The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1927. ARBITRATION AND LABOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1927. ARBITRATION AND LABOUR.

The Labour Bills Committee has (leai t with the Arbitration Amendment Bill in rather drastic, fashion. It has struck out all the clauses bearing on the suggested changes in the constitution of the Court, and has thereby greatly altered the character of the measure. But it has retained the clause providing for the exemption of the , farming industries from the jurisdiction of the Court, and it has also retained the proposal for payments >y results. These arc the two principal features of the Bill which render it obnoxious to Labour. The Bill is meeting with a good deal of opposition also from the Employers’ Federation, which contends that the jurisdiction of the Court is a safeguard for the farmers. 'The belief is hold if the farmers are not included, and labor revolts as is somewhat threatened, the position will be very awkward for the primary producers, and the country at large the prosperity of which depends so much.on the wealth brought into the country by the disposal of the primary products overseas. This brings us back to the starting point—the right to strike, and the alternative of haying organised Labour regulated by some accepted means to secure industrial peace. The point of view of the farmer is that the regulation of ways under arbitration methods tends to increase producing costs, and so rob the producer of his personal profit. There is of course a good deal to say for both aspects, but at the basis, the one, the farmer, is dependent on the other, the labourer, and in these days of progress under organisation, the'Labour element believes it must have its .union to assist in taking care of the industrial welfare. The farmer, too, has his union, and both l>eing thus organised it would appear the necessities of the ease require some authority to negotiate between the two organised bodies in case of dispute, and the Arbitration Court is tbe natural vehicle for that purpose. There are the times when the laws of supply and demand are not permitted to have free play. On all sides there is the effort to regulate trade and marketing, and following that to the ultimate conclusion. | there has grown the insistent desire, nay demand, to regulate wages and employment under payment. The Government sought at the outset to reform the Arbitration Court, but the Court remains under a changed composition. After all was said and done, the necessity for the Court was recognised, and the ability of the Court, as establishes was recognised on the whole as more satisfactory than the desired change. The principle of arbitration in trading and manufacturing being thus established it is an evident cut at the principle to eliminate certain industries. Self-preservation can he understood ppd appreciated 33 something of ft very

natural desire. It was the motive for moving the farmers to seek exemption from the Act. A similar motive has mobed Labour to resist the exemption, and so there is the promise of a trial of strength on what w ill in reality he a matter of principle. Labour lias its only product for sale, and naturally it seeks the best price, and it has coordinating unions and ramifications which places it in a very strong position to assert itself. The question arises how far the inevitable conflict ahead should go Indore sane common sense prevails, and the two sides settle down to an amicable adjustment of their difficulties. Naturally Labour will be fearful if the farmers break away and .succeed in the lowering of wages, certain ideals of Labour in the matter will be affected, and othei influential industries may seek for exemption. The present move may Ik? but the beginning of something even more overshadowing. On that account Parliament will need to take particulai stock of the whole situation. Admittedly the Government has strength enough to put the. measure through, but whether it will be politic to no so, is another "matter, and on the Government rests the responsibility. As the matter stands the fate of the Bill promises to he a somewhat severe test of the Government policy in this farreaching matter.