ARBITRATION ACT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 7

ARBITRATION ACT.

THE GREAT ALTERNATIVE. MR. MILLAR'S APPEAL TO THE WORKERS, OPINIONS AMONG MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. Tho Hon. J. A. Millar's pronouncement of the groat alternative —striko .or arbitration —aud his appeal to tho workers for help in a st-rugglo to keep the Arbitration Act on tho Statuto Book has created considerable interest within tho walls of Parliament. An inquiry amongst members of tho House today showed that there is undoubtedly a strong feeling in regard to tho aeutencs3 of tho present position. "SomethiiiKmustbo done," was the' general kiy-noto of the ex-pressions'of-those who wore-asked for their, opinions. ACT MUST BE ENFORCED OR " REPEALED. " "I. would not liko to seo the Act repealed," said one. member—a Government supporter —"but we aro faced with this position: Ono of two things, must be done—cither tho Act must bo enforced in its entirety, absolutely impartially as between employers and employed, or. it must be wiped oil the slate." If it was not possible to enforce the law all round, then ho did not know but that the question of repeal should not be considered. AMENDMENTS NEEDED. "All bunkum," was, tho terso and. blunt characterisation applied, to the Ministerial statement by a.well-known Labour member. "Let him put tho Question to the vote of ,tlio House, and ho will soon find .where tho majority lies. Wo want to retain tlio Act." "With amendments, of course?" suggested tho interviewer. "Oil, yes, certainly," was tho emphatio reply. "It has got to bo amended, and.tho sooner that is done .tho better." MR. MASSEY'S VIEWS. • "It is quite evident from Mr.' Millar'q statement," said Mr. Ma.s.6oy (Leader of tho Opposition) "that ho lias, begun to realise that statute law cannot for any length of timo supersede natural or economic law. " I am convinced that the Arbitration Act in its present'form is doing a tromendou3 amount of injury to both classes, interested in tlio industries: of the country, and iu my opinion it' is .tho duty of Parliament. this session to do,one of two things: either to anlcnd the rAct.'so as to.-make it just and fair to both classes, or,', if that is impossible, to end it."..' A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. ! Mr. Lang did not agree with Mr. Millar's statement that Parliament was prepared to repeal tho Arbitration Act. ; His own reading of the. feeling-of tllo.Houso was that it would like to' make important, amendments with a view ' to : treating, both workers and employers fairly and • making it possible to enforce the law etrually 'against both sides. Ho admitted that-it would be .very, difficult to devise effective means to these endsj and it was rendered still more difficult by the absonco of any clear indication of the Government's intentions. If only the activities of the professional agitator could be stopped, ono of the chief causes of industrial trouble would he removed. .