37

I.—lo

From the Pbesident, Canterbury Trades and Labour Council. That some provision be made to enable federated unions to call meetings in centres of each industrial district, and that the vote of the majority of members present at the meetings shall decide the proposals submitted with reference to citing employers under the Act. At present a federated body, such as the bootmakers, tailoresses, &c, have, according to present provisions of Act, to call a meeting to which proposals re breaches of award, &c, have to be submitted, and recently Mr. Justice Edwards ruled that certain cases were not properly before the Court, because meetings had been called in each centre, instead of one meeting only, and all the members of the federation summoned to that meeting. And, also, that, owing to the difficulty of obtaining an authentic record of wages paid, the council respectfully urges upon the Government to mak6 provision that all employers shall keep a wages-book, and be responsible under penalty for its correctness. Christchureh, Ist July, 1900.

From the Chairman, Wellington Board of Conciliation. The following are my own suggestions, and not the Board's, nor is the Board or any member in any way responsible for them : — As the words "industrial," "industry," &c, are used so many times in the Bill, I hold the opinion that Judges, or the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration, might contend that the definition of the word "worker" in clause 2 must be read in connection with numerous other clauses, and thus made to be so restricted as to mean only industrial workers or persons engaged in an industry, the word "industry" being narrowed as it has recently been by the Chairman of the Arbitration Court. I therefore suggest that in the interpretation clause, in the definition of " industrial dispute," the words " any employment " be substituted for " industrial matters." In the next subdivision the words " relation to any employment" be substituted for " industrial matters" at the beginning of the clause, and the words "kind of employment" be substituted for " industry " in the third and fourth lines. In subdivision (a) of the same clause the words "in any industry" be struck out in the second line. In subdivision (c) the words "in any industry" be struck out of lines 2 and 3, and the word " therein " off the end of the clause. In subdivision (c) the word " employment " be substituted for " industry " in the first line. In the definition of "industrial association" the word "any" be substituted for "an industrial" in the first line, and the words "of employers or of workers" be inserted after the word " association." In the definition of " industrial union" substitute " any " for " industrial," and insert the words " of workers " after the word " union." Insert somewhere a definition of "industrial agreement." From the definition of " worker " strike off the words "in any industry " from the end. Very important. If this last be not done the effect of the extension of definition of the word " industry " will be destroyed by the definition of " worker." Clause 7 : In line 17 substitute " employment " for " industry." Clause 23 : Why " three " in line 8 and " two " in clause 52, subdivision (9) ? Clause 41: Strike out subdivisions (2) and (3). Add new clause after. Alter subdivision (5). The Bill provides that should a member be absent, though his absence might be caused by accident, illness, or any other cause, from a meeting of the Board, however unimportant that meeting might be, and the Board did not meet again within thirty days, his office would by that one absence be rendered vacant. Needs alteration. Proposed new clause 41a : If any member of the Board tenders his resignation or becomes bankrupt, the Clerk on being notified of the fact shall promptly take all such proceedings as may be necessary to duly fill the vacancy to be caused by the said resignation or bankruptcy, but the member who has tendered his resignation or become bankrupt shall continue in office and be a member of the Board until the election of his successor is gazetted by His Excellency the Governor. As soon as this election is gazetted, the person who has tendered his resignation or become bankrupt shall, in consequence of such resignation or bankruptcy, cease to be a member of the Board. Clause 52: In subdivision (2) the word "obtaining" or the word "procuring" should be inserted after the word " oaths "in second line. Very important. See subdivision (6): To whom must the Board report ? The Board should be sworn to secrecy as members of the Court are, but provision for this should be by a new clause, under the heading " Boards of Conciliation," and not by mere tail to be stuck on to clause 68. Very important. 39a. Every member of Board to make oath, &c, before a Judge of Supreme Court (who is hereby empowered and directed to administer the same without fee). Clause 52 : There should also be inserted a subdivision (2a), as follows : " All books, papers, and other documents produced before the Board, whether produced voluntarily or pursuant to summons, may be inspected by the Board, and also by such of the parties as the Board allows; but the information obtained therefrom, unless it be embodied in the recommendations made by the Board on the matters in dispute submitted to them, shall not be made public, and such parts of the documents as in the opinion of the Board do not relate to the matter at issue may be sealed up. Any breach of this subsection shall render the person guilty of making public the information liable to a penalty not exceeding £50, on judgment by the Court of Arbitration." Add in clause 95, if necessary, the power to deal with this subdivision. Clause 76 : There should also be provision for a penalty in subdivision (4) of clause 76.

6—l. 10.