THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 23 February 1907, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

' lAMPJONKD BY DL\. FINDLAY

W-)ME PERTINENT (.JUESTiONS l'er Press Association. W kuikgton, February 22. The Attorney-General, interviewed on the Arbitration Act, said the Act beam as an experiment. It had 1111 come down ns an established inslitn. lion, but had liadto stand all the attack ami criticism winch besets a new nisi ilution. It had been in force for

twelve years, and he would suggest lo the critics a test: Were they prepared Ito repeal it, and if so, what did they

propose to put m its place? Conceding that the Act has its defects, has it not, asked Dr Fmdlay, wiih all its imperfections been infinitely preferable in the old order of strikes and lockout, 't Measured order is better than duos

an I until the critics show it is wor-e than useless or discover something belter to supplant it, tiie Act justifies ils existence. We have had so long i,,i. 11mn1ty111thc.se colonies from strides Hi it we fail to realise the value of on-

immunity. Dr Fmdlay instanced gre:it strikes and their consequent suff-.-rin;'. U.mtinuing his comments, be s-.iit. 1 the

all-important point to keep in yiew was til it in every great industry (here were three, not merely two, parties interested—the masters, the men, and the community. The State was more than an aggregation of individuals worked by organised co-operation, the maiutcii-

[ ancc of which was essential, not only ti its productive power, but 111 the largest and most highly-developed nihilities to its health and existence "Our Arbitration Iburt," continued Dr Findlay, "represents the State in

tervenmg to settle conflicts beiweui masters and men, and in this colony a strike or a lock-out is an implied declaration that the otitic cannot be trust

Ed to do justice. It is alleged that the Act affords ao scientific basis. What

scientific basis does a strike or a 'o-k----out afford? If anyone .a 1 su-"-s n scientilie basis we shall be delighted to

discuss it. No perfection is claimed for the Act. It has to grope to ils conclusions rather than proceed on a straight and lightened path."

Dc Findlay added that the nuin strength of the Act lies in the public opinion behind awards given upon (he fullest and fairest investigation of the Court. Referring to the statement of the Chief Justice of New South Wales, he said it must be remcmberel thai

the Act never had friends in the Supreme Court there, especially in the Chief Justice. The New Zealand Act lud entirely eradicated sweat ng from this colony, and placed in the hands of those who without it possessed no means of enforcing their demand, a power equal that to originally exercised by the wealthiest union in the colony, lie instanced tho creation and present operations of the Domestic Workers' Union, lie did not deny that improvements may be effected in the Ac!. Any reasonable suggestion would be sympathetically considered, lie should .favor any scheme by which tho Court could satisfactorily allow for a higher or lower cost of liying. The workers' attitude should be to genuinely improve the Act through Parliament and the ballot box, and loyally defend and maintain tho legislation in their own interests, and of the whole community.' The Minister of Labor bad stated the Government's attitude. Tho law, so long as it is on lUo Statute Book, will be resolutely maintained.