THE ARBITRATION BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 242, 6 October 1908, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION BILL.

PASSES TIIE UPPER HOUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last .Vglit. In the Legislative Council last night, on the motion to go into committee on the Arbitration lull, which was reported from the Labour Hills Committee, Hon. Rigg said clause 9 provided that a worker could be imprisoned for striking, and ho could not support any measure which permitted imprisonment of a worker or employer for non-pay-meni of line for a strike or a lockout, lie moved that the Bill l>c react this day six months. This lapsed for want of a seconder. The Attorney-General pointed out that a worker could not be imprisoned for striking, but if lie failed "to obey an order of the Court in not paying the line when able, he was in exactly the same position as a man who disobeyed an order of the Court to pay his grocer's bill. The Council then went into committee on the Bill.

An amendment by the Hon. Rigg to make the aggregate penalty payable by workers bound by an award not to exceed £SOO was negatived by 23 to 14. Hon. Rigg moved t 0 amend clause 9 in order to abolish strikers being liable to summary conviction before a, magistrate. lie explained that he desired to avoid the chance of a worker guilty of merely striking being sent to gaol. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.3 i).

After lengthy discussion the Hon. Higg's amendment was negatived by 22 to 1.

Clause !), as returned from tjve Labour Bills Committee, increases the penalty for an employer who locks out workers, and for industrial association, trade union, employer, or any person other than worker who unites, instigates, or assists ill breach of the section, to £3OO. The clause passed unamended.

Clauses 10 to 28 passed without material amendment. A new sub-clause was added to clause 28, providing that every commissioner can exercise his jurisdiction within such industrial district or districts as may from time to time he assigned to him. A further new sub-clausc was added preventing an attack being made on the validity of appointments of commissioners. Rapid progress was made to section 53. At clause 54 objections were pointed out by the Hon. Jenkinsou, tvnd 1 after some discussion the AttorneyGeneral said he agreed to drop the clause. This was done, i Hon. Luke called for a division at sub-section 3 clause 57, which provides that it shall lie with the employer to iprovc that, the worker was dismissed for a rvason other than those mentioned iu the section.—Hon. r.uke was tile »only one to vote for the clause. At clause (IS, wliidh provides that .the Court may refuse to make an award, Mr. Hogg moved an amendment ■to provide that in any dispute the Court shall make an award. Tire ainend'mi'iiit was reject,de by 21 to 4. The remainder of the clauses were passed without material amendment. , ■ lion, George moved a. new claim; to I provide that ofliccrs of industrial unions | are to be engaged ill the industry, 'Xlie clause unions in which the 'majority of the mumbers are women, 'and provides for a penalty of CIO. and also thai, no person can be an ollicer -of more than one union.

*X9ie olanso prohibiting a person holding ollice in more than oik> union was 'rejected by 13 to 11. The other subclauses were rejected on the voices. Hon. Rigg moved a new clause that | t'hc'presidcnt of the Court lived not lie a judge.—This was negatived o-,i (he voices. The Hill as amended was reported. I'heii read a third Unit and passed. The Council adjournal at 12.-1(1.