ARBITRATION COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 14

ARBITRATION COURT.

COMPLAINTS BY FARMERS. INTERESTS NOT PROTECTED. [DY TELEGRAM!. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. Complaints against (ho working of tho Arbitration Court wero mado at tho annual conferenco of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday, when an Otago remit, asking that tho Arbitration Act be amended in tho direction of providing for compulsory conciliation and optional arbitration, was discussed. Tho mover, Mr. F. Waito, M.P. (Balclutha), said the Court had failed to safeguard the interests of tho primary producer. It was far better for tho employers to meet men directly. Tho wages fixed by tho Court were often artificially high and mado it impossible for labour to be employed. Mr. W. W. Mulholland (Canterbury) said tho farmers' representatives at tho Industrial Conference strongly favoured the idea of this remit. Tho latest Year Book showed that thero had been 253 disputes leading to strikes in five years and only 13 had been settled by tho Arbitration Court. After further discussion the remit was carried. •

A North Canterbury remit, " That primary producers bo ' allowed through their organisations to placo evidence bcforo tlio Arbitration Court during tlio hearing of any dispute having a close bearing upon the industry," was also unanimously favoured. It was pointed out that in tho freezing works and threshing mills awards the farmers who wero vitally concerned had no opportunity (o placo evidence beforo (ho court.