THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Evening Star, Issue 21054, 17 March 1932, Page 8

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I notice the Minister for Labour, in replying to Mr F. Jones in reference to the Dunedin manufacturers’ resolution against the abolition of the court, said that the position was not understood and was totally misrepresented; it was not proposed to abolish the court. I am afraid the Minister and the Government will not catch many birds with that sort of chaff, because the position is only top well represented. What is the use of

having an Act on the Statute Book that will be practically a dead letter if this Bill in its present form becomes law? Such camouflage will not be swallowed, and a Government that stoops to such spineless tactics cannot be far from the end of its tether. However, the more repressive its legislation is the more rebels it will make, not only in the workers’ ranks, but from the middle class and from the small business man. So, although the Labour Party will put up as strenuous a fight as can do made inside of the Constitution, the Coalitionists will carry the day. Why, if we go on much longer we shall have as many bankruptcies as unemployed workers, and the result will be that those persons will never probably get into business again, and so the Labour Party will eventually claim them also. This National or Coalition “stunt” is merely the last desperate throw of the ruling class in politics before it will be compelled to give way to more progressive elements. The MacDonald, Snowden type of workers’ representatives is being now found out, and the workers as a result will begin to see daylight through the haze of these disrupters who have kept them in ignorance of the real issues. “ Coates and Confidence,” Uniteds, now Coalitionists—what next, 1 wonder? The game is up, and they know it. Good luck to their propaganda for Labour.— I am, etc., P. Neilson. March 16.