Labour Select Committee records on the Industrial Relations Bill (1973).

The Industrial Relations Bill replaced the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1954; the Labour Disputes Investigation Act 1913; the Industrial Relations Act 1949; and the General Wage Orders Act 1969; together with their amendments.

During the 1960s there was much industrial unrest in the country and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was proving more and more inadequate. All parties concerned agreed that new legislation was required. Thus, the Industrial Relations Bill was introduced to the House by the then Minister of Labour, the Hon. David Thomson and given its first reading on 19 Oct 1972 (Parliamentary Debates, vol. 381, pp. 3476-3485). The form in which it was introduced was substantially based on joint submissions by the Federation of Labour and the NZ Employers' Federation, presented to the National Goverment in March 1972. Following its first reading, the Bill was referred to a Parliamentary select comittee. After the change of Government following the General Election in Nov 1972, additional Government members were appointed to the select committee to ensure a Labour majority since they were unhappy with certain sections of the Bill, in particular, the penalty clauses. The new select committee had their first meeting in Jan 1973. Members of the general public and interested orgainzations were invited to make submissions on the Bill. After the hearing of these submissions, the Bill was re-drafted and given its second reading on 8 Aug 1973 (Parl. Debates, vol. 383, pp. 3041-3068; 3086-3125). It received its third reading on 12 Sept 1973 (Parl. Debates, vol.385, pp. 3525-3549). It was enacted and received the Royal Assent on 14 Sept 1973. (Industrial Relations Act, 1973, no. 19, New Zealand Statutes 1973, vol. 1).