THE ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15549, 5 March 1914, Page 6

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

The words spoken by Mr. Justice Stringer, in taking his seat as Pre- ' sident of the Arbitration Court, are a good augury for the future of the arbitration system. The attitude of the new President to labour and capital appears to be fair and his conception of his role perfectly sound. The Court has in the past been a powerful instrument in ameliorating the conditions ■of workers, and Mr. Justice Stringer has expressed his desire to .give workers the fullest benefits under the Act consistent with the uninterrupted progress and prosperity of the industries concerned. It is hardly necessary to add that the placing on any industry of burdens greater than it could bear would be no more in the interests of the employees than of the employers. As Mr. Justice Stringer expressed it, to make awards defying economic laws would only bring disaster. The Arbitration Court' deserves well of ; New Zealand ; so j long as a spirit of loyalty is shown to it by both employers and employed and its President endeavours to hold the balance fairly it must be of great value to the community in the settlement of industrial differences. Mr. Justice Stringer assumes the presidency at a rather critical time, when a vigorous assault has been made on the arbitration system not only in New Zealand, but in parts of Australia. The syndicalists of New Zealand set out to wreck the Court, which all moderate labour men admit has been of great assistance to the workers of New Zealand in securing higher wages and better conditions of labour. But the syndicalist attack failed, and the arbitration system remains, as it has always been, the only safe method of settlement when employers and employees differ. The Premier of New • South Wales (Mr. W. A. Holman) recently stated that in spite of occasional strikes the sentiment in favour of industrial arbitration is stronger than ever in New South Wales. The same may fairly be said in New Zealand, notwithstanding recent displays of industrial lawlessness. It will be Mr. Justice Stringer's duty to foster public confidence in the tribunal over which he presides, and all friends of arbitration should discourage any attempts made to subject his efforts to carping criticism. Recent legislation aimed it preventing hasty and ill-considered strikes should help towards '.hat atmosphere of reason and compromise so [necessary for the successful exercise of the Court's functions.