CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 July 1901, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE '"INITIATION AND FOMENTATION ACT" AND "THE MAN IN THE STOCKS."

To the Editor,

Sir, —I think the above should be the amended title of the miscalled Conciliation and Arbitration Act. So far from "conciliating," thati Act has brought about a state of industrial war throughout New Zealand. Hithierto Wangamui has been free from the curse of it, but the inducements it holds out for the fomentation of disputes have proved too strong, and now we see all sorts of "disputes" are being manufactured. It is not too much to say If that had been the case we.should have arisen if the Act had not been there. The newspapers all over the colony are full of disputes that are eitlher in process of fomentation or are before the Cfourt, and the latter cannot keep pace 'with the work provided for it by the Unions. The principle on which disputes are raised seems to be "make a good big demand, and we shall get some of it." ■ And the Arbitraifion Court seems to act on the principle of always giving part of what the Unions demand—a rough and ready sort of "splitting the difference." It surely cannot hi suggested that before the passing of the Act the workers of New Zealand were universality o(ver-worked and under-paid. If thati had been the case we sliould have seen agitation for improvement and strikes. But such were almost unknown. Of course, there was the great strike ten years ago, but that was not a strike on any.grievance either of hours or wages, and men by the thousand foolishly threw up their work without having the shadow of; a 'dispute with their employers. If such; a phase of madness ever came again I doubt whether the present Act could cope with it, but I don't think it would recur in tihe present generation, Act or no Act. In the meantime, the "man in the stocks" has to submit to restriction aftor restriction imposed on his liberty, and to drain after drain upon his pocket enforced h? the strong arm of the law. The Wellington papers to hand to-day are full of cases brought against employers for breaches of awards of Court, and the grossly unjust spectacle is afforded of an employer being fined for employing a man who is not a Unionist! Just fancy, a man who is not a Union man may starve, but an employer i who has a job to suiti him may not enyoloy him without being fined. Surely this is the height of tyranny. I can only hope that this merry game will fo on apace, until the collapse comes by some big concern closing its doors. Go on Unions, don't be satisfied with your present demands. Make them five hours ai day and five | pounds a week. You know the property and the machinery is yours by righte, so don't be satisfied until you have got it, and the unnecessary employer is banished. Then the millenium will be here. Referring to the Arbitration Courfc, it has always been a manrel to me how it can possibly assume the duty of deciding these trade disputes on such evidence as is usually pud before it. I think I would be as eligible for a seat on the bench as some of the men who sit there, and yet I have never read any evidence that would have warranted me in giving a decision except on the {principle already mentioned, of "splitting the difference," and that could be done just as well without any evidence at all. The only evidence lihat would be worth considering would be the production of the employer's books, and I see that Judge Cooper has announced that if the Unions ask for the books he will order them to be produced. If the books were to be shown to the Judge in private I do not know that Ifhere would be mndh objection, but as they would be open to the inspection of all the labour agitators who chose to examine them, the thing is so utterly unjust that some Canterbury employers have expressed their intention of resisting, even to the extent of going to gaol. I hope to see this matter brought t.i iihese before long. Verily a state 'of industrial war exists throughout New Zealand, and it has been brought about by the Act that was ostensibly passed to prevent it!—l am, etc.,

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