Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration in New Zealand

*THE WORKER*

Brisbane, February 2, 1895.

Labour Matters in New Zealand.

With the advent of the new year (says the New Zealand correspondent of the Age) there has come into operation in this country an Act that is destined to have an important bearing upon all future industrial disputes, in so far as its intention is to settle these disputes, in so far as its intention is to settle these disputes amicably, and to prevent the occurrence of strikes. The regulations under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act provide for the division of the colony into six districts, coterminous with the Supreme Court districts, in each of which the deputy registrar is appointed clerk of awards. The board in each district shall consist of four members in addition to the chairman, and provision is made for filling the lists of members of the industrial union. In elections to the board, the unions may “plump” their votes. Any party to an industrial dispute dissatisfied with the report of the board may require the clerk to refer the dispute to the court of arbitration. The application for registration as an industrial association is to be accompanied by a list of the industrial unions which the council or other body making the application represents, as well as by a list of its members and officers. In the months of January and July of every year there shall be forwarded to the registrar of friendly societies in Wellington by every industrial association a list of the industrial unions constituting such association, and by every industrial union a list of the members of such union.

When any dispute arises it is referred to a board of conciliation, and if the board's decision is not acceptable the dispute is then referred to the court of arbitration, whose decision is final and compulsory. Fortunately, there is no dispute requiring the immediate operation of the Act, but when one arisen there will be much curiosity to see how the Act works as between employers and employed. It is Mr. Reeves's pet measure, and the Minister of labour regards it as a panacea for all future industrial misunderstandings. New Year's day also brought into operation the Shops and Shop Assistants Act, providing for certain hours of labour and a compulsory half holiday every week, to be fixed by local bodies. The act applies to clerks as well as shop assistants, and some merchants are revenging themselves upon Parliament by insisting that their clerks shall begin their duties at 8 o'clock in the morning instead of 9. To the credit of the majority of mercantile firms, however, the new law has made no difference. But the action of the minority shows that there exists a strong element of resistance against the efforts of social reformers to lessen the drudgery which people have to go through year in and year out in order to earn the food they eat and the clothes they wear.