ARBITRATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9137, 9 July 1908, Page 6

ARBITRATION.

THE AMENDING BILL.

NEW AND IMPORTANT

PROPOSALS

The amending Arbitration Bill was ] brought down by Governor's Message on Tuesday night. It differs in many important respects from the Bill of | last session, and an extended reference to its prov'sions is therefore necessary. In the first place, it is proposed that it shall come into operation on Ist January, 1909. The Bill then, without further prelude goes on to define what is a "strike." According to the Bill, it j 3 : —"The act of any numoer of , workers who are or have been in the employment whether of the same employer or of different employers, in discontinuing that employment, whether wholly or partially, or in breaking their"contracts vi service, or in refusing or failing after any such discontinuance to resume or return to their employment, the said discontinuance, breach, refusal, or failure being clue to any combination, agreement, or common understanding, whether exuress or implied, entered into by the'workers—(a) With intent to compel or induce their employer, or any of them, to agree to terms of employment, or comply with any demands made by the said or any other worker; or (b) With intent to aid, abet, instigate, or procure any other strike; or (c) With intent to assist workers in the employment of any other employer, to compel or induce that employer to agree to terms of employment or comply with any demands made upon him by any workers."

A "lock-out" ia defined on the same lines.

When a strike takes place in any industry, whether sin award or industrial agreement is in force or not, every worker, who is a party to the strike, is liable to a penalty of £lO, with a further penalty of £1 a week while the strike lasts, and while he is a party to it. When a lock-out takes place, every employer who is a party to it is liable to a penalty of £2OO, with a further penalty of £SO a week. Every one who incites, instigates, aids, or abets a strike or lock-out, or who incites, instigates, or assists any person to become a party to a strike or lock-out, is liable, if a worker, to a penalty of £lO, an industrial union, industrial association, trade union, employer, or any other person other than a worker, is liable to a penalty of £2OO. Any person who makes a gift of j money for the benefit of any person or union or association, which is a | party to a strike or lock-out, is to be deemed to have aided or abetted the strike or lock-out, and it is further proposed that while any strike or lock-out is taking place or impending any person who publishes in any newspaper any expression of approval, whether by himself or by any other person, and the unlawful action of any person in relation to the strike or lock-out, will be deemed to have incited, instigated, aided, or abetted the strike or lock-out. Provision is made for the enforcement of special penalties in respect to chose who strike when engaged in any of the following industries:—(l) The manufacture or supply of coalgas. (2) The manufacture or supply of electricity for light or power. (3) The supply of water to the inhabitants of any borough or other place. (4). The manufacture or supply of bread. (5) The supply of milk for domestic consumption. (7) The retail sale or delivery of coal, whether for domestic or industrial purposes (8) The working of any tramway or railway used for the public carriage of goods or passengers. (9) Any industry or occupation of such a nature that any danger to the public health or safety, or any injury or destruction of the property of the employer, has resulted from the strike. If a defendant refuses or fails to pay the fine the inspector of Awards may require any employer to deduct the amount from the employee's wage, up to one-fourth, until the debt is satisfied. And the employer is bound to deduct the amount and pay it to the Inspector of Awards. If a judgment against a union or association is not satisfied within one month the individual members will be liable to the amount of £5 each. The Bill abolishes Conciliation Boards, and in their stead sets up what are known as Councils of Conciliation, to which industrial disputes have to be referred before going to the Arbitration Court. An important provision is set out as follows: —"In any award respecting the wages of workers it shall be lawful for the Court, so far as it thinks fit, having regard to the nature of the industry concerned, to provide for the payment to any class of workers a needs wage, and also of an exertion wage." A needs wage is "such wage as the Court deems a fair and reasonable remuneration for work which conforms in the amount and quality to a standard fixed by the award. An exertion wage is "such wage as the Court deems a fair and reasonable remuneration (in addition to the needs wage) for any work which in standard or quality exceeds the standard so fixed."