Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-18
ARBITRATION COURT,
Settlement Of Labor Disputes In
New Zealand.
DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES.
Industrial Act Provides For Enforce.
ment of Observation-Disclosures and
Worker Liable In Case of Default.
Punishment For Abottins Strikes.

ment OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and
Worker Liable In Case of Default.
Punishment For Abotting Strikes.
Special Consular Agent H. II. Burrlll
In Il report from Wellington describes
the operation of the Industrial and con
cilintion act OF New Zealand. He
writes
The arbitration court OF New Zealand
Is tribunal created TO arrange indus
trial relations nnd keep peace between
employer ana employed. The colony's
arbitration law hus been acclaimed us
having made this ~ country without
strikes" and yet the slaughter men of
New Ienlnnd have recently shown their
discomfort by adopting measures cal
culatcd TO parnly2c one of the leading
industries Of the country.
The Industrial Cancellation and arbi-
tratlon net was first passed In 1891 and
has been frequently amended In order
ii IL explained, 10 regain Its hexibilty
ana utility I'm face of new difficulties
1t provides. generally speaking. for The
proper registration of unions doth en-
ploycrs' ana cniployces). the regulation
w li'itiNlilhi tilt enforcement
Of industrial agreements. the establish
ment and the duties OF boards of CON
citation, the court or arbitration,
awards and punishmcnts for violation
Of awards.
Ii nlsO provides that when an indus
trial dispute arises the relationship Of
employer and employees must continue
uninterrupted by anything of the ma
ture OF Il strike or lockout. There must
he no tnlting part In strike or lock.
out or proposing, aiding or nbctting
such proceedings. The status quo ante
must remain mbrokcn. even though
the time occupied In the prclminnrics
of reference. such us taking the vote
of II union on the question of referring
dispute TO lictsal or court. may he con
siderable If default Is made in any
such particular the person concerned,
whether union. association. employer
or worker, Is liable 10 Il fine not OK
cccdinE Zoo IN case OF Il union, nsso-
citation or employer and fl0 In case OF
n worker. The dismissal or suspen-
sion OF worker OF dscontinuance OF
work 10y II worker shall bc deemed n
default unless the party charged with
such default satisfies the court that
such dismissal or discontinuance OF
work was not on account of the dis
putc.
1t also provides that every employer
who dlsinsses from his employment
any worker by reason of the fnct that
tile worker Is II member of an indus
trial union or who Is concluslvcly
proved to have dismissed such worker
merely because he is entitled 10 the
benefit OF IN award, order or agree
mcnt shall be deemed to have commit
ted Il breach Of the award, order or
agreement. If during the currency OF
an award any employer. worker, In
dustrial union or association or any
combination of employers takes pro-
cecdings with the intention To defeat
any OF the provisions of the award
every such employer. worker, union
association and every member thereof
respectively shall be dccnied to have
committed breach OF the award and
be liable accordingly. No worker shall
lie subject to fine merely because he
refuses to work ut the rate of wages
fixed by any award or industrial agree
mcnt unless the court Is satisfied that
there was an intention TO commit
breach OF the act \ workcris deemed
TO be dismissed II suspended from
work for II longer period thartcn days
Punishment for striking orlnbetting
the strike Is provided for by the law.
but its practicability Is open % grave
doubt. The fine or Imprisonment OF
the hundreds OF men engaged in the
strike may be recorded and the provi
sions of the law indicated. but the eff
fectlvencss Of such punishment is not
quite SO apparent. After the i.rlkers
have undergone the penalty thcp is no
law compelling them TO go bick To
work. BY placing their late employer
under the union ban II would Se ex-
trcncly difficult for him to risume
business. He could not get tho men.
Therein. the employers contend lies
the one sidedness of the net. and. hore-
over. II he break the law he musttakc
the consequences. lie cannot clhngc
his business as his men can chnge
their place OF employment. His m,ncy
is invested. and he can at all timd he
found to answer for n violation ofEhe
law. The defects of tho law. witch
was admittedly designed to prcHnt
strikes and loclsouts. are kecnly BE-
plorcd by both sides to the controveAy. |
but 1t IL useless to speculate on WHIT
additional legislation may be cnacdd |
to strengthen it, for wide diversity !
of opinion exists MS to the means nd
essary to make 1t effective.
Waqes In Franco.