The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1909. LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 400, 8 January 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1909. LABOUR TROUBLES.

From all quarters there are.coming ox-, pressions of regret—in,.which wa join— at the substitution of Mr. Hogg for Mr. Millar as Minister for Labour. Throughout the Blackball trouble last year it was felt by every unbiased person that public decency and simple justice -would have ■received more consideration than they did receive if Mk. Millar had been'able to deal with the situation unhampered by the party anxieties of his colleagues. In piloting the now Act through Parliament, ' also, Mr. Millar afforded - the most ample evidence that he possessed, in addition to a keon-interest in industrial questions,; a valuable acquaintance with the practical side of industry, a large fund of common sense, a disposition to profit by experience, and a yery decided! regard for justice and equal dealing. | Fair-minded men everywhere, while, they disagreed utterly with him as to the practicableness of compulsory <arbitration, had learnod before the end of last session to trust him very far. The general disappointment and uneasiness at his retirement from his old office at this.particular time, when a strong and ■ sonsiblo Minister for Labour is urgently required, are therefore very natural indeodi His sucicessor, unfortunately, is not one who can inspire much confidence in the public in the position. Mr. Hood has never given the public any roason to suppose that he has any special familiarity with the'problems of industry. To do him justice, it • must bo admitted that the one short speech which he delivered on the new Act session .was sensible y**

havo no record of any kind to show that ho holds any special views on labour questions, nothing to warrant the hope that the rule -which will guide him will bo any other'than such as will proceed from his Socialistic leanings. There are problems enough in the world of industry: just now to tax even the .wits of Mb. Millar. Mr. Hogo will not strike the public as being competent to deal effectively with the situation that has arisen in tho-mining industry. He may, of course, turn out to be,tho genius we have all been looking for, just as Mr. Buddo may surprise the public by proving that his devotion to farming pursuits has yielded him special qualifications for dealing with tho problems of- public health. More disturbing, however, than Mb. Hogg's want of acquaintance with the region placed under his charge, or his inclination towards Socialism, is tho absence in him of the qualities that might prevent him from being, a mere agent of Cabiuet. In a word, ho is not strong enough to keep the government of industry beyond the reach of the political necessities of his party. The situation ill the mining industry is worse than ever, and the difficulties created by the new Workers' Compensation Act .grow greater on examination. ■ Sir Joseph Ward, who was. so obviously delighted to catch at the hope that a vital clause of that; Act, so far as it affects the' miners on strike, is useless and practically; inoperative, has decided to'obtain a Suprome Court opinion under the Declaratory Judgments Act. It would be more in the- public interest, if, instead of applying for what will amount to a certificate of nullity and imbecility for the vital/clause of one of our brand new statutes,' Sir Joseph were to apply to the Supreme Court'for a decision as to whether the West, Coast mines are the jscene of a -■strike or lock-out. There, is- just sufficient room for controversy on the point to warrant the Government in seeki irig such •; a','- decision before • it proceeds under the Arbitration Act. In our opinion, proof of a strike can only be ruled out by proof of a lock-out. The decision to apply for a judgment on tho grammar of one clause in the Workers' Compensation Act merely emphasises the improI priety of tho neglect to take any steps to t protect the much-outraged '"Arbitration j Act from further abuse, and contempt.