OPINION IN DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12825, 8 June 1907, Page 12

OPINION IN DUNEDIN.

THE VICTORIAN SYSTEM CONDEMNED. (sr£a._, to "rnE press.'-') DUNEDIN. June 7. A "Star" reporter interviewed several people on the Minister lor Labour's intention to ask Parliament to substitute Wages Boards for the present Conciliation Boards. Both sections aro agreed that tho abolition of Conciliation Boards without providing means of settling disputes by bringing the- parties concerned together and thus avoiding, if possible, recourse to the Arbitration Court would be un.icurable. Speaking for tho Employers Association, Air Scott said: "We are propared to give the Wages Boards support in regard to that principle," and tho Trades oud Labour Council represent all vec cordially ondorso tho proposition. Tho dissatisfaction with tho work of tho Arbitration Court and the nonutilisation or non-effectiveness of tho Conciliation Boards is attributed by tlio Labour side at least to the composition of those bodies. They are not iorined of exports- in tho industry in dispute. This is just whoro the Wngi'6 Boards givo cause for hope. Tho scopo and powers of those Wages Boards havo naturally been a good ileal discussed. Mr Millar mentioned that tho i of appeal from their decisions to the Arbitration Court under certain conditions would bo provided for. In Labour circles this scorns to bo assumed as likely to bo a limitation of power to appeal only on matters disagreed upon, rather than «, re-opeuing of a whole dispute. Again, it is assumed that not tho Wages Boards, but the Arbitration Court will deal, as now, with colonial awards such as those affecting, say, the Federated Seamen's Union and other federated Unions also. Tho question has been raised in regard to the powers of tho Wages Boards as to whether their decisions will be binding on everyone encaged in a certain industry and on those entering it during tho currency of on award as well ns on thoso engaged in it prior to tho award. ".We don't want the Wages Boards they have in Victoria," 6aid ono Labour representative, and Mr »Scott also said that ho was not at all sure that tho Victorian Wages Boards wero working so well as had been represented. It appears that in Victoria tho Wages Boards, which, it is claimed, wero copied from our Conciliation Boards, only apply to industries coverou by tho Factories Act, and, therefore, only regulate conditions of factory work. Thus they do not affect many of tho principal trades, as, for instance, the building trade. Largely for this reason there is a clamour for on Arbitration Act in Victoria, and because of its absence appeals from the Wages Boards' decisions have to go to the ordinary Courts for hearing. Again, the Wages Boards in Victoria are cumbersome in their constitution and working, and this leads to delays in the settlement of disputes worse than with the New Zealand Arbitration Court. Each Board has to be set up by Act of Parliament, and is composed of a large number of men who aro appointed by tho Governor-in-Council. If n, certain proportion of those engaged in tho industry in question object to the composition of the Boards, they may petition the Governor, and rolls aro prepared, and a poll taken to settle tho personnel of tho Board. Thus it may take six months to get a Board working, and another six months jot moro to get an award. "No," commented a member of the Trades and Labour Council, "the "Wages Boards here will be very different from tho Wages Boards in Victoria or elsewhere. We have an Arbitration Act in force, and we have our past e*rporienco in regard to the Conciliation Boards to guide ns." This gentleman was of opinion that in view of these factors tho introduction of Boards of experts for each industry to bring the principle of conciliation to hoar on disputes would mean tho speedy settlement of the latter, and would enable Now Zealand to retain her position as the world's leader in regard to industrial legislation.