ARBITRATION COURT A GHASTLY FAILURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3697, 29 September 1927, Page 4

ARBITRATION COURT A GHASTLY FAILURE.

SAYiS MR, JESSEP.

Wairoa, September 26,

At the annual meeting' of the Wlairoa Farmers’ Co-op. Meat Co., Ltd., Mr. J. S. Jesscp (chairman of the Company and vice-chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board) said he had a year ago called attention to the ever-increa-sing cost of production and forecasted that unless this was lowered and the country districts absorbed surplus labour, unemployment would be increased ten-fold.

“One of the main factors causing unemployment is unquestionably the working of the Arbitration Court, which instead of the original purpose of arbitration has become an institution determining remuneration without regard to the value of the article produced. “From an economic point of view it was a ghastly farce, blighting efficiency and sapping the whole moral fabric of the country. The Court’s award in the case of water - siders, for instance, contained a series of restrictions, but there was no stress laid on the need for efficiency, or inducement to facilitate the handling of produce. Similar restrictions applied to the farming industry would mean a serious increase in the price of butter, meat and wool.” He added: “Until this Act is abolished and the effect of its destructive influence upon New Zealand industry wiped out, unemployment must go on increasing.” A resolution was passed unanimously, that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act be repealed. Copies are to be sent to the Premier and Hawke’s Bay members of Parliament.