THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1908. ARBITRATION AND PROSPERITY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9109, 8 June 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1908. ARBITRATION AND PROSPERITY.

The Leader of the Opposition, sp cak ing recently at Dargaviile, declared that compulsory arbitration had been a failure. In dealing: with such a complicated and important question as compulsory arbitration, Mr Massey could not have been too careful in the language that he used, and from sudi a comment as we have mentioned, anyone would be justified in drawing the inference that Mr Massey is opposed to compulsory arbitration, and, therefore, to the underlying principle of the Arbitration Act. Curiously enough, however, this does not appear to be the case, for in the course of the same speech Mr Massey urged that it was the bounden duty of the Government to give Parliament an opportunity to revise the

Act, and, further, he professed a belief in the underlying principle of the Act. The underlying principle of the Act is compulsory arbitration. Mr Mas»ey says that compulsory arbitration has proved a failure, and, yet he declares that he believes in the underlying principle of the Act. A more contradictory statement by a prominent politician it is difficult to conceive. As a matter of fact, however, compulsory arbitration has not proved a failure. Generally speaking it has proved fairly successful, though it has not been the means of bringing about all that it was hoped it could effect. To our mind the chief reason why the Act has not benefited the workers to the degree contemplated by them is the lack of proper administration on the part of the Government. What is the position? In various industries the workera have had their wages raised, and in some cases there have been marked increases, but the workers have found as a "set off" that the cost of living has increased; and, in addition, many workers" whose wages have not been raised have to bear the increased cost of living. Naturally the Labour Party are not satisfied, and the great bulk of the people, who are workers of one kind or another, are beginning, and with very genuine reason, to grumble at the present state of affairs. It must be obvious to anyone capable of taking a reasonable view of the Dominion's financial position at the present time that if any decided "slump" were to set in an enormous number of workers would be thrown idle, and that the wave of depression would be most acutely felt. New Zealand is simply going "at top." There is no economy practised, speaking generally, by either the Government or private individuals, and real progressiveness is not sought after. It is considered, apparently, that for New Zealand there will never be "a rainy day." If waves of depression become to be unknown in this country then we shall admit that it may be termad "God's Own Country," but, as it is, we are inclined to think that the devil has a share in this country as veil. The Government display neither economy nor progressiveness, and under such conditions it is impossible for prosperity to continue, and the workers ! must, to a considerable extent, go minus the fruits of their hard won victories. A vigorous land settlement and rail-roading policy, combined with economical administration, would do much to promote prosperity, and would benefit every class in the Dominion.