THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1907. MERITS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8460, 10 June 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1907. MERITS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.

At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Employers' Association, Mr G. T. Booth delivered an able address upon "The Labour Movement." Mr Booth points out What is certainly true when he claims that the Arbitration Court has become "State regulation a3 applied to industry.", "Instead," says Mr Booth, "of being ' 1 of Reference in case of dispute or misunderstanding, likely to result in a strike or lock-out, to the detriment and loss of the community, a Court to which appeal should be made only a3 a last resort, a tribunal which should intervene only when every other mear.s had failed, the Court of Arbitration has become, under the pressure of unionist importunity, a Court for the State regulation of industries. Intended to exist as a kind of latent force behind the Conciliation Boards, as a potential pacificator in reserve for serious occasions, it has become something quite different. It has been called into almost daily service to hear and settle a multitude of petty claims and factitious disputes, to lay down rules and regulations applying to the most technical and intimate indus ■ trial relations, and to impose pains and penalties upon parties committing breaches of such rules and regulations. In short, to play the parts alternately of law giver and Police Magistrate. It would probably be difficult to find a more striking instance of the perversion of a good intention." Mr Booth goes on to say, however, that the whole scheme of Labour legislation ■ is not a failure. "It is not to be utterly condemned because in extreme exigency it has disappointed expectations. In some respects it is admirable. It gives, in a measure, assurance of settled conditions, and though this,is finally dependent upon the consent and loyalty of fcoth parties, it is no small

gain. And in so far as has been effective in preserving peace in the industrial community, as well as securing justice to the disputants, the Arbitration system may be said to have justified its existence. It cannot, however, be regarded as a final solution of the problem it was intended to deal with. There are too many uncertain elements in the case. Moreover, it now seems clear, from the utterances of responible Unionists, that the workers, at whose instance and for whose benefit the Labour legislation was introduced, are losing—if they have not already lost—faith in its efficacy. -This also was inevitable, and has been foreseen from the first. ■ But it is matter for deep regret that a British Court should be in the position of having open doubts cast upon its purity as a fountain of justice. If the Court has disappointed the workers during a period of prosperity, when awards have almost invariably been in their favour, what may be expected should a wave of depression follow, and the Court feel compelled to readjust wages on a lower basis? Industrial peace is assuredly worth something. It is probably worth more to the workers than to any other section of the community. And in their own interests—to put it on no higher ground —it is to be hoped that they will loyally obey the Court, even though this or that decision may disappoint them." So far as the workers generally are concerned we are quite prepared to believe that they do and always will "loyally obey the Court." It is not the average worker who is everlastingly setting the machinery of the Court in motion, but the "agitator" who is never satisfied. If the Unions were more reasonable in their demands they would be working better in their own interests than they are at the present time. Agitation up to a certain point must be approved of, but it can be carried too far. Labour has forced up wages; it has, also forced up the rate of living, and it'will continue to do so if the present policy is pursued. A better and more equitable system of taaxtion is what the Labour Party should fight for—if the Labour Party can Succeed in s reducing the cost of living they will not only benefit themselves, but the country as a whole. While there is yet time the Labour Party should set its house in order by preparing for a rainy day. The test of a country's prosperity is its capacity to resist depression.