ONE UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1920, Page 5

ONE UNION.

AIM OF NEW BILLLABOR DENIES INTENTION. A FAR-REACHING PRINCIPLE. By Teletraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr. Savage (Auckland West) moved the second reading of the Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. He explained provisions of the Bill, which were of a highly technical nature, and agreed, if the Houso read the Bill a second time, to refer it to the Labor Bills Committee. The Hon. Sir William Herrtes (Minister of Labor) said that he was glad that the mover" wished'the Bill to go to the Labor Bills Committee, as one of the main principles of the measure practically amounted to one big union system. Mr. Holland (Buller): No, you are quite wrong. Mr. Howard (Christchurch South)! It is one union for industry. The Minister said that was all any rate one reason why the Bill sho.iild'-go .to the Labor Bills Committee. 'lf it Went there he would not oppose the second reading, but so far as the Government was concerned it was in every way opposed to the one big union system. There could be only one Government id I this country, and while the present Government held office it was going to govern. Mr. Holland: Ypu don't believe in industrial autonomy. Mr. Howard: Would you apply that to the Employers' Association also? Sir William Herrles said they saw at Home that big unions were dictating to the Government what it should do. They did not want outsiders to • tell Parliament or the Government what It should do. Mr. Holland: They will get rid of you some day. The Minister said that .the hoij. member would have to Wait fat that day, and then if he were in the government he would not let anyone .dictate to him. The hon. member woiild find that when ope was put in a responsible positiqn, he must have the say. ' ; Mr. Fraser (Wellington-Central) staid there was no move. in the direction' s of the one big union scheme contained' in the Bill. Mr. Luke (Wellington North) said''he had some experience of one Mg union so far as the tramways of the Dominion l were concerned, and he was not at all sure tlTe proposal of the. Bill would be a benefit to Labor. The proposal might not be for one big union for the Dominion, but it wag one for a big union t|at could strangle its own industry. , Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) said that as the Minister of Railways, Sir William Herries had met a union set up under the principle of this Bill. Sir William HerHes: There were three unions there. Mr. Veitch said it was absurd that the Union Steam Ship Company's employees, for instance, should havo branch unions all over the country when they could economise and facilitate settlements by having one organisation. He agreed that some danger might accrue from the formation of one big union by an attempt to usurp the functions of the general Government. He would never timid for ,that, since he believed the Government should be in the hands of Uw people's elected representatives in Parliament, but that had nothing whatever to do with the underlying principle af the Bill, which was merely intended to facilitate the organisation and working of trade unions that were connected with industries spread all over the Dominion. Mr. Sullivan (Avon) said the intention of the Bill was merely to accomplish in ,a quicker and simpler manner the end accomplished now. Now, whore a Dominion award was being made, both parties were called together from several centres at considerable expense. This proposal would overcome that. The principle of the Bill would really tend to carry matters away from the one big union idea. Besides, it would cheapen the administration of the Labor Department. ' Mr. Kellett (Dunedin North) was & favor of the Bill, but agreed that it should go before the Labor Bills Committee for full consideration. Mr. Jones (Kaiapoi) said a small body of workers in one corner of New Zealand could, under this Bill, ask for a Dominion award. Mr. Parry (Auckland Central)" said that the way to stir up industrial strife would be to close the door against the voluntary organisation of workers. In reply, Mr. Savage said that unfortunately the idea underlying this~Bill was not one big union. He stood for unity of Labor, call it what they would. Mr. Holland: That is wliat they are afraid of. Mr. Savage said that if the Act were not brought up to the requirements of to-day the workers would cancel their registration under the Act The Bill was read a second time without opposition, and referred to the Labor Bills Committee.

second reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill, which provides that women may be appointed registrars of marriages, and their acts will be valid. Another provision was that a note of di"v orpe shall be attached to a ■ marriage register. The hours during which marriages may bf solemnised wag extended to eight o'clock in the evening. Clause 5 recognised the Salvation Army aa a religious body. The Bill was read a second time after several ■ members had expressed the opinion that women officers of the Salvation Army should have- the right to solemnise marriages. AN EXCHANGE PROBLEM. Sir William Herriea moved the second reading of the Customs Amendment Bill, which, he said, was intended to relieve exporters from the intolerable position caused by the foreign rate of exchange, and give the Department the option of assessing Customs duty either on the "mintage" rate or on the "commercial" rate. He asked that the measure be treated as a matter of urgency and passed through all stages. The Bill was read a seoond time, was put through committee, and/unamended it was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 9.30 p.m.