The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1908. ANOTHER PANACEA FOR STRIKES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2155, 2 April 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1908. ANOTHER PANACEA FOR STRIKES.

Just now, when the strike of wharf laborers at Newcastle has attained unpleasantly large dimensions-and our own people are more or less concerned over the Blackball strike, it will prove instructive to examine tho Industrial Disputes Bill, which is at present before the New South Wales Pii-rlia-ment. This is a measure that has been brought- down by Mr Wade, tho N.S.AV. Premier. It is intended to lake tho place of tho Arbitration Act of that State, which was enacted for a fixed period. According to tllo “Sydney Morning Herald” L, lias given satisfaction neither to ono side nor the other. Tho main grounds for dissatisfaction are that it has been unable to overtake the work thrown on the Court, that the constitution of tho Court. does not provide expert knowledge, that it permits the clouding of issues by legal subtlety, and that it lias not sufficient power to enforce its awards No ono therefore urges that the present Act should be continued. These, after all, are precisely tho same drawbacks that have/' militated against the complete sue-, cess of our own arbitration system, although it must bo borno in mind that the N.Z. Act contains provisions much more stringent for the enforcement of Court awards than did the'N.S.AV. measure.--and it is'probably to this cause that its ■ greater success lms been due. However, we cannot do better than quote the chief, provisions of the Bill, by which Air. AVado hopes to solve the vexed question pf industrial'disputes. These are as follows:

Boards may be brought into existence by; the Minister upon the application of employers employing not less than 10 employees, or on the aiiplication of not less than 10 employees, ■or of a trades union, or of an- industrial union of employers or employees. The Minister may also, if lie sees fit, direct a board to be constituted without any application from such bodies. Each board shall have a chairman, ■aiicl not less than two nor more than ten other members, one-half representing the employers and the other half employees. The Governor shall actually appoint the hoards on the nomination of the persons interested; but in caso of ’urgency shall appoint "a board without reference to the contestants. The chairman of the board- shall be nominated by the members of it, and appointed by. the Governor,' or in default of such nomination a Supreme or District Court Judge, or some person appointed by the Supreme Court,,may be unpointed chairman. After a board has uia.de an award, the board, may be dissolved by the Governor; or if not so dissolved, the members may hold office for two years from the. date of appointment. Anv member may resign in the interim. Boards may fix the minimum wages for piecework, the minimum wages for day work, the hours and times of work, the minimum rates for holiday, overtime, and other special work, the proportion of apprentices and improvers to journeymen, and the granting pf permits to -old and infirm workers jvho ;iiay not bo able to earn the statutory minimum wage. The award of a .board as to these matters shall he binding for a period of not less than one year and not more than three years.

The hoard shall impure into the merits of the matter, and limy summou any witnesses it thinks fit. No person, however, shall'bo required to produce his books or give any evidence respecting bis financial position without ids consent.

Jf any person does anything inciting to a lockout or strike, or instigate either of them, lie shall be liable to a fine of £J/)00, or imprisonment not exceeding two months; but the right of any person to Ifiscontintio any industry for any purpose other than lockout or strike is preserved. if any : trade or industrial unionist incites to any strike or lockout, the Judge may order his union to J>ay a penalty not exceeding £2l) out of its hinds, and tho line shall, bo recoverable by levy on the goods of the union, whether they be in the hands of trustees .or not.

There shall be. no appeal from an order of the District Court Judge in the ease of inciting to strike or lockout, hut itg prosecution, shall... be commenced except , by leave of a Supreme or District Court Judge. Power is given to tho Governor to make regulations under the Act, certain powers are reposed in the chairman, certain restrictions are imposed upon the parties, and a schedule is appended specifying the trades in which boards may be ai'-nipted. Looking at the measure, broadly, it appears to be an improvement upon our Conciliation Boards, but whether the bodies that are to be formed will be competent to take the place of both Conciliation Boards and., Arbitration Courts, as we know them, is entirely, problematical. The best feature of - the Industrial Disputes Bill is the excellent machinery that is provided for ensuring that whenever anj industrial dispute occurs, it can be j submitted with the greatest promptitude to a tribunal consisting of men thoroughly conversant with the trade affected. A new feature is the provision which makes it a serious Offence, followed by severe penalties, to do anything inciting to a lock-out or strike' Premier Wade will uudoubt-

# edly have tho support of the community in dealing with tho strike maker, whether ho bo drawn from tho' ranks of tho employers or thoso of the workers, as a public enemy, but our own experience goes to show that .it is extremely difficult to secure the enforcement oven 'of provisions that tiro very much milder.' A closo perusal of the clauses quoted will show that a good deal will depend upon tho procedure followed in selecting the chairman of the Board aiid' ! also in the Governor’s regulations', and a good deal more ill the spirit ii> which the parties to a dispute view ,tho jurisdiction of tho Boards, In other words, it is an excellent’ conciliatory measure, but it ■ is not lit all certain that it will stand tho strain of dealing with disputes in which- -ono side or tho other objects to interference on tho part of any tribunal. ' 1 .