Once again the machinery of arbitration is threatened with the serapheap. Ