THE ARBITRATION ACT,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2174, 2 September 1907, Page 1

THE ARBITRATION ACT,

INTERVIEW WITH MR. ARNOLD M.H.R. INDUSTRIAL COUNCILS OBJECTED TO. LOSING SIGHT OF CONCILIATION.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August .31. When I saw Mr. Arnold early in tlio day lie Lad not fully considered the Bill, hut agreed to go through it carefully and give me his views in the evening'. My first question iwas about the Councils. Mr. Arnold expressed tile opinion that the new sys-

tem would not be an improvement upon the old. The weakness of the new idea lay in the fact that the councils were to be dissolved immediately their work was accomplished in connection with one dispute. The great majority of tho workers considered that'if boards of that kind were to be set up it would bo far bettor to have a standing council of a chairman anil two members who would, have some permanent- responsibility and the Court of Arbitration would always be able to consult it oh doubtful points. In this eonnection.Mr. Arnold, pointed out that' a provision that already exists in the Act for tho appointment of special boards seems to have been overlooked.. As far back as 1896, Mr. Justice 'Williams, in the bootmakers’ dispute, sot up. a special board of employers and employees which was to have xiower to deal with all questions affecting wages, altering the scale for piecework,, and also dealing with the minimum wage and the proportion

of apprentices to journeymen. In regard to breaches of award being dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court, lie thought the workers would be very much opposed to that. It had always been held by the workers that those who first heard a dispute and became acquainted with the technical points in connection with the trade wore the

persons who should deal with any breach of the award. A magistrate would foe an unqualified person through his not having liad the matter before him previously. The tendency seemed to bo year after year to bring arbitration more and more into tho legal arena. They were gradually departing from the first principle of the Act, viz., conciliation. As to employers deducting fines from the men’s wages that was a most ridiculous idea, and, one that ho was sure neither the employers nor the workers would tolerate. The strained relationship that must exist -as the result of such a provision would be fatal. A man who had a dispute with his employer and who was fined in. consequence was to bo reminded weekly of what had taken place by liis wages being clocked. Next in importance to this clause was the on© which was supposed to deal with preference. The clause committing non-uuioniats to contribute towards the funds of unions would bo received with the utmost disfavor. Unionists had always contended that they should not be the sole financial losers through procuring an award for the money they expended. They should have some compensation, and . all they ever asked for was preference of employment where ability was equal. What the Minister was now providing for was compulsory unionism, with the exception that a large number who contributed should have no voice in the management of tho unions. The suggestion made by the Minister to-day to the employers’ deputation that nonunionists’ contributions should be used for sick and benefit funds was a bad one, and lie (Mr. Arnold) felt sure that Parliament had no right to legislate as to what any union or association should do with its funds; besides which, it would be thought by a very large number . of workers, rightly or wrongly, that this was only a provision to prevent their accummiiiating wealth that would enable them either to. , pay the fines or to help their members in the event of the; occurrence of a strike. As to the provision that officers must be members of the union and working in. the Industry they represented, Mr Arnold thoiight it an unsatisfactory one. Only that day a deputation from a large Wellington union had waited on members of Parliament asking them to oppose this provision. Both the president and secretary of that union expressed their thankfulness that they were not emjiloyed in the- particular trudo they represented, because they felt if they were they would be liable to .dismissal. Mr. Arnold said he knew, though this was generally denied by employers, the feeling existed throughout’ the whole of the colony. In consequence of this feeling many of ’the secretaries of unions were today paid officers. The workers,would hold to ’ this privilege with all the power they possessed. In conclusion., Mr. Arnold said there were several very good points ill the Bill, such as that to extend the force of agreements, which would be very acceptable to the working classes. As the Bill had to go before the Labor Bids Committee and evidence would be taken,; lie did not think it wise to enlarge further on its merits. “'What hope is there of the Bill passing?’ I asked “I should think,” replied Mr. Arnold, “ there is no .hope of its passing in its present form.”