The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1908. ARBITRATION IN AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13490, 11 January 1908, Page 4

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1908. ARBITRATION IN AUSTRALIA.

It is encouraging to Ifind that there is at 3e:;et one member of (lia Sydney Trades and Labour Council who recognises the glaring inconsistency of labour organisations which demanded tlia establishment of the arbitration syytem and yet, applaud mru who ri-stiri 1 io i lie old-fashioned weapon of ilie strike as soon a.'; an award is given whith t'au: to meet their ideas of what- is fair -and just. Oiui tears, however. that. the trade unions of Australia have a long way to travel along the road towards consist; ncy before the principle of arbitration can to be app'.ied successfully to the settlement of industrial disputcn. A proper respect for the decisions of the tribunal:; set up to carry out the principle is the first essential to the success of the system, because in the nature of things it is hardly pcceible to enforce respect, fur an award upon the workers affected by it, unless they choose of their own free will to stand by the judgment, of the Court, whether it is favourable or the reverse. Even" in New Zealand, where everything is on ,so much smaller a scale than in the Commonwealth, we have had indications of the difficulties awaiting the of the law as soon as a numerous body of employees elect to .-disregard an award of the Arbitration Court. Theoretically the machinery of the law is sufficient to compel obedience, but in practice it would be manifestly impossible to send strik-prs to gaol in battalions. Ti has been the good fortune of the arbitration system in this country -that- with the ■ exception of last year's trouble in the freezing works, ilieie has been no widespread attempt to flout the order of the Court. Australia, however. has been much less fortunate —in those States, that is. where the arbitration system has been given a trial. It in only a few since the Supreme Court. Judge in Victoria, who composed the Courr- of Industrial Appeal, retired from the position as ihe strongest, protest! .. he could make again;'.. I.he storm of abuse < to which hn was subjected by labour circles owing to his decision in regard to the wages in the baking- trade. In New South Wales, arbitration has fared even, worse, than in Victoria, and one almost marvels at the patience of the employers who continue to tolerate a system in which all the. disadvantages appear to be ] on their side, and all tl>e advantages on that of their workmen. Nothing could better illustrate" the unsatisfactory state of affairs in this respect. than the recent , developments on the coalfields around Newcastle. At the • urgent instance of the State Premier, the proprietors agreed to have the matters at variance submitted to a special coiut, composed of -a representative from each side, widi a District Court Judge as chairman. The owners might easily have insisted on their original reply to this suggestion, that, there was no need for the institution of a. special tribunal when the ■ ordinary Arbitration Court was in existence, but they yielded the point, in the interests of peace. Hardly had the special court' been set, up, however, when soma of the miners, ignoring their compact, again stopped work, and i litre seems some reason to sujjpose that the strike would have become general but for the statement of an official that the Miners' Federation was not in a position to light. Obviously'arbitration can make but little progress so long as this is the spirit, in which the workeis approach it, but, until their leadens learn the lesson, impressed by Mr Kavariagh upon the Sydney Labour Council there is no room to hops for much improvement.