HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1927, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

trades union bill. (By Telegraph—Per Pri ss Association.) LONDON. June I I. In the Commons Sir (!. Scott, in committee on the Trade Union Bill .proposed a new clause making it illegal for any .strike or lock out in an essential industry, prior to or during a reference of the dispute to a conciliation tribunal. This lie said was an attempt at something constructive in the direction settlement of disputes. Mr Clynes said if the Government wanted industrial harmony it would have to proceed on lines of a now clause instead of the introduction of the Bill, which had gone far to eresh the spirit of conciliation. Mr Lloyd George agreed it was unfortunate to link safe conciliation proposals with such, a provocative Bill. T* the Government introduced a Bill along the lines of Scott’s proposals, it would he worth tons of the Trade "Union Bill.

LONDON. June 14, Sir A. Yfoml disagreed and said the new clause was inconsistent with the Bill. Scott’s proposal followed legislative provisions in the Dominions which avoided numberless strikes, lie hoped Britain would eventually adopt compulsory arbitration like Australia. Mr Hartshorn said if the Government wanted continuation let it scrap the Bill and Labour would then help to find a. better way of dealing with disputes. Mr Steel Maitland said though it would welcome machinery to prevent disputes coming to a head, the Government could not accept the agreement. It did not desire to do more than deal with the situation arising from a general strike ami did not wish to go further in preventing the right to strike than the avoidance of n recurranco of last year’s trouble. Steel Maitland offered if the new clause were withdrawn to have a committee appointed to consider improvements of the industrial conciliation machinery.

Mr Kenworthy said tin's was Hie most useful day devoted to the Bill. He believed compulsory conciliation as tried in Canada and Australia, must be attempted here. Mr Steel Maitland said he could not commit himself ns to the terms of reference, but the Government was willing to go ahead with the appointment of a committee, though he could not promise an appointment before the Bill left the Commons.

Mr Clynes said Labour would not accept arrangements ns a supplement instead of substitution for the Bill. If it wanted a really representative connnitte, the Government ought to withdraw the Bill. Mr Thomas said no responsible trade unionists would sit on the committee with the Bill hanging over them. Scott’s new clause was withdrawn.