' Mr Wigley is undei stood to lime al>in cloned his claim to his scat in the Legisla tive Council. Tho Industrial Conciliation Bill pro vides for the legist rdh'on nlike of trades unions ,nu of Linplnjeis' associations, and also of the federation of either ol.iss or body. U makes pi ousion for boaids of conciliation and couits of arbitration, to the jurisdiction of which nil registered bodies aie to be subject. Industrial agreements between tho union and associa tion are to bo made lawful either in regard 'to cjeucnl industiial anangemtnts or the sctllenunt of tr<des disputes, and any , bieach of thi^e agreements is to be punibhible by heavy punaltits. Tlu-ie are to be two climes of boards of concilia tion • trade bimids to decide disputes arising in par h ieulj.r trades, and district boards to settle troubles affecting various trades in one di^rut. Trade boards are to be elected by employers and em ployees engaged in the industry con cerned in iqUiil proportions. An appeal may be made from either class of boards j to courts of arbitration in each provin cial district, consisting of a president, one assessor recommended by the em ployers' association, and another assessor nominated by tiade unions. Hue of the most important provisions is that the Rulway Commissioners \xt to be subject to the jurisdiction of the aihitr.i ti >n courts, and may be compelled by summonses to bring any dispute in which they and the Railway Servants' Society are concerned into court. The Colonial Secretary is to have the administration of the Act, and mil ha\e power to caise compulsory arbitration in a case where he shall consider it necessary. The Hon, Mr Reeves is busily engaged, •with two membeis of the civil service, whose assistance has becu temporally secured, in oiganising the new Depart mtnfc of Industry. The system cannot, however, be put in force for some little time. It is the intention of the Government to legislate this session against the promo tion of bogus companies, The Minister for Mines will introduce a Bill making promoters of companies responsible for the statements contained in any prospec tus they may put forward, and also hold ing experts anssverable for any particu lars given in reports if published in such prospectuses. Persons suffering injury by false representation of tho kind are to be empoweied to reco\er damages by civil progress.
