Evening star., 1901-04-02
WITH FULL POWER
Tribunal Created to Settle Labor
Disputes in New Zealand
ARBITRATION And CANCELLATION
Courts Awards Unimpeachable
and No Appeal Allowed.
DIVISION INTO DISTRICTS
DIVISION INTO DISTRICTS

Much has been said in various papers
since the great coal strike of several
months ago with reference to system of
compulsory arbitration in vogue in New
Zealand, and. with desire to give the
public full information on the subject, Mr..
Carroll d. Wright, United States commits
sioner of labor, has had made an exhaust
i've investigation of the laws referred to.
In a bulletin just printed Mr.. Wright says.
in part, that the act of New Zealand re-
lating to the compulsory arbitration Of
labor disputes is undoubtedly the most
characteristic piece of labor legislation
passed by any of the Australasian colonies.
The great strike of 1880, which so dis
organized industry in New Zealand, gave
great prominence to all measures of labor
reform The subject of arbitration of labor
disputes was, therefore, naturally one of
the first to be taken up. Chiefly owing to
the efforts of Mr.. w. p. Reeves. the min
lister of labor for the colony, action took
the form Of the Introduction of the prin-
ciple of compulsory arbitration. The con-
sequence was the passage OF the industrial
conciiiatiOn and arbitration act. August
81, 1894. This act has since been three
times amended.
AS it now stands the law prescribes that
as used therein. the word Association"
means an industrial association. registered
pursuant to the law; that the term board"
means a board Of cOnciliation for an in
dustrial district, constituted under the act,
and includes a special board Of conciliation;
that court" means the court of arbitra-
tion that the term employer includes
persons, firms, companies and corporations
employing workers: r industrial dispute
means any dispute arising between one or
more employers or Industrial unions. trade
unions or associations OF employers and
one or more Industrial unions. trade unions.
or associations of workers In relation to
industrial matters; ss''industrial matters
means all matters or things affecting or
relating to work done or to be done, or
the privileges. rights or duties or employers
or workers In any industry. and not in
yolving questions which are or may be
the subject Of proceedings for an iniict-
able offense, and. without limiting the gen
eral nature OF the foregoing definition in
cludes all or any matters relating to the
following subjectss u
Matter of Wages.
The wages. allowances or remuneration
of any persons employed In any industry
or the prices paid or to be paid therein In
| respect of such employment; the hours OF
| employment, SEX age qualification or stat
| us of workers. and the mode, terms and
| conditions OF employment; the employment
of children or young persons, or Of any
person Of persons or class OF persons, In any
industry, or the dismissal OF or refusal to
employ any particular person or persons
| ed custom or usage of any industry, either
generally or in the particular district at
| fected: any claim arising under an indus
trial agreement, etc.
| society consisting Of any number OF
persons, not less than five, residing within
| the colony. lawfully associated for the pur-
pose of protecting aor furtherfng the inter-
! ests OF employers or workers In or In con-