New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-08
ARBITRATION IN LABOR DISPUTES
The New Zealand System Advocated tor
This Country.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To tho Editor OF Inc tribune
Sir: Your correspondent +. f. Robinson
asks What business could stand arbitra-
tion ?" Now, DR.. Henry Moskowitz, an author
ity in matters Of industrial disputes, says;
"A great advance over the primitive way OF
settling disputes between employers and en-
ployes is the method Of arbitration and he
advises "under the operation of state and
Federal wage boards that commission should
be automatically created whenever dispute
arises in any industry to utilize facts already
ascertained and after hearing arguments from
both sides TO apply the standards to the par
ticular case" and when a decision is thus
reached cit will have the authority of neu-
traly gathered facts and be backed by the
sovereignty of civilized law"
New Zealand has had for years in opera
ton such a commission in its Board of Indus
trial Cancellation and Arbitration, and it goes
still further by making arbitration compul-
sorry and yet in sense voluntary, because
three judges on the board are elected by en-
ployers and three by employees, while the
president is an appointee of the government
This court encourages the organization OF
industrial unions and complete freedom TO
legislation. but permits no strikes
Any five workers can form a union. and At
no cost except an entrance fee OF Sl.25 ana
dues Of ~ cents a week, but for the purpose
of self-protecton and for the public good
no unions are allowed to strike and nom
unionists receive the same pay as members
of the unions Thus. unions cannot Cypress
non-union men and employers cannot use So
called open shops" to kill the unions.
This remarkable board deals with every
4 p ghnA
minimum rate of wages and a standard work
ing week. and has aided the unemployed by
an arrangement with employers in slack
times TO reduce each employees share of work
rather than dismiss any workers, and where
vacancies occur to fill the same with local
rather than imported laborers. In ten years
this court has raised the rate of wages for
female labor alone 80 per cent, and that, too,
while the female wage earners have increased
in number 20 per cent.
At first the labor unions in New Zealand
were antagonstic to industrial courts and
compulsory arbitration, but to-day they con-
cede this system has greatly bettered labor
conditions
If we had such a board here should say It
would be wise and just to the great and long
suffering public to at least forbid by law
employes Of public utilities, such as streetcar
lines. TO strike without giving due notice
reasonable time beforehand.
In talking with labor leaders found them
opposed 10 any such arbitration. because they
believed the capitalists would control the de-
cisions. They also refused TO have their
unions Incorporated, wishing. Of course, to
keep all their privileges without the usual
legal responsibilities for the wrongs they
might infict.
| see little sense in such a subterfuge. /
also believe legislative action should be taken
toward establishing some plan by which all
contracts between public utility corporations
and their employees should contain clause
obligating the latter TO submit their griev-
ances to arbitration, supposing, of course
that such a board as / have described exists
and is equipped with full and complete data,
up 10 date relating to the special utility or
industry which is involved in the dispute.
"The railroad and the operators" says Mr..
Straus. of the Public Service Commission,
ARE not the only parties interested. There Is
third party of far greater importance than
either OF the two contestants, and that IS the
general public
To interfere with or stop the traffic system
Of this great city is a matter OF vast and
serious Importance to all our people, and
such move will injure the laboring classes
and the poor much more than it will the
richer classes who have their own cars and
have no want left unqualified.
J. c, PUMPELLY.
New York. Aug. 6, 1916.