JURIES FOR WAGES BOA RDS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1891, 28 October 1913, Page 7

JURIES FOR WAGES BOA RDS.

HOW WOULD IT WORK? Several secretaries of unions were asked by a "Daily Telegraph" reporter for an opinion on the suggestion which lias been made in Sydney recently , that a system of industrial juries should, be instituted to deal with all matters pertaining to the fixing of conditions and wages between employers and employees, wages boards thus being conducted like courts. Mr. E. J. Kavanagh, M.L.0., secretary of the Labour Council,, said: "Whilst I agree with tho statement that a. section.of unionists find fault with the! prevailing .wages board system, I> realise that it would be difficult to have' any system of arbitration that would give entire satisfaction -to the parties. I cannot see that the suggested alteration would in any way get over tho difficulty. The strongest complaint against the wages board system is its long-drawn-out inquiries. I presume tho unionist,who makes the suggestion would- recognise the right of both .parties being equally represented on.such juries, but the question arises what would be the result, if a deadlock occurred in respect of any, or all, of the matters submitted? Would it not necessitate some chairman or judge—whatever he may be termed—deciding between the parties ? In the absence of some person to so decide the system would fall to the ground. To be candid and straightforward, is it not a fact that tn 99 cases out of every 100 therepresentatives of both sidea meet with _ a fixed purpose, instructed by the bodies they represent. lam afraid the unionist's suggestion would not only fail'to get over the- difficulties ho finds, .but would help to create greater difficulties when put into practice." ; Mr. Black, secretary of tho Elec- i trical Trades Union, said he was not : at all in accord with the jury system. ■ "To my mind," he said, "it is an ab- i Bolute lottery. No doubt, there is room • for vast improvement in the present wages board system, and the evils which the unionist Bpeaks of certainly exist, but the movement is not likely to take a leap in the dark. The idea of a wages board jury of 22 men com- . ing to any..workable_ decision strikes mo as being rather wild". Taking it all round, I think the wages board, with a chairman and two assessors, is'quite sufficient. Sometimes I have asked for four ,but I have not, so far, ■ observed any great benefit, and in my opinion it only tends to prolong tho proceedings." _ . "I think if the idea were to come into operation it would be an inducement for employers to prolong matters," said Mr. G. Lewis, secretary of tho Flour Millers' Union. "While I agree with a lot. that is said, I think the proposed system would make things worse. A chairman is better , than no fchhiijmaii. Tito mattfdrs for adjustment could be continually hung up. and there would be a procession of dismissed juriej. The juries would be composed tw» partisan sections. Then what would be the position of tho industrial court officor? He would be trying for tho most of his time to mix oil and water." .