ARBITRATION SYSTEM

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2586, 2 December 1931, Page 7

ARBITRATION SYSTEM

Too One-sided CAKNOT CONTINUE ML’ FOR WES’S INTENTION Per Press Association Auckland, December 1. Tbo Coalition Government’s intentions regarding the- Arbitration Act were referred to by Premier Forbes in his speech in the Town Hall. ( He said it was intended to overhaul tho whole system. Instead of allowing industry to expand, it kept it in a strait-jacket. The chairman of the Unemployment Board had said that the greatest difficulty experienced in placing men other than navvies in work was owing to the the Arbitration Act. Unemployment was the Government's first and most pressing problem, arid any restrictions that stood in the wav. of men getting hack into employment lie was out to do ins best to sweep away. (Applause and dissent). He bad been informed by many employers that they were willing to retain their staffs, but owing to reduced turnover they were unable to do so at the same rate ot pay —(A voice: "-‘Now Wo know where you ’stand.”)—-so these men have to go out as unemployed. The voice: "Now we’ve got you.” Mr Forbes: “Tliat difficulty must lie overcome. 1 s is our intention to deal with it.” Touching on the operation of the system generally, Mr l'orbes said that if tho Court proceeded in the direction of increasing wages it was all right, but if it went in the director) of reducing wages it was all wrong, and at- times retaliation by strike was threatened. That was not .true arbitration, and such a onesided system could not be allowed to continue.