AMENDING ARBITRATION LAWS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4523, 28 October 1930, Page 2

AMENDING ARBITRATION LAWS.

MR. LINKLAYGR’S PROTEST. Speaking on the Amendment under the LC.A. Act in the House, Mr. J. Linklater, M.P. (Mauawatu) said: — “It seems that a great deal of confusion exists in the minds of honourable members in regal'd to the effect of this bill. The Minister says it will, not affect the farming community and the Labour members support that view, but we have just listened to the speech of •an eminent- lawyer, who sa.ys they twill the affected. As a representative of tiie farming * community I feel very uneasy in regard to the bill. Fanners should not be brought under the arbitration award, as to do so would not be in the interests of either the farmers or the labourers. During wet weather much time is lost, so when the weather is dry it is necessary to work long hours, and if the farmlabourers were brought under an award it would bo extremely inconvenient.”

The Hon. AH. Smith: The honourable menvbeir does not object to the ilax millers being brought under an award. Mr. Linklater: That is a different matter. The Minister knows 'perfectly well that flaxwitling is ear- g ried on partly under cover, and is more like a factory, but I am satisfied that so far as the Arbitration Court is concerned it is ruining the industry. In my own district the mills would be working to-day were it not for the Arbitration Court, and although the men would not perhaps be earning big wage's they would be earning com- i Portable wages. (Instead of that \ many of them are now on chant- \ able aid, and some of them are working for 10/- a day in Chinamen's gardens. It would be infinitely better if the mill owners and the men could come to some amicable arrangement, but the Arbitration Court prevents that, and today we timl the ilax mills idle right through the Mauawatu. I am not speaking for the owners. I have been a working man myself, and have every sympathy with the workers, and in their own interests I Leel that it would be much better it the Arbitration Court award did not apply to the ilaxmilling industry. 1 do not like this bill, and I hope it will not be put on the Statute .Hook.