ARBITRATION COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19989, 4 November 1927, Page 9

ARBITRATION COURT

LIMITING PRODUCTION WHAT COMMERCIAL MEN SAY. Tho following remit proposed by a special conimirf.ee set up by the Associated Chambers of Commerce Conference to ccns’.der the Arbitration Act was adopted after a brief discussion in committee; This conference commends the Government for having ’ introduced legislation designed to improve the construction of the Arbitration Court and the functioning of the Arbitration system, and resolves that a con siclered statement of the views of the • conference in these matters be forwarded to the Government. Reporting on the constitution, functions, and effects of the arbitration system, the committee stated that the following objections had been made:— (a) That the system was good while wages and prices wore rising, but now that, the tide has turned it does not operate to the general benefit; (b) The system limits production. (c) It increases costs. (d) It hampers progress. (c) It stifles initiative, (f) It promotes unemployment, (g) ’There is too great rigidity in the fixation and interpretation of conditions governing employment. (h) The welfare of the general public is disregarded.

The committee made tho following recommendations, which the Conference endorsed:—

(a) The Arbitration Court should be continued, if its functions and constitution are revised.

(b) The principles enunciated in the Amendment Bill providing for payment on piecework should be adopted. (e) Wo do not disagree with a basic subsistence wage, but this should be a minimum which every worker could increase by effort.

(d) Payment should generally be by results, and should be based on the value and volume of output. (e) Wages should not be based on such artificial conditions as the size of a man’s family or the pre-war cost of living, but must be based on the economic position of the Dominion as a whole, the state of the primary producers, and the interests of the consumer.

(f) Due regard must be given to the economic fallacy of attempting to maintain wages at an unduly high level under protection. (g) Preference to unionists should be abolished.

(h) There should be less restriction of the conditions under which industry may be carried on, and the conditions in awards should be interpreted reasonably, not with cast-iron rigidity. (i) It should bo made a penal offence for any person to coerce or cajole any worker to restrict his output.

In order to give full effect to these recommendations the Conference further approved of the following proposals:— That the Court be constituted of three permanent members, viz., one economist of note, the latter particularly to safeguard the interests of the general public. The Conference disapproves the appointment of assessors, considering that the decisions should be the opinion of the majority of the above three members of the Court, acting piAely in a'judicial capacity. Employers should be advised and must be induced to adopt improved methods and institute more efficient administration, in order to do their full part in the economic readjustment now facing the Dominion. The Conference is not antagonistic to trades unionism, but favours its legitimate existence and operation. It has not, and will not, oppose an increase in wages when justifiable. It nevertheless unequivocally affirms the principle that all movements in wages, costs, and prices must be directed towards the increase of real wages and the reduction of the cost of living.