ARBITRATION SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 154, 2 July 1927, Page 15

ARBITRATION SYSTEM.

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS. RESULTS AND PIECEWORK. '•orrosED to labours PRINCIPLES."

Information from Wellington indicates that speculation is rife relative to probable amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which the Government proposes to introduce this session. While the proposed alterations —nothing of an official nature having been released—should meet with the approval of employers, it is unlikelv that they will be acceptable to employees. Discussing the question with a prominent labour secretary this morning, a "Star" reporter was informed that, with respect to the belief that provision may be made for payment by results and piecework, it was universally thought the world over, that that was opposed to the principle for which both political and industrial labour stands for. The MiniipflTn Wage. "Perhaps there may not be any objection to it so long as a minimum living wage is established," added the informant, but the object of the proposals as far as I can see, is to sweep away the minimum wage. If workers were earning, say, £2 a week more than the present minimum wage under the Arbitration Court, namely, £4 1/, what is to stop the employers from whittling iown the amount of remuneration until it gets back to the minimum wage? In matters pertaining to domestic prosperity, the minimum wage received by wage or salary workers, is one of the most important factors in stabilising iomestic prosperity. If, for instance, the basic wage was reduced to £3 tomorrow, it would naturally reflect itself in the buying capacity of the workers. [ think reference to the Year Book would show that the private wealth of this country has gone up considerably since the war. Reference to the balancesheets of limited liability companies would also indicate, in my opinion, a higher rate of profit than, say, in the jase of England." Touching on the suggestion that wages should be fixed, not on the basis of the cost of living, but more on the ability ?f the industry concerned to pay the wage, the informant pointed out that it was an axiom with labour that, if an industry did not pay a decent wage, it should not be in existence. Despite bad management or any other effect in an industry, wages must be paid in order that the workers may purchase the necessities of life. Industrial Conditions. Referring to industrial conditions of the country, he said it would certainly be beneficial for New Zealand if more modern measures were introduced into our secondary industries. "One reason why we have high customs tariffs is because owners of industries cannot compete with modern machinery, and, therefore, consumers are penalised by high protective tariffs, which are practically the most important part of our revenue/ he went on. Mentioning the preference to unionists' clause, the informant said the lan of the Dominion at present permitted unionists to cither register or nol register under the Arbitration Act. The Industrial Disputes' Act gave the righl to meet employers twice in conference and then to take a ballot, and decide whether the findings of both sides would be accepted or rejected. Any movemeni to abolish the preference clauses would certainly cause dissatisfaction in industrial circles, and would probably foment in the near or distant future, furthei industrial turmoil. He was quite satisfied that the trade unionists ol the Dominion would regard any movement to abolish the preference clause as hostile. Necessary steps would probably be taken to meet the situation ii any further infringements were made to certain provisions under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.