Workers’ Leaders Suspect Trap In New Arbitration Legislation

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 183, 24 October 1927, Page 1

Workers’ Leaders Suspect Trap In New Arbitration Legislation

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON

Press Association. DUNEDIN, To-day. A SPECIAL meeting of the Otago Labour Council expressed strong disapproval of the Government’s Bill to amend the Arbitration Act and resolved to hold a meeting of officers of all unions to elect delegates to give evidence and to appear at a combined conference in Wellington.

TT was urged that while the proposal to appoint an assesor from the trades concerned in the dispute seemed innocent it was a trap, because a competent arbitrator must have knowledge of the general principles governing all industries in respect of wages conditions, an' 1 must be free agents, which they could not be under the proposal since me worker-arbitrator would not be in an independent economic position. The judge and employers’ arbitrator would be free, but the workers’ representative would only be a servant called in to sustain the fiction of equal representation.

Regarding farmers’ exemption it was pointed out that in butter and cheese production had increased 38 per cent, between 1921-1924 and wages only 12 per cent. Generally speaking it was claimed that the passing of the Bill would hind workers to an Act that gave them

little security and prevented, by penalty, adoption other protective measures.

BACK TO THE STRIKE MR. HOLLAND’S OPINION INVERCARGILL, To-day. Mr. Holland addressed a large meeting on Sunday evening in Vicl- - Hall. Referring to the proposed abolition of the Arbitration Court, he said the change would lead to victimisation of the employees who took part as assessors, or arbitrators. The workers would have only recourse to strike as the means of redress. Those unionists who supported the Government at the last election were only getting what they voted for. “I think,” said Mr. Holland, “that there is a reawakening of feeling among the people. There is a wave gathering which, like psychological wave that swept the Coates’ Government into power, will sweep them out again. The Mayor, Mr. John Miller, presided, and the speaker had a cordial reception.