WHAT ABOUT ARBITRATE ?

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 35, 11 February 1908, Page 6

WHAT ABOUT ARBITRATE ?

Are we to take the slurred reference to Arbitration in the Premier's speech at Auckland as a sign that the Government is not going to deal with Mr. Millar's Bill, or an amended Bill, next session? Next session, of course, will be a- brief session ; and in view of accumulated precedents , one scarcely can hope tliat it will^ be productive of much efficient work. The general election overshadows the political horizon ; and though there is plenty of sunshiiio in the sky, the Government, superbly weatherwise, can see also a nimbus no bigger than a man's horny hand tbat may signify an independent Labour Party in Parliament. Will this gvoxr larger and menace a prudent Premier with real thunder and indubitable lightning? or will it presently be dissipatcdi by the good sense of a majprif/ of electors, averse from upsetting the prosperity of New Zealand? Tho Government is ' pretty sure of the answer ; bui it is not absolutely certain, Has the Government considered the effect which the determined passage ol an am-ended Industrial Act would have upon the elections? and 1 has it decided to postpone the exercise of Mr. Millar's zeal until the political weather is settled? We ask for information ; we^ask for reassurance. In view of the Premier's recent statement that he had found a better way than impiisonment to make tho Arbitration Court's awards good against disobedient parties, we had rather hoped that in his utterance of policy at Auckland he would have told us the way. Perhaps we arc- hasty ; perhaps we are premature. The Premier is proceeding systematically. At Auckland he laid down tho solid principles that are to b& the foundations of his humane rulo. At Wellington he will expound details and erect the superstructure of his fortunate edifice. Will he? Meanwhile we see that the Government apparently has 1 * joined tho Denniston colliers and mine-owners in defying the Arbitration Court's award. The Arbitration Court has made an award for Denniston mine which does not expire till 1909. Since 16th November, 1907, without the Arbitration Court's permission, tho mine has been worked in opposition to that award. True; the parties have come to another agreement, with tho assistance 'of tho Government; and we believe that ■ this is a proper agreement, and that the assistance of th© Government was rightly given. But we have not been informed that the Arbitration Court has endorsed fch& agreement ; and until it does so only tho award is valid, and the -Government, apaTt from diplomatic intrusions, is bound formally to enforce the award. Has the concurrence of the Arbitration Court been obtained? If so, why is not tho fact published? Why are fche public left under the impression that tlie Court's award may be broken if only the Government ©auctions the breach? How is the Court's authority to be maintained if Government does not scrupulously protect it, ia essence and in externals? Furthers there is no disguising that, on the side of Labour at least, the operation of the Industrial Acts is complained of. Employers are beginning to have ground to complain that the Acts do not operate. The proceedings at Conciliation have become little better than farcical, and we see associations of employers and workmen deliberately refusing' the seivices of a Conciliation Board in order to make their own voluntary agreements. It has been made clear that tie enforcement of the Arbitration Court's awards in terms of existing law ia Impracticable. In a word, amendment of the Acts is needed urgently; for the ionger they remain the greater the disrepute of the valuable system they represent. Their errors and omissions can be avoided or supplied by fresh legislation, and that legislation cannot come too soon. Of course it is contentious ; of course it will be opposed in details. But if the Government will carry it through creditably next session that will greatly increase the Government's claim upon suffrages. Prudence, wo understand, counsels to°let the barking dog alone. It maj bite. But if the' Premier is strong enough he can muzzl© tliah dog. Can he?