New Books.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7, 20 February 1908, Page 24

New Books.

1 State Regulation of Labor in New Zealand.'

The sctnery, natural resources, and social legislation of New Zealand have attracted much attention in oiher lands, and have been written aitjout by visitors whose stay has invariably been too brief to allow them to form reliable opinions. Our labor laws have been discussed and criticised fiom the pjo'int of view of employer and employee, and^ the conclusions arrived at have generally been tinged witih the political feelings of , ,the writers. Even amon^ tin people of New Zealand there is a diversity of opinion as to the merits or demerits of the laws relating to the State regulation of the conditions of laibor. In fact, many of our people do not very well understand the provisions of the very complicated labor law, 1 nown as ' The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act,' and lor this reason ' The Regulation of La v or in New .Zealand,' by Mr. Henry Broadhead, and pub Dished by Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch, will be a welcome addition to the literature on the subject. The author is secretary of the Canterbury Employers' Association, and had' been for some years a member of the Canterbury Conciliation Board. The aim of the work is to give in the smallest- compass a comprehensive and' unpreiu'diced- view of the working of compulsory arbitration in this Dominion. Judging from the author's experience he should 1 , be well equipped for the task. By way of introduction he gives a brief account of the Sweating Commission' of 1890, and' of the Maritime Stride of the same year. The na^sina; of the Pill having be°n d°alt with, the main provisions of the A<^t and the amending; measure are summarised. Then fallow chanters des^riMn.?.,. the operation . of the Act and its effect upon indi'strv an^- commerce. He "Pnin+s out several weak Points in the law. and' contends that-t.hd word '''cKsnute' tolas a different -meaning to that which was intended by the framers -of 'the measure. He

qiuotes the opinions of workers and employers as -an evidence of the unsatisfactory workings of ' : the Act-, -but then these expressions of dissatisfaction *are generally with the' details" of the . law, ' r a ther than .with "its-gene-ral principle, and in conclusion he .expresses his' , want of -faith in legislation- bringing about - peace -"and tentment among the workers ". of New ' Zealand. ~ The work is well worth the -perusal.- of all -interested in the material welL-being of' the -people^of* the