MR JUSTICE SIM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13813, 29 January 1907, Page 3

MR JUSTICE SIM.

CONGRATULATORY SPEECHES.

(Frou Our Own* Correspondent.) j

LAWRENCE. January 28.

Ills Honor Mr Justice Sim took his scat for the tirsi time as judge of the Arbitration Court, afc Lawrence to-day, and was congratulated thereon by Messrs Scott and Davidson, representatives of tho emplovers and workers in the dispute of tho gold minors and sluicers now before tho court.

Mr Scotr- (representative of the Otago and Southland Gold, Mining Industrial I niou of Employers) said that, as his Honor took his seat, for the first lime as judge of the Arbitration Court of New Zealand, lie wished to ta-lce the opportunity of conveying to him publicly the congratulations and good wishes of tho employers of Otago, and, ho might safely add, of tho employers and people of New Zealand. In accepting the position of judge of the Arbitration /.Court his Honor had accepted one of Iho most imporlant and most responsible, positions that tho Legislature could call upon hint to fill. With tho exception of tlip few who follow up the findings and judgments of tho court tho great responsibilities of his ollico were not realised by the people. Tho well-being of our industries, of our trades and manufactures. and consequently the well-being of every person in tlio colony, was dependent upon their judgments. There was no appeal, and a mistake once mado took years to rectify, and in tho meantime nught li it vc very far-reaching effects. Ills Honor was following in Hie wako of able and worthy men—men who had not only left a name behind them, but who hail also set up a high standard of work. It said a great deal for his predecessors that sines the coming into operation of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act some 12 years ago New Zealand had been singularly freo from tho upheavals and dislocations of trado that had been experienced in neighbouring colonics, and more particularly in those countries whero no Arbitration Act was in existence. In speaking thus Mr Soott 6aid be must, in justice, couple, with their names those of his Honor's colleagues, Messrs Brown ami Slater. From personal experience ho could speak in the highest terms of their integrity and sound oomnton sense, and of their grasp tho many problems with which tho Arbitration Court had lo deal. He was pleased to see that tho Legislature had realised this, and placcd them in a position something in keeping with their responsibilities. The employers of tho colony felt that in his Honor they bad an able and worthy successor, and tliev were confident that when tho timo arrived for him to lay clown tho reins of oflicc ho would do so leaving behind him ail equally good record, and retaining the goodwill of the people, lie felt, siiro his Honor's judgments would bo characterised by a thorough „ conscientiousness and a deep desire to do justico to all parties concerned. He had pleasure in publicly convoying to is Honor the goodwill of tho people of Now Zealand.

Mr Davidson (representative of tho workers) also congratulated his Honor on lus appointment as judge of tho Arbitration Court.

His Honor returned thanks for the good wishes convoyed to him by tho two speakers. 110 appreciated the importance of tho work which ho would be called upon to do as judge of tho Arbitration Court, and_ hoped ho would bo able to reach tlio high standard set up by his predecessors in office. 110 felt that with tho assistance of his able colleagues ho would be able to do so.