THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3864, 3 April 1928, Page 28

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

RETIREMENT OF MR SCOTT. WELLINGTON, April 1. The retirement of Mr W. Scott from the position of employers’ representative on .the Arbitration Court was made the occasion yesterday morning of many eulogistic references to his services, members of the bar and others whose duties connect them with arbitration proceedings assembling to bid him farewell. Mr Justice Frazer (president of the court) said that the representative gathering was an eloquent testimony of the esteem in which Mr Scott was held. Mr Scott has served for all the seven years of my term of office,” said Mr Justice Frazer, “ and for many years before. During all that time I have found him open-minded, with a strong sense of justice. He has adopted the maxim of Socrates, ‘ to hear courteously, to answer wisely.’ Although nominated to represent particular interests, he is no partisan and can always weigh the merits of both sides.” His Honor concluded by reading a telegram from Mr P. J. O’Began regretting his inability to be present, and eulogising Mr Scott’s work. Appreciation by members of the bar of Mr Scott’s services was voiced by Mr C. H. Treadwell, who remarked upon the uniform courtesy and consideration always shown by Mr Scott. Mr T. O. Bishop said that in the court that morning there was a very different atmosphere to the usual one of rivalry and contention. Mr W. Bromley, representing the Wellington branch of the Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Council, voiced the regret of Labour at the retirement of Mr Scott. They could not possibly get in his place a fairer opponent. After Mr W. H. Mainland had spoken on behalf of the Employers’ Association, Mr M. J. Reardon, who was associated with Mr Scott in the court for some years, said that the workers own preference to unionists very largely to Mr Scott. The workers had progressed as a whole during Mr Scott’s tenure of office, but there were signs tliat things were going back. Shipping interests were represented by Mr P. L. Hodge, who added his quota to the elogistic remarks. The last speaker was Mr C. A. L. Treadwell, who expressed appreciation of the encouragement given to members of the bar, especially to juniors. Mr Scott stated that he had been connected with industrial disputes since about 1894, becoming an actual member of the court in 1909. During his term of office he had sat with ight judges, and it had been an honour to be associated with them all. The legal fraternity he had always found willing to •help him, and the employers had been solidly behind him .ad the workers he was proud of. “ I have never had any time for extremists on either side,” added Mr Scott. “ I may have made enemies at times, but I have always acted upon thc belief that your enemy of to-day will become your friend of to-morrow, and it has worked. Some employers T have made enemies of —bitter enemies for a time—but I can truthfully say that I lay down my office With everyone of them my friend.” In conclusion Mr Scott eulogised his. successor, Mr G. T. Booth.