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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2013, 23 February 1907, Page 1

ARBITRATION IMPERILLED. Prior to a settlement being effected Christchurch Truth had the following interesting article:—Could the Arbitration Court go on raising wages and shortening hours indefinitely there would no doubt, he industrial peace as lar as the workers were concerned. But unfortunately for them industrial conditions are not as elastic as. their own code of ethics, and tills interesting process can only end'in one way. In the absence of combination wages are regulated chiefly by tile supply of labor available; combination and the existence of a tribunal for regulating the conditions of employment may, however, artificially raise wages, and then it becomes a question as to how far an employer can bo squeezed to concede increases without being driven out' of business. The Arbitration Court lias now been in existence for nearly thirteen years, and that period has been one of continuous prosperity, making a gradual increase in wages possible irrespective of the intervention or otherwise of the Arbitration Court. But the Court was credited with bringing about the changes which were rather the result of improved economic conditions, and it was hailed as a panacea for all industrial troubles When a point was reached beyond which the Courtr found it could not go, it began to dawn on the workers that their idol had clay feet after all. The refusal to grant more wages to the seamon was the beginning of the disillusioning process, and a few restless spirits, considering the Arbitration Court no further use when it ceased to bring them more pay for less work were quite ready to tear the Arbitration Act up and consign it to the waste' paper basket. Other minor instances of dissatisfaction followed, culminating in the slaughtermen’s strike in Wellington, and all this lias happened during a time of great industrial activity and general prosperity. What will result should a wave of depression set in is rather hard to imagine, but it is quite certain that the bottom would fall out of the whole scheme of industrial arbitration tlio moment changed industrial conditions demanded a reduction of wages. Tile Wellington slaughtermen who are causing so much anxiety to the Labor Department and to tlio supporters of arbitration have managed things very badly in the present instance. The explanation seems to lie in the fact that the men ar for the most part ■i lot of irrcsponsibles from Australia and elsewhere, who arc pot. particularly concerned as to what may be the effect of this action on the future it industrial arbitration. They appear to have rendered themselves liable to tlie pains and penalties of tlio law for going on strike, although we do not think tlio distinctions between going on strike and refusing to accept the rate of wages offered have yet been argued in Court, and it remains to bo seen whether the men can be convicted or not. While it may be possible to deal with 100 strikers in a case such as at present, it is quite obvious that if it came to invoking the law against 1000 or more the Act would be quite unworkable. The Minister of Labor, although an ex-st’riker himself, is naturally anxious to defend the principles of arbitration, but lie is rather a difficult position. Even though a settlement should he arrived at in the course of the day it will not alter the fact tlmt a breach of the law lias has apparently been committed, and one that can hardly he condoned, although amicable arrangements should almost immediately be re-established between the men and their employers. If on a settlement being arrived at no further action were taken by the Department, other unionists might be emboldened by olio actitn of the’ slaughtermen to flout 1 the Court and the Act in the hope of getting a small increase in pay. If, on the other hand, the Department takes the Union and the men into Court it runs the risk of failing on one or two highly technical points, and the result of that failure will probably be worse than letting the matter drop. Front cither point of view the matter is a ver yserious one, and may produce far-reaching effects.

AN AUSTRALIAN NAVY. MINISTER’S CIRCULAR TO SHIP BUILDERS.

A circular letter was issued tlic other day by the Acting-Minister for Defence of Australia, Mr Manger, to shipbuilding firms in the Commonwealth, inviting their attention to tho proposal of tho Ministry to construct locally eight coastal destroyers and four first-class torpedo boats. The cost of these is estimated at £700,000, and the work, it is anticipated, will ho spread over the next three years. Jt is pointed out in the memorandum that it is proposed to have at least one of each class of vessel contracted in England, hut it was the desire of the Government that the remainder should be built in Australia.

'l'he circular proceeds:—“The vessels are to have turbine engines, water tube boilers, and to use oil fuel. They are to he fitted with torpedo tubes for long range torpedoes, and with quick-firing guns, and firms are being asked whether they would ho prepared to tender for any of these vessels, and if so, how many and wliat time would* he required. Tho Department asks for your views on these proposals, designed to attain a measure of self-dependence in the provision of war vessels, based on your shipbuilding experience in Australia. Brieny, tins Department desires to know if anything is lacking to make this much-desired and attainable end. The price is a sufficient one in England to ensure largo profits to builders. What is there to prevent Australian builders, with tho advantage of position, and of acting in pursuance of the policy desired by the Government, from supplying these vessels? “Your views regarding the employment of any of our workmen in workshops at Home in order to gain experience while the pattern boats are being built will also be acceptable. Builders in England have expressed themselves as very willing to employ Australian workmen. With this end in view, there lias been a suggestion that a conference should ho convened by the Minister, consisting of building and engineering firms, members of trades and labor councils, and of any firms concerned in the manufacture of iron and steel, in order to advise the Government as to our present actual capacity in torpedo craft-building, and that those interested might arrive at a common understanding, and arrangements they would have to make for carrying it out. “The Minister will he glad of your views on this suggestion. Generally any remarks you may be pleased to make having regard to the proposals of the Government and the establishment in Australia of an industry of national importance will be gladly received.”