THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3770, 7 September 1907, Page 3

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Wellington, Thursday. A deputation representing the Trades Councils Conference had a lengthy interview to-day with the Minister for Labour with reference to the Arbitration Bill. The chairman expressed the opinion that ‘ ‘ if the proposed amendments were carried the Act would be no good to God or man. ’ ’ He then explained in detail the unions’ objections, which are set out in the recent manifesto. The Hon Millar, in his reply, said it possibly would have been better if they had come to him before they issued the manifesto. However, he was only too pleased of the opportunity of giving the fullest publicity to the Bill so that the workers of the colony might thoroughly understand it. He would show that some of the things which were condemned in the manifesto had been done at the instigation of the officers of the unions. • No one will deny that from one end of the colony to the other a demand had been made that something should be done to simplify the procedure of the Arbitration Court and to do away with delays. He was endeavouring to prevent those delays and promote further conciliation. He had tried |to avoid the evils of Wages rßoards system in Victoria, and J the proposal had been referred to the leaders of Labour outside the trades councils, and they approve of it. Under the systems of Industrial Councils the Minister believed they would have proper conciliation. If the system was not to be conciliatory the sooner conciliation boards were wiped out the better. The Government could not see its way to maintain the boards as at present constituted. He did not stick to every principle of the Bill, but bethought its main principles were good and that it should be given a trial. He did not want it to go forth that he had imposed greater responsibilities on the workers. Nine-tenths _of what is in the Bill was either existing now or had been asked for b) r the unions ot the colonjG