UNDER FIRE AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 115, 18 May 1927, Page 12

UNDER FIRE AGAIN

ABBITBATIOtf -COURT

THREE JUDGES SUGGESTED

VARIETY OF VIEWS

(By Telegraph.}

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

The Council of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday discussed the constitution of the Arbitration' Court. The discussion arose from a letter criticising the working of the Court, received from Mr. H. T. Merritt, vice-president, who suggested dispensing with the employers ' and workers' representatives and creating a Court of three independent Judges. The matter was referred to a special committee to investigate arid make a.full report.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day. Tho Arbitration Act, and incidentally the Arbitration Court, came in for considerable discussion at the interprovincial conference of the Farmers' Union at Levin yesterday, when no less than eight remits upon the matter were tabled.

Mr. T. Currie (Wanganui) referred to the matter in his presidential address, stating that recently the Court appeared to resent criticism passed upon some of its findings. He considered the farmers were quite justified in criticising anything that affected their business. In his opinion the Court was unfortunate in increasing the shearing rate and that that had been responsible for the trouble that arose later in connection with the freezing industry. While there was an agitation to do away with the Court, he would prefer to see some amendments to the Act first. "PATCHING OLD TROUSERS." The abolition of the Court was moved by Mr. J. R. Franklin (Wanganui), although he said he did not feel very favourably in support of it. However, should the resolution bo carried, it would strengthen the hands of the union in getting the Arbitration Act amended. What was the use of dragging good labour down to the level of the poorest? It was like patching an old pair of trousers of which the material was rotten. That was what the Arbitration Act did. He preferred paying a man according to his worth and thus give tho worker an inducement to increase his wages. Such a condition would be for the general benefit of the industry. Mr. O. P. Lynch (Paekakariki) mentioned that the Court was meeting with opposition from all employers, lot alone the farmers. What he objected to was the academic reasons that were often given for the Court's decision instead of utilitarian reasons. However, he didn't think any good would be done by abolishing the Court. Mr. H. Bond (Rangiotu) considered that the only men who got any benefit from awards were the men who didn't know their jobs. Mr. W. G. Belton (Waverley) thought that every award in New Zealand affected the farmer either directly or indirectly. He thought that farmers should have representation on the Court in all cases. "A GOOD ATMOSPHERE." Mr. K. AY. Dalrymplo (Rangitikei) urged care in what was done as the farmers at the present time were getting into a good atmosphere as it were, with tho rest of the community. The Dominion executive had discussed the matter with the Employers' Federation and they were distinctly against tho abolition of tho Court. The Minister of Labour had indicated that he would amend the Act this session, but he had given no indication in what direction. New Zealand and Australia were the only countries that had an Arbitration Act, consequently it was more or less in the nature of an experiment.

A motion was carried calling for tho abolition of tho preference to unionists clauses, the hearing of third parties, the taking of secret ballots on proposals to strike, and urging that the Court should consider tho effect of industries of applications for awards.