AN EXPIRING COURT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 4

AN EXPIRING COURT.

YQ very important immediate issue is raised by the partial boycott of the Second Court of Arbitration implied in the refusal to appoint a workers’ representative to succeed Mr A. W. Croskery. Since the Court in any case is scheduled to go out of existence on November 22, it does not appear to matter much whether a workers’ representative is appointed or not for the brief remaining period of its existence. It is rather a pity, however, that any element of even temporary strain should be introduced into the situation. The creation of the Second Court was an experiment undertaken in an attempt, to cope with arrears of industrial arbitration business. The experiment does not appear to have turned out tery well and it was hardly to be expected that it would.. Where two tribunals of equal authority are set, up to (leal with affairs, of national scope, ’difficulty must always arise in maintaining uniform standards. Certainly in the field of industrial law and regulation, the existence of two tribunals of equivalent, standing must be expected to give rise to many invidious, if not odious comparisons. It is a pity, however, that, any suggestion of unpleasant feeling should arise out of the experience that, has been gained from the establishment and operation of the Second. Arbitration Court. In the extent to which the results of this experiment, have been unsatisfactory, they should point, the - way to the adoption of more effective methods. It seems likely that the true solution of the problem presented by a plethora of Arbitration Court work may be to develop to the extent that is necessary the system of an industrial magistracy which has been inaugurated with the appointment of Mr J. A Gilmour. With one or a number of magistrates dealing with details in accordance with standards determined by the Arbitration Court, it should be possible to lighten working pressure and limit, delays to a minimum, and at. the same time to develop a more coherent, system of industrial arbitration than has hitherto been practicable.