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31. The Chairman.] Would it not be much better if the powers of the Court were amended so as to give the Court power to call in experts without placing them on the Board with full powers? Would not the whole thing be got over in this way ?—I do not know; I consider I should be very sorry to see the Boards struck out or " wiped " out. I wish to see the Boards strengthened in every way, because I think their powers should be utilised in preventing further friction between the two sides. It seems to me that to have two experts sitting with the other members of the Board would facilitate the proceedings greatly. 32. Captain Bussell.} Do you wish to repeal that part of clause 34 which says that the Board shall consist of not less than five members, and say that the Board shall consist of the Chairman and two assessors only —do I understand aright that you mean that ?—No, my contention is that the Board shall consist of five, two of the members being assessors. There is just one more suggestion I wish to make in regard to section 5, where it says that trustees may, if thought fit, be appointed. I think that in the case of trades unions it should be specifically set down that trustees shall be appointed. 33. Mr. Morrison.] You think it should be mandatory instead of permissive ?—Yes. 34. Mr. Tanner.] Will you tell us what you understand by " officer of a union " ?—President, vice-president, secretary, and I suppose trustees. 35. Do you include trustees as officers ?—Well, perhaps not; still I think it would be wise to make it mandatory that trustees be appointed. In some cases the funds of these registered unions have been carelessly handled. With respect to our union, prior to our reconstruction, there was provision in our rules that the treasurer and one member of the committee could draw any money out of the bank. When I took office as secretary I said that state of affairs would have to be altered, seeing that the funds were not properly guarded. I think in registered bodies it should be mandatory that trustees should be appointed. That is all I have to say, sir. T. W. Young and J. Beuton in attendance and examined. (No. 16.) 1. The Chairman.] What are your names ?—Thomas William Young and James Bruton. 2. Whom do you represent ?— Mr. Young : The Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand. 3. Do you both represent the same body ?— Mr. Bruton : No ; I am representing the Wellington Wharf Labourers' Union. I might say that Mr. Young is also representing the Wharf Labourers' Union. Mr. Young.- I should explain, sir, that I am here on only one clause so far as the wharf labourers are concerned, and that is clause 113 of the Bill. 4. The Chairman.] You desire to give evidence in connection with this Bill—lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration ? — Mr. Young : Yes. 5. We will take it from the wharf labourers' point of view first, so as to finish their evidence; I understand you object to clause 113 ? — Mr. Young : Yes, sir. 6. Very well, then, Mr. Young, we will take your evidence now. Will you confine it to the new matter contained in any of the clauses to which you object, and we will afterwards receive any suggestions you wish to make ?— Mr. Young : Very well, sir. There is one matter here in clause 5, subsection (3), paragraph (h); the meaning is not very clear in connection with these words, " except pursuant to a clearance-card duly issued in accordance with the rules," &c; I think this is meant to apply to a transfer. Suppose we have unions of the same industry in the colony, and one member goes from Auckland to Lyttelton and transfers his membership in accordance with the rules, similar to the rules of the Seaman's Federation. We provide in the rules that if a member is on the books at Dunedin, and he goes to Auckland and joins a vessel whose articles are taken out in Auckland, he transfers his membership from Dunedin on to the Auckland books. I would like to know whether this clause is meant to apply in that direction, or whether it is meant to apply that any union can simply give a member a clearance-card, and that terminates his membership of any particular union. I think that the section would be better if it were to read that, in connection with the transfer, the right could be given to a member of any trades-union to transfer his membership on the books to any industrial union of the same industry. 7. I do not think there is anything in that, because the whole clause deals with " what societies may be registered." A member can terminate his membership of any particular union by paying his dues up to date and getting his clearance-card; he has no further liability then. If he wanted to leave the union he would have to give three months' notice as provided for, would he not?— Yes. There is another matter here; it is simply a technical point: subsection (2) of the same section—l think that before the words "as the case may be " the words "of workers " should be inserted. 8. Mr. Collins.] You would reverse the words?— Yes. Coming to clause 11, I disapprove of this clause to some material extent, because it will be the means of largely affecting our organization. If in Wellington the Federation were desirous of registering another industrial union here—~ i.e., in Wellington—this clause would, to a very large extent, prohibit them from doing so. It is known, I believe, pretty well that there is already a Seamen's Union in Wellington, but that is not a portion of the Federation. Outside of that union I might say that, according to inquiries I made, we have 1,270 members in New Zealand — i.e., outside of the local organization altogether—and amongst them we have 160 men on the boats at the present time, and who are looking for their living in the various vessels trading out of this port. Ido not think that this clause would permit us to register another branch in Wellington if we desired to do so. The President of the Arbitration Court stated that it is necessary that in a seaman's line of business there should be an industrial association for the purpose of making one award for the whole of the colony. From what I know—and I am pretty well cognisant of the facts concerning this matter—there is absolutely no hope of this union ever coming into the Federation again. The whole of the Seamen's Unions in Australia have thrown this local union overboard and will not give it any recognition whatever. I think something should be done in