THAT “VICIOUS SPIRAL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 35, 4 May 1927, Page 1

THAT “VICIOUS SPIRAL”

ARBITRATION JXHJRT’S POLICY APPROVAL AND CONDEMNATION MR. JUSTICE FRAZER CANNOT COMMENT ‘lt is a political matter, and I can’t discuss it for publication,” said Mr. Justice judge of the Arbitration Court, when the Canterbury College indictment, that the Arbitration Court was moving in a vicious circle of its own making, was referred to him to-day. Mr. Albert Spencer, president of the Auckland Provincial Employers’ Association, endorses the views of the Canterbury College economists. He stated this morning that the court, in its policy, had gone to the danger limit.

Shackled by official restrictions, members of the Arbitration Court cannot comment on criticism of its policy, which nevertheless is not without its champions.

The policy of the court, according to the principles it has followed, is to maintain standards of living, at the same time keeping in mind the possibility of slump periods. What slumps occur in New Zealand it is pointed out, are of short duration, according to past experience, and not necessarily alarming from the economic viewpoint. A LABOUR VIEWPOINT

“To say that the Arbitration Court is moving in a vicious circle is nonsense,” said Mr. T. Bloodworth, wellknown Labour man who championed "he policy of the court. “The trade stagnation and conditions

deplored by the university economise who issued the bulletin are now prevalent,” he stated, “in countries where no Arbitration Court exists. The New Zealand Arbitration Court has

done good in maintaining the minimum wage in industries where the organisations of the workers were not strong enough to maintain them themselves.”

Mr. Bloodworth qualified his comments by adding that the system was incomplete because it did r ot arbitration prices, as well as on wages. No court had power to fix a remedy for price variations. If a Tribunal with that power could be set up—though he realised its establishment would be difficult —such a move would be a definite contribution towards the welfare of the people. Another weakness was that, while the court had power to fix wages it could not ensure a volume of employment to let men earn those wages. Moreover it was set up to deal with conditions of 1894, and not of to-day. If

it was brought up-to-date it would be as good a system as there was lu the world for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes. CAUSE OF UNEMPLOYMENT Mr. Spencer, prominent business man and President of the Employers Association, agreed with the economists who criticised the Court. “The Arbitration Court,” he said, “is causing more unemployment than any other agency. It is driv ing the cost of living higher and higher each time it raises wages. Unable to meet foreign competitiori, manufacturers are driven to become importers themselves, and thus money Is sent outside the country.” Mr. Spencer said there were plenty of cases in Auckland of manufacturerbecoming importers because they were unable to face competition from out side. All the industries of the couu try were menaced by the policy the Arbitration Court was following, an I until the court began to work on a sounder economic basis, and adjusted its ideas to meet changed eircuin stances, the country would not get back to stable conditions. PLACATING THE UNIONS “To placate the unions and keej them quiet, the court has given employees more than they were entitled to, even where the weight of eviden :e was clearly with the employers. It is sacrificing primary producers bv raising the cost of labour. “The Employers’ Association," concluded Mr. Spencer, “has been loyal to the court as long as possible, but now we are getting fed up.”

CHANGE OR ABOLITION?

DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, To-day. Seeking the opinions of a number of men interested in the question of the Arbitration Court and its functions a SUN reporter was informed by Mr. Cecil Prime, secretary of the Canter bury Employers’ Association, that the Employers’ Federation was considering the subject, and within the next few days it probably would issue a considered pronouncement. This pamphlet or bulletin would set out the Federation’s attitude on the question. Other men seen made few remarks, which suggested that there is much more behind the question than meets the eye. “It goes without question,” one said, “that there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the Arbitration Court, not so much among those people interested in what may be termed the more-or-less sheltered industries as among those interested in primary and competitive industries. Some sections have raised a cry for the total abolition of the court However, the majority of the employers are not in favour of such drastic action. This more moderate section believes that, without actually going so far as to abolish the court, changes could be made in it, and its powers, which would make it up to date and more in tune with modern conditions, thus adding to its practical utility. Ap parently the Government believes also that something of this sort could be done and seems willing to give it a trial, but it has called for much information from various sections of the community with this end in view, and it certainly will be some time before a line of action is finally decided upon.

GRIEF-STRICKEN SINGER By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright Reed. 8 a.m. LONDON, Tuesday. The death is announced of the popular Irish baritone, Jerome M urphy. He has been grief-stricken since his daughter’s departure for New Zealand on April 29.—A. and N.Z.-Sun. Wisdom in Women HELPING YOUTHFUL AUCKLAND COUPLES OVER MATRIMONIAL STILE REMOVING LIFE’S BRUISES “For there’s wisdom in women,” sang Rupert Brooke. Particularly does this apply to Mrs. Fry, who is guide, philosopher, and friend to many an Auckland family. Officially, Mrs. Fry is the inspector for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Women and Children. But anything less like an inspector could hardly be imagined. A wealth of white hair is an appropriate setting for two blue eyes, deep with the wisdom that only time can ‘bring, smiling, sweet and kindly. When Mrs. Fry sets off from her office of a morning she does not know where she will land before the setting of the sun. THROUGH CITY’S BY-WAYS The by-ways and the highways of the city know her. Equally is she at hom«‘ too in the suburbs, where per-

haps there is an irate parent to subdue. But Mrs. Fry—it is quite impossible to refer to her as “the inspector'*—is, to a large extent, concerned with the matrimonial upheavals of young married couples. This is a subject upon which, confessed Mrs. Fry to THE SUN, she feels very keenly. It is here, too. that all the wisdom that Rupert Brooke says women possess, is so called into requisition. “First of all one must be sympathetic,” says Mrs. Fry, as she relates the experiences of an average youthful Auckland married couple, who, to use her own words, have “rushed into matrimony.” “After a time the novelty begins to wear off. The couple jar one another. Very often I find that one, usually the husband, develops in excess of the other partner.” INFATUATION GONE This is where the trouble begins; The husband finds that he cannot dress his wife as smartly as other girls. The passing infatuation is gone, and what is left? Generally, a baby. It is indeed extraordinary, on what small amounts some young Auckland couples exist, happily if not too luxuriously. But whereas one pair can live on £3 IDs weekly, twice that sum will not suffice for others. To Mrs. Fry’s mind too much is worse than too little The happiest couples are those who have to make sacrifices for each other Sometimes it is the wife that errs Yet again it is the husband “If 1 see that a girl is not appreciating a good young man for her husband,” says Mrs. Fry, “1 tell her so. One has to be very firm sometimes.” Then, of course, there was the case of the young man who gambled away the house rent, and when the baby was expected the usual nest egg was not in existence. A saddened girl returned to the shelter of her mother’s roof-tree plus a world of wisdom and a crying infant A STRAIGHT “TALKING TO!” In the privacy of her office Mrs Fry delivered to that young man the straightest “talking to” that he nad ever received. “No, I never worry about my ‘cases* when I can do something for them, is Mrs. Fry’s comment. “It is when things are absolutely hopeless and I can do nothing for these young couples that 1 feel a little downhearted.” Young people, take Mrs. Fry’s advice —do not rush into marriage.

When the baby comes in at the front door love is tempted to fly out of the window, unless firmly sealed in affection. After all. that is the only thing that really matters.