LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2719, 14 March 1916, Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

An open letter to his honour JUDCE STRINGER AND HIS ASi SOCIATES OF THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Sir,—ln taking tho liberty of using •the columns of your valuable paper, I irust wou will grant me the privilege of drawing the attention of the honourable Court to a matter that lias caused me grave and anxious, moments on consideration of tho much-discussed question 'of coriscripltion. The latter may seem out of place when used in connection with tho Arbitration Court of this country; but is it? I admit that it may sound strange, but, .coupled with tho awards sought and about to be made in-tho various, districts, one may- easily see the gravity of the question that arises. Various unions are' appealing for better conditions and increase, of pay, etc., etc. They are granted; then the single, able-bodied men turn round and declare they are not enlisting while they are in receipt of,the salary fixed by the Court. I, as one wlio has'taken great and active interest in industrial _ awards, say*that the time has now arrived when the Arbitration Court,, in making awards, should definitely state that in all future awaVds made during; the period of the war, that the provisions of. the award shall only operate (in the industry concerned) upon married men and single men who are unfit for active service, and have been medically rejected. . ■ Your Honour and Gentlemen must see that a grave position has arisen from tfio noble sacrifice of the young men who have shed their blood at the Dardanelles and elsewhere; that the very existence of our nation, depends upon our actions now and, in the near future, arid that while.Tho Court is grantihc better conditions, unless some steps are taken to sccure the single men, I submit that the honourable Court is not doing its duty to tho Empire. I have stood at the bedside of several i young men who have returned from tho battlefields severely wounded, and when one has seen the wounds and witnessed the - suffering these young fellows are patiently enduring, rt. stirs the_ mind 'and ■ makes one realise what is our duty. ' ' •' : . ' While it may not be the privilege or every one to see and understand the responsibility resting upon us individually, yet as one (until reoentlv a union secretary, now enlisted), who has read the findings of the Labour Conference recently held in Wellington on this question of .conscription, I have come to the conclusion that the deliberations do not (and will not,_ I hope). interfere with the intentions of tile Government, 1 therefore appealj in the _ name and cause of humanity that His Honour, the President of the Court of Arbitration, -will take this much desired step then he will, I am sure, the gratitude of th.e country, as the findings of the late conference do not represent tho mind of tho trade-union movement, but "the ideas only of a few select Labour cranks. Thanking you in anticipation,—l am, etc., R. A. SIMPSON, N.Z.M.O.