THE ARBITRATION ACT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8366, 23 February 1907, Page 7

THE ARBITRATION ACT.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL INTERVIEWED. By Telegraph—Press Association. February 22. The Attorney-General, interviewed •on the Arbitration Act, said that the Act began as an experiment. It did not come down as an established institution, but had had to stand all the attack and criticism which besets a new institution. It had been in force twelve years. If the critics were prepared to repeal it, what did they propose to put in its place. Conceding that the Act has, its defects, was it not, with all its imperfections, infinitely preferable to the old order of strikes and lock-outs. A measured order is better, than chaos, and until ' the critics show it is worse than useless or discover something better to supplant it, the Act justifies its existence. "We have had so long immunity in this colony from strikes," said Dr. Findlay, "that we fail to realise the value of our immunity." Dr Findlay instanced great strikes and the consequent suffering. Continuing his comments he said the all important point to' keep, in view was that in every great industry there were three, not merely two, parties interested—masters, men, and the community. The State was more than an aggregation of individuals worked by means of organised cooperation, the maintenance' of which was essential not only to its productive power but in the largest and most highly developed communities to its 'health and existence. "Our Arbitration Court represents State intervention .to settle conflicts between masters'and men," said Dr. Findlay, ; "and in this colony a strike or lockout is an implied declaration that the State cannot be trusted to do justice. It is alleged that the Act affords n© scientific basis. What scientific basis does a strike or lockout afford? If anyone can suggest a -scientific basis, we shall be delighted to discuss it. No perfection is claimed for the Act. It has to grope to its conclusion, rather than proceed upon a straight and lighted path." Dr. Findlay added that the main strength of the Act lies in the public opinion behind awards given upon the fullest and fairest investigation of the Court. The New Zealand Act had entirely eradicated sweating from this colony, and placed in the hands of those who, without it, possessed no means of enforcing demands, power equal to that originally exercised by the wealthiest union in the colony. He instanced the creation and present operations of the Domestic Workers' Union. He did not deny that improvements may be,effected in the Act. Anything reasonable would be sympathetically considered. The law, so long as it is on the Statute Book, will be resolutely maintained.