THE ARBITRATION COURT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 25, 30 January 1923, Page 6

THE ARBITRATION COURT

With nine nominations for the position of workers' representative on the. Arbitration Court and six for deputy-representative it might be thought that the workers' unions had become convinced of the wisdom of arbitration undsr the present difficult industrial _ circumstances, and were keenly interested, therefore, in the composition of the Court. Unfortunately, recent events do not entirely warrant such- a conclusion. It may be true that- the unions and their leaders are keenly interested in the constitution of the Court; but there is a distinct suspicion that their interest is not wholly based upon a recognition of the merits of arbitration. The past year has been a difficult period ■ indeed for the Court, and the record of that period is an eloquent tribute to the judgment, fairness, and patience of the President and to the forbearance and judicial capacity of his colleagues who represent the workers and employers on the Bench. The ivisdoxn of Solomon and the patience of Job would scarcely have enabled the Court to satisfy both 'parties; but we .believe that fair-minded men among both employers and workers will admit that the Court has endeavoured to hold the balance fairly.

It has reduced wages in some occupations, but not to the extent desired by some employers, and this is what some of the union leaders fail to recognise. Because they have not obtained all they sought they have presumed that "Ihe judgment has gone wholly in favour of the other side. They have overlooked the fact that often the employers have fallen as far; short of obtaining their claims as have the workers. Failure to see the other side of a case, or even to admit that there is another side, may lead some unions to believe that they would fare as well without the Court as with it. But even a little inquiry, a little research into economic facts and figures; would convince them that a.period of deflation and falling prices is the time when they can least afford to refuse the assistance of the Court in steadying the downward movement of wages. If all the fifteen workers' candidates could sit in close consultation with the President of the Court and the employers' representative they might realise that what is easily asked by an advocate cannot be so lightly awarded by an assessor; but they cannot all have this opportunity, eind the workers must make a choice of two of the fifteen. In making the choice they will be wisel to their own interests if they select men who will enter upon their duties honestly seeking to uphold the system of arbitration. There have been attempts to wreck the Court from the outside and threats of further attempts. If unions now ; second the erstwhile wreckers and give them a status inside the Court they may find too late that the Court is wrecked and they themselves are stranded.