ARBITRATION COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 March 1914, Page 8

ARBITRATION COURT.

ADDRESS BY THE NEW

PRESIDENT.

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, March 3. The newly-appointed President of the Arbitration Court, Mr Justice Stringer, commenced his duties to-day.

The Hon. A. L. Herdman, Attorney- | General, congratulated the President 1 on attaining an honor to which his long j services at the liar and as a worthy j citizen of New Z«:?_land justly entitled j him. !

His Honor, in reply, thanked Mr Herdman ana tne members of tiie Wellington Bar most sincerely for then' very cordial welcome. He hoped his work in future would show their confidence was not entirely misplaced. He had a very deep sanse of the responsibility cast upon him as- President of the Arbitration Court. He recognised it would require tho utmost tact and delicacy to - hold the balance between the opposing interests of Labor and Capital. He thought notwithstanding certain indications to the contrary that there was a general trend of opinion among all classes towards arbitration as the only rational method of settling industrial disputes, and he thought the Court was capable of doing good work if only the parties would recognise its power for good in making awards. However, the Court would have to pay due regard to the laws of economics, as to make awards which defied those laws would only bring disaster upon those concerned. Sir Joshua Williams had said upon a recent occasion that he regarded the Arbitration Court as a powerful instrument for the amelioration of the conditons of workers and for the prevention of oppression. One had to be very careful, however, that in whatever he did he did not bring disaster upon the industry concerned and cause disaster all round. He hoped to be able to give the workers the fullest benefits under the Act consistent with the uninterrupted progress and prosperity of industries concerned, and that with the aid of experienced colleagues he would be able to attain that object. He hoped in that way to substantially and materially promote industrial peace and welfare. His utmost efforts would be d£ rected to bring about that consummation so much to be desired.