DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 12 November 1913, Page 5

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

SIR JDSEPH WARD WANTS LEGISLATION.

PREMIER THINKS IT WOULD BE USELESS.

AN ANGRY SCENE.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward asked the Premier if he could state what the position was regarding the strike. / The Hon. W. F. Massey, replying, said the proposals which Mr Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, had submitted to both parties had been turned down. At present tlierp wa«s less prospect of a settlement than there was a week ago. In, Auckland and Wellington Arbitration Unions bad beeu formed. In one there were, four hundred riiembers, and' in the' other from 300 to 400. Whatever, the settlement was, those men must be safeguarded. There was" a very strong feeling against the Federation of Labour, and if that organisation would stand out of the way (he did not think, it would), the trouble could be settled in 24 hours.

Sir Joseph Ward said the matter was. of so much importance that be was not going to remain ' silent, eveti if he was misunderstood outside. Because the parties could not agree, he was not going to .Jsit still and see the country ruined. He was of the opinion that the whole matter should be taken out of the hands of both parties, and legislation passed which would ensure an immediate settlement. Both sides of the House should agree upon a Bill to meet the difficulty. It' could be passed at one sitting. The possibilities of a recurrence of tEe strike should be obviated. .The Bill should provide that no strike or lockout could be made before a secret ballot had been held before an outside tribunal, with scrutineers from both sides. Special penalties should be imposed for breaches. A secret ballot should be taken now by the watersiders, and the legality of the strike determined: " • Voices: They would not do it I Sir jpseph Ward, continuing, said an agreement should be submitted to both sides, and if not accteptable-I0 either one, it should be submitted to a tribunal of, say, three, judges There was an impasse in the country. The employers the Arbitration Court, and the men would not have it. That was the twentieth' day of the strike, and thousands of people of the, country were , being ruined: Were they all to stand Aside ;and see that state of affairs continue day by day? Who could say it would endiin a week? The "House was the highest tribunal in the land. Surely they ought to be able to establish a position where the strike could ITe'settled on general lines. He had been against the strike right through, holding that the principle was not good enough. The Hon. W. F. Massey, replying, said Sir Joseph Ward had mo ( re faith in legislation than any other member in the House. He failed to see how legislation could, effect a settler tncnt. In hii opinion,, it wpuld have been better if Sir Joseph Win'd had not made his speech. 1 , Cries of "oh!" and and "Party! party!" )v. ; The Hon. W. F. Massey sa»d he was not bringing in party, but the' inter.jeetions of Messrs Hanan <ind Isitt were worthy of those gentlemen. . Mr Payne: "Oh, you miserable dodger!" ' 'lire Speaker ordered the withdrawal of the words. Mr Payne complied/ after repeating them three times. Mr Massey, resuming, said there wis no ' legislation possible that could settle the trouble. They could not force the employe s to continue work. He made reference to the foreigners concerned in the tiouble, and maintained that if they had had to deal with New Zealanders, it would have been settled long ago. He had already brought before the House legislation to prevent strikes, and he liocec! to see it passed this

year. Mr Russell: We want a settlement of the present trouble! Mr Massey: Legislation won't do it! Things were already looking up, and twelve boats were being worked that day in Auckland. Sir Joseph Ward eaid that the 1890 strike had been discussed on the floor of the House, and here they sat quiet in the hope that something would happen.