TOPICS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 46, 23 August 1927, Page 8

TOPICS OF THE DAY

In its last three matches the New Zealand cricket team has twice won by an innings, and the other match, played against Lancashire (the county assisted by, the Australian bowler Macdonald), was stopped by rain when the New Zealanders were in a quite favourable position. A« Lancashire and Notts had just been fighting neck-and-neck for the leading place in the. Englishcounty 1 contest, it is clear that the visitors are not meeting weak stuff; and their innings victory agaiust Derbyshire, "at present one of the best county sides," is still more convincing. It was in this match that the highest score of the tour—s4l for only nine wickets—was put up, after which Derbyshire made 129 and 172, Merritt taking ten wickets for 128, while Blunt avenged his "duck" by taking Jive for 39 —figures that talk! In thir.ty-two matches to date New Zealand has won twelve and lost four, and as the lost matches were Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 11, it is reasonable to conclude that becoming acclimatised has had a good deal to do with the team's' favourable record. The moral success of the tour has exceeded the estimation of good judges. Now that her cricket banner bears record of victories in the home of cricket, New Zealand's star in the summer game is definitely ascendant, and the future is bright with promise.

Amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is one of the big tasks awaiting Parliament this session. Official information concerning the changes proposed is not yet available, but a forecast has been published in Government newspapers, and has been deemed sufficiently reliable to form the basis of comment. The main items in this forecast are: (1) substitution of a Bench of three Supreme Court Judges for the present Court, ■which comprises a Judge (as president) with permanent representatives nominated by the employers' and workers' unions; (2) payment by results with a feed minimum weekly wage, based upon average piecework earnings; (3) the onus to be on the Court to determine the capacity of an industry to pay the wages proposed; (4) preference to unionists by consent of the parties. With the exception of the first proposal, to alter the constitution of the Court, these suggestions are not far-reaching. They would be far-reaching if the Court had no power to make an award providing for payment by results or to consider the capacity of an industry; but the Court has now these powers, and has exercised them. The question for the legislators is this: Can Parliament, by altering the statute, make a complete change in the atmosphere of conciliation and arbitration and industry? Our opinion is that it cannot, and whatever form the law may take the ultimate result will depend upon the spirit in which the changes are accepted by the parties.

We strongly support the extension of a system of payment by results which will give the workers a direct interest in increased production; but the Court has power now to make awards,' including piecework provisions. It has done so in some industries and it would probably extend the application of the principle were it not for the opposition of workers' unions and the reluctance of employers to stir this opposition by pressing strongly for piecework awards. Parliament cannot make piecework general and compulsory, and it is now permissive. Preference to unionists, though it may be a subject for great agiiation by those who understand least of the workings of the Court, is not a root cause of present difficulties. It is now included in many awards by consent of the parties, and actually the employers' organisations have not opposed it strongly. If the Court were now deprived of the power to include it, the effect would be felt not by the strong militant unions but by the weaker organisations which stand in some need of protection. At first glance it may seem that something new is proposed in throwing upon the--Court the onus of determining whether an indue-

try can pay the wages awarded, but study of Court memoranda shows that the Court haa given consideration to the effect of its awards upon industry. The trouble is that the Court has at times reviewed the capacity of the industry more favourably than those engaged in it have done. The law cannot say to any tribunal: "Yon must take the employers' view, or the workers' view." How then can that view be changed? One method is by changing the tribunal, and this, it is said, is propnsea. We are doubtful of the wisdom of, the change suggested. X may be that the representatives of the parties could be dispensed with, though their intimate knowledge must be helpful to the Judge,, and their presence increases confidence in the Court; but we cannot see that three Judges would necessarily command more confidence or produce better decisions than one. There would be grave danger of the Court's developing the legal aspect too strongly.

"I do not believe the Old- Country is decadent," states Sir Joseph Cook. "I have seen no signs of it. On the contrary, the way the Titan is bearing the burden is to me a source of intense pride." Sir Joseph Cook speaks with the experience of • six years' intimate contact with British affairs. In that time he has been able to see the future in true perspective. Too many casual observers see only the troubles in the foreground. They cannot perceive the background of difficulties which have been overcome. "Unemployment appals them, and they do not reckon the fact that Britain, despite thy number out of work, has now more people employed in industry than she had before the "War. Loss of trade is noticed, but the casual observer does not remember the enormous regain—a regain greater by far than the average of European countries. Sir Joseph Cook will do good service to Australia as well as to Britain if, as he proposes, he makes it his mission to tell of Britain's enduring strength. The modesty of Britain, the readiness of her people to ,tell all that is ./orst and leave the best untold, has been responsible, in no small measure for false impressions of British strength. Even in Canada, not so distant from London, the "Montreal Gazette" emphasises that Mr. Baldwin has performed invaluable service "in combating the idea that Great Britain is industrially decadent and that her working classes are bent on red revolution." "^ -