INDUSTRIAL LAW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL LAW

DEREGISTRATION Bl 11

PASSED DISCUSSION IN LOWER HOUSE. PENALTIES NOT ENFORCED. (By Telegraph—Press Association., WELLINGTON. This Day. Authority for the deregistration of unions, whether of workers or of employers, which cause stoppages <>r work in contravention of the law is contained in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was introduced by GovernorGeneral's .Message in the House of Representatives yesterday. Urgency was taken for all stages of the Bill, which was subsequently sent to the Legislative Council and passed. The Minister of Labour. Mi' Webb, said that immediately the Bill became law action would be taken to deal with a sloppngc in Auckland.

If the Minister of Labour is satisfied that anj- discontinuance of employment has caused or is likely io cause serious loss or inconvenience due to the action of a union of workers or employers, he may. by notice fin ihe Gazette, cancel the registration of '<!:<■ union concerned, or cancel any award or industrial agreement relating io that union. This cancellation may be general or limited to any specified locality.

When notiqp of cancellation has been issued with regard to any particular union or district, no other union may be registered for that industry in the locality, nor may the scope of any other union be extended to cover that district without the consent of the Minister. '

"Discontinuance of employment” is defined as the refusal by any employer to engage workers for any work for which he usually employs them, the refusal of workers to accept engagement for any work in which they are usually employed, or "any method, act, or omission _m the course of employment that has or is likely to have the effect of interrupting or impeding the work in any industry." “I am taking power in this Bill to cancel the registration oi ‘union, whether of workers or employers, which does not comply with the law as it stands," said Mr Webb in introducing the Bill. "Obviously they can't have it both ways. If they want the law kept on the Statute Book they must comply with it. This Rill gives the Minister power to deregister any union or cancel any award. At present there is a real reason for urgency’, and I hope the Bill will be treated as urgent by the House.” SOME QUESTIONS. While the Bill was before the House Mr W. J. Polson (Opposition. Sirat ford) asked why there had been no enforcement of existing penalties. Clauses in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act already provided penalties for breaches of the law, he said. Penalties of £lOO for unions and £5 for members of unions were pro vided for disregard of awards, so why had something not been heard about penalties being imposed? The Ht Hon J. G. Coates (Opposition. Kaipara) also raised the question of the non-enforcement of penal ties. The Rt Hon G. W. Forbes lOpposi tion, Hurunui) asked the Minister what difference there would be when a union was deregistered and brought under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. He said that many unions preferred to be under that Act and he did not see that cancellation of registration would then be any penalty. “What do they lose?” Mr Forbes asked. “Do they not gain an advantage and how is it going to make lor industrial peace? The Government must try to keep the wheels of industry going smoothly, but I do not understand how it will be brought about better under the proposed change than under the Arbitration Act. How does the Minister feel that there will be more Indus trial peace when they have deregistered a union and brought it under the other Act?” Mr Webb: "I think it might help."

EFFECT OF DEREGISTRATION. Speaking on ihe third reading, th. Minister said Mr Coates had asked why the penal provisions of the law had not been enforced against strikers in the past three years, the Minister added but during the whole time Mr Coates was Prime Minister, when there had been many industrial troubles, he had not invoked the penal clauses because he had too much common sense. Instead of taking that course, he had been much wiser in trying to get things going again. Mr Polson (Opposition, Stratford). "What happens to the employers if the union goes out on strike?" "At the present time, if the men strike the employer cannot employ other labour,” Mr Webb said, "but if a union is deregistered the employers will be able to take on whom they like. I do not think, however, that there will be many occasions.on which this law will have to be applied. I think it is wise to have the power the Bill gives, but I want to assure members that it does not mean that we are throwing in the sponge.” Mr Polson: “What would happen to the new workers if they wanted to form a union?” . Mr Webb: "That would rest. entirely with the Minister of Labour."