The Sun THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1928. THE FATE OF ARBITRATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 316, 29 March 1928, Page 10

The Sun THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1928. THE FATE OF ARBITRATION

THE fate of the Aibitration Court is involved in the present deliberations and prospective decisions of the Industrial Conference. This alone invests the Wellington assembly of industrialists with a national interest of the first importance. It is a vital fact that should be realised and studied closely alike by employer and worker, of whom neither is satisfied with existing conditions.

It was made quite clear in the considered statements submitted ,to the conference yesterday by economists that, in their opinion, if anything better were immediately available, the Arbitration Court should be abolished out of hand as a spent force. Even the most sympathetic economist, Professor A. G. B. Fisher, of Otago University, who is willing to keep a poor thing because something better is not yet in sight, admitted that “ the Arbitration Court is not an institution about which it is easy to arouse much enthusiasm.” Still, with all its faults, with all its practices and potentialities for good and for evil, the Court represents the most effective system yet devised for carrying out with reasonable efficiency “ the prosaic but useful and essential function of providing machinery for wagedetermination.”

Attention may be diverted for a moment from the major issues before the conference in order to look at the statement that has been issued by the workers’ delegates. This report presumably represents their collective mind and the basic policy of industrial unionism. It concedes much in the form of pleasant expression, but gives away nothing—in spirit or intention. It postulates a ready willingness to seek and strive for “ a greater degree of co-operation between all the parties who contributed anything essential to the national well-being than had hitherto prevailed.” It is the old rule of thus-far, hut no farther. So, by way of indicating the limit of concession in goodwill and co-operation, the workers’ representatives promptly declared that, in their opinion, trades unionism could never make peace with capitalism in the sense of acquiescing in that system. This is nothing better than a declaration of industrial labour’s old and abiding love of the nationalisation of industry and everything else that may he roped in under mass control which means laziness, inefficiency and gross extravagance. Past experience has shown time and again that this love easily turns to hatred, and when hatred exists there can be no eduring peace. It is fair to note, however, that the labour section of the conference has explained that its opposition to capitalism does not imply a blind destructive fury against the existing economic order. The volcano may be quiescent for a long time, but it must not be taken for granted that it never again will throw up lava. Apart from that statement by the employees’ section, the session of the conference yesterday was a field day for professional economists. • Professor A. H. Tocker, of Canterbury College, submitted a paper on “Compulsory Arbitration and Economic Welfare in New Zealand,” while Professor Fisher contributed a memorandum on the Arbitration Court. Each found it difficult to keep from gambolling in the lush field of academic argument, and both, like doctors attempting to find an exact diagnosis of the troubles of a neurotic invalid, differed in opinion. Dr. Tocker has made no secret of his opinion that the Court has strayed far from its primary purpose, and has fallen into the practice of fixing wages in accordance with what workers consume, instead of in accordance with what they produce. Professor Fisher is at least willing to give the Court the benefit of the doubt and to spare it its life.

FROM PUPIL TO PRINCIPAL

[JEW men are given the opportunity to command the school in * which they received their early training; but this is the fortunate lot of Mr. H. J. D. Mahon, who has been appointed headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School. A man of high scholastic attainments, his studies at the old school enriched by further knowledge acquired at what is regarded as the most famous institute of education in the world, and by considerable travel and investigation, his appointment to direct where once he was directed, will he hailed with pleasure and satisfaction. The scholastic history of Mr. Mahon is one of continual advancement. Forty-two'years ago he entered the Auckland Grammar School as a junior district scholar, later passing into the University College by scholarship. Gaining his B.A. degree, he became specially proficient in languages, history and science, and was well equipped for the receipt of further vocational knowledge when, in 1906, he entered the famous School of Education at Jena, where he met and exchanged views with educationists from all parts of the world. The grist that came to his mill at Jena was supplemented by a practical investigation of education methods in England, Germany, France and Switzerland, and in later years in Honolulu. He practised education in primary and secondary schools in Auckland and New Plymouth, and joined the staff of the historic institution of which he is now principal in succession to the late Mr. Drummond, who was the first New Zealander to hold the position. Mr. Mahon’s appointment is one in which, as an old pupil of the school, he must take a pardonable pride. Who can picture the emotions of the once humble pupil, who timorously trod the doorway of the old school to embark on an unseen future, when, more than a generation later, he enters its portals as its honoured and accomplished head! Here is a romance that should spur every pupil to his best endeavours. And it is a personal achievement that should teach all employers that it is well worth while to encourage native talent and retain it for the country in which it is produced.