Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th., 1936. ARBITRATION COURT

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1936, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12th., 1936. ARBITRATION COURT

yilE appreciation expressed by the workers’ representatives of the manner in which the Arbitration Court had carried out its recent heavy duties, particularly those connected with the legislative institution of the 40hours week, was perhaps partly inspired by the fact that most of the Court’s decisions were in favour of the recruction in hours. Nevertheless, it should be admitted by the employers and the* general community, that within the limits permitted by the Amended Act, the Court has carried out an onerous duty well and expeditiously, and that special cireum-

stances governing some industries have been given due consideration. Time alone will demonstrate the practical effects of the shortening of hours without lessening of wages, hut, meanwhile, the Arbitration Court may justly

claim to have done its part, in enforcing the present Parliament’s decisions, with a minimum of friction.

Workers did not value the Arbitration Court sufficiently, until the previous Government, owing to the economic depression, limited the Court’s powers, whereupon there was a general Labour protest, followed by Labour action when Ministerial power was

achieved. The workers, previously, wore seldom satisfied with Court verdicts, but are hopeful, to-day, that future awards will be more to their liking. The presiding Judge has the real decision, as the employers’ and employees’

representatives in the Court, in practice, naturally follow the

views and claims outlined by those they respectively represent. Air. Page as a magistrate proved a success, entitling him to promotion, and so far, he has justified his choice to preside over the Arbitration Court, at a somewhat critical time.

When the 40 hour week business, the basic wage, and other matters due to Labour policy, are completed by the Court, more attention will he given to awardsmaking and compensation claims. Considerable delay appears inevitable, as the Court cannot cope hurriedly with the many issues awaiting decision. It has been proposed that compensation-claim cases should be dealt with by a special tribunal. With the extra work thrust on the Court, by Labour legislation, some such relief is essential, if injustice is to be avoided, and industrial peace preserved. The time absorbed in travelling from one end of the Dominion to the other, by Court members, might be more profitably utilised, cases being brought to the Court, instead of the Court being brought Io cases. Meanwhile, it. is gratifying to know that the great changes introduced in national industrial affairs by the Labour Government’s policy, have so far been more or less cheerfully accepted by the employers, who are endeavouring to give the new rules and conditions a fair trial. 'Phis will strengthen their claim for relief, should experience prove that national industries cannot stand the new burdens.