CONVERT TO ARBITRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 133, 23 October 1912, Page 3

CONVERT TO ARBITRATION.

MR. IIAYEIjO.uk WILSON'S VJKW^. London, .September 7. A statement on compulsory arbitration made at the Trades Congress by Mr. Ilaveloek Wilson, the Labor leader, will be of interest in Sew Zealand, Mr. Wilson having been converted to the principle of compulsory arbitration in trade dispute* as a result of his recent visit to Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Wilson-said lie had steadily voted against compulsory arbitration year after year, but he was going to vote for it now. He had been to Australia and New Zealand, and had had ample opportunity of watching the work of compulsory arbitration in those countries. After giving the matter full and careful consideration, ho had come to the conclusion that the compulsory arbitration law now in force in Australia and New Zealand might with great .advantage be applied to this country. He emphatically denied Mr. Harvey's statement that the Act had broken down. There were in those countries, sis there were here, leaders and leaders. There were men who went before the Arbitration Court with no more idea of what they were going there for than the man in the moon. They went there with their case badly prepared, and the result generally was that they came off very badly. On the other hand, unions which had capable leaders, who would take the trouble' to prepare their case properly, came out ou top in nine cases out of ten. lie eonld cite cases in which Well-organised' unions had done magnificently. The seamen in .Australia got £lO a month in place of £5 a month' in this country, and, most remarkable of all, sailors in Australia were working on the eight hours' principle. In New Zealand there was some feelimg against the judge, but not in Australia. The judge in Australia had the confidence of almost everybody, but in New Zealand the judge was a little bit prejudiced. Still, whenever the unions went before that judge with their case properly prepared they had nothing to complain of.