The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1900.

Evening Star, Issue 11254, 30 May 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 1900.

Ax extraordinary and deplorable state of matters has come to light in A Public connection with the working of Scandal, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in Wellington. For some time past the proceedings of the

Conciliation Board in that -city have notoriously been of a very unsatisfactory, character, owing; to the obvious partiality displayed by two of the members; but it was not till last Friday that it clearly came out in evidence that tli.eae members—judges, as in a sense they are supposed to be—had been simultaneously filling two roles of an utterly incompatible nature. For a month or more the Wellington Board have been inquiring into the merits of a dispute between (he Wharf Laborers’ Union and their employers, and on Friday the wearisoineness of the proceedings was diversified bj j. list the ‘Evening Post’ justly terms a dramatic episode.” The secretary of the Wharf Laborers’ Union was examined by Mr TV. A. Kennedy (on behalf of the employers), and in the course of his evidence ho stated that “ Messrs Collins and Fisher were present at a meeting of the union, prior to the formulation of the increased demands. , ... . They had attended a meeting of the union since last February. The import of this announcement will be appreciated when we add that Messrs Collins and Fisher are members of the Conciliation Board. When the statement uu.s made Mr Collins evidently thought that a frank (or perhaps we should say bouncing) admission would be most politic, for he. immediately observed : “We have attended meetings of all the unions. We make it a practice to go round among the unions.” After this candid, not to say cynical, confession it is not surprising that tho employers promptly decided to withdraw their case, from the Board, preferring to wait for the Arbitration Court proceedings ; nor can we wonder at Mr Kennedy’s indignant exclamation: “ I think it is a scandal that we should hare to fight members of the Board as well as the union.” It has since transpired that Messrs Collins and Fisher not only attended meetings of (he Wharf Laborers’ Union while they were actinv as members of the Conciliation Board, but actually advised the union to increase the demands (hat were made in February. It must be borne in mind (hat members of the Conciliation Board are remunerated according to the number of eiitings they attend—so that here we have two quasi-judicial officers “earning” public money at the rate of a. guinea a day for more than thirty days in adjudicating upon

a dispute in regard to which they have already “ advised ” one of the parties ! It

is r radically the same as if Mr Care-.v in Dunedin, in view of a particular caste about to come before him. were to call upon the pin hit iff s solicit or and advise him to increase (he amount of the claim. Well may the New Zealand Times’—the. Ministerial organ in Wellington—declare that the conduct of Messrs Collins and Fishc-r “is calculated to bring industrial' conciliation into contempt ” : and it goes without saving that employers cannot be expected to have any further confidence in the, 'Wellington Board, as at present constituted. Something mast clearly be done. The ‘ Evening Post ’ goes the length of recommending the abolition of the Conciliation Boards. Conciliation, urges our contemporary. is a thing of the past, and all that really remains of the Act is the compulsory provisions.

Let us admit Ibis fact frankly, and make tue best of it. Such being the case it is surely wise that disputes should go straight to tho Court without the intervention "of such a biased and inefficient- preliminary tribunal as we unfortunately have here in Wellington.

We’iare loth to go so far as this. After all. conciliation was one of the chief ideals of the promoters of the Act, and it would bo a painful thing to have to confess that Xcw Zealand is not yet educated up to such an ideal. The degradation of the Wellington Conciliation Board must not be taken as a criterion, and we are glnd to recognise that here in Dunedin our Board, though they may not have, been specially successful in finally settling disputes, have the full confidence,of all classes in the matter oi impartiality bnd anxious desire fort.be furtherance of industrial harmony. It in;,still ha possible to save the conciliation principle; at all events, an attempt should be made to save it. Wc should be glad to see the first steps'in this direction taken by the industrial unions. Their representatives on the Wellington Conciliation Board arc responsible for the recent scandal, and with them the movement for the rehabilitation of the conciliation principle might fitly start. Would it not be well for every union in the Colony to pass a resolution disapproving of the conduct of Messrs Collins aud Fishery It is clear, moreover, that in some of the districts more care must be taken in the matter of choosing the unions’ representatives on the Board, and the Government should appoint strong men as chairmen. The Dunedin Board are fortunate in having a thoroughly competent chairman, but the occupant of the position in Wellington, however good his intentions may be, bus shown painful weakness, with the result that the aforesaid pretty pair, Messrs Collins and Fisher, have been allowed to bring the Board into discredit on more than one occasion. We foel sure that the unions will recognise that their credit is, to some extent, at stake in this mutter, and that they cannot altogether disclaim responsibility for the action of their unworthy representatives. By some means or other, whether by the influence of the unions or by the interference of the Government, such a discreditable state of matters as that which lias recently obtained at Wellington must be placed beyond the possibility of re-occurrence, if last Friday’s revelations were to be repeated the public would quickly demand the abolition of i/.e Conciliation Boards. That, as we have said, would be a mournful end to an interesting experiment; but conciliation can only be saved by placing the integrity of the Boards beyond question.

