THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2123, 4 July 1907, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

ITS REPEAL SUGGESTED. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, last night. Mr. Hogg has presented a petition largely signed by various people and firms engaged in local industries in Masterton, respectfully asking Parliament to repeal the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Actt The petitioners state that labor agents, living in the cities, constantly stir up strife in the country districts, and make demands upon the country industries which, if acceded to, would ruin them. These demands, it is pointed out, are vexatious ; and have a direct tendency to restrict and injure trade. It is also stated that these demands do not emanate from country workers, but direct from the cities. The Act, the petitioners assert, as now constituted, is manifestly injurious to country interests, and they therefore seek relief from its operations and-effect. They therefore ask Parliament to take the necessary steps to have the Act repealed, or so amended that in the country districts it shall be made permissive, the enforcement or repeal of its provisions being dependent upon a vote of the trades people and workers concerned.

Replying to some remarks by Mr. Davey, in regard to the Arbitration Act, the Leader of the Opposition referred to what he termed the unfertunate events iHf the last few months which had shown.that it was impossible to supersede natural and economic laws by Act of Parliament. It had often been stated that New Zealahd was- a land without strikes. He believed that in proportion to our population we had bad as many strikes during the year as any other country in the world. They could not make a man work if ho was not inclined to work and they could not make a man employ labor if he did not feel inclined to. and as for sending people who broke the law in this connection to goal it was absolutely nonsense to think of it.

In reply to this the’ Premier said that though there had been friction lately in connection with the Act he believed that nothing had done more to put money into the pockets of business people in “this colony than the protection they had had from strikes, as a result of the Arbitration Act. He believed it would be bad for this colony if the Act* were repealed.