INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 18 May 1928, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

COMPULSORY ARBITRATION.

VITAL POINT DISCUSSED.

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST.

[BY TELEGRArn—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, May 18. Further arguments for and against compulsory arbitration was advanced at to-day’s sitting of the National Industrial Conference. Professor Belshaw, Auckland, suggested that the question whether arbitration should be compulsory or optional should be left to the decision of the majority of the workers and employers’ proposals as an attack on the whole of the working conditions and proposals, which the worker had been successful in attaining by negotiations, and with the assistance of the court. The proposals suggested that the employers wanted; to stir up trouble before the election. Mr H. E. S. Turner thought that the employees would be wise if they made haste.' slowly. Mr J. Chiu rchhous© said the workers were not prepared to do away with the Arbitration Court till something better took its place. Mr H.'D. A eland .said the primary producers' had been always strongly cpnosed to compulsion. Professor Belshaw thought that, despite the breakdown the conference had achieved some results). He believed the majority of workers favoured compulsion. It was tragic, that the conference hn d found it impossible to reach unanimity on .such a vital question. If optional arbitration, was going to be enforced on those not wanting it, (then there was a danger of the whole of the •system being wrecked. Mr W. Bromley agreed with Professor Belshaw.