The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-12
Compulsory Arbitration.


There Is just one place in the world
where compulsory arbitration Is pro-
nounced and complete success. In New
Zealand there has not been strike or
a lockout in five years. every labor dis
pute which has arisen In that time hav-
ing been settled by the state tribunal.
The law of New Zealand, which IL only
now receiving the recognition to which
1t Is entitled. was the outcome OF the most
serious and disastrous strike which has
ever been witnessed in any English
speaking country. Nine years ago the
maritime strike, as It was called. devas-
tated the whole OF Australia.
Henry Demarrest Lloyd. in his "A
Country without Strikes just from the
press, says of this strike: ut was a war
practically which remain to be amalgamat-
ed in modern society. 1t spread from the
shipping world. in which 1t began. into
a great circle OF related interests. Mer-
chants and clerks drove drays and loaded
and unloaded merchandise; ship owners
and their sons and friends took the place
of sailors and stokers; the country went
TO the verge OF civil war"
The compulsory arbitration law was the
result OF conviction that the public had
some rights in the premises. which should
not constantly be jeoparded as the result
OF disputes between employers and en-
ployes This law and Its various amend
ments. made from time TO time. as the
system worked itself out. provide for an
arbitration tribunal, before which labor
disputes must be settled on demand OF
either party. by process akin TO ordi-
nary actions at law. Its main points are;
1. 1t applies only to industries In which
there are trades unions.
II does not prevent private conc,lia-
ton or arbitration.
:. Cancellation Is exhausted by the state
before II resorts to arbitration.
T. II Cancellation Is unsuccessful. the
disputan;s must arbl,rate
5. Disobedienee OF the award may be
punished or not at the discretion OF the
court.
The theoretical objections 10 a system
OF compulsory arbitration are that It Is
impossible to make men work whether
they want TO or not; that It is impossible
to Ak prices by law: and that wages and
conditions Of labor cannot be settled by
laws Of the legislature. instead OF the
laws OF supply and demand
The New Zealand act simply rises above
these objections. n does no, attempt
to make men work hy laws, neither does
] Il Ak wages by law. II confines itself
to saying tina, " men work they must DO
SO without strikes or lockouts. and that
Il they cannot agree with their employers
az 20 prices. the decision shall be left
to some impartial person and not Tough;
| cut
An example o. the working Of the new
system Is given by Lloyd. In the work
( Just quoted. Prior 10 tho passage OF the
/ ACT there had been almost unremittent
/ warfare in the shoe trade. A crisis In
/ the trade came soon after the new law
went into effect Employers and employees
/ presented their cases before the BOARD OF
| Cancellation, The decision was in favor
Of the men: and an appeal was taken to
the Board % Arbitration. which f. always
presided over by one Of the Judges OF the
supreme court.
The whole proceedings lasted six
| months. Instead OF thousands Of work.