The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1927. ARBITRATION LAW.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1927. ARBITRATION LAW.

In 11 k* 1 lonsi«- uf Representatives lust week. tin l 1 ion (1. . Anderson moved the committal of llic Imlustrial Conciliation ami A rhitration Hill, which lit* said, contained no now matter, lint was purely a < onsolida tiou of tho existing law. so that thus,, interested would have the whole of the law on tin* subject eoiitained in one .statute. Mr Cl. \V. Follies eulogised' tile system of arbitration and the work of the Arbitration Court in the settlement of industrial disputes. Both the system and the Court had stood the test of time, hut. he thought the Court should have more power iii dealing, with trusts and lomhines in relation to the cost of living. The Court was constantly fact'll with the question of the cost of living jn settling men’s wages, hut while the Court fixed wages the Board of Trade dealt with rings and combines. and he thought letter results would lie obtained if the Court, dealt with both. There was no more important question in the Dominion than to have an army of contented workmen carrying on the industries of the country because there would he no profitable production unless there was harmony and co-operation between employer and employed. Mr M. F. Holland said although this was a consolidating measure, the T.ihonr Thirty was not satisfied with the Act as it. stood, and when in committee they would move certain amendments. There was a great deal of dissatisfaction at the fact that the Court had in many eases fixed a basic wage on which it was impossible for a man to keep a wife and bring up a family. Tt was seiuiething of an anomaly that the Court was presided over by a judge who drew about £2<TOO per year and who made awards giving men about £3 His per week. Mr S. 0, Smith said he agreed with the meniTier for Bullcr, that the basic wage was too low. because while the Court fixed the basic wage as a minimum, employers generally treated ii as the maximum. Still, with all its drawbacks, labour

was hotter off in Xew Zealand than in most countries, and the system of arbitration should not he departed from. Sir John Luke said the original Art was one of the wisest measures ever passed hv tin' Xeu Zealand Parliament. The basic wage had been criticised. hut there was nothin" to prevent workers putting their case fairlv before the Court. Personally, he valued the Conciliation Court more than the Arbitration Court, because the results of conciliation will always he more satisfactory than those of arbitration. in which one of the parties might feel aggrieved. He did not favour a higher rate of pay for married men that for single men. because it might operate to the disadvantage of the married man. for if an employer had to discriminate between men he would almost invariable discriminate against the higher paid man. Mr A. L. Monteith declared that the standard of living in Xew Zealand was lower than in any of the Australian States. Xo reasonable man could support the basic wage of £6 16= Id fixed bv the court, and ariv court which could fix such a wage was not oarrv>ng out tfiff act. wlpc-h said its judgr

incuts must be made in equity and good conscience. .Mr W. E. l’arry declared that the Arbitration Court was obsolete and required bringing up-to-date. He appealed to the Prime .Minister to grant the request oi the workers lor a commission to inquiru into the questions ot the eo.it of living and basic uage. II these questions were not settled there might be trouble, and it was belter to avoid trouble than to lace trouble after it arose. .Mr J. MeLombi -aid the tv inkers ol New Zealand had every reason to he dis.xalioetl with the Arbitration Court, and there was no begetting the legislation of 1922, which forced the Court to reduce wages on an absolutely unfair basis. The lion G. J. Anderson, in reply, said the fail that the membership of unions had greatly increased aas the best prool that no dissatisfaction existed v. ith the Arbitration Court. Jlc bid not believe the cotilt could look after the cost of living, and prices better than the Hoard of Trade, because the board was functioning very cllcctivcly and had done good work in slabilisiig the prites of broad, gas and manures within the last, few weeks, lie did not think assistance to married men with families could conic through the payment- of wages. It was a complicated question and would have to la l dealt with in some other way. He denied that he had ever used political iiillueme with the court. He had on one occasion stated that- ho thought the court had made a blunder. which any human institution was apt to do. In so critcising the decision of the court he thought he was well within his rights.