CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9130, 1 July 1908, Page 5

CAPITAL AND LABOUR.

HON J. A. MILLAR ON THE ARBITRATION ACT. BY TKLEGKAPH— V&EH3 ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, June-30.

Speaking at a presentation to the Hon. J. Rigg, to-cay, the Hon. J. A. Midar.;Ministjr for Labour, referred to'the difficulties of solving the problem of capital ana labour.. The amendments to the Arbitration Act wanted by scm.3 were rejected by others. What was wanted was a failcontract. The Government was prepared fo go as far with labour.* legislation as ever it had gone inihexpast. The present position.was not satisfactory. He wanted an opportunity to! amend the Act. If it was not found more effective then they could repeal it. A considerable number of members of Parliament had stated that they intended, if possible, to repeal the Arbitration Act. That would be one of the worst things that could happen. Certain classes of skilled workers could protect themselves Act or no Act, but unksilled labourers and women required the protection of the Act. It had been of the greatest benefit to them, and its repeal would put them in a terrible position. The information that there was a movement in the House to repeal the Act was of the very best. They were willing to repeal it immediately. If he could not get the assistance of'the workers he could not hold to his point to maintain the Act. Unionists were striking in defiance of ,the law, and other Unionists throughout the country were passing votes of sympathy. If that was the general feeling, and the'men wanted to strike it was quite clear they did not want the Arbitration Act. If strikes were wanted by the workers—well, the best thing was to do away with the Act. What was the good of. amending thts Act if the workers were going to ignore it? He did not know what moment he might get a telegram announcing a strike. The conclusion was that the workers were in revolt against the Act. Th« Labour Department had fairly and honestly tried to administer the Act. Of fines inflicted on employers 93 p?r cent, had been collected, while 73 per cent." of the fines imposed i on employees had been paid. Over £7OO had been collected out of £1,750 inflicted on the slaughtermen, and another £260 was being collected by weekly instalments. There had been no distinction made in administering the Act,.judgment summonses being issued against .employe!s and employees when tines were not paid. This was a most critical year. He wanted to solve the problem. The country had been prosperous, but was now going back a bit, and it was a bad time for the workers to strike. The workers did not realise the present position, and it world be his endeavour to save them "iiom themselves. '