I.—9a. INDUSTBIAL CONCILIATION AND AEBITKATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

SYNOPSIS OF EVIDENCE, LABOUE BILES COMMITTEE, 1907, COMPILED BY THE CHAIBMAN OP THE COMMITTEE FOE BEADY EEFEEENCE.

Page 2. Mr. Ferguson, Secretary Wellington Harbour Board : — • Objects only to one clause (40) and its widened definition of "worker." Claims that shipmasters, harbourmasters, and pilots should be exempted from the statute, as had been the case by a recent legal decision. Page 3. Miss Edith Vaughan, Wellington Tailoresses and Pressers' Union : — Approves clauses 5, Industrial Councils, and 47, collection of contributions from nonunionists, and dissents from 53, which excludes from representative functions in unions all other than members of the industry represented. Page 4. Mr. W. H. Westbrooke, Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades and Labour Council, Wellington : — Produces authority to represent Trades Councils of Southland, Nelson, Otago, Auckland, and Hawke's Bay. Evidence at length, generally against the Bill, and going into detail. Would prefer strengthening Conciliation Boards, and urges that clause 53 would be detrimental to unions, particularly the smaller ones. Eeviews Bill clause by clause. Page 8, continued on page 31 and later on page 119. Mr. W. T. Young, representative of the Parliamentary Committee, and of the Tramway Unions of the Dominion : — Evidence at great length, strongly hostile. Asks that clauses 3, 5-17 inclusive, 18, 19, 20, 27, 30, 38, 47, 51, 52, 53 be struck out, and many others be amended or modified. Further evidence as Nos. 8 and 37. Page 12 (see also Beadel, page 69). Mr. James Thorn, President of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council: — Evidence relates mostly to Agricultural Labour Union and small unions. Witness generally hostile but not entirely so, as he approves of five or six provisions—clause 21 subsections 1 and 2, and clauses 40-44. Indorses the opposition of witnesses 3 and 4. Hands in manifesto of Canterbury Trades and Labour Council against the Bill. Page 19. Mr. Eevell, Secretary Canterbury Woollen-mills Employees' Union : — Disapproves of the proposed Industrial Council. Complains of difficulties of litigation under existing conditions, and asks for greater simplicity of procedure. Objects to clause 53. Page 29. Mr. Hanna, President Canterbury Woollen-mills Employees' Union : — Favours the Bill in some respects, but generally supports previous witness Eevell. Page 38. Mr. P. G. Carey, member Trades and Labour Council's Parliamentary Committee, also Secretary to Cooks and Waiters' Union : — Supports manifesto of Wellington Parliamentary Committee. Complains of intimidation. Page 44, continued on page 61. Mr. McLaren, Secretary Wharf Labourers', Waterside Workers', and Iron and Brass Moulders' Unions :— Stongly hostile to the Bill. Evidence of great length, going through the Bill clause by clause. Evidence on the whole in favour of reconstructing Conciliation Boards. Opposed to their supersession by Industrial Councils. Examination very lengthy, extending over several pages. Admits the difficulty of imposing fines for breach of contract which cannot be collected, but is emphatic against the employment of imprisonment as a punitive measure. Suggests that unions should be made responsible for payment. Page 49. Mr. T. H. White, Manager Kauri Timber Company, President Shipowners' Federation, and President Sawmillers' Association :— On the whole approves of the Bill. Strongly in favour of mutual settlement without litigation. Pages 53 and 125. Mr. Lightfoot, Secretary Carpenters' Union: — Supports manifesto of Wellington Trades and Labour Council's Parliamentary Committee. Gives qualified support to some provisions in the Bill. Page 57. Mr. Chapman, President Federated Typographical Union of Workers, Wellington : — Very antagonistic to several clauses, favours some, indifferent to many. Page 59. Mr. Eeardon, Secretary General Labourers' and Engine-drivers' Unions : — Supports manifesto of Wellington Trades and Labour Council's Parliamentary Committee. Utterly opposed to Bill, and would rather be without it. Page 69. Mr. T. Beadel :— Evidence re personal matter in connection with evidence of No. 5.' Page 70. Mr. Blackwell, Chairman Kaiapoi Woollen-mills Company : — Generally supports Bill with slight alterations suggested.