POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4201, 25 August 1892, Page 3

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

THE CONSOLIDATED BILL, Tho Labour Bills Committee. have completed their labours in regard to the Conciliation Bill, in which thoy have made several amendments. Among others thoy have decided that a Judge of the Supreme Courtshall be the president of the Arbitration Board for tho whole of the Colony, instead of, as in the original measure, the appointment being vested in Ministers. Two compulsory clausefl bringing the Railway Commissioners under tbe provisions of the Bill bavo been struck out; however, two previous amendments have been made providing that tho Commissioners shall be brought before the Arbitration Court under certain conditions, but under no circumstances oan the Commissioners be brought before the Conciliation Boards, LABOUR DEPAKTMENT BILL, This Bill, which was introduced by the Minister for Labour, has now been circulated. The measure Reeks to provide that the department shall be controlled by a member of the Executive Council, to be styled the Minister for Labour, whose officers shall bn deemed to be officers of tho Civil Service, Tho

duties of the department are set out as follows:—'To ucquire and diffuse among the inhabitants of New Zealand useful information on subjects connected with labour in the most comprehensive sense of that word, especially oo its relation to capital; the hours of labour; the earnings of workmen; the means of promoting their material, social, intellectual and moral prosperity ; and the general relations of employer and workmen.' For this purpose the Minister and his offioera aro authorised to procure information from friendly and other societies, and may require an employer to inform, them of the name of the person who

as the chief control of his business,

returns of workmen, particulars as to cost price of goods made or used by him; may investigate oauses of dispute between employer and workmen, and may obtain information of a general nature as to relations of capital and labour, and as to the effect of land laws and customs tariffs on the operations of labour, The measure provides penalties for refusal to give information, and also requires tlio Minister to raako an annual report to Parliament on tho operations of the Act, containing such recommen-

dations as he may think necessary to extend its usefulness, and empowers the Governor-in-Council to mako regulations for the purposes of the Act, RETIRINO ALLOWANCES, The Premier yesterday kid on the table of the House a schedule ot retiring allowances proposed to be granted to officers of the Civil Service of Now Zealand, The list is as follows: Charles De Castro (Public Trust Office), £172105, from March 1, 1892; D, Lundon (Customs), £2lO, from May 1, 1892; E. J. Butts, £258 6s Bd;S.J. Dick, £250; F.Falck, £1251354 d'; G. Taylor, £121; J, Henn, £BB 8s 4d; G, H. (JhoesDtnatt, £8210s; F, Baillie, £77 8s 8d (all of tho Postal Department, apd all commencing op Peceinber 21st of' this year) /' F, Stevens (Lands and Surveys), £lB3 0s 9d, commencing Ist December, 1892,