TIME TO ABOLISH?

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 7

TIME TO ABOLISH?

WHOLE OF ARBITRATION ACT.

RESOLUTION AT STRATFORD.

REMEDY FOR UNEMPLOYED,

(By Telegraph.—Own Cprrespondent.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day,

"It hits been like an old man of the sea ever since the Hon. W. Pember Reeves placed the Act on the Statute Book. I wonder if he ever thinks about it now," remarked the president of the Stratford Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. B. Richards, When the chamber discussed the Arbitration Act. ••, •'

The opinion , Was expressed ,by, the meeting that the time had comfe" for the abolition of the system in New Zealand. In bringing the s matter forward Mr.'A. Coleman mentioned the possibility" of amendments to the Act in the direction of allowing the Arbitration Court to declare percentage reductions in awards, and he suggested that in anticipation the chamber might formulate some proposals dealing with machinery which would be found necessary in operating under, sucli amendments. The Arbitration Court was always about twelve months behind in its work and with only one judge was unlikely to catch up its business.

The President: I think the time is opportune for us to communicate with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to the effect that the whole of the Arbitration Act should be abolished.

Mr. J. Orr: I think if that were done unemployment would disappear within six months.

A motion was carried on those lines.