WORKING OF ARBITRATION ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13148, 10 April 1906, Page 5

WORKING OF ARBITRATION ACT.

VIEWS OF MR. MILLAR, M.H.R.

[BY TELEGBArfI.— OWN" CORRESPONDENT.]

Dcnedin, Monday. THE Dunedin Star has wen interviewing a number of local personages in respect to the working of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act,

Mr. J. A. Millar, M.H.R., expressed himself as follows:—"J think the principle of arbitration is sound, but a fatal mistake was made when they practically did away with conciliation boards by passing the amendment which provides for taking of cases direct to the Court. I have always held the opinion that these boards were the most important factor in the matter, and I still believe that the boards ought to be the Hist to dead with cases, because most of the points can he settled by mutual give-and-take, leaving the Arbitration Court to deal with those points only upon which no agreement can be conic to. 'the success of the Act depends entirely upon the administration of it. If all cases wore decided as cases in other Courts are, viz., on the weight of evidence, brought forward, there would be little cause to complain. I think the working of the Act could be improved if the Court would take advantage of the power conferred on it to call in practical assessors to advise ais to technical points. It is impossible for members of the Court to know the technicalities of every trade. I also think that there ought to be quarterly sittings of the Court in each of the four centres, just as is the practice with the Supreme Court. This would prevent an accumulation and delay in dealing with cases. Breaches of awards ought to be settled by a magistrate, as they are questions of fact.'' Asked as to the effect of the arbitration system on the community, Mr. Millar said it was very difficult to speak. Although the Court had been instrumental in increasing wages, the entailed addition to the retail cost of goods had been largely augmented by extra charges put on by the employers. Mr. Millar assented to the suggestion that increases in wages hafl practically been made excuses for adding to profits, and said the question was now being freely discussed by many thinkers, and there was talk of making it compulsory for the Court to fix the minimum rate of interest which might be made out of any particular industry.