REAL CONCILIATION BOARDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4293, 28 February 1901, Page 4

REAL CONCILIATION BOARDS

Of all the statutes embraced in the labour legislation of the last decade, the most discussed is the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. It n admittedly tho most important, in view of the intentions of its framers, as well as oi the nn.expected developments it nas fui nislied’. The measure is at the same lime tha moat experimental. While controversy rages in the Old World, the Act gams favour largely in I he country of its birth. In Britain and America, it is slowly iHiding its way into the literature which remains after tho ephemeral discussions in newspapers and magazines arc forgotten. Here, of all the host of opponents who wore actively hostile! when the Bill was in its cradle, net one remains in anything like .irreconcilable opposition. At tha present moment we find tho Employers’ Association of Canterbury making a very suggestive, as well as notable, proposal. It is that the lrcC.es and Labour Council should agree to nave o.isputed trade questions brougnr before a joint committee of tbs two organisations. The Canterbury employers begin by recognising the legitimate object of trade organisations— a recognition of considerable importance in the eyes of'those who remember the ( EHaiiuous f onJ;crv of a- few years ago ’for v, free labcii^’'; “frfee'ildm of contract.” That recognition may be

regarded as.a great triumph for the Act. The proposal, however, y, very -much more. It is practically an admission that coridiiadcn :s at the root of the whole matter, not force. and that experience of th? working of the Act has demonstrated the possibility of conciliation. Thu, is returning to the original intension of the AG. 1711?’; the. measure tv as ilr-t before ■‘■ha Legislature, the claim .-nule on its behalf was that ninety per cent- of its 'business would be clous by ilia concilfation machinery, the small balance being left for the Arbitration Court. The Court was, in fact, regarded much as the modern -infantry officer’s sword is considered—as not meant to bs drawn in lighting earnest. The result has proved diliereut-, for. conciliation liarhad to be content <virh a third of the 'business, while arbitral ion Ims dc.no tiie lion’s share. Tho plain truth'is. as we have frequently pointed out, that lira mafciiincrv- provided for ccuc.ihi’.tioii dr?:, not conciliate ; on tho ca.iu'arv, it aggravates. The Can! erborj employer-. pj-9 hopeful, from what they lia-ve soon of the. Act’s working, of being able (o get over that- - difficulty. They prepose to reform the walking of the Act-by putting thci conciliation machinery into the hands of tha only people interested hi it, who have by this time, through the operation of the Act, learned tv- ruuierf.(anil and-respect one another. Tho proposal is a substantial proof that the Act has advanced a long way on the road to success. For that reason, as well as fer its intrinsic merit, it- deserves to ho accepted. If it is, the working out or this further experiment will be watened willi much interest. Tho aslisiitution oi Trade Boards for the Boards ol Conciliation as now constituted, would be a great gain in the direct ion cfmuumirius friction, of enabling disputed matters tobe considered by wen pussersing technical knowledge—in short, of introducing truly conciliatory method; - , in' place of 1 the bogus sort. There, is every facility ' for tlie formation of tkcue voluntary 1 boards under the existing law, and no reason whatever against l-liesr having a 1 fair trial.