Tho Federal mail per s.s. Australia (Melbourne, April 25) arrived in London ou tlie 2tiui lust. ; one uay cutty.

1 here was an excellent attendance at the Alhambra Theatre last evening, and the efforts of the various performers were warmly applauded. The same bill will be presented to-night.

Tuo weekly meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees was held this afternoon, and attended by Messrs 0. Haynes (chairman), H. Gourley, J. Hazlett, W. SwrtQ, 0. Allan, and R. Wilson, The expenditure at the Institution siuce the lust report amounted to £9l 16s 6d. About twenty relit! cases were dealt with. Captain W. Thomson and Mr J. Mill presided at the Port Chalmers Police Court this forenoon. Two boys named Robert Medex and John Hoskins were charged w 1 1 Stealing twenty rabbit traps, of the value of 17 < 61, t io property of William M'Leod, at Deborah Biy, on the 27th inst. Both the boys pleaded guilty, aud, alter being severely reprimanded by the Bench, were convicted and ordered to come up for sentones when callcd’upon.

Kruger, the subject of the guessing competition at the winter show, on being scaled, weighed 1,8061b. Mr John M'Phersnn, of Five Rivers, was the nearest guesser, his estimate being 1,8051b. The second prize was divided between Mrs Walter Young, Hcviot row, Dunedin, and Mr W. B. Greancy, Dunedin, each with l,80?ilb. Other close estimates were given by Mr A. Ryder, Dunedin, 1,8091b, and Mr T'. E. Jefcoate, Pucrua, 1,8021b. The five fat sheep, which formed the subject of the other competition, weighed 6621b, and Miss Ngaio Fulton, of Outrnm, wins the first prize with her guess of 568|1b. Mr J. Calder, of Maheno, guessed 5571b. In each competition ft number of absurd guesses were made. The weight of Kruger was estimated at figures ranging from 9201b to 5,6001b, and in the other competition tho estimates ranged from 2461b to 6501b!

The Labor Day Committee meet on Friday evening. Unions who have not sent in the names of their delegates ate requested to do so. - . Those desirous of procuring n, good stylish waterproof coat for the winter season should inspect the superior stock selling at cheap prices at the Clothing Factory, Octagon.—[Advt.] The weekly meeting of the Federated Seamen’s Union will be held at the rooms, Rattray street, to-morrow, at 8 p.m. Bowdep brakes, • acetylene lamps; Humber, Osmond, and Anglo Specials, latest designs; repairs our specialty. Anglo-N.Z. Cycle Company, 6 Princes street.—[Advt.] At to-morrew night’s meeting of the Fabian Society Mr W. Hood will give an address on 'The Faults and Failings of Municipal Government.’ The general public are invited, and may join in the discussion of the subject.

A concert in aid of the Gaversham. Rifles’ uniform fund will be given in the Caversham Hail on Friday evening. The theoretical examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music will be hold at the University on the morning of Saturday, Juno 2.

Messrs Gresham and Boot, surgeon and mechanical dentists, 65 Princes street, Dunedin (late A. B. Boot). Mr Gresham was for seven years a pupil of the late Mr Alfred 8001, and has been practising successfully for the last eleven years in Invercargill. All fees strictly moderate, consistent with highclass work. Consultation free.—[Advt.] All those who hive as yet given noihing ta the Indian Famine Fund will have tbeic chance to “drop a shilling in the little tambourine” next Friday evening at Sr. Paul’s Schoolroom. We understand that an “evening’s diversion” is being prepared, which, judging from <he programme, will be a unique one. As some of the leading professionals, as welt as amateurs, of Dunedin aio working heartily to mako the affair a success, wo hope that their efforts win be recognised, and that a crowded audience will attend.