THE ARBITRATION ACT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20110, 31 March 1928, Page 7

THE ARBITRATION ACT

■ EFFECTS DISCUSSED Full Argument at Industrial Conference SHEEFOWNLRS’ STANDPOINT. { Per Press Association, j WELLINGTON, Alarch 30. While admitting that conciliation and arbitration with a strict adherence to sound economic principles could be made a success, Air C. 11. ox the JSheepowners ’ Federation in a statement made at the National industrial Conference expresesd. the view that the Arbitration Court had hadr the effect of discouraging efficiency, increasing production costs and the cost of living accentuating the difficulties of the primary producers, increasing industrial friction, and leading to unemployment. Permanent bias against employers was inevitable.

A paper read by Air H. H. Sterling on behalf of the dairy industry, was confined to the presentation of the fact that the original ideal of the arbitration system of conciliation had become lost sight of in the mass of rigid regulations, placing conciliation out of the question.

Speaking for the employees, Mr Bloodworth suggested that a National Council of Industry should be established to deal with various aspects of the industrial problems of the Dominion. The preliminary to a sound immigration policy, he said, was a scientific land settlement policy. In regard to apprenticeship he suggested that provisions should be made for young people to receive more complete training in the technical schools or agricultural colleges when they were unable to get positions as apprentices in the desired industries in private employ.

The duty of the National Council of Industry should be to, inter alia, arrange for the registration of those engaged in industry and provide for future admissions to an industry, and gather statistics with a view to preventing unemployment or wastage of capital or labour. Air Polson had so many questions asked him yesterday that he could nut reply to them in the time allowed, and he was allowed to answer them to-day. Amongst other things he said as the farmers had to pay the piper they should call the tune. He was concerned with the method of fixing wages and not with the amount- Labour was exempt from national hardships, because it was the only section of the community whose standard of liviing was maintained by law, quite regardless of their production. He endorsed the principle of preference to unionists with suitable safeguards. If the Act was abolished the conference must recommend suitable protection for workers. He controverted the statement of tho wool and wheat growers, who refuse. 1 to sell their products under a certain rate.

Th farmers had no desire to reduce the workers’ standard of living. As to the effect of immigration on employmen, t a great influx of immigration must affect it, but, most of them had come at the instance of the workers. Piecework meant increased efficienmy.