REFORM OF THE ARBITRATION SYSTEM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3591, 2 August 1912, Page 6

REFORM OF THE ARBITRATION SYSTEM.

AUCKLAND OPINIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS.

REGARDED FAVORABLY ON TILE

WHOLE,

Bv Telegraph—Special Correspondent AUCKLAND, Aug. 1,

The concensus of labor opinion in Auckland is favorable to the Government’s proposals for the reform of the arbitration system.

In expressing their opinions labor union officials pointed out that the available information as to the Government’s intentions was of the vaguest- description. When a copy of the Bill was available they would be in a better position to say how it would meet their views. In the meantime, however, there was an optimistic tone that the forthcoming changes were going to be for tho better. Mr John Faweus avas a member of tho Conciliation Board in Auckland from .its inception and during the last three years of his 12 years’ experience he was chairman of the Board. He, therefore, can speak with authority on industrial questions. Air Faweus said : “From the evidence which we have in front of us we must conclude that the Arbitration Court as at present constituted has been an utter failure.”

He also -expressed the opinion pretty strongly that the -personality of the present President of the Court- had done much to nullify the intentions of tho Arbitration Act. The time has come,” Mr. Faweus went on, to urge that a working man who has had practical experience as a worker, should be appointed President of the Court.” The thing was worth a trial anyway, he declared, and ho could see no reason whv n fair-minded working man should not dispense evenhanded justice. The class tendency to exalt the social status of the professional or tho commercial man was altogether to bo deprecated- It was time to come down to hedro-k and get a man of practical knowledge and sympathy. Air Faweus also agreed that in a democratic community the secret ballot was not at all objectionable.

Air Arthur Rosser, a well-known trades Union secretary, said that the proposal to change the constitution of the Arbitration Act and substitute as President someone with wide industrial experience rather than expert Legal knowledge was one which, in his opinion, would meet with very general approval. One benefit of importance evolving out of such a change would be that the Dominion would then have the unrestricted use of the- President of the Court for arbitration work. At present Air Justice Sim was liable to be called on at any time- to assist in criminal, civil, cr Appeal .Court work, and it had for a long time past been a sore point with the unions that the intervals between tho sittings in the various centres were too long.

Furthermore, it was felt that .it was never intended that the Arbitration Court- should strictly observe, or follow out legal procedure. AYit-h a Supreme Court judge it had naturally been difficult to get away from hidebound precedent of this description. AYith the Court meeting at least onceevery three months in each centre there was quite sufficient industrial •business to keen the Court occupied all tile year round.

At the next meeting of the Court in Auckland there would-be between 16 and 18 cares to be dealt with. These had accumulated since the last actual sittings at the Court in June. Discussing the second point that all ballots of importance should be secret ballots. Air Rosser said the suggestion would be received bv Union members with very mixed feelings. The secret ballot had been termed the “cowards’ castle” and was regarded as a desire to aid the man who had not the courage of his convictions and was afraid to note in open ballot. Aloreover such a method would not bo safe unless conducted under close official supervision. In the Tramways’ Union, when a secret ballot was being taken, they had to appoint two members to practically chase those entitled to vote-and get them to use their ballot papers. An objection to sueli a system was the fact that it was open to abuses, and the opportunity existed for bringing influence to bear on those who were undecided as to how they should vote. If the secret ballot was made imperative it wood bo necessary, in his opinion, to carry it out under departmental supervision on just the same hues as Parliamentary cr local body elections.