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New Zealand Mail, Issue 957, 4 July 1890, Page 27

Tim U.S.S. Co.’B Tavinai, built expressly for the Fiji trade, has been definitely fixed to gall from the Clyde on July 15th.

Me DoWkie Stewart’s Arbitration Bill contains matter of great moment. If it becomes law there will 119 no more strikes in New Zealand. It substitutes for tbe arbitrament of starvation applied to both sides, iue arbitrament of reason impartially exercised by representatives chosen by the parties. In all the great strikes the arbitrament of reason comes in at the end as the Dsus ex machina to relieve everybody from a position which hasbecome absolutely unbearable. The great dock strike when it had gone far enough was settled practically by arbitration ; so was tbe dig railway strike iu the South of Ireland of the other day; so is every strike of any magnitude. Only the settlement process is not called arbitration, it is known as mediation. That is the main difference between the two. But between tha state of the parties who employ an arbitrator and those who are obliged to have recourse to a mediator there is the greatest possible difference. It is the difference between loss and gain. In the former case no one loses anything. Ia the latter everybody loses something, more or less, according to the duration of the strife, and the damage done to the particular trade. Sometimes a trade will never recover from the effect of a strike. Decidedly it is better to arbitrate before the disaster' than alter.

Everybody recognises the principle without reserve. From the Labour Conference at Berlin, which has set its special oeal upon JB9O, to the humblest meeting of half a dozen obscure mechanics, all are agreed that arbitration is the thing to be set up in the land. Labour and capital are both equally well disposed towards tho principle, for the simple reason that both shrink equally from the extreme measures ” which mean war. These wars of the industrial world are like the wars of nations ; they have a way of hurting both sides. The artisans, who go out “ ou strike,” may do damage to their employer by their conduct, but they huvt themselves also, and in many cases considerably more. In most cases labour can afford tbe loss of wages very much less than capital can afford the loss of interest. Capital is not under the necessity of getting daily food. It id stupid of labour to coereo capital by inflicting suffering on itself. Tha various unions minimise the evil by subscribing, but strike pay is but one remove from starvation. The necessity for arbitration has been long borne in upon labour by experience, and is recognised in the rules of many trade societies.

The capitalist ou the other baud, if he does not always suffer so much from a strike as labour, suffers more ii ’_ „.. ~ ;.. man jjtjceoaai v • oubii waste. There are, moreover, men engaged in turning over tbo capital of others who cannot resist sudden demands pub forward with threat of “ extreme measures.” There is. experience teaches us, no monopoly of tyranny in the world. You find it iri the palace and the hovel alike ; the Board of Directors controlling millions is not necessarily more unjust than the Trade Society of twenty members controlling nothing. Tyranny is a vice of human nature, bora of selfishness, unreason ibloness, greed, and other human imperfections. It is the province of the law in a well regulated society to take care that none are subject to any tyranny. It is irnpo» sib'o io make men just or virtuous by \ct of Parliament. But it is possible to prevent them from doing one another mischief.

Mr Stewart’s measure seeks nothing eise. We have not seen its but its principle we cordially accept. A law that puts an end once and for ever to strikes and lock-outs, is a law for promoting harmony in the world, aud securing peace. It is a cheap defence of nations against anarchy. It provides machinery by which all disputes between capital and labour shall, adjust themselves, with rapidity aud convenience, wiLhout stopping the march of industry. The women, who suffer most from the wars, and their children, will not have wan faces whenever they hear of disputes. It is a great reform ami a simple reform. Were it not so simple it would be too great for a private member to be trusted with. Bub aa there is no reason whatever why it should not he carried in a week, as there is no difficulty of any hind in its way, aa it does nothing but unmixed good to everv interest that it touches, it may well be left to tha private hands. "We may wonder why such an obvious reform escaped the attention

of the Government. We may hope that the Government (should it remain in office) will make amende for its forgetfulness by giving up one or other of the Government days to Mr Stewart, But whatever we do or do not, we must not forget to congratulate Mr Stewart on the thoughtful enterprise that has induced him to push this great reform to the front.