WEST COAST MINES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17183, 29 October 1923, Page 11

WEST COAST MINES.

MEN AND THE COURT.

(Special to the “ Star, f ’) GREYMOUTH, October £* Speaking to a reporter on Saturday the Hon G. J. Anderson said that the miners apparently had no confidence in the Court of Arbitration- This waa very definitely indicated by their representatives at the recent Reef ton conference, when the opinion was expressed that no matter what arguments were placed before the Court, that institution would decide against the men. If the various proposals submitted at the recent conference for a solution of the difficulty are compared,” said Mr Anderson. ‘‘ it will be seen that this feeling of hostility to the Court is the only reason why the struggle is being continued. Of the suggestions put forward at the conference there were really only two that are wortlnoticing here. The one made by the men recited the various points not yet settled which had been submitted, to the first Reefton conference in August last. The other, put forward by the owners, was that both parties should agree to cancel the present award and apply for a new one. It is clear that the latter suggestion would cover the former as it provided for a complete discussion of all points in the industry. Furthermore, the owners were willing, if their suggestion were adopted. _ to immediately consider all local grievances outside the award. r l no miners, however, desired all Hie points at issue to be adjudicated upon by a round-the-tablo conference with a Conciliation Commissioner in the chair, the latter to decide any matters which couldnot be settled by free discussion. This, it will be seen, is to all intents and purposes what takes place under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the preliminary stages for the . issue of a new award, except that at j 'the conciliation proceedings, under the j Act the Commissioner is not- vested with power to decide any points, but must refer matters on which settlement is not reached to the Court for decision. One of the objections raised by tne j miners to the Court deciding any , points dispute was that the mem-

technical knowledge ot mining which was considered necessary to enable them to arrive at fair . conclusions. To overcome this I offered to arrange for six experts in coal mining, three representing each side, to sit with the present members of the Court and advise the fetter, on all technical subjects. The miners’ delegates would not. how- j ever, accept this tribunal. Other sug- j gestions for a solution were made by • both sides to the dispute, but the two ! F have already mentioned were the , onlv ones that really mattered- Where there is so little difference between the parties it seems strange uiat the miners should continue to nght because of their antipathy to the Court, for there is no gainsaying the fact that the Court has been a good to the worker. One of the most larroaching benefits it has conferred on him is that it has stabilised his wages for fixed periods. Had it not been for the Court having done this the wages and conditions of the workers in 1021 would have slumped. Immediately the depression overtook the I>ominion wages would have been the first to be affected, as a reduction in wages would have been the easiest way to meet the situation- Instead of any such immediate ami serious reduction occurring, as was the case during the depression of the eighties, the Court maintained the wages of the workers in due ratio to the cost or living. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act has benefited thousands of tradesmen, general labourers and female workers, who. prior to the establishment of the Court, had no real protection. The Court, when making an award, does not give an advantage to either side, but weighs all evidence very carefully before giving a decision. Before the advent of the Court the workers felt the full force of the ruthless law of supply and demand. The Court has tempered this law' and prevented the unscrupulous employer from taking advantage- of the requirements of the wage-earner. The«e arc facts that ca.nrfot be truthfully denied. Pre-

ference to unionists is another advance which the Act rendered possible for the worker, and which has been of enormous advantage to all members of unions. I am satisfied that if the present award were cancelled and the whole case were taken to the Court, strengthened by the expert assessors as suggested, justice would be done to both parties to the dispute. Tt would be impossible to set up a more capable tribunal. Firstly, there would be a round-the-table discussion at the Conciliation Council proceeding?.; secondly, any points upon which agreement could not he reached would be submitted for the decision not only cf the Judge and his regular assessors, but of six experts in coal mining, three representing each side. 1 know from personal experience, what took place when negotiations for better wages and conditions were in progress prior to the establishment of the Court of Arbitration. In those early days the barbariclaw of tooth and claw, or otherwise, supply and demand. >-eigned everywhere in the industrial world. Under the Arbitration Act, for both the weak and the strong, justice hv ordinary process of law is provided. Personally. T regard the compulsory arbitration system in New Zealand as the great charter of the workers. It is as important as the civil Courts are to the whole community. T sincerely hope Vthat better counsels will prevail and that the miners’ unions will yet agree to cancel the present award and have all their grievances thrashed out, first in the Conciliation Council, and, if full agreeemnt is not arrived at on all matters, then that the points still in dispute, will be fully investigated bv the Court of Arbitration, on which there will sit- for this particular case three, experts from each side to guide the permanent members of the Court on technical matters. *• I have considered the representations and views of both parties impartially. and T. would again urge the miners to adopt this course; but, above all. to submit the matter to a secret ballot of the- members, so as to give every individual member an opportunity to express his opinion free and untrammelled. Tin's course should uu, j doubtedly appeal to tlie members of j the Babour Party generally, as one of | the most important planks of the political platform in the initiative, referendum and recall.” experience what took place when nego ■nations for better wages and coi ’iticr.r. were in grog row: prior to the r? tabhshment of thCuvrt-of Arbitration. In those early the barbaric law of ...tii and claw, otherwise supply and demand. reign? ! oier* in the industrial world. Tb der tb > Arbitrn-