THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1893. POLITICAL NOTES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2549, 31 August 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1893. POLITICAL NOTES.

We cannot under any circumstances understand the opposition to the Arbitration and Conciliation Bill. The object of that measure is to settle trade disputes by peaceable arbitration, and why auyone should not think a peaceable settlement of labor difficulties better than strikes, is beyond our comprehension. Wherever the system has been tried it has been a success. One hears very seldom of strikes in France, although the French people are amongst the most excitable and revolutionary on the face of the earth. The reason is because trade disputes are invariably settled by arbitration. In the iron districts of England it is the same. Strikes are seldom or never heard of, because the disputes are always settled by arbitration. To us nothing appears more reasonable, more sensible, or better calculated to promote good feeling between employer aud employee, yet the ' Oppjsitiou are determinedly antagonistic to it. Mr Duthio says it will destroy the industries of the country, but are not strikes more likely to lead to such a resul'c'? It is hopeless to expect that we are done with labor difficulties. The tendency in Australia is to lower wages, and the wageearners are determined to resist this. As time goes on these differences will become ;^oro'acute, mi unless is some tribunal t n deal with them ju a judicial manner, we h»™ st £ ke \^ } * all their concomitant evils. We shak ftaye work suspended, trade and commerce paralysed, with the whole Country struggling in the throes of ' a fratricidal war, bringing ruin to many aud misery to all. It is no use to expect anything else, unless something is done to avert it, and thab something can only be peaceable arbitration. The opposition to paaceable arbitration appears to us inexpressibly stupid and senseless, for it is the only possible means of averting destructive industrial warfare.

The Opposition are raising the cry that the ofov eminent are secretly opposing tho Female Franchise, and that they have sufficient influence in tho Legislative Council to carry it if they like. There is nothing to justify this cry. It is simply got up for electioneering purposes, and no one ought to be mislead by it. This is the third time tho Government have sent tho Female Franchise to the Legislative Council, and it is neither fair nor reasonable to blame the Government if the Council rejects it now. It is not true that the Government has a majority in the Council, neither is it true they can influence that body. One of the Councillors said that last year he voted for Female Franchise because he thought it vfouidi.

embarrass the Government. This year he would vote against it for the same reason. He thinks the Government is sincere, and consequently he is opposed to it. How could the Government influence him ? Last year the clause was carried in the Council. Since then 12 new Councillors have been added, and out of these nine are in favour of the Female Franchise. That would have given the measure a substantial majority, only that some of the old Councillors are voting in opposition to the way they voted last year. Over these the Government have no influence, and it is unfair and unreasonable to blame them if the measure is thrown out.

The Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill, which is now before Parliament will, wipe away, if ifc passes, a relic of the atrocious laws which were passed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and kept the working classes in slavish bondage up to very recently. By these laws if two or more persons combined together to demand increased wages they were deemed guilty of a conspiracy, and punished with great severity. The wages in those days were fixed by the justices of the peace, and no workman dare ask for more than the judicial assessment. Even employers were punished for paying more than what the magistrates allowed. A workman was also not allowed to leave the parish in which he was born, and if he refused to work for the scale of wages laid down, he ran the risk of having the letter "V* branded on his forehead with a red hot iron. The Hon. Mr Reeves, by the bill he has now before Parliament proposes to wipe oat of our laws the only relic of that fearfully barbarous code still existent. Jtlis bill proposes that no combination of persons shall be indictable for conspiracy for any act which if done by an individual would not be punishable. That means that any combination of people can do anything which would not be an offence if one person did it. This will place trades unions beyond the possibility of being indicted for conspiracy, so long as they do not break the law in any other way. They can go out on strike without being molested, but of course they must behave themselves, and do nothing wrong or they will be punished.

Mr Taylor told the House in reference to the Milton Salvation Army case that he had presented to his Excellency a petition which he hoped would have the effect of getting the unfortunate man out of gaol. The Minister for Justice the unfortunate man was not in gaol, and had never beeen in gaol. A report upon the case by the JEt.M. would be received on Wednesday, and Ministers would then consider the matter.