Lifetime In Arbitration Work

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 14

Lifetime In Arbitration Work

Mr H. F. Rutland, aged 65, who has probably seen more industrial disputes than any other man in New Zealand, will retire at the end of this month as secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association.

“Bush” Butland, as he is known, has been secretary of the association for 27 years.

The days of table-thumping and shouting in conciliation council have gone, he says. He has, over the years, noticed a decided change in the demeanor of the representatives. Instead of the fire and sparks of old, things have toned down. Problems are discussed more fully and freely; it has changed from “force” to “persuasion.” Mr Butland, the son of a West Coast goldminer and sawmiller, was born in Hokitika in 1902. His father, Mr Henry Butland, was the first West Coast All Black, in the 1893-94 era. It was at Hokitika that he was given his nickname, “Bush,” for no apparent reason other than most West Coasters have nicknames.

Better Opportunity When he finished his formal schooling at Hokitika District High School, about the age of 16, young Butland decided to seek a wider job opportunity than the gold dredges or sawmills and moved to Wellington. He took a job with the Department of Munitions and Supply in the First World War. Later he joined the staff of the Arbitration Court, where he stayed for 19 years. In his last year with the court he was Registrar, under Mr Justice Tyndall, before whom he later appeared as advocate.

Today, on the eve of his retirement, Mr Butland is in his fifty-second working year.

which he describes as “not a bad innings.” He has appeared as employers’ advocate in many national and local industry conciliation councils. The national councils have included metal trades, rubber workers, public and private transport, footwear, boilermakers, moulders, flour mills, clothing trades, painters and plumbers. In general wage order applications since 1947, Mr Butland has been an employers’ advocate. On seven occasions he represented New Zealand employers at International Labour Office meetings overseas —twice in the United States, four times at Geneva, and once in Melbourne. Wide Respect

Mr Rutland’s precise and efficient manner and astute preparation of his case have won him great praise from employers, and respect from the workers. The axiom his father (aught him: “Never ask anyone to do anything you are

not prepared to do yourself," has stood him in good stead. In fact it has been a guideline in his own life.

Asked who was the toughest or most competent workers* advocate he had met, Mr Butland said the answer was easy. One man, Gordon Kilpatrick, a former national secretary of the Freezing Workers’ Union, stood head and shoulders from the rest. Mr Rutland’s praise of Mr Kilpatrick’s ability as an advocate was given freely and sincerely. He described him as an “adroit, skilful bargainer” who knew when to close a deal.

Mr Kilpatrick, he said, had a remarkable ability to assess the limits to which he could successfully go. Mr Ted Kennedy, the secretary of the Marine Cooks and Stewards’ Union, was the most humorous character Mr Butland had met in his working life. “He had marvellous, original ways of attracting the attention of the judge, including the manner in which he varied the volume of his delivery. He was one of the true characters of the early days.”

■ And what about Arbitration Court Judges? Who had left the biggest impression with Mr Butland?

He worked with Judges Frazer, Page, O’Regan, Hunter and Tyndall, as well as three Supreme Court judges, Blair, Smith and Callan, who relieved in the Arbitration Court. Mr Butland was, perhaps, impressed the most by Sir Francis Frazer, who was judge at a time when conditions were more stable than today. Sir Arthur Tyndall, he said, stood out because of bis very wide knowledge and experience in industry. “Sir Arthur Tyndall went through a very difficult time,” said Mr Butland. “I think he kept a better balance than we could have otherwise expected. “He had a tremendous responsibility in general wage order cases in more recent years. His court was a ‘court of the people,’ or a ‘layman’s court’.” Sir Arthur Tyndall, he said, had the respect of both the employers’ and employees’

advocates. Both sides felt they knew where they were with him ana could follow his line of thought and reasoning. “This was tremendously helpful to both sides, even if you did not always agree with the decision.” Staying At Home Most people on retirement think about going for a trip but Mr Butland is thinking about staying at home —for a change. He has had to travel so frequently ' and far in hb job that his wife and two children will enjoy seeing a bit more of him, he says. Mr Butland is president of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, and he will find time to play bowls in Fendalton. Although he will retire as secretary of the employers’ association on December 31, he will not sever entirely his links with the association, and will continue to act for a time in an advisory capacity. Mr Butland will be succeeded by the association’s assistant secretary (Mr N. M. West) who is at present on an overseas study tour.