THE ARBITRATION COURT AND FARMERS.

Wairarapa Age, 18 March 1927, Page 5

THE ARBITRATION COURT AND FARMERS.

AWARDS AND THEIR EFFECT. (To the Editor.). Sb - ,—Your correspondent, “Fair to All,” in replying to my letter of the 7th inst., has seen fit to make a personal attack on my intelligence-^-or lack of it. Now, Sir, when “Fair to All” comes out in the open and meets me on level terms, I will be perfectly willing to cross swords with him. Reverting to my recent indictment of the Aibitration Court, several events have happened since then that undoubtedly confirm my statements made at that time. A strike of butchers at a Hawke’s Bay works is reported in today’s Press. Will they be punished for this breach .of the award? Past history anwers “No.” Will some small restaurant-keeper, who in a weak moment allows his employee to group his half-holidays, be fined for this grave breach? The Magistrate’s Court answers “Yes.” Will the increased wages granted in tho recent freezing award be passed on to the farmer? Justice Frazer says “No.” Ah! Sir, a wonderful prophet is the Judge. Yesterday the jirice of fat sheep dropped one farthing. Just enough to meet the extra freezing costs and some over. Prime Minister Coates has just completed arrangements to employ 2000 men on relief works at a wage of 12s per day in the ease of married men, and 9s for single men. I venture to say that had not tho .Arbitration Court artificially built up high wages, and consequently a high cost and standard of living, there would have been work to spare for everyone to-day. Where tho Court fails miserably is, that, while it has power to raise wages it has no power to obtain a definite value for them. Its awards have rather a reverse effect, because it does not discriminate between man and man, but brings the best workers down to the •level of the mediocre. Thanking you for your valuable space, I am, etc., A. ROSS. Longbush, March 16.