The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-20

have been represented than when made
by the capitalists who would not re-
ceive delegates nor listen to word
from their sidee. In the last five
years in Europe and America, there
has been fighting, riots, arson and even
dynamite has been used in conse-
quence of disagreements between en-
ployers and employees but no where
has there been breath of disturbance
in New Zealand on account of any sit
uation forced on labor by arbitration.
Labor has had to submit to some
things from the arbitration court
which it found very hard to accept.
Some of the conclusions of the court
aside from the matter of wages and
hours, are very interesting In one
case where an employer had been in
the habit of giving preference to union
men, the award was that such prefer
ence should be given in future In
another where an employer had made
no difference between union and non
union men, the award was, on this
point, simply that no discrimination
should be made against union men.
Another interesting case was that of
corporation, whose officers were mott
fed that their books must be brought
into court in order to prove certain
facts; they Immediately got to work
and made private settlement with
their men, rather than disclose some
of the matters called for by the court.
One curious feature that was not at all
contemplated by the author of the act,
has been in the line of forcing trade
honesty
Employers knowing that their
methods and processes are liable
to be brought out court in
case of trouble with their employees,
are quite careful as to the methods
employed in the conduct of their bust
ness. The general concensus of opinion
so far as have been able to gather
it in regard to this act, is that it is a
very important step in the right di-
rection. While the act is crude to a
certain extent, yet the fact remains
| that since it's enactment there have
| been no labor troubles in NewZealand
| brought before the court but among
them all there has been no disturbance
no violence, no loss of time or bust
ness, and society has not suffered in
| the least. We can imagine something
of the relief this would be in our own
country and, while conditions here
are different than in New Zealand,
believe the principle is right and
sooner or later something of the kind
will be adopted.
The public debt of the colony is
about 1928, 600, 600, very large sum it
would seem to u.s. but it does not seem
to be at all burdensome and the latest
reports of our consuls speak of the
country as being exceedingly prosper
GUS and the outlook one of great en-
couragement.
| [ will close with brief extract from
a late consular report.
1.-The great danger at the present
moment is too much legislation in one
direction. This is one thing wherein
the government >inds it really hard to
resist the demand of organized labor.
| There is however, a very gratifying
disposition manifesting itself in the
more reasonable members of the labor
societies to let well enough alone for
the repsent. A disposition it is much
to be hoped, that may extend through
not the whole body of workers. In
fact, unless it proves to be the case, l
have no hesitation in predicting a
serious revulsion of public sentiment
and sympathy within the next few
years. Labor has had good inning
common sense would suggest modera-
tion now that so much has been &C
complished in the short space of four
or five years. do not mean that by
tany chance the people would revert to
the old order of things, but they
would call halt in the trend of legis-
lation if no steps are taken in this di-
rection in the near future.