NOT WANTED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2261, 5 August 1908, Page 1

NOT WANTED.

REPEAL OF ARBITRATION ACT. ATTITUDE OF FARMERS’ UNION. A resolution passed by the Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union at, its annual meeting was in tho following terms: — “That in view of the failure of the Conciliation and Arbitration Acts to prevent strikes, and tho unfair and weak manner in which they are administered, it would be in the best interests of everybody concerned if these Acts were repealed or amended.” The motion was moved yesterday afternoon, at tho New Zealanders Farmers’ Union conference, by Mr D. Jones, of Weedon, North Canterbury to whom the duty was delegated by tho Wellington delegates on account of liis close connection with the operations with tho operations of the Conciliation Board and the Arbitration Court in- his district. In moving the motion, Mr. Jones said he did not argue in favor of imprisonment- for those who broke awards; lie knew that that would be impracticable. But he knew that- unices there was the alternative of inflicting imprisonment when any law was broken there was no surety of enforcing it, and therefore he wns in; favor of abolishing tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It could not be onforced except by imprisonment ; it was useless to say that it could be done by fines. A man could not be forced to work against liis will. Tho Hon. J. Millar had said it could bo done by making tlio man’s next employer collect the fine; but bow much would bo the -worth of labor given under those circumstances. It would bo just as cheap for the employer to pay the fine out of his own pocket at once, for that was only what tho result would work out at. The only real remedy would be to ship such men out- of tho country. If the -Government wont on in their present- spirit it would be well for the farmers to take up an attitude of passive resistance; and, if necessary, break the law sufficiently to force the Government either to mepd the Act effectually or to abolish it. As to Dr. Findlay’s proposal for institution of an exertion wage, the system was of no use to many callings. Besides, Dr. Findlay stipulated that it would not bo brought into operation unless all parties agreed to it; and what was tho use of that when leaders of labor in New Zealand were preaching the damnable heresy—-the. term was strong, but not too strong—that work was degrading, and tlie less a man could do of it tho better men would be? In effect tho unions wero saying they approved of arbitration without any penalties. (Laughter.) He regretted that Mr. Millar had failed to carry out his promise to got legislation passed for suppression of the paid agitator, and ho made a further remark that a Cabinet Min06ter who had condemned the paid agitator in such terms as Dr. Findlay had done —“a man who lived by strife, who was one of tho worst friends labor had got, and who was a parasite upon labor”—and had failed to suppress them, was grievously failing an has duty. The whole system was an economic fallacy, and it was hound to go. It would be bettor now than later, and this conference should move for the repeal of an Act which was a curse, and, as Dr. Findlay put it, an industrial calamity. (Applause.) He referred in terms of strong condemnation to the dual position of Mr. Andrew Collins as Conciliation Board member and labor organiser. Such a tilling would shake any confidence that might have been felt in the system. If tho fanning industry was to he brought under the Act, the main industry of-tlip colony would he hampered and disaster would follow. .“Sweep the Act away” was his suggestion, and then something better could be built up. Mr M'Quenn (Southland) expressed his joy that the conference was at last coming round to the views he had sc often enunciated in past years. The idea of doing away with sweating was behind the Act, lylion it was first passed, and that Idea was most commendable ; but the minimum wage was never intended to he the standard wage. Thero should only he a short time given to this discussion, for they were thrashing straw that there was no grain in. Mr Lead ley said that the recent experience of the Canterbury farmers showed that there was something to he gained by offering a determined resistance to unjust demands made under the Act. The Arbitration Act was one which attempted to bring together things- that were diamotncallv opposed, and it was proved a failure. The spirit of the Act- was the spirit of the old dominio who read to liis boys the text- ‘Love one another” and then enjoin on them the need

to observe the commandment- or get flogged as <m alternative. Such a system was foredoomed to failure, and both town and country wore sulfering from arrested j development today as a direct consequence of the hampering action, of the Arbitration Court awards, and the throat ol further movements/ pf like nature. People would not risk their capital or expend their energies under present conditions, and good gram-grow-ing land was going into grass as a direct result of this—thus becoming much less productive, and causing a. diminution in the revenues of the Dominion.

At tho conclusion of an interesting discussion it was unanimously resolved :—“That- it would ho -in (Jio host interests of Now Zealand if tho Act wore repealed.” /