ARBITRATION ACT

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19884, 13 May 1936, Page 7

ARBITRATION ACT

PASSED BY HOUSE

40-HOUR WEEK OPPOSED. CLUSL‘EE AGAIN APPLIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) “WELLINGTON: Tuesday

After strong criticism from opposition members including an indictment of the general application of the iO- - week the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill passed its third reading last night by ’l9 votes to 1.). _\ lengthy discussion was cheCkE‘d when the Prime Minister, the flight ”out )1. J. Savage, applied the closure. Mr \\'. J. Broadt’oot iOtiposition—\\‘aitomo) moved an amendment to the effect that the Court should be given power to extend the length of the working week where necessary. He stated that like other members of the imposition he was not against shorter hours. but he wanted to see such change accomplished logically and without the serious effect which would result from a general application. .\lr \\‘. J. Poison tUpposition— Stratt'ord) said that nobody was upposed to the principle of the [lo—hour week. but each industry ought to he considered on its merits and the length of the working week tlxed accordingly. Mr [L S. 5. Kyle 'Mpposition—liiccarton) emphasised that the shorter working week Would accentuate the ditttcultics of {armerm particularly in the dairying industry, by increasing their costs. There were protests from the Gov» ernment benches when .\ll' \V'. A. Bodiiin (Opposition - ucntral Otagol claimed that the effect of the shorter week in the dairy industry would be to enslave the women and children. Only through them, he asserted, would the farmer be able to make up his earnings. The Prime Minister then rose and moved that the question he put. The prosltion called for a division and the closure motion was carried by 45 votes to 15. .\[r Broadt'oot‘s amendment was lost by lil votes to 15 and the clause was then carried on the voices. Local Bodlea and Awards. Mr S. Li. Smith topposition—New Plymouth) asked the Minister of Lab—our, the lion. 11. 'l‘. Armstrong, if local bodies at present carrying out relief works would have to pay the award rates of pity from the time the ltill came into t'orcc- lie also asked what the situation would be with arrange—ments which had been made between the local bodies and thc Unemployment Board. “The provisions laid down in the Bill apply only to those working under awards," said the Minister of Labour, the lion. 11. 'l‘. Armstrong. “If the workers are not working under awards the conditions do not apply. but at the same time there is provision for the extensions or the award provisions to some local bodies. The chances are that unions will be formed and the contingent conditions extended to some local bodies which have been exempt in the past. in that case, award wages must. be paid to all those who work under them."

Referring to clause 26. which removes the restriction of is a week on the amount chargeable as a union subscription, .\h- Holland sahl that the trade unions were going to have an income of more than £1,000,000 a year which would help lo swell the funds or the Labour Party.

The Minister: 1 wish you meant it. There were at least 800,000 work—ers in New Zealand, continued Mr Holland, and is a week from each of those would bring in about £750,000 in a year. The unions also had power to make levies, so that the amount could easily be brought up to £1,000,000. The clause was retained on a division by 47 votes to 17. Objection was taken by Opposition members to the clause giving trade union ofllcials the right to enter private homes where domestics were employed and an amendment preventing the en—try was lost by 44’ Votes to 14 and the clause was passed. _ Ruining the Standard. “I will not be satisfied until the workers of this country are living up to the standard of an American millionaire." mid the Minister in reply. “There is only a limited amount 0! what he needs in the Why of food, riotiiing‘ and other necessities of life." Mr .\riuslrong added. “ liis needs are only the needs of an ordinary human being and that is what should be given to every man. woman and child in this gloriouh little country of ours." opposition members. the Minister continued. lmd Silizl it great deal about invading the sanctity of the home, and he wisiu‘ti he hail time to deal with the hypocrisy of thc whole thing. The Minister Hf Labour in the last Government hind giu‘u instructions for inspci‘inl's and uthcis to invade the iiumcs of thousands or rclici‘ workers. mitt-cling evidence behind the backs of tho husbands. mni wt the members of Hit‘ U|l||l|>iit||ll talked about the >it|l\‘iii)' of Mir homo.