ARBITRATION BILL

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 25 October 1927, Page 11

ARBITRATION BILL

PROTEST BY LABOUR,

NEW CONSTITUTION OF COURT.

Tho Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, at its mooting on Saturday evening, discussed the proposed change in the constitution of the Arbitration Court, and passed the following resolution, which is to be forwarded to tho Minister for Labour and the Prime Minister:

! 'This Council strongly protests pgainst the proposed change in tho personnel .of the Arbitration Court as outlined in the nowspapers, wherein it is proposed to remove the employers' and workers' representatives from that Court and replace them by exStipendiary Magistrates with the status of Associated Judges. These gentlemen, with their legal training and experience, would be inclined to place more importance on the legal aspect of disputes submitted to them tnan to the social and industrial aspect, whereas the present representatives are chosen for their experience and knowledge of industrial matters, their lifetraining having been in that direction. "In our opinion, a Court constituted of persons of whom the unions of workers have not had any voice in the selection would not maintain the confidence of the workors' unions who are repeatedly appearing before it, with the result that, instead of the present feeling of stability and peace being maintained, distrust, followed by disorganisation of industry, would slowly but surely evolve, which is the opposite result to that which the Court is established for", viz., the settling of industrial disputes and the maintenance of industrial neace:

"Knowledge of the questions involved and of the economic conditions of the country, are essential qualifications of persons selected to sit on this Court, and we consider that the present constitution, with representatives • from both employers and workers, together with a Judge appointed by the Government, must command the confidence of lwth parties appearing b*fore it. "If it is proposed to entertain the expressions of opinion on the Court, its constitution and decisions, emanating: from Farmers' Uuions and such bodies, who' themselves do not appear before the Court, end,if it is proposed to allow these expressions to influence the Government, then, in our opinion, a most serious mistake will be committed, but we trust that this will hot be so, and that the present personnel of the Court will not be interfered with."

MR HOLLAND'S VIEWS

(rszas ASSOCIATION teijsgham.)

INVEROARGILL, October 24,

Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, addressed a large meeting on Sunday evening in the Victoria Hall. Referring to the proposed abolition of the Arbitration Court, he said that the change would lead to victimisation of employees who took part as assessors pr arbitrators. The,workers would have* to have recourse /to strikes as their # only means of redress. Those unionists who supported the Government at the last'election were only getting what they voted for. "I think," said-'Mr Holland, "that there is a reawakening of feeling among the people. There is a wave gathering.which, like the.psychological wave '■' that swept the Coates Government into power, will sweep them out again." , ■ \ The Mayor (Mr John Miller) presided, and the speaker had a cordial reception.

DAIRY WORKERS' THREAT.

(press association telegram.)

INVERCARGILL, October 24. At a meeting of the Southland and Otago - Dairy Factory Managers' Union this evening, a resolution wa6 passed protesting against 1 the proposed deletion of dairy workers from the protection of the Arbitration Court, and stating that if they were not given protection they would not hesitate to use their economic power to demand justice.

A similar resolution was passed by the Cheese and Butter Factory Assistants' Union.

MEETING OF SECRETARIES. -,

Two utiions representing rural workers have their headquarters in the Christchurch - Trades Hall, and a drop in membership is expected if the Government carries through its measure; amending the Arbitration Act, which exempts the farming industry from the Court's operations. ! The Canterbury Trades and Labour Council has received a communication from Mr ,J. Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour, similar to that received in other centres, and a preliminary meeting of trade union secretaries will be held in the Trades Hall this morning to discuss the Bill. Protest meetings will probably follow. OTAGO LABOUR DISAPPROVES. (press associatios telegram.) DUNEDIN, October 24. A special meeting of the Otago Labour Council expressed strong disapproval of the Government's Bill to amend the Arbitration Act, and resolved to hold a meeting of officers of all unions to elect delegates to give evidence and to appear at a combined conference in Wellington. It was urged that while the proposal to appoint assessors from the trades concerned in tho dispute seemed innocent, it was a trap becauso a competent arbitrator must have a knowledge of the general principles governing all industries in respect of wages and conditions, and must be a Ireu agent which he could not be under the proposal, since the workers' arbitrator would not be in an independent economic position. The judge and the employers' arbitrator would be free, but the workers' representative would only lie a servant called in to sustain the fiction of equal representation. Regarding the farmers' exemption, it was pointed out that butter and cheese production had increased 38 per cent, between 1921-1925 and wages only 12 per cent. Generally speaking, it was claimed that the passing of the Bill would bind the workers to an Act that gave them little security, and prevented by penalty the adoption of other protective measures.