ARBITRATION DEFENDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 813, 6 November 1929, Page 10

ARBITRATION DEFENDED

REPLY BY LABOUR COUNCIL SECRETARY PROTECTING THE WORKERS A spirited defence of the Arbitration Court is made by Mr. YV. Moxsom, secretary of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, in reply to Mr. C. P. Agar. Mr. Moxsom writes as follows: ‘ It appears from the statement made by Mr. C. P. Agar, in his presidential address to the Dominion Conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, that in common with other captains of industry and commerce he is of the opinion that the abolition of the Court of Arbitration would be beneficial to the people of the Dominion. One may ask the very pertinent question: ‘Which section?’ And as pertinently answer: ‘Not the workers.’ “This brings to us the suggestion of camps, i.e.:—A political industrial and commercial camp and a political workers’ camp; the former striving by means of political propaganda and action to lessen the protection afforded to the lattei' by the court, with the full and considered intention of lowering the standard of living and conditions, and of placing it in a defenceless position when bartering for food and shelter, in return for service requisite to the maintenance of life, except by recourse to that barbaric method which, at the instance of farseeing statesmen, the Arbitration Act was framed to prevent or at least to mitigate. BENEFITS OF INDUSTRY

“One does not need to traverse ihe causes of or the reasons which were responsible for the Act; the Press has rendered that service to the public on numerous occasions. 'Why, even Mr. Agar appears to be doubtful of his own proposal, and suggests that he is not quite decided in his own expressed opinion; for, as reported, he issues the following warning: Employers would have to recognise that there should be no attempts at sweating or lowering the standard of living, but that employees should share in the increased benefits of industry.’

“Mr. Agar also states that employers are afraid to recognise special ability, because of the fear that such recognition would be made the reason cf higher demands for all workers when new awards were being sought. Mr. Agar should know that the basic wage fixed by the court is only a minimum; a subsistence allowance, and fixed for the least expert worker. That being so, where comes the fear of the court awarding wages on any other basis? The corirt has stated repeatedly that it leaves the recognition of special ability to employers in relation to wages above the minimum; hence the reason advanced by Mr. Agar does not appear to stand the test of logic and a deeper reason must be sought. “WHY THIS HYPOCRISY ?”

“There has been a continuous outcry of late years by employers for the right of free contract as between employer and worker. Why this hypocrisy? Have we not the Conciliation Council for that very purpose? There is the machinery ready to our hand, and it rests primarily with the employers to say why it is not so used. The position is quite clear. Our employers do not object to certain phases of arbitration, although they are attempting to blur the issue. What they do object to is the ‘compulsory clauses of the Act.’ What the employers truly desire is that, having told the workers what they ar;3 prepared to give in return for certain services, then the workers shall not have a ‘Court cf Appeal,’ and the fact that labour is the workers’ only saleable commodity should not count.

“The present time, when unemployment is a question of serious moment, may appear to the employers as an op- ! portune time to strike, but the day ! when the workers would accept the theory that they aro just ‘hewers cf wood and drawers of water* has passed for ever, for they know that their right is that of indispensable partners. “My attempt has been to impress upon Mr. Agar, with as little feeling as circumstances will permit, that all the faults are not on the side of the 1 workers. It is true, beyond question, that the position assigned to labour by the employing class is responsible for the vast amount of industrial unrest. The spectre looming in the ‘autumn of life/ with its fearsome consequences, is what Mr. Agar and his friends must provide against if they would secure Peace and we Justice. I make bold to assert that the declining years of all those who have laboured in the spheres of industry and commerce are a rightful charge against those institutions, and not* against the public purse; at least, until the proceeds of industry and commerce constitute the public purse. "Therefore to that end are we willing to co-operate with employers to the limit of our power, but not to throw down any one of our few safeguards without an intense struggle until the future presents something more of the ‘beauty and peace of life’ for our class.

“I had almost forgotten the recent Australian Federal elections. They should constitute a warning.”