THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1921. THE WORKERS AND THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 September 1921, Page 4

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1921. THE WORKERS AND THE ARBITRATION COURT.

For a long time past there has been considerable complaint against fhe 1 Arbitration Court, and a crisis has now been precipitated by the resignation of Mr. McCullough, the workers' representative, who alleges that the Court has not kept faith with' him. The employers' representative (M* Scott) replies that the Court has acted honourably, and has kept faith with the workers. The decision of the Court regarding -the wages of shearers :is the cause of Mr McCullough's retirement. The Court] it will be remembered, decided in April last to recommend that no new bonuses be added, but that, unless there were extraordinary circumstances, the rates of pay for workers should be stabilised until the end of April, 1922. The recent decision in the case of the shearers means a reduction in wages to that union, and anyone who realises the very serious state. of the wool market at the present time can hardly fail to regard the position of the industry as one of "extraordinary circumstances." We .know of no period in*the history of. woof-growing when things were so bad as they have been during this year, and farmers have been very heavy sufferers through the slump. How they are going to meet even th© ordinary expenses associated with sheep fanning is a matter which is causing them no little worry, and un- ; less there is a decided change for the better it will be quite impossible for them to pay the high rates of wages which shearers have enjoyed during re-' cent years. Yet because the Arbitra-J tion Court has endeavoured to readjust

the wages of shearers a little, ihe workers' representative has taken a line of action which some of the trade unions seem to regard as offering an opportunity to act outside of tho Court. It is not, in our opinion, always the best thing for workers to be under compulsory arbitration, but the •system which has been in operation for many yoars past has brought undoubted advantages to tho workers, greater advantages than some of them deserved, and employers havo been bound to act in accordance with tho Court's findings. The employers' reprei Rontativo has not resigned when the I Court has given findings favourable td the workers, but on the first occasion the Court has found it necessary to give a pronouncement which reduces a union's wages tire workers f representative withdraws. Is the Arbitration Court in existence only for the purpose of raising wages and reducing hours? It would appear from Mr McCullough's 'action and the attitude of the unions supporting him that that is their view of the Court's functions. If that wero so then tho employers could just as fairly have withdrawn from the Court years ago. The unions will, we think", be very unwise if they persist in their attitude and force* upon the country a position that can; only add to tho present difficulties, for the Court has in the great majority of 'the cases brought before it been the friend of the workers. The cost of living has fallen somewhat during this year, and will continue to fall, and it

has been an accepted principle ' that when it was fair and reasonable to do so the Court would* readjust wages from time to time on a lower scale, yet doing its best, to protect tho workers. Of course, if the unionists have decided to defy facts and expect to. receive boom wages to continue in a time of depression, then they can expect more unemployment and to lose the sympathy of the groat number of people who, though they do not belong to unions, aro not by any means hostile to the workers. The Court has no doubt acted with a full knowledge of the facts, and its judgment Has not , met with the workers' approval. For this reason the whole of the fabric of the Arbitration Act is to be endangered, and it may even happen that the system which has heen so long accepted will cease to lie used. The workers, if they persist in their may find that they have made a serious mistake in yea.3 to come, and they may .find that there are worse 'systems than that which sets up an Arbitration Court which has shown a consistent 1 sympathy and readiness to help the I workers. We are not altogether satisfied with the Arbitration Court system for other reasons, but if one accepts I the principles upon which the New Zealand Arbitration Court was found- | ed, then we do not think that much , fault can be found with its work during the years of its existence. No <loubt the next few weeks will bring [clearer statements of what the trade |: unions really think of the principles of I arbitration and what their proposals 'are for a better governing body.