A LOP-SIDED LAW.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 6

A LOP-SIDED LAW.

Eecjentlv . tho Department of -Labour sent.out ovei'. 1000 copies of the Shearers' Award to parties affected by the Court's decision. 1 • This step, it is explained in an accompanying circular, has been taken." in order to assist employers to a complete understanding Of their responsibilities," from which, it is noted, the parties to an ftward cannot escape on a' plea of ignorance..... The Department was no j doubt. actuated,' by excellent mo--tives, and.its action >is 'in .repair.of.a real defect ■ in the law, which makes.no provision for the publication of awards. •Ire- admitting . the;,,, principle, however, that parties to,an award are morally eri-. titled to a departmental notification of its . terms, the ■ Department has, .merely emphasised 'the - constant clashing of the Act ''and its administration with; ovenhanded justice. If it .is a proper thing to thrust the a.ward under the noses of one scction of its subjects, it is necessary that all,, parties : should be accorded equal treatment. ■: How. does' tho Department propose to confer iipon the nonjUnioiiist shearers the .same benefit of information which it has so laboriously .bestowed upon the employers? A nd'nunioriist shearer isjliable' to.-commit a breach of ■■tho award in entire ignorance of his v; . responsibilities;'': An Australian shearer—and many- 'Australians; New Zealand for the shearing may in all innocence break'the award. When he is halod ■ befoto; the. Court, he will be told that his ignorance of. the award is no'excuse for his offence. ' What will his; feelings; be when- he discovers that the employers :have received from the Labour Department 'a 'favour ' that' has' denied to him ? He has received no circular, nor any copy of the. award, nor any intimation that for-3s. 6d. per annum; ho can : secure a , record, of all the Court's, awards, ori if ho .carcs to pay 6s;, ;,tho ;Labour Journal as : wclli. The / Department, by.' its; recognition of the propriety of-acquainting.-all parties to an award with their responsibilities, has 'showh the impossibility of giving tha't principle anything more than a partial application. The Department, BOems unable either to move or to remain quietas was; the case in connection with the Blackball strike—without demonstrating the lpp'-sidfedness-of ;the Act. '-..■. ' v '