THE HON. ANDREW FISHER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 310, 31 December 1914, Page 3

THE HON. ANDREW FISHER

AftSltfiAtlON-NOt THE END. Per Press .Association. Auckland, December 30. When replying to speeches i f we icome to-day, Mr Andrew Fisher, tnc Federal Premier, remarked that he could not express on opinion about the affairs of New Zealand, although lie had followed its political and i:s commercial history for 30 years. “JKit Ido say, 1 ’ he added, “that however much you may be disappointed will; your position to-day, you should not forget that iu the earlier days New Zealand did a good deal to load the way in industrial legislation. No one can actually believe that arbitration is the end of all things, (Hear, hear). When first inaugurated it was perhaps a better system than that of strikes, but the expense of it is unjustifi vole in every way. The tedious process of getting to the courts, especially with the dual Parliament of the Commonwealth, makes it a burden almost too heavy to bear.” That, Mr Fisher added, was because people would not remove the disabilities under which they were placed by the constitution. “I think that the position in New Zealand,” he added, “has been '.hat you have had men as leaders who wete not Labor meii t keen, shrewd men who just kept a little in front of oublio opinion.” In response to 'Heir, hears,” Mr Fisher added: “Well, they are not to blame for that.” He said that the difficulties here were not as great as those in Australia, where they spent half their time iu trying to circumvent the weak and difficult constitution.

When speaking at the welcome to the Prime Minister of Australia this morning, the secretary of the Careers and Drivers’ Union (Mr G. Davis), said he had thought it mgiht be possible to discuss with Mr Fisher the good and bad features of the conciliation and arbitration system. -‘The system in this country,” he added, “does not settle disputes, it manufactures them. From the time an award is given there is one continual wi angle.” The speaker was, proceeding to refer in an uncomplimentary manner to the way in which the judges framed awards when he was checked by the visiting Prime Minister. “I would not say that,” suggested Mr Fisher, “for the judges in this country, as well as in other countries, rightly or wrongly, interpret the laws.” Mr Davis accepted the advice, and went on ti) say that the carters’ here were working 36 hours a week for from £2 8s to £2 12s a week. They found that awardwere not framed on the evidence given in the Arbitration Court. Fo' instance, holidays had been reduced from nine to eight, am} the percent age of boy labor had been modified when neither alteration had beer, asked for. They had gone to the trouble of getting detailed reports of the pioceedings, and the last case -ost tiunn something like £800.” “That,” remarked the visiting Min. ister, “it a serious business.” MrDavis added, “and in this Dominion which is called ‘God’s Own Country, we have under arbitration catie’s working for 10Jd per hour.