TRADE DISPUTES (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Committee Stage read.

Bill considered in Committee.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

4.07 p.m.

Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2-

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 1, line 18, at end, to add-

'(b) by deleting from the definition of "trade dispute" appearing therein the word "workmen" wherever occurring and substituting therefor the word "employees"; and

(c) by deleting the definition of "workmen".'.

I have already given the reasons why this amendment is necessary vvhen the Industrial Relations Bill was considered.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 2, to leave out lines 1 and 2.

This amendment is necessary because of the amendment to clause 28 (c) of the Industrial Relations Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 3-

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 2, to leave out lines 13 to 16 inclusive.

This amendment is necessary because of the previous amendment and because of the amendment to clause 28 (c) of the Industrial Relations Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 2, to leave out lines 28 to 31 inclusive.

The reason for this is the same as that which I have given before.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4-

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 3, line 13, to leave out "an illegal" where those words secondly occur.

This is a drafting improvement.

Amendment agreed to.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

In page 3, lines 40 and 41, to leave out "committee of management of a registered trade union" and insert "body, by whatever name called, to which the management of the affairs of a registered trade union is entrusted".

This amendment is necessary to bring the provisions of this clause in line with the Industrial Relations Bill.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 4, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 5 and 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 7-

Question proposed, "That clause 7 stand part of the Bill."

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is intended that this clause be negatived.

The Government intends, Sir, to keep the provisions of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance in force because that Ordinance provides for the procedure to be followed where a strike involves an essential service. The provisions of that Ordinance make it necessary for a trade union to give notice when it threatens to strike in a trade dispute affecting an essential service. We intend to keep that procedure, Sir.

Question put, and negatived.

Clause 7 accordingly disagreed to.

New Clause - 'Amendment of Section 10 of the principal section 10. Ordinance is hereby amended by deleting the word "workmen" appearing in the fourth line of subsection (1) thereof and substituting therefor the word "employees".'-[Mr Byrne].

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr Byrne: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time."

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not propose to make a speech because the reason for the amendment is obvious.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.

Long Title-

Amendment made:

In page 1, to leave out ", and to repeal Part V of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, 1955 (No. 26 of 1955)".- [Mr Byrne].

Bill reported with amendments: read the Third time and passed.