The Guardian And Evening. Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1929. ARBITRATION IN AUSTRALIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1929, Page 4

T he Guardian And Evening. Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1929. ARBITRATION IN AUSTRALIA.

The session of tile Federal'Parliament which opened recently at Canberra is iikely iu piove more interesting and sensational than usual. For members will be called upon to consider the proposal oI : the Prime Mims.er to abolish the Feueral Arbitration Court. The decision 10 take this step, states an exchange, was made by .Ur Bruce at a political conference last May, when he informed his audience, that “as ' the States dec. 1 ned to grant fu,l industrial powers' to the Commonwealth by which overlapping and conflicting awards could be overcome, the Commonwealth Government would in due coures abolish the Federal Arbitration Court.” This announcement was received by the State Premiers with, “general approval.” But strong opposi ion has been roused in various quarters, and as Mr B> uce has declared that his Government will “stand or fall” by liis scheme, the coming session prove to be one of the most momentous in the history of the Australian Parliament. The principal reason for Mr Bruce’s decision is contained in Ins Statement that “the States declined to grant full industrial powers to the Commonwealth.” This is, of course, literally true. By rejecting various proposals to assert the authority of the Federal Court over the local industrial tribunals, and by enforcing “State rights” in a most obstinate and aggressive way, the State Premiers and the State e.ectors have made themselves largely responsible for Mr Bruce’s «&ew policy. Apart from this there are “the law’s delays’’ to be considered. A short time since it was publicly stated that some eases have'been before the Federal Court for three years and are unsettled vet. The general objections to the present system have been aptly summarised by the “Bu letin,” which' has said that “Federal arbitration at its best is costly, complicated, provocative and ineffective.” There is no doubt that the cost is a heavy burden on the Commonwealth. A few wee7s ago Mr Bruce seated that “the present duplication of the Arbitration Court systems is costing industry more than the whole’ Federal income tax, which , amounts .to £10,000,000 annually.” An even more urgent reason for the abolition of the Federal Court was given by Mr Giiilett, Federal Minister of Trade and Customs, who declared that the awards of the Court “are flagrantly flouted by sections of the workers.” This last statement suggests at once the grounds for the agitation tliat is being worked up by the Labour Party inside and outside Parliament in opposition to Mr Bruce. A conference of Federal industrial unions held at Melbourne, and representing nearly 800,003 workers, has initiated a campaign against Mr Bruce’s proposal, either because the Federal awards are generally more favourable -to the workers than those ofvhe local Courts, or because they are more easily defied. Also, Mr W. M. Hughes has declared war on Mr Bruce, denouncing his proposal as “reactionary, unwarran ed and unauthorised,” It is believed that Mr Bruce is sure of a majority of three or four votes on a division, but if by any accident he shou d be defeated, Australia will be plunged at on e into the throes of another general election. Apropos the general issue, Mr Bavin, the State Premier, who has just returned from a health trip to England, at his own expense, has stated that Australia’s credit abroad is being ruined by the industrial trouble. No doubt this is true. The manner in which arbitration decisions are 'being flouted is exemplified week by week in Australia. The im,potency to enforce the decisions on recalcitrant La-, hour is all too apparent. Apart from open defiance there is the attempt at rioting and sabotage. The industrial troubles are beyond the power and influence of even Staie arbitration, let alone Federal contro', so that an impasse is really reached. The effect of fubolFhing something which is not even recognised by one of the parties would on the face of it hardly tend to make matters worse.