Political Compromise on the Arbitration Bill

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 219, 5 December 1927, Page 1

Political Compromise on the Arbitration Bill

SKELETON MEASURE ACCEPTED Constructive Conference Promised Aided by an end-of-the-session mood, the Government persuaded the House of Representatives on Saturday evening to pass a truncated Bill dealing with the proposed reform of the industrial conciliation and arbitration law. The original Bill was mutilated beyond recognition and replaced by a compromise measure which virtually maintains the status quo until September 1 next year. The agreement provides for a constructive conference on the subject during the recess.

(THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Saturday. “TT has been a long job, hut we had to face it fairly and squarely. Whatever happens eventually the responsibility must fall upon the shoulders of the Government. Some might complain about myself, but I am prepared to stand all that. I believe that this agreement will make for the solution of the problem and will clarify the whole position before Parliament has an opportunity of again considering it.”

This statement was made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon J. G. when announcing that an agreement had been reached between those negotiating upon the Industrial Comciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was, later passed in amended from through the House. The agreement provides for a conference in the recess. The Prime Minister recalled the position of affairs at which negotiations had broken off on Thursday evening during the committee debate on the Bill and said tliat since then the question had been thoroughly discussed b,v all those who had strong views on the Bill, and between the different parties in the House. Everyone had admitted that so far as the Government was concerned it was desired that some relief be given to the farmer who was in such a position that his industry was not so attractive as it once had been. Mr. H. E. Holland: Would it not be better to' leaye that stuff out, because if you do not there will be a debate on it? REASONS FOR POSTPONEMENT Mr. Coates: I have to give reasons for the Government taking certain lines of action. After all the responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the Government. There was a desire on the part of everyone that a conference should be held, and the Government had the say as to whether it should be held. The Government has a strong party in the House and can inflict its will upon the members if it wants to I do not say it wants to. But there was a general expression of opinion that the question of this Bill should be postponed —Ahat was the opinion from members on all sides of the House. It does not apply to any one party. _ . It had eventually been agreed that the conference should be held with the provision that a clause which had been drafted' shbhld be inserted. This clause .was to the .effect that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the principal act no award relating to farming or to the manufacture of butter, cheese and other products of

milk and to persons engaged (whether employers or workers) on a farm shall be made before September 1, 1925. Mr. Lysnar: Will you pass the Bill and add this new clause? Mr. Coates: This will be the Bill. EFFICACY OF CONCILIATION

The Prime Minister added that the Labour Party had asked that the conciliation agreements be suspended in the meantime, but the efficacy of conciliation at any time was recognised by the Government and it was not considered w-ise that the Conciliation Act should be suspended. It was desirable that until the conference had been held in the recess and the results of the investigations revealed the operations of the Arbitration Act alone should be suspended so far as it affected the industries he had mentioned. The Labour Disputes Investigation Act also would operate as usual.

A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION “Investigation into the position would involve a separate organisation of the best men available,” continued Mr. Coates. This has been a long job. and it is fairly wide in its scope. We have had to face it fairly and squarely however, and the general course of the Government will be to sketch out an idea of what is required and as to how it can be carried out. The Government accepts the offer of a conference in the spirit in which it was given. Some members of the House must be desperately disappointed, and inclined to complain about me. I am prepared to take all that, because I have had a sincere desire —-and it has been the sincere desire of all — to tackle this in a genuine endeavour to make a success of the huge undertaking that lies in front of us.” LABOUR WILLING TO HELP Mr. H. E. Holland, leadeF of the Op .osition, said the proposals which the Labour Party had submitted to the Government respecting the holding of a conference were not accepted. But he assured the House that his party was prepared to co-operate in the en deavour that was being made to have the position satisfactorily cleared up. He believed this was the most sensible method of t- -kling it, and that as a result of th » erence something would be placed o_. the Statute Book which would give added satisfaction to both employers and employees in the farm Ing industry. The Bill was sent on a very hasty passage through committee, and then passed qu ; ”kly though its final stages, the new } ’.use moved by the Prime Minister forming the substance of the measure.