Manawatu Evening Standard. CIRCULATION 4000 DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9742, 6 March 1914, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. CIRCULATION 4000 DAILY. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE ARBITRATION COURT.

The remarks made by Mr Justice Stringer when he first took his seat as president of the Arbitration Court, indicate that he has a high conception of the duties and responsibilities of his position. He comes to the court at a time when it has just emerged from a very critical period in its history. The syndicalists in the Dominion set out to deliberately wreck the arbitration system and substitute for it the old unprofitable strike method. The effort was a determined one, but it was met by a combination of unexpected circumstance*—the fymnese of the Government and the loyal service of special constables and free labourers—and was signally defeated. The arbitration system thus remains the safest and least expensive means for the settlement of differences between employers and employees. The attack upon the system in New Zealand has only served to ■trengthen public opinion in this view, and the lesson has been such an expensive one for the syndicalists that they will hardly be desirous of again trying conclusions with those who uphold the constitutional method. By the Act of last year the Arbitration Court is endowed with much wider powers and is greatly strengthened for the fulfilment of its primary purpose. Mr Justice Stringer thus takes up his duties at the beginning of a new era in industrial affairs, and his views should give greater confidence to any who are inclined to despair of the future of arbitration. He has a very deep sense of the responsibility cast upon him and recognises that it require* the utmost tact and delicacy to hold the balance between capital and labour. The new judge quotes with ap- '

proval the opinion of Sir Joshua Williams that the Arbitration Court i* a powerful instrument for the amelioration of industrial conditions, but at the same time he sees that whatever he does he muet be careful not to bring disaster upon the industry concerned. That is a sound view for too heavy a burden imposed upon an industry can only react to the detriment of the workers and thus to the community. Mr Justice Stringer also says the Court must pay due regard to the laws of economics to defy which would only mean failure and disaster, and he hopes that he will be able to substantially and materially promote industrial peace and welfare. That is a worthy ideal and one worth striving for, and all who have the interests of the Dominion at heart will hope that Mr Justice Stringer, with the assistance of his colleagues, and the recent amendments to the law will be successful in their efforts.. A repetition of the disastrous disorganisation of industry and commerce that occurred last year is not desired by anyone.