The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-22
FRIDAY. MAY %. 1908.
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION,

A correspondent of the London Times
writing from New Zealand, says that
compulsory arbitration In that colony
Is not an unnixed blessing, and that
many complications have recently arisen
to cause feeling Of uneasiness. First
Of all, he says that the Arbitration Court,
which was originally established for the
final and compulsory settlement of dis
putes that could not be amicably ad-
justed by the Cancellation Boards, has
been exceedingly busy of late because
Cancellation appears to be rapidly becom-
ing n thing of the past and settlements
are made in court. but as the industries
of tho colony increase In numbers and
Importance, the court Is finding 1t more
and moro dicult to dead with the numer-
Gus cases coming before 1t. Everything
went along fairly well so long as there
was general prosperity, but, as is always
the case prosperity has advanced wages
and the demands of the laborers are
moro and more exacting. When the
court decides point in favor Of labor
unions the employers must accept tho
decision. whether 1t be one Of regulation
or OF wages. But in some cases. where
1t had been decided that the WACO shall
be SO and so. the employers were unable
to keep some Of their men, for the men
could not earn tho fixed wage and the
unions would not permit them to work
for less. In all such cases the inferior
workman necessarily gets his discharge.
Again, 1t Is pointed out that In some
instances wages are SO high that manu-
facturers have gone out Of business,
finding more profit in exporting the fin
ished product, and this has also thrown
men out of employment. Several other
Instances OF this sort are cited to show
that the system is not altogether salts
factory. either to the employer or to the
cmploye,
1T is probably too early" the CORE
spondent continues. "for any unbiased
person to say whether the industrial leg
islation In this colony is likely to achieve
success or whether it will eventually
break down altogether; but 1t will DO
sccn from the foregoing statement of
facts that there are not wanting, both
among the employers and among the
workmen. those who emphaticnlly state
that It Is foredoomed to failure"
But the most serious phase OF the sltua-
ton Is this: The Evening Post, the prn-
cipal newspaper In the capital, and one
which has always dealt with labor prob
lens In a temperate and judicial manner
according ito this correspondent, points
out that IN nine years so many interests
have grown up around the legislation
that the industries Of the colony would
probably DO dslocated to q dangerous
degree II any attempt were made to
revert to former conditions, and that the
principle of compulsory regulation
through the Arbitration Court must be
accepted, unless Nav Zealanders Rre
prepared to face chaos In their industries
lat the same time" adds this paper.
"a doubt is expressed as to whether the
court can satisfactorily grapple with tho
problems likely to come before 1t. as the
colony and It's industries expand, and 1t
Is admitted that the difficulties that have
already arisen serve to illustrate the stu
pendous character of the task that lies
before any community that undertakes
State regulation of trade and industry"
Here is hint for Americans which
they wih do well to consider, There are
those in this country who believe In COM
pulsory arbitration. IN government regu-
lation and control OF business affairs
They are forever talking about new legis-
iation In this direction, and they would
have the whole business financial and
industrial world hedged about with tho
most stringent regulations Of law. But
when the government once begins this
sort Of thing, whore Is 1t to end? II the
system is once set up, 1t cannot be over
thrown without bringing destruction and
chaos. 1t Is u most dangerous thing for
government 10 meddle with business,
with the private affairs OF the people
That IL not the function of government
according 10 tho Interpretation OF Ameri-
cans. and it will be an evil day for this
land when we change our view.
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