WHAT IS THE GOAL?

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 842, 14 June 1910, Page 6

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

LABOUR'S AIMS. | JUDGE AND UNION SECRETARY. An animated discussion took place between Sir. Justice Sim and Mr. E. J. Carey (secretary for the Cooks' and Waiters' Union), at the Arbitration Court yesterday. The judge reminded Mr. Carey that after the last time the union came to the Court with a demand concerning holidays, they induced the Legislature to deal with the matter. Why should the Court do it, if the Legislature was going to? Mr. Carey. The Court is here tOTemcdy grievances, and if the union can show-a serious grievance we think the Court should remedy it. We are glad to get concessions from the Legislature as veil as the Court. So long aa we gain wo are uot particular from which authority. The judge: And when will the end be? When it is all play and no work? Will you tell me where the line is to bo drawn ? Mr. Carey: I should say the lino will be drawn when hotel workers are treated something like — The judge: What limit do you suggest? When will your union cease from its labours ? i Mr. Carey said the union's object was to get a week of 48 hours for men and '42 for women. The fixing of n minimum wage had not been considered, but they held that in 48 hours a man should be able to earn a living wage on which he could keep a wife and family.

Only a Step. The judge: Then the present application is only a step towards your ultimate goal? Mr. Carey: Yes. We admit that. The judge: And then will you descry another goal ahead? Perhaps 40 hours? Mr. Carey said it had been calculated that, if every man worked 3G hours u week, all the necessary wealth would be produced. The judge then referred to a declaration made by the Court in the Gisborno -painters' case to the effect that the Court would not consider repeated applications for new awards unless it was shown that the circumstances had considerably changed. In the present case, the union wag setting out to show how silly the Court was in 1307. They were asking for a complete revision of the award Mr. Carey .said the union believed that tht> Court had not got the sympathy with them that they thought it'should have, and they sedulously avoided going to the Court. The hotelkeepors had taunted them that they would get nothing by going to the Court; nevertheless, they were there. . What the Court is For. The judge: You seem to think the' Arbitration Court is a machine for eternally increasing wages and shortening hours. It was not so at all. Its object was to settle- bona-fide industrial disputes—not disputes that were manufactured for the purpose of getting shorter hows and higher wages. The Court and the Legislature. In reply to another remark by Mr. Caiey, the judge asked: "Would it not be better to get the Legislature to fix the hours? A statute would operate all over the Dominion." Mr. Carey: fesj but when that is done, the Court fixes longer .hours, as in the case of .the oyster saloons. The judge remarked that if the Conxt reduced the hours it would probably reduce the wages also, as the employer must have 6ome profit. r Mr. Carey: When the Arbitration Court lays down the number of hours that are to be worked, it praotioally frames a piece. of:legislation. Mr. Justice Sim.'said that was so. In makijic; aivards the Court was a subordinate Legislature. It was like a county council making by-laws. ■ ' Mr. Carey said that, that being 60, the Court was entitled to consider tie awards made in other fcoiintries. In Australia; the wages in this trade were much, higher, and the Federal Cmrrt had evi-; dently acted on , the principle that the unskilled men should get' a living wage, and the skilled men's wages should he proportionately higher.