THE ARBITRATION COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7293, 4 January 1902, Page 5

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

I• — / COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT. PLAIN SPEAKING BY A MINISTER. [Per Press Association.] THAMES, JJayn y 4. A deputation from the Themes Minters' Union waited on the Hon J. M'Gowan. Mr O'Keefe, the President, urged the removal of Mr Justice Cooper as Chairman of the Arbitration Court. "The miners had no confidence in him, and they thought, and the speaker was of the same opinion, I that the influence of the Auckland companies had something to do with his decisions. Mr Justice Cooper had been brought up amongst them, and had been hand-in-glove with Mr Rhodes, of 4he Waihi Company, the solicitor for the companies cited, and he (the speaker) would not hesitate to say that he had not been an impartial judge. Ha had lowered the standard of wages from 8s to 7s 6d in Coromandel, and from 9s to 8s afc Barrier, and had given an impetus t>o the shielding of Sunday labour. Mr M'Gowan replied that the statements made by Mr O'Keefe formed.' a very serious charge to make against a Supreme Courb Judge. He was sorry to hear the remarks passed, and regretted' to bear that the Union's opinion of Mr Justice Cooper's capabilities, as president of the Arbitration Court, was as detailed by Mr O'Keefe. In his opinion the- adverse comments passed were not deserved. It often happened that when a case was taken to the Court those a-gainst whom tbe judgment of the Court was passed blamed the Courb and not themselves. So far as he was concerned) he Ttould tell them pla&nly that he had no ■ i intention of endeavouring to remove Mr Justice Cooper from the position of president of the Arbitration Courb, or to give any encouragement to the views expressed by Mr O'Keefe. He believed that Mr Justice Coopor was actuated), by the [highest motives. The safety and rights of this community depended upon the removal of Courts from anything approaching political influence or interference.