CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18202, 1 March 1929, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 28. ARBITRATION SYSTEM. An attack was made on the Arbitration Court to-day by Mr H. O. E. Turner, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce. “ Our arbitration system,” he said; “is one of those well meaning hut economically unsound attempts to reach a desired end by taking a short cut. This opinion is still violently dissented from by some, but a great mass of evidence has been placed before the public during the past few years which I believe has convinced unbiased observers that the adverse verdict is a true one. An outstanding example of the experimental system of dealing with labour problems, • it lias been under observation by the world for 35 years, and the world to-day says that it is a failure, and worse than a failure—a definite menace to efficiency and to right relations between employers and employers. I agree with my labour critic who said that it was deplorable that we left our discussion to be carried out by paid advocates, and I accuse the arbitration system of forcing us into that position. Do you know that it is a common thing for employers to be prevented from speaking to their employees, except through a so-called delegate You can’t blame the Unions for that. You must blame the real culprit—the arbitration system. We cannot start to move in the direction of real industrial peace until the rank and file of the working men understand more clearly than they do to-day the meaning of commerce and industry. They cannot understand that until they are taken more into the confidence of the employers; and, unintentionally no doubt, the compulsory arbitration system exists as an absolute bar to any such development. Not until it is removed can we commence to move in the direction along which other countries are moving fast towards industrial peace, and all that that means to the wellbeing of the people as a whole. The only court that is entitled to call before it the disputants in a purelyindustrial dispute—l mean matters of wages and conditions of work—■ is the court of public opinion, and that is the only court which ultimately can pronounce a just verdict and enforce it’.’

THE CATTLE TICK. The report of the finding of cattle tick in a herd at Golden Bay, Nelson, has focussed attention on the life and habits of these blood-sucking parasites. The three which were found were identified by Dr. David Miller, F.E.S., of the Cawthron Institute, as being vhat is known as the New Zealand cattle tick or haemaphysalis bispinosa. There have been.no further reports of the finding of other ticks in the South Island. Strict precautions are being taken against any further introduction of the pest from infested areas of the North Island. The regulations governing the shipment of stock from the North Island to the South state that all cattle must first be examined by an inspector within 24 hours of the time of shipment. All sheep from an infected area must be dipped in an arsenical dip within three days before shipment, and a permit must be obtained for the removal of all stock, which is inspected again on arrival at the port of destination. AUSTRALIAN VISITORS. The Hon. M. F. Troy, Minister of Lands for Western Australia, and Mrs Troy, paid an official call on the Mayor (the Rev. J. K. Archer) to-day. They left later for Mount Cook. Mr and Mrs Troy have been on a holiday tour of the North Island and they intend to see as much of the South Island as possible, before returning home in about three weeks. ENGLISH SCHOOLBOYS. The party of 4 5 English public schoolboys left Christchurch by the first express for Timaru to-day. From there they left by motor for the hermitage, Mount Cook, where they will spend several days. Later they will leave for Invercargill. Before leaving Christchurch, Mr J. R. Darling, who is in charge of the boys, expressed his pleasure at the hospitality accorded the party in Christchurch. The boys had thoroughly enjoyed their stay, which had been educative as well as enjoyable. ANTI-AIRCRAFT PRACTICE. H.M.S. Diomede had some antiaircraft practice this morning. She trained her guns on to the stunting Gloster Glebe, piloted by Captain Findlay, which flew over Lyttelton and its harbour at about 10 a.m. The ’plane dived as if to project a torpedo into the water in the direction of the warship. It climbed steeply, circled and dived again, and all the time the men of the Diomede were busy in setting the guns’ sights to bring down the elusive enemy 'plane. With a final swoop of confidence at having accounted for the warship, the Gloster Grebe made anotner circle and then sped back over the hill to the Wigram aerodrome where no doubt the last of the “casualties” was reported with due solemnity. When warships are at Lyttelton it is the custom for an aeroplane to be despatched to the port to give the men a chance to train their guns on the machine for anti-aircraft practice.