The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-09

usually UOeS so IOf MS own lnIeHSl
The act stipulates clearly that the con-
situations of these unions must be such
as to make it easy for workmen to join
The workmens unions almost invaria-
bly, make il a clause in their demands
that the industrial awards shall stipu-
late that employers must-otheT things
being equal-give preference of en-
ployment 10 unionists. When this is
conceded, as it usually is, it materially
assists to bring outsiders into the fold,
and under these circumstances il is not
surprising that practically all the
workingmen of New Zealand are or
ganized under the provisions of the
cancellation and arbitration act
There are not so many unions Of
employers. as a builders union fully
represents employers in all the trades
connected with building
In ChTistchurch. as m other indus
trial districts created under the act.
there is a Cancellation board which
comprises three gentlemen nominated
by the whole Of the employers unions
in the district. three nominated by the
employees union, and in addition a
chairman elected by the six. The men,
bers of these boards are invariably
men of high standing and are usually
selected because of their practical bust
ness knowledge. They have power to
summon parties to an Industrial dis
pute and necessary witnesses, and, hav-
ing considered the case before them. are
required to give an award which, if ac-
fcepted by the parties cOncerneds be-
comes binding for the term specified in
the award, usually three years.
/ There is one arbitration court for
the whole OF New Zealand. It consists
/ OF three personS-one selected by the
| employers associations throughout the
/ colony, one by the workmen's unions,
while the third who sits as chairman, is
/ a judge of the supreme court In this
/ connection it is well to observe that the
! judiciary of New Zealand, from the
| highest official TO the lowest, is absO-
| iutely above suspicion, and a Judge of
the supreme court, therefore, is a man
who commands implicit trust from ali
classes.
IF the carpenters of Christchurch
come to the conclusion that they are
being underpaid, that their hours of la
Dor are unreasonabiy long, that an un-
due percentage of boy apprentices are
being employed or that in any other
way they are being treated unfairly,
they cite a case against one or more
employers to the local Cancellation
board.
! The board notifies the other parties
to the dispute, and in due course the
case is heard, both sides being given
opportunity TO state their case and sup
port it by evidence. Frequently this
threshing out of a case results in an
amicable arrangement. and there the
matter ends. Ordinarily. however. the
board makes its award, and the parties
TO the dispute are given d specified time
within which they may appeal. failing
which the ward becomes law.
In case of appeal the case goes to the
arbitration court. which has full power
10 hear additional witnesses or compel
parties to the dispute to produce bust
ness books, documents or such other
matter as may be considered necessary
for the information OF the court Such
Information is not made public, and is
only made available to the court
The arbitration court gives the final
award. which has the law of the coun-
try behind it, with substantial penalties
upon either workmen or employers who
should violate it. The maximum fine is
: $500. Generally speaking. the awards
are received with satisfaction by both
parties and any breaches of the awards
are usually of a trivial nature.
Either employers or wOrkmen's unions
can invoke the aid of the concilia tion
board in remedying a grievance, but
hitherto ii has been practically an in
variable rule that the workmen have
, begun cases. The exceptional prosper
ity of the colony since the act has beer
in force, coupled with the increased cost
, OF living, may be a factor in this direc-
ton
Up to the present the employers have
practically stood on the defensive. and
> only such contingency as a wave o.
, depression striking the colony would b'
likely to change their attitude. Oppon-
ents of the system say that when thai
time comes it's weaknesses will become
! apparent, but there seems no reason L
2 suppose that it viii not be equllly a.
= effective in solving labor dispute:
whether these be introduced by work
men applying for an increase or by EN-
ployers seeking TO reduce wages.
1t would be foolish to say that tn;
Cancellation and arbitration act ha:
, solved the labor problem forever. II
, America it is prOblematical whether tht
influx Of alien population does not CON
stitute a peculiar set of conditions witt
t which such an act would be unable t
' cope. In New Zealand it has by no means
settled the conflict between labor anC
capital. Disputes occupy fully the tim,
! of the Cancellation boards and the arbi
tration court, and the colony's states
men are watching its operations closet.
so as to make improvements from timt
to time But the act has undOubtedl!
taken out of the hands of either EN-
: pIoyer or employee the power to drag
2 third party into the dispute.
= Neither can compel the unwilling
= public through the medium of the boy
; colt to take sides, and since the &C
e came into force there has been no strik
in New Zealand nor fear of one. Sure
this. if not a complete triumph, is a
least a long step forward in the marcel
| toward industrial harmony and Shouts
be fruitful of suggestions for the con
sideration Of political economists il
America.
The New Zealander removes his in
dustriaI disputes from the labor boss
Y armed picket and state militia TO tn
( calm atmosphere of a court. which ex
n amines his claim sees if the emplOye
is getting unfair profits out OF his mer
and gives the workman. for a fixe
j time. a minimum wage for his work
q while he can earn as much more as hi
employer likes to Sive him. The ma
u need not work nor his employer pay tn
= minimum wage or any wage, but IL b
s works at all at that trade he must nc
= be ''sweated" nor may ne undercut hi
. mates in salary.
- There. are scores Of other enactment
% on the New Zealand statute books d
o rectly affecting labor interests. Th
d factory act lays down the condition
= under which factory work can be car
h ried on. Children under IA years of ag
are not allowed TO be employed, and III
$. hours of labor, holidays and the EN-
y ployment of women and youths undt
If IS years of age are regulated. Goo
ventilation and sanitary accommodS