EXEMPLARY LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3957, 24 January 1900, Page 4

EXEMPLARY LEGISLATION.

The progressive laws enacted in New Zealand during the past nine years hare now passed the “experimental”, stage and instead of being looked at askance, most of them are viewed as. models upon which other .countries should shape their domestic legislation. Although the Old Age Pensions Act has only been a year in operation, its success is assured, and both in Australia and England leading men are studying its provisions with a view to' taking action along similar lines. Our land laws, too, are attracting much attention among advanced thinkers. In the United States, apparently, interest centres in the Industrial , Conciliation and Arbitration. Act. This is natural, ipr that. country has witnessed a rapid development of ,manu-j

facturiug and industrial activity, wit.h the result that frequent colossal ‘'strikes” have-liken place, leading to paralysis of trade and civil disorder. The f.Manny of the “trust” and the “com aiue is also acutely felt in America, and it is easy te understand that the thought.-, of men are turned to a contemplation of a piece of legislation that appears to have .secured industrial peace and prosperity. Our recent American visitor, Mr H. D. Lloyd, is unwearying in ->is advocacy of the labour laws of New Zealand, more especially that providing for the peaceful settlement of labour disputes. In a recent' issue of a magazine, “Iho Outlook,” he deals at length with the working of our Arbitration Court. He assures his American readers that in New Zealand “the Judges have d ine as little legislating as possible, either as regards the logic or the arithmetic of business,” and he commends the moderation and good sense displayed by the Court. Mr Lloyd, as a student, of economics, clearly secs in the decisions of the Arbitration Court something like the evolution of a new principle in political economy. That trades-unionists should be given employment before non-unionists are put to work he regards as a matter of public policy, .nnd-he argues that as “the trades unions by their efforts and sacrifices iraprove'tfiA rates qf wages and conditions, they aye fairly entitled to the first consideration.” Some may be inclined to dispute this dictum;' but it is an admitted 7 fafit many employer's have benefited by.the decisions of the Court', inasmuc h as - unscrupulous competitors in- agiven trade arc now restrained from .tutting wages in order to m-t prices, “and thereby use the power of money to destroy their kiss wealthy rivals.

If there is progress and development in the new method of settling labour difficulties, there is also a compensating balance ol conservatism, which is pleasing to the employer who wants to he left alonei Before the passing of the Act employers never knew where they were. . They would be threatened with a strike after they had made all their calculations and 'had entered into contracts for the- supply of certain tjimitilies of goods at certain prices, within a giren time. , A strike or a lock-out would i!)JSet : all their arrangements mid unhinge their businesses. 'All this is obyii’-.tcd, by the Arbitration Court decisions. Manufacturers are now able to make future contracts with' confidence, sirice the awards of the Court usually fix all. the conditions of labour for one or two years ahead. In these circumstances it is not difficult to realise that many employers are regarding the Act as affording them immunity from further apprehension; or, as one confessed to Mr, Lloyd, the situation is now one of “perfect comfort.” Very soon, v we may expect, the last shred of opposition to the Act will cease, because results have more than justified the anticipations of its advocates and have falsified the prophecies of industrial stagnation and disaster uttered by its opponents. No one, of course, pretends that the prosperity of the past five years has been altogether brought about by legislation.. Sufficient that Now Zealand continues to prosper and tl t the good sense of her people makes them submit cheerfully to industrial restrictions and orders of the Court, so that there has been no necessity to invoke rhn “compulsory” or penal clauses of the Act. So satisfactory on the wholo I.aVe' been the results of our advanced labour legislation that the example- we have set is being warmly urged upon the adoption of other countries where industrial warfare is 'feared alike by masters and men.