CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 410, 20 January 1909, Page 6

CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS.

The Government; has'apparently made a wise selection in appointing Mb."J. Jfc TEIGO3, of !Christchurch, as the third •Conciliation Commissioner under the new Arbitration Act. The successful work "which Mr. s Tbiggs has already •done in a similar capacity as Chairman of- the Canterbury Coaptation Board; and the experience; pf workers and en> .ployers gained in that capacity, form Strong qualifications : for.--.•' the. position which he now assumes. The appointment of •' Mr. ■ Bally,' of Duncdin, also, seems to :have given satisfaction to 'both , employers and unionists. Mr. Hally sueceeded_ Hiu- J. , A. Millab, on ■ the Qtago Conciliation Board.as the representative of .the.workers,,a'nd,his subsequent discharge pf the "delicate duties if. an "in.' spoctorof awards without, rendering his olaira displeasing to either party .eecms to. warrant hini, possessed of tact and rqa-i son,' Vjt:': js,.. howeviv verjC'difficult.:, to jusljjfy, the pf ..the' third Commissioner,AMe: Viable ; pips,' ,of Auckland. , In his cage neither workers nor employers Ijjave been able to approve the Government's choics a/nd already their dissatisfaction has. begun ~to find ' very plain expression, ; The- Now .Zealand Employers' Federation is said to intend entering a;strong protegfr.againsji theap? poihtment, and ; a meeting of unionists ,jn Auckland ■has; pledged itself not. :to accept any decision of ..a. Conciliation Council over which Mr. Giles.may pre- . side.. .The hostility of both ■ parties ;to his appointment would be almost a final argument against Mr.-Giles's fitness to conciliate,' even J if.it'. were got'■; well founded, but the ; opposition of employers and •unionists yto his -selection appears to be based oij quite adequate grounds. Me. Giles has had none of the active experience of labour • matters which the other Commissioners [possess. Ever since he came to the Dominion,. 25 years ago, his life has" been engaged in educational pursuits, first as a piibjic school teacher, and afterwards' as the • director .of a commercial college, '> One qualification for. the position: ho-does indeed possess; it is the qualification which, a: Liberal, candidate for Parliament found wanting in a presumptuous rival candidate; he has "helped to got up banquets to the LiberaHeaders."' Me. j Giles has been for ' eight or' nine' years Isecretary of the Auckland branch of tble Liberal and Labour federation) and! presumably he is now reaping the reward of the faithful political henchman, His practical qualifications for his new iposition seem to be. on a. line with those of the Admiral in "Pinafore." Much more than industrial, knowledge and tact are required , to/fit, the new Commissioners for their difficult functions. Me.! Millar has well stated that they must be enthusiasts iri their .office; , they, must ■ not ■ be- merely: willing to conciliate; they ./must emulate the ardour, though not!the methods, of those captivating Irish who "fought likedevils for conciliatipn," J.Mb. Giles .has not. even the fundamental knowledge on which he\ can'safely'basoi enthusiasm. If reason> for his appojiitfnent be as is alleged,. ap.d.'Mk Giles'should show - no. other'qualifications for his position than those now evident, the Government will have . added one more to! its errors in dealing; with industry.i Unless Mn. Giles agreeably disappoints everybody, as we cannot ; of course say positively he will , not, 'the Government -will not only havo assisted, by its'weakness and inaction during last year's strikes, to bring its own structure for'; the safeguard of industrial stability tol the -ground, but it will have Bawn'through.oeforehand tho pillars of the structure which it is now erecting in its .'.place.; \ . ■■'