WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 October 1930, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS

INDUSTRIAL, LAWS

(Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON Sept. 29

All the business men of the Dominion realise that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act stands in the way of the Dominion’s recovery. The deputation that waited on the Acting Prime Minister on Thursday last made out a-very strong case which was-simple enough, , but what is in doubt is the courage of the Cabinet to tackle the subject. There is always'in the background “votes,” arid every politician is always endeavouring, figuratively speaking to buy votes. The present writer had an interesting discussion with a business man who has given considerable thought to the problem of compulsory arbitration, and lie holds the' view that if there are not radical changes in our arbitration system the slump will be prolonged and cause much greater hardships than already experienced. It wa,g pointed out to him that the Act had stood for over thirty years, which of course could not be denied, blit he pointed out that to buy votes successive Governments baVe introduced amendments into the Act, always ih the direction of extending benefits to workers and tightening the strings oil the employers, so that whatever merits the Act may have had originally, it is a grotesque caricature. Compulsory arbitration is wrong, and had it been the excellent thing as regarded by some people it would have been adopted the world over, hut ai9 we alj kno-w, except Australia, .no other country has adopted the compulsory arbitration system. The world is always ready to adopt anything that will benefit humanity. Take for instance the Phinket Society, a- system of child welfare which was originated in this Dominion, and not by the professional friends -of humanity, the politicians, has been adopted by a good many countries and. it cannot claim the age pf compulsory, arbitration.

The 'opinion of this student of industrial, legislation is that the Act should he expunged, from the Statute Book, and every encouragement given to the'parties to a' dispute, to settle their; disputes by conciliation, and if this;- were done there would be very few disputes. The present Act enepurntges disputes. A union secretary to he regarded as successful-and worthy of his job by the members of his union must always be looking for ways and means of attacking the' employers. The union, secretary who is practically boss of his uhioli, tnust be careful to see that the indmbehs are restless and discontented- for by that means he can hold them together and get in their subscriptions.

The Arbitration. Act has succeeded in raising a good ..crop of labour agitators, and a good crop of, labour aristocrats, and they, are all i thriving on the subscription of the workers. However, the business man was trendy to admit that there whs little, lildihood ,of the Act being repealed, but he contended that it could be. amended and present. He suggests that the two in a way to, mitigate its harshness and /Want iof-'elasticity in times like the assessors pf the Court should be done away with; and their salaries of £750 each and travelling expenses saved. They cancel one -another in arbitration, and the award actually depends on the Judge; The Judge should, be given , thh ; . power not bto - sit in arbitration until he is fully satisfied that, the parties have tried every method of conciliation before calling upon him to arbitrate. , It,,should also be made mandatory that the Judge in making his aWard must take into consideration its effect on allied industries and on consumers', and the Judge should have power of. inviting anyone whom he thinks competent to sit with him at a hearing and offer advice; but this advisor must not be paid. It must be remembered that the product of one industry; is often the raw material of another industry, and this matter may be seriously injured through an award. The 'business man Also insisted that the preference to Unionist should form no. part- of, the award'. Mr H. E. Holland stated in the House early this session that a worker had the right to work, but the agitators and aristocrats /of the Labour party consider that the unionist only has this right. Every man has a right; to Bell his services at the highest price ,he can get for those services, and the State has no right to dictate or insist that he should join a union to secure work. Settlement by conciliation is far better than settlement by arbitration, whether it be trade dispute, a property dispute or any other dispute. An agreement arrived at by conciliation tacitly becomes a gentleman’s agreement and is observed as such. 'The parties in conciliation come together to give and Hake, hut coming before a Court which has no power to enforce its authority both sides are fighting, and the odds are against the employers. If the award does not. suit the workers they will not obey it, but. the employers' must or submit to heavy ’fines which can be enforced.