GOVERNMENT SAUCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13670, 8 April 1908, Page 4

GOVERNMENT SAUCE.

The Government, it would almost,appear,, keeps two kinds of sauce, one to serve out to employers who commit breaches of Arbitration Court awards, and another for employees who are guilty of a similar offence. That this is so seems evident from the difference in the treatment meted out to the Blackball miners, who are now defying: the Court, and to an employer named Dixon, who has been committed to Mount Eden Gaol for two months for disobeying an order of the Magistrate's Court arising ftrom an .Arbitration Court award. It seems that last May Dixon was cited "before the Cou<rt* for employing a journeyman' at less than the award wages. The man was allowed to give evidence on oath, while the employer, although hV requested to be sworn, was not allowed to give evidence, though he- maintains that he had a good defence. He was fined £5, which he .paid. The. man, who was fined 10s, then sued Dixon . for , £21 back wages. He got judgment,, but Dixon refused to pay; hence his committal to prison. In the case of the Blackball miners, their union was fined £75 for a breach of the Act, and re-J fused to pay. { The Government, howevier, 'has acted with' extreme leniency in respect to offence, as* it did* also in connection with the strike of slaughtermen last year. In the one* case there is a point blank refusal to pay and a defiance of tho Court. In the other case the offender, believing he had a good defenoo if only he could get . a hearing, gave notice of appeal and actually filled up the ordinary form of appeal' and presented it to the Clerk of. the Court, but was refused leave. This man is promptly committed' to prison, while the recalcitrant union is permitted to continue its defiance, and, in addition; to send delegates round the Dominion to collect subscriptions in aid of the strikers. Why this difference of treatment ?> It is not calculated to inspire respect for tho courts or the laws thoy administer- j