THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 165, 3 July 1908, Page 2

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

LAiSOK'S JiAMl'ES'i'O. Uy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. 'lilt; Wellington Trades anil Labor Council to-night adopted a mamicsto dealing w itH Dr. Fiudlay's' recent speeches on the Arbitration Act. The manilesto defends Conciliation Boards, and advocates the "extension of their powers. Elaborate Jigures are quofed to support the argument that wages have increased apart from the Arbitration Court. "We want the Act," says the manifesto) "but we want it as originally conceived by the frainer, with, of fours';, audi machinery amendments us experience has shown are essential. In the main principle tlu» Act now allows of a . triple method of settling industrial disputes. Xo scheme ottering greater variety can be wished for. The failure of the present Act is due to the fact that employers have designedly ignored the Uourd and relied on the Court. "We wish legislation as will ensure iinality to the decisions of (he Conciliation Board. We urge the suggested m-i- ---■ chinery amendments of the Trades Con- ' [''l'ence to facilitate the general work- | ing of the Act. We submit that not by j the Act alone will the workers of the Dominion reach their goal. The constitution of the Court, with its legal encumbrances and formulae and the unconscious bias of its president, make the odds two to one against the workers every time. The Court has of late, in additioiV,to its failure to substantially improve the industrial conditions of workers, attempted to usurp the power of the Legislature., and each attempt, has been with the object of depriving the worker of constitutional rights already granted. We, for the time being advise the workers to adhere to the principle as an improved method of settling industrial disputes. Conciliation has always been advocated by the workers, and we again urge the importance of it. Only as a "last resource should the Court, in our opinion, be resorted to. A DI'.VKDIX KKSOHTfOX. Duuedin. Last Night. The Otago Trades and Labor Council at a meeting this evening adopted Jhe following resolution:—-That this Cmwteit views with alarm the tendency on the part of unions to strike against the awards of the Arbitration Court, arid strongly urges the fJovernment to take immediate steps to have the Conciliation and Arbitration Aft amended in such a direction, ns will restore the confidence previously reposed in the Act by the workers of the Dominion.