"IMPERTINENCE."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10197, 5 July 1911, Page 1

"IMPERTINENCE."

MR JUSTICE SIM AND A LABOUR ' SECRETARY. [Fkom Ot-H Cokresi-on-dfat.] WELLINGTON, July 1. When tho Wellington carpenters' industrial dispute, was before the Arbitration Court recently the Union representative, Mr W. Maddison, who is also its president, was sharply called to account by Mr Justice Sirn 4 who characterised as an impertinence the layman's criticism of a legal interpretation. The case itself being no longer sub judice Mr Maddison publishes a reply to tho Judge, traversing the actual point at issue, and also raising one of wider interest. "If this were the only rjoint of importance the question ruijdit well be allowed to rest." states Air Maddison. " but behind this are more important questions involving the industrial peace of the immediate or very near future. Semple and Co., backed up by the Miners' Federation and the Revolutionary Socialists, are preaching the abolition of the Arbitration Court with a view to a gigantic industrial upheaval before which the maritime strike would pale into insignificance, and they are securing a big following. In common with others connected with the Trades Hall I have done my best to combat these heresies. I have pleaded for loyalty to the Arbitration Court and constitutionalism, have* preached continually that the Arbitration Court is susceptible, to evidence. The Court itself has done the best it could to prove that I am mistaken. Personally I stand between the devil and the deep sea. Am Ito admit the impeachment that I am wrong, that- the Court is not susceptible to evidence and allow Semple. and Co. to triumph over the fact that the Court itself* has in this case proved that it is no place for, or of no use to, the worker? Or am I to take the only alternative and say that the Act as a whole is right in principle, but that it is tho constitution of the Court which is to blame, that so long as the Court is presided over by a gentleman who is so much of a legal machine that he is too little of a human being the Court must be a failure? Semple and Co. are out to bring about commercial and industrial chaos, and others who, like myself, have endeavoured to combat this doctrine, aro continually abused by them for so doing. The employers and others (whom Semple and Co. would crush) brand us as agitators. Where do we come in? Would it not be as well for ourselves if we withdrew i'ro-m the fight, let the Unions cancel their registration aud throw the Arbitration Court overboard and let Semple and Co. run the show, the first act of which would be universal, widespread industrial strife. followed by commercial'chaos? Tf you will not have peace you will have war."