Suggested Amendment of Existing Laws.

An important review of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, its history, results, and the future prospect of the measure, was given by the Hon. Dr Findlay (Attorney-General and Minister of Internal Affairs) last night before a meeting of the Wellington Liberal and Labour Federation in Uodber's rooms, Cuba street. It was a wet nislit but there was an audience which filled all the available space. Mr George Winder (president) was in the chair, and among those present were Sir William Steward. M.P. (Waitaki), Hon. C. M. Luke. M.L.C.. and Mr W. H. P. Barber. M.P. (Newtown). The speech was followed with intense interest, and concluded amid a demonstration of cordial appreciation.

Hon. Dr. Findlay said:—

I recently delivered an address at Wanganui on "Labour and the Arbitration Act" in which I traced the origin and outcome of our wage system, and t to show the purposes, the possibilities and the failures of our Industrial Arbitration law. Owing partly to the great and pressing importance of the subject—partly because of the liberal length of the press reports throughout New Zealand—especially in the three Wellington dailies and in the "Lyttelton Times,' my views have had the advantage of criticism by every prominent daily newspaper in this country. And the temper of this criticism—though often advrinse—ha6, on the whole, been fair and unembittered by party feeling. Indeed, several of the most influential journals have shown by their tone that industrial npnee, like national safety, should be lifted above the came of politics, above the play and partisanship ot party conflict, to that higher level ot discussion in which all sectional differences are sunk in a united effort to demise and obtain the fair trial of an improved industrial arbitration system.