NEW SOUTH WALES' PREMIER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9681, 4 January 1910, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES' PREMIER.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 3 Mr Wade, Premier of New South Wales, arrived in Auckland yesterday. Interviewed, he explained the provisions of the new strike law just put through the State Assembly. A secton of the workers, he says, persistently refused to observe A the conditions of the Industrial Disputes Act, and have endeavoured to assert the supremacy of the unions over the State law. Industrial upheavals during the past two years were engineered by a few men with fluent tongues. When the Newcastle strike occurred, the Governmnt decided that some more stringent method must be adopted to prevent a few loud-tongued agitators laying the whole country by the ears just to satisfy their personal vanity. It was, therefore, decided to make the punishment for instigating a strike more severe. Any person so instigating may now be summarily sentenced to twelve months imprisonment without the option of a fine. The provisions as to the main body of strikers has been left untouched, as it is felt that in most cases they are more sinned against than sinning, and are swayed by the declamations of agitators. It is now impossible to hold strike meetings; a union deciding on a strike must do so by secret ballot. Therefore, there is no longer need for the men to fear being called "scabs" if the voting is against a strike. The damage to New South Wales, Mr Wade says, is incalculable. It will be years before Newcastle regains its overseas trade. Even when the strike ends it is doubtful if the mines can afford to again employ the full number of miners. Mr Wade's visit to New Zealand is principally a health-seeking tour, but he will enquire regarding more important legislation, including licensing, racing, and closer Settlement laws. He wants to see for himself the results of prohibition in the. 1 prohibited areas; aiso, to enquire ass to the working of the totalisatorj and whether the progressive land tax is assisting to burst up large estates.