WORK AND WAGES

Evening Star, Issue 12647, 30 October 1905, Page 8

WORK AND WAGES

LABOR AND ARBITRATION. Recently the Sydney Labor Council affirmed that Judge Gibson had been com missioned “to sandbag the Arbitration, Act,” and instructed their Executive to prepare a report on the matter. At Thursday night’s meeting tlhe following minute was presented;—“ The Committee beg to report that from particulars furnisnejd they have reluctantly come to the conclusion that tho Deputy President of the Arbitration Court has not manifested that impartial administration or freedom from bias so desirable for the successful discharge of the duties of bis office. On the contrary. Judge Gibson's attitude at times towards trades unionism and its relationship to the Arbitration Act is one of pronounced hostility, whilst -his frequent adverse criticisms of tbe rules of societies indicate only too clearly the Judge’s marked disapproval of the Act and the powers conferred thereby upon societies. The Committee are of opinion that where costs have been awarded against societies unsuccessful in their reference to the Court a very great disproportion is apparent when compared with allowances to the unions when successful, whilst the formality of giving particulars of oxpencs incurred is dispensed jwith where costs axe grouted against a union. The interpretation of Judge Gibson relative to calling special meetings of unions is of a ebaraoher that differs very materially from that of the kite President of tbe Court, Mr Justice Cohen, and places another obstacle in tbe way of societies, is an added item of expense, and, furthermore, impracticable to many unions. Seeing that Judge Gibson’s appointment is only for one month from September 27, the Committee do not feel justified in making any recommendation on the matter, hut leave the foregoing expression of opinion for the adoption or otherwise of tbe Council." The delegates decided to refer the miaul e back to the Executive, with instructions to prepare a protest in proper form for submission to the Department of Justice. Mr Duggan, assorted that Judge Gibson had “ lectured” the secretary of one of the unions for his attitude as a delegate at the Labor Council Was that the duty of the Judge? Miss Anderson urged that delegates should adopt drastic measures to mark their disapproval of tbe Deputy President’s attitude. Tho Judge, she said, had remarked upon “ignorant men. drafting rules.” Those rules had been passed by tho Registrar. Unions, if they oould not get satisfaction, should withdraw all proceedings from the Court until such time as they had a “ fair-minded” administrator of their

penalty and summons business. “ Hold your business hack,” she urged, “rather than allow yourselves to be sat upon.”— ‘Telegraph,’ October 15. There is a movement on foot in. London, Manchester, Birmingham, and other English cities to promote technical education in the grocery and provision trades. As a means of stimulating this enterprise, Mr W. P, Bowman—of the firm of Ooodall, Backhouse, and Co., Leeds—-has offered £SOO as a first prise to the grocer's assistant who shows most knowledge of his trade after being examined by a board of experts. The contest, which takes place in 1908. will be open to anyone who is a member of the National Association of Grocers’ Assistants, and who has taken such a course of technical instruction as may be laid down by the advisory committee of that body. Sir T- Coro ye Platt, the Conservative candidate for the Louth Division, has just had some interesting experiences in the harvest field. Being at North Ormsby, on the farm of Mr W. M. Gasswell, where, extra bands were. Bxded, Mr Platt offered bis services, and was accepted. He therefore began, fust thing in the morning, stopped the ordinary half-hour for breakfast, dinner, and tea, and finished up at 7.30 with the rest, of the men. Mr Platt tn-a formed a favorable opinion of the agricultural laborer as the result of his closer acquaintance with him in his daily work. Writing to a correspondent, he says; “As luck would have it, wo were leading wheat all dav. . . . Never have I knownsuch a heavy sheaf as is this year to bo found in linoolnshire. However, I did, my day's work, got my money, and fed all the better for the experience. I have heard: it said that these men don’t know what it is to work! I can only say that I have tramped across Africa, have harvested in Greece, and helped to unload a ship an the Caspian Sea, but never liave I done a bigger day’s work—certainly I have never met men who worked harder, more continuously. or with a better will than the Lincolnshire laborer. ”