THE EXTREME STEP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13708, 26 March 1908, Page 5

THE EXTREME STEP.

BLACKBALL STRIKE.

THE LAW MUST BE UPHELD

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME

MINISTER

IK his speech at Onehunga last night, the Prime Minister said that a matter that for some time past had been receiving the deep attention of the community generally had been the industrial conditions under which the country was governed; he referred especially to the conciliation and arbitration system.'. It would hot be propel- for him at the present juncture to enter into details, of express strong opinions, one way or the other, as to the merits or demerits of the Blackball strike except to say that one deeply regretted the fact that there Was a strike existing, and on 9 could not do otherwise than sympathise deeply with the men and the families dependent upon them, who for reasons they felt justified in were for the time being out of Work. Any loss of production was not only a loss to those immediately concerned, but was a direct loss to the State, and it was with deep regret he learned that the miners had taken the extreme step of disobeying the decision of the Court that had the authority of law both for its constitution and its acts. And he was no well-wisher of the miners .who would advise them to take the course they were following. It would have been far better to have conformed to the law and made representations on the question under the law as it stood, with which they were dissatisfied, in order that the Government might fairly consider whether the law should bo amended. He understood that the decision of the Court was unanimous, and the Government, as well as employers and employees, must uphold the law. (Applause.)

Sir Joseph went on to say that he was personally strongly opposed to imprisonment which was now, he recognised, the law under the conciliation and arbitration system, and in" his opinion an amendment- of the law in this respect Was essential. (Applause.) ~ It was quite clear to his mind that where there were so many Interests at stake the great principle underlying the operation of the Act was one that should be strongly fought for and adhered to in the interests of commercial and industrial peace. The Government was not prepared to entertain proposals coming from any quarter for a repeal of a piece of legislation that, like all machinery of the kind, had its faults,, but upon the whole had been productive of a vast amount of good. Nor would the Government contemplate with equanimity the possibility of reverting to the old condition of affairs of settling troubles in the industrial world. Such a consummation was too distressing to contemplate. (Applause.) There was one thing quite certain, that the system of strikes and arbitration could not co-exist. He found that the total earnings per annum in New Zealand was £24,000,000, of which £21,500,000 was earned by the male section and £2,500,000 by tho female section. i ■ x What he thought both the Government and Parliament of the country- would require to carefully , and thoughtfully consider, he said, was whether some system could not be established in connection with Court awards that would do away with any dead level, and would give an incentive to those who were prepared to work harder or more scientifically than their fellows, and give them the increased benefit that their individual exertion deserved. (Applause.) He did not propose to go into detail except to say that the whole matter was receiving the earnest consideration of the Government;, with a view to a solution of the difficult problem presented. (Applause.)