"A WRANGLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 10

"A WRANGLE"

ELECTING AN ASSESSOR

LABOUR AND THE ARBITRATION

COURT

The election of a member of the Arbitration Court to represent the interests of workers is still actively engaging the minds of union members, and the indications are that it is causing some dissension in the Labour ranks. This latter fact is realised by several prominent officials in the movement, and a suggestion has been made that there should be some change in the system of election, in order to ensure "the Labour movement keeping its domestic troubles within its own circle."

Dealing with the question this week, the "Maoriland Worker" has the following to say:—

"Once every three years there is a wrangle in the Labour movement a.< to whom their representative on tho Court of Arbitration shall be. A few years ago a Tory Government decided on a method of election whicu gives every opportunity of this wrangle con-. tinuing as it. disfranchises some thousands of workers in New Zealand who are compelled to use this institution in connection, with wages agreements, interpretations, and in industrial accident cases. The Capitalist Press takes full advantage of the propaganda issued by some of the candidates, and roundly abuses Labour and attempts all the time to disorganise it when this election of workers' representative takes place. It may be as well to point out to the workers that we find no wrangle of this kind as far as the election of th 3 employers' representative is concerned. Indeed there is no election at all, and the sooner the Labour movement follows the same course the better for all concerned.

In our opinion, the proper way. to elect the workers' representative on the Court of Arbitration is by the" Labour movement taking a plebiscite vote of the workers throughout New Zealand, and the man securing the majority of votes to be the representative of the workers on the Court of Arbitration. This would at least ensure the Labour movement keeping its domestic troubles within its own 1 circle, and further preventing aspirants for the position denouncing Labour organisations and attempting to disorganise the workers because they do not receive the support they expect.' . • ■■'-.' VIEWS OP ENGINEERS. Writing to Mr. Hiram Hunter, Mr. W. Bromley, secretary of the Wellington Amalgamated Engineering Union, states: "At a meeting of the Engineers' Union held on the 2nd instant, various circulars,' some written in sup- ■ port of yourself, and -some written to support the candidature of: Mr. Monteith, were read and considered. After consideration I was directed to write you pointing out that this union does not become favourably impressed towards a candidate for the position in question, or for any other position, .who relies too much on abusing other candidates and organisations which, exercising privileges which they hold, hapnen to recommend an opponent. I am particularly instructed ti> point out that this organisation protests most strongly against your remarks, 'Who are Warner and'Atkinson, anyway?' These men do not hold positions which bring them in the limelight, but in each case have a long and useful record in the industrial movement, and in the case of Atkinson he has quite a long record of useful, service in the workers' political movement." *