STATE ENTERPRISE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1395, 22 March 1912, Page 5

STATE ENTERPRISE.

AN AMEEICAN VIEW. (By Tolesraph.-Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, March 21. There arrived in Christchurch frotii the »uth last night Mr. H. J. Patten, of Chicago, a brother of the American wheat and cotton "king." This is Mr. Patten's first visit to Now Zealand, but he intends to stay here some, weeks viewing our scenery, inquiring into our social and labour laws, and in general making .himself thoroughly conveisant not only with pur country and our people, but with our industrial legislation. Mr. Patten, who is accompanied by his wife, is making ,«i trip • round the world and has just spent a most interesting timo in Australia. They left for Wellington this evening en route to Rotorua After a short slay there they will probably renew their acquaintanceship with tho South Island, and with Christchnrch in particular, coming from the West Coast via the Otira route. In tho course of a short chat on the labour problem with a 'Tress" representative, Mr. Patten said there was no com-' pulsory arbitration in America, but he did not think the strike question was any worse there than in Australasia. Many people in the States were considering the c|tiestion of adopting compulsory arbitration, but ho did not think public sentiment was in favour of it, or of compulsorv Bpttlement of strikes. He did not think compulsory arbitration could be a sue cess unless the employees were compelled to live up to the terms of the agreement tho same as tho employers. Astoria* to his views rm profit-sharing Mr. Patten said he considered it a very pood thing. It had been tried in America, in various large industries. Ml tho largo firms when they had good vein pave bonuses to their principal employ! ees and heads of departments. "I be lipve," Mr .Patten said in reply to anTfnffn/'qft o,l, that ,«« P»ple in the W , S ft tcs . "O w °rking up to the belief thnt the large corporations should be controlled and reirulntocl by the Govern molt Fnvat;>.enterprise controlled and regulated by the Government can do thel l 'te t itself?' mOrCCCOn °" ,icnll^h » n