Page 8 Advertisements Column 4

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1928, Page 8

ARBITRATION INQUIRY. The Parliamentary Committee has decided upon the scope of the proposed, inquiry into the Arbitration Act, and the number of members of committee. This special committee is to consist of about seventy members, if not more. As each section of malcontents is to be represented, it is obvious that the discussion must be on party lines, and the verdict or the decision must also be on party lines. It cannot be contended that seventy or eighty persons interested can bring a decision that would be commendable to all. Parliament appears to have missed the essential point demanded by the primary producers, that is equal representation of the primary producers with the workers and employers. This unweildly semi-parliamentary committee will not do an atom of good. It will not study the question in all its aspects, but each section will be manoeuvreing for advantage, and compromise will be the order of the day. This is not what the country wants. We want a scientific study of arbitration, its effects as we know them here, its effects In other countries wherever compulsory or voluntary arbitration is tried. We cannot get that with an unwieldly commission such as is now proposed. It will be remembered that when the amendment of the Act was under consideration there was a compact, or understanding, between the Employers’ Federation and -the Alliance of Labour, obviously as to their lines of opposition. Vested interests amongst those of the commission will be very powerful, and will insist on or endeavour to bring about