Between Fires.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1922, Page 1

Between Fires.

ARBITRATION COURT IN PERIL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 30. The Arbitration Court is in peril at present is the opinion of the Hon TV. Downie Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs, who spoke in the debate on the Financial Statement to-night. His reason for the belief was, he said, that a large section of employers would like to see the (Mutt wiped Out because they did not think it brought down wages fast enough and in line with wage movements in other countries. The other peril to the Court was from a -certain section of Labour, he thought, the Alliance of Labour, or the more aggressive unions, who would like to do without it. The result of financial stringency upon the Court had been not what was expected. It had been thought that tho workers would cling to tho Court while under conditions of rising prices it could give them increased wages, and that they would abandon it when it ceased to provide benefits, but it turned out that the main body of workers were relying on the Court to protect them from too rapid reductions. - “Is that not correct?” lie asked Labour members,-’- who replied “That is so.”

The Minister went on to say that only a small section of Labour failed to realise the Court’s value. They should realise what was happening in other countries, where wages came down with a run and there were riots, strikes and bloodshed. If Labour members thought the present system of adjusting wages was unsatisfactory they should provide some Ixitter method before endeavouring to pull it down, because the Court had proved a most valuable safeguard to the workers under conditions of economic stress. “1 do not know how far it is possible for the Arbitration Court to hold out,” Tie said. “If it does not readjust wages with sufficient alacrity to allow business to continue it will Tie in very

grave danger of going under. I am nrrt competent to say how quickly it should adjust wages, but I do not want to see in New Zealand what has happened in other countries. This foment has been going on a long time but we have turned the corner, and if our employers can hang on for a jear or two and save tlie Court it will he a verv wise thing for both workers and employers to do.” Air Howard, who followed tlie Minister suggested that there had been n gentle throat that the Arbitration Court was to be wiped out.

Mr Stewart: It was not a threat. _ Mr Howard: That was what it amounted to. He’ 'vent on to sugges that the Court suited employers while prices had a rising tendency, because it did not keep pace with the cost ot living, but while prices were dropping the Court operated slightly in favour of the workers, therefore there was a great movement among gentlemen whom tho Reform Party represented to have the' Arbitration Court abolished. am ,m m omwawnm

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