A NEW ARBITRATION BILL.

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 11

A NEW ARBITRATION BILL.

_ There are some interesting proposals in the new Arbitration Bil(, introduced by Mr. Beeby. in the N.S.W/ Parliament. First, there is the almost entire abolition of wages boards, throwing tho huhof the work on an Industrial Court, the judges of which will sit with assessors who are to replace laymen. The cable message does not suggest whether there is to be any machinery for conciliation before the Court is appealed to. Unle6B there is such machinery the_ work of tho Court will be very heavy indeed. Presumably _there will be- assessors for ijach dispute in. the Court, not permanent lay representatives as in New Zealand. Tins may lead to better awards in technical questions, but it will probably mean that the judge will have to' decide on wages and hours. The annual declaration of a living wage will, if the decision gives satisfaction, lighten the work of the Court considerably, since its main duty afterwards will bo to adjust wages in different trades to the new scale. For some time past the Courts in Australia, havo followed the practice of declaring a living wage, but not for each year. Other clauses in tho Bill (as cabled) relate mainly to penalties for striking. Whether they will havo the deterrent effect de'" Bired is ppen to question. Penalties probably will reduce the number of small irritating strikes, but if there is genuine discontent in tho unions nothing but careful investigation and removal of the causes will prevent trouble.