORY ARBITRATION IMPOSSIBLE. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, July 8.-" Interviewed regarding the Arbitration Bill, the Leader of tho Opposition said that while in somo respectsit is an improvement on the presentAct, in other respects it is quite as objectionable as the present Act. “It is evidently intended to -retain tbe principle of compulsory arbitration,” he said, “which, after the experience we have had, I believe to be absolutely impossible and unworkable. Whatwe want is a form of conciliation that will be just and fair to both parties. There is no doubt that finally we must be satisfied with that. No doubt the Bill will bo very much amended by the Labor Bills Committee.