THE CONCILIATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6411, 7 January 1908, Page 6

THE CONCILIATION BOARD.

(To the Editor fr N.Z. Times/’) Sir,—ln your leading columns of January 2nd you slate that "another nail was knocked into tho coffin of the Conciliation Board." I am extremely sorry to find) that a coffin, has been found necessary for this, one of the highest ideals of our time. X hope to see conciliation become ultimately the medium by which tho greater part of our labour troubles will bo settled. We do not want to destroy the Board, but effect such improvements in its personnel, that it shall be conciliatory in fact os well as name. Such men as Mr Collins only serve to bring it into contempt, and to nullify any efforts it may make towards an amicable ‘Settlement. He fails to realise that, his position as a conciliator is on> of the highest; and liko Caesar's wife he should be above suspicion of making trouble. As he is not above suspicion, lie must, like Caesar's wife, bo put away. Our men on tho Board must bo men in the highest sense, free from prejudice, and actuatovl by au earnest desire to prevent misunderstandings, and to bring opposing interests into line. No agitator should have a seat there', and tiie fact of anyone of them taking any active part in the forming of a union, or th© framing of claims, should disqualify him for his position, and his seat should be filled by some better man. I have great hopes that wo shall ultimately get a Board that will regain tho confidence and esteem of both employer and employee, wo «hall then bo ablo to dispense, to a great extent, with tb© Arbitration. Court, —i am, etc. "CONCILIATION."