THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 24 April 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1906.

The Arbitration Court has been considerably criticised of late, and the fact is undeniable that in numerous instanoes it has been adversely criticised by both employers and employees. So far as the Act is concerned it must bo considered as salutary and satisfactory, and many of the awards that have been made can be truthfully similarly described. However, if the Opart is to continue to do good work the awards must be elastic, not drastic, and it is this latter quality that the

Labdna Onions seen* determined" to < infuaa into the awards—andyiunftoxv tuu&fceHy, tba agitaters do a ot really, rerraooat tbe great Moldy of workers,. * * * w» * * * \V» believe we ate correct in Boating f&at, several yee.rs.ago, vaiev- Mated that tha:.sei<vas a., tendency.on the part of tbe . Unions-to work tbe Act to deatb,. and,* apparently, their method of doing so is throragn the Arbitration Court. The priuoiplea of the Act have boenocmmencieti by the inajorty. of. botb emf-ploye-rs nud employees,-;, and .there iauo fatslfc to find with tbdse'Whocon* stitute tbe Court. The ■ trou&la obie% lies, iu ousv opinion* with" the unreasonable demands, and> demands that are. iniaical ito the.besfc' interests of labour—made- by frbotireless Unions in tha< citiesy,w!»o' Willi not even alldw country worker to have anything a vasß. smaJl voice in.jtbeisnowa affairs*. Such a position must eodi sooaeß or later. The regrettable featured the queetion . ig-thnb,before-tbe.'sndi is reached .a.great i ddal! of harm* may be accomplished;; The; Labour Party* . which • decidedly misoalouilafcediits chances,.- pratw to? tiso'lhsfc General Election declared, that if it could win, ten.. seats, it would bold, "the, balance, of pQjweri" ia* tbe House. As matters- turned* out it secured one seat (though bad. ten been.secured there would have been ao>nppreciablei, ditEerenoeeffiaotedi in the- strength, of,,th.©.-ruling gower), which seems- too., show fcnah tbe Labour Party, has but a poou prospect of con,vjuoiß&.tfae majprifcy of electors of thef-advisabilitx- ol its pjatform. *7 *•.- * * ' Many of tbo-resolntioiiSi passed by the Trades Conference* at pr«aent sitting in Ohristchuioh* are unpleasant and emphasise that •there is. nothing whatever of a ooni.ciliatory nature ia the views of tbe leaders ot the Labour Party. We note that the Dnnedin Evening Star, 'in a, recent issue,, observes anent the different questions we have just touched, upon: "The Conciliation and Arbitration question has come befiorfl the Trades Conference iu monebhan,one,form, and assuredly there has been ' no lack of outspokenness, in the discuaaions. Perhaps some tilings were said that bad been better left unsaid; and we may remark in passing that Mr Hampton, one of the Wellington deLegates, talks rubbish on every, aubieot with marvellous facility;; bat tb© decisions arrived at were, fori the most part, sensible enough. Aa resolution expressing want of con* I fidenoe- in tbe Arbitration Court m at present constituted, was rejected by H to 5, the mover stating befoae the division that it was the personnel of tbe Court tbat he held to bo specially unsatisfactory. Unpleasant references were made to each of these members. Mr Justice Chapman wan declared to be unsuitable, flor the position of President; Mr-Brown, eocording to the Conferen©e oomplaints, is merely an employers' advocate; while Mr Slater, the Workers' representative, is said to be weak-kneed. It is right to observe that the integrity and impartiality of the Court were not questioned, and though one reckless worth* accused the learned and honoured President/ of having "gone back on justice and equity," the meaning was probably less ot!ensivo than might appear at first sight. We have never urged that the Court should not he criticised, though it is fair to expect the critics to observe a oertain seemliness of ex-% pression." It is impossible to ignore, continues the paper, the dissatisfaction with which the President's attitude is regarded in some quarters, and though we believe there is no ground for serious grievanne, due weight must be given to Mr Paul's surmise that "if Mr Justice Chapman were allowed to remain on the Court, the end of the Arbitration Act was not far off." We think it quite possible tbat these unfortu nate misunderstandings may noceH sitate a re-arrangement, as it is imperative that the Court should command the confidence of nil parties; but we are quite at a loss to understand in wha*; way tbe President is supposed to have failed. To quote the words of a representative of the employers, reported in our columns of April 9tb: ! As chairman of the Conciliation Board the present judge of tbe Arbitration Court was specially thanked for the great servioes he had rendered the unions, and, furthermore, was congratulated by them when raised to the Supreme Court Bench. When giving, he was the union's ideal; now he can give no more, he is to bo blamed. Verily the Labour leaders have very short memories. It makes thoughtful people question whether they really want arbitration. We do not endorse tbe closing suspioion, remarks our contemporary, but we do believe tbat the high qualities of head and heart which were so much appreciated in an exchairman of the Conciliation Board are just as conspiouous to-day in the President of the Arbitration Court, We are glad that Mr McLaren's motion was rejected, but it woo Id be

idlta'toiory peace- wKefe.i/t&ep»; ia no rteaoe;. oaeven to prctaadi bteat ■ the eleven*d aSegates vho voto&ag<<ainßt the waul; of coaß«3«co3-«re' sat isflad witJii titta personnel off tba- C oart. On the other hand, ifc"M»sa#iaffl»i otory tbattfche! Conference are>< eop-pc rting the- saviival of SheiN-GbaicJilf ation Boas*-—fe&o tbate3*>j4 )f thebaaiejidoa of the legisl&tSot* oiif. 1894 i