AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1926, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

.’Australia &-N.Z. Cable Association.] AUSTITALIAN POLITICS. MELBOURNE, May 20. lu the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Bruce introduced his bill for a proposed low to alter tlie Constitution in relation to industry and commerce. The measure proposes to enable the Commonwealth to establish authorities with power to regulate the conditions of industrial employment and the rights and duties of employees. Mr Bruce, introducing the bill, said it was in no sense a p irty question. Upon it, ho said, depended the future prosperity of the people of Australia. Hopes based on the .existing industrial legislation had not. been realised. Many things had happened to undermine, the principle of arbitration, and a position bad been readied where everyt liinking man must realise that something was wrong with the system, of I rving to settle industrial disputes, and to regulate wages and conditions. r l lie overlapfling authorities of the six States and tlie Commonwealth was a bar to progress.

Referring to the forty-four hour week judgment of the High Court, which held that Federal awards were supreme, Mr Bruce explained that if the Commonwealth was given the power it desired, it would not mean that the same hours would be worked in every part of Australia. The Court would h/.ive flower to fix different hours for different parts. It was proposed that lhe Federal Government be given power to conduct a secret ballot of die members of unions in certain emergencies, to audit tbe unions’ funds, to look after the interest of the members.

He noneluded: “If State rights are going to interfere with tlie progress of the country, then State rights have got to go.” The debate was adjourned.

Air Bruce then introduced another Constitution Amendment Bill, which proposed to give Die Commonwealth power to protect the interest.sl&f the public in a case of actual or probable interruption of any public service. OWNERS STATEMENT. SYDNEY, May 20. The Associated Colliery proprietors liavo issued a statement tlipt the P'°prietors are determined to stand by the principle involved, wliatevei L.e outcome of tlie engine drivers’ and firemen’s strike. It add: “Either_ the industry is to have independent arbitration and, the peaceful settlement of claims and dispute, or to hpve industrial chaos. The strikers rejected an award of a Coal Tribunal, and one thousand strikers have thrown thirty thousand workers idle. There will he no backing down by the colliery Proprietors.”