I.—lo

8

matter here I should like to refer to—clause 52, subsection (9): My Union is of the opinion that, where the Judge is satisfied that a trade is not likely to be affected, that the term be extended to three years instead of two. We say that three should be the existing law. 9. Mr. Lewis.] As a maximum term, of course?— Yes. 10. With regard to clause 96,1 should like to ask you if you consider it is a wise provision that no dispute shall be brought forward except by a special resolution of the meeting ? Would you be willing that in every case the vote should be by ballot, or would you have any exception to the vote being by ballot ? —I think it should be optional. According to our union rules any two men can demand a ballot. 11. Are the rules of other unions similar in that respect?— Friendly societies are on the same footing. That concludes my evidence, Mr. Chairman.

Feiday, 13th July, 1900. Miss Ada F. Whitehokn, Secretary of the Dunedin Tailoresses' Union, and Miss Maey Daly, Secretary of the Wellington Tailoresses' Union, in attendance and examined. (Nos. 5 and 6.) 1. The Chairman.] I understand you ladies desire to give evidence in connection with this Bill—lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration. Will you afford to the Committee as briefly as possible your views in connection with this matter, leaving all the clauses which you approve of alone, simply telling us of the clauses which you object to, and making any suggestions you consider necessary in regard to any particular clause ? Miss Whitehorn : In regard to clause 75, " Powers of Court," I should like the addition of this clause, which I will read to the Committee : "In the case of a dispute affecting a registered industrial association under this Act, the Court shall have power, if sufficient evidence is adduced in support of same, to make an award applicable to the whole of the industrial districts in the colony." 2. The Chairman.] And you desire to have this inserted—this new clause which you suggest ? —Yes. 3. In the event of it being put in clause 75 would it not, in your opinion, practically wipe out subsection (3) of clause 86 ?—Yes. 4. Mr. Leivis.] Still, so long as it goes in somewhere you really do not care where; is that so ?—Yes. 5. The Chairman.] You are aware, I suppose, that subsection (3) of clause 86 gives power to extend the award? —We understand it applies only to the district. 6. It is supposed to bind any party thereto in any specified industrial association in the colony. Now you desire that the Court should be given power to make a general award over the whole of the colony ? —Yes; I think that after hearing the evidence the Court should have that power. 7. That is to say, where there is an industrial agreement already drawn up, if you desire to add further to it you are to be given that power? —Yes, sir, that is our desire. 8. Is this the only clause you wish to refer to ? —Yes, that is the only one. 9. Then I suppose you have some special reasons for desiring that addition being put in—Yes ; I have a petition here signed by over twelve hundred tailoresses and all the employers in the three centres, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. We have another one yet to come with from three to five hundred signatures. So far we have not been able to go round all the factories yet. 10. Are those the signatures of persons at present employed in the trade?— Yes. 11. Mr. Morrison.] In Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin?—Yes. 12. Mr. Arnold.] And also the signatures of the employers in the three towns ?—Yes. 13. The Chairman.] You purpose putting this in to the House?— Well, we would ask your advice as to that. The Premier yesterday told us to bring it to you. 14. It would be better to hand it to us. If you present it to the House it will go to the Classifications Committee, and that Committee will send it on here.—Very well, sir, I will hand in this petition signed by over twelve hundred employers and employes in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. 15. I presume, then, that something has led up to all this ? —Yes, Mr. Chairman. I might say that the Dunedin union has been in existence for over ten years ; and during that time they have done everything in their power to get Auckland into federation, to form a union, but have met with no success whatever. The Dunedin union has spent hundreds of pounds in trying to bring Auckland in. The secretary of the Dunedin Union was up in Auckland for eight months, and also the president, Mr. Pinkerton. No later than last year-we sent up two girls to try to get them to federate, but met with no success at all. We have had occasion to go before the Conciliation Board, but we were unable to get any satisfaction whatever owing to the disparity in the prices. The matter was referred to the Arbitration Court for settlement, with the consent of both parties; but the Judge of the Arbitration Court was not in a position to give any decision. He said he could not give a decision without being unfair to one side or the other. Now, Sir, we feel that something must be done or else, if further reduction takes place, it will mean the breaking up of all the unions. We ask that the Judge, after hearing evidence, should have the power to make the same award applicable all over the colony. 16. Miss Daly, do you desire to say anything in reference to this Bill?—I have only this to say : I honestly indorse everything said by Miss Whitehorn. I have been a member of the union and an officer ever since it has been in existence, and was a member of the Dunedin union when it was first formed; and I know that everything Miss Whitehorn has said is correct. With regard to the recent dispute, we have gone to considerable expense over and over again in trying to get an award from the Court, but we were unable to get one for a period longer than six months, The last award we had was only for three months and unless something is done to