MR. PIDDINGTON K.C.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 12

MR. PIDDINGTON K.C.

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND BASIC WAGE EXPERT \/TR. A. B. PIDDINGTON, K.C., Industrial Commissioner for New South Wales, whose appointment to this new office was one of the early acts of the Lang Administration, arrived in Auckland to-day by the Aorangi. Mr. Piddington, who is en route to Honolulu, is one of the best-known figures In Australian life. His name lias been a household word in New South Wales for some time owing to his pronouncements on the basic wage and other industrial problems. On a memorable occasion Mr. Piddington also fought a famous by-elec-tion with the ex-Prime Minister, Mr. W. M. Hughes, for the North Sydney seat in the Federal House. He was called to the bar in 1890, and five years later entered the State House as member for Tamworth. Mr. Piddington subsequently took an active part in the Federation controversies. In 1911 he was appointed a Royal Commissioner to consider the question of labour and factory employment, and, as a result of his recommendations, active steps were taken by the New South Wales Government to procure the immigration of sknlrd tradesmen. Two years later he inquired into the industrial arbitration of the State, and in 1920 wa. chairman of the Commonwealth Royal Commission on the basic wage. In addition, Mr. Piddington is an author of note, has acted as examiner in modern languages for the Sydney University, and is an authority on Pacific relations. He will attend the forthcoming conference at Honolulu.