THE POWERS THAT BE

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 February 1916, Page 2

THE POWERS THAT BE

SOMEWHAT wide, almost extraordinarily wide, powers are given Inspectors of Factories in connection with the employment of discharged soldiers in industries governed by awards of the Court of Arbitration, and it will be surprising if trouble does not arise out of ftie exercise of those powers. Under an Order-nr Council recently issued the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and* all awards and industrial agreements preventing or restricting the employment of discharged soldiers, are suspended, and power is given Inspectors of Factories, after giving the Unicn concerned reasonable opportunity of expressing their views, to issue Discharged Soldiers' Permits for employment in the industry " for such term, at such rate of wages, and upon such other conditions," as the Inspectors of Factories think fit.! Whilst everyone is 'anxious to give the fullest assistance to our returned soldiers, it is questionable whether it is expedient to place such practically unrestricted power in the hands of the Inspectors of Factories. Most awards and industrial agreements contain an under-rate workers clause, v and it might be contended, with much reason, that the provisions of that clause are sufficiently elastic to meet the requirements in connection with the employment of discharged soldiers. From one point of view the powers granted under the Order-in-Council might be interpreted as an attempt on the part of the people of NewZealand to str.rk their responsibilities to discharged, soldiers and at the same time provide Qheap labour, Possibly, when these powers are exercised they will be used with discretion and justice. At any rate the average discharged soldier may be relied upon to see that no unfair advantage is taken of him in the matter.