ARBITRATION ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 9

ARBITRATION ACT.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL INTERVIEWS

ADVICE TO THE WORKERS

(Pm United Pttfes Association,) '

m WELLINGTON, February 22, j The Attorney-general (Dr Findlay), infer viewed on tho Arbitration Act, said th<j act began as an experiment. It did noil come down as an established institution, Bu'j •had had to stand all the attack arid orltli cism which besets iv new invitation. K had been in force 12 years, and ho yfcW suggost to its critics a§ a, test, Were, fltej prepared to repeal it, and what did thW proposb to put in its plieo? " CohdedlHg'/' he said, "tlmt the act has its dofects) ; is<jf not, with all its imperfections, infinitely preferable to " the old order of strikes 'and lock-touts. Order is better than ohaM,-iind until tho critics slioiv that it is worse than useless or discover something better fc supplant it the ait justifies its existence. VVo have had so long im'muriity iri' tkis coloily from strikes that wo fail to rcaiiSe tho value of our immunity." Dr FifiSfitJ instanced the great strikes ami conscaUonf suffering, and, continuing his comments, he said that the all-important point to *k«>r rn Tiaw was that in every great induef.rj there were three,' not' merely two, parties interested-masters, men, and tho. com: miimty. The State was more than- far aggregation of individuals. It was worHcd by means of organised co-operation, {hi maintenance of which'was essential hot only to its productive power, but, iri the largest, and most highly dcvoloped communities, to its health and existence. "CHii Arbitration Court,", ho said, " represents the State intervening to ecttlo conflicts 'between masters and men, and in this ooforiy a strike or lock-out is an implied declaration that the btato cannot be trusted t# <!r justice. It is alleged that thfe rict affoira no scientific basis. What scientific baelJ does a strike or lock-out afford? If aiiv' ono can suggest a scientifio basis we shall be dobghted to discuss it. No perfeotiin » olaimed for the act. It has tb gropft'tb its conclusions Tather than proceed upon a straight ahd lighted path." ' Dr Findlay added that the main strength of the act lies in. tho public opinion Ik hind the awards given upon the fullest and faj'rwt investigation of tho court. Refexrine to the statement of the Chief Justice of South Wales, lie said it must be renißirifared that the act nover Jiad friends tho Supremo Court there, especially in the Chief Justice. Limitations 'had been 1 imposed on its powers and scope by. the higher oourt, and it was not so well administered as our act. Tho Now Zealand act had entirely eradicated sweating from this colony, and placed in tho.hands of those who without it possessed moans of enforcing their dom'aialg power equal to that originally exercised by tho wealthiest union? in tho colony. Ho instanced, jhj creation and present, operations'* of Domestic Workers' Union. Ho did n6 : deny that improvements may ir tho act. Any reasonable proposals wo(|]< be sympitthfctieilly considered. Ho shoulc favour aby. sohftne by (rfuoh the ccikj could satisfactorily allow for highor jj lower <x»b of fiving. Tho -workers' attifiiifl should genuinely to impmvotho jIH through Parliament and tiic ballot. bo» and loyally to defend arid maintain thl legislation in thoir ow» interests iui'd tlroa of tho ivltolo community. The Minister H Labour had stated the Government's aljM tiide. The lawj so long, as it/was on tffl Statute Book, would bo resolutely niafli t-ailicil. .H