NEW ZEALAND INTEREST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND INTEREST.

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR WILLING ' WORKERS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) at W m „ LONDON, March 27. Mr W. T. Brown (Bluff), is in, his native country, Dorsetshire. Chatting ~a representative of • the Poole xleraid, who asked what about emigration prospects in New Zealand? Mr Brown described the Dominion as a wonderful country, where the people were immensely happy, but the immigrant must be prepared to work hard to maintain that happiness. ‘ The prosperity of New Zealand," he continued, ‘ depends essentially upon its primary products, although it is singular that the building trade is ' the' second backbone’ of that country. For domestic servants there is always a demand, and, generally sp6aking ; there are' bright prospects for any willing worker ready to accept the conditions. New Zealand is a land of opportunities, but one must have the capital handy if the opportunities are a long time coming. That, of course, only applies to those who emigrate on the off chance of finding a good job, and not those who have a job booked for them before they start.”

ADDRESS TO TRADE UNION ' STUDENTS.

, Compulsory arbitration in industrial disputes as developed < in Australia and New Zealand was described in some detail on March 22 by Mr L. Ross (Dunedin University), to a conference of trade union students at 'Manchester called by the Workers’ Educational Trade Union Committee. The subject was discussed at afternoon and evenine sessions held,in the W.E.A. Institute, . Mr F. Higson (Union of Post Office Workers) presiding in the afternoon, and Alderman IS. Lomax (Railway Clerks' Association) in the evening Mr Rose treated the subject in a purely descriptive manner, but as discussions progressed it became clear that many present had been surprised to hear how much there was to be said for compulsory arbitration—from the point of yiew of trade unionism in Australia and New Zealand, at any Tate —and Mr Ross bad to explain that he was not appearing in the role of a missioner for the cause of compulsory arbitration. Why had Australia and New Zealand accepted the compulsory arbitration system? Mr .Ross explained that at the end -of the last century the workers were badly beaten in a series of strikes, and they accepted it partly for that reason. Then, too, the people generally, disliking strikes, desired some kind of compulsory to be set up Thirdly, when the experiment was begun the workers got all that they claimed from it. It brought much improved wages apd conditions, and increased trade union membership. True, other factors contributed to the improvement, but he thought the evidence was sound that compulsory arbitration had been an important contributory influence also. Speaking generally, the trade unionist in Australia found ‘it hardly possible to conceive of trade unionjsm existing without it. The trade unionist might criticise the system, but only with a view to its improvement or modification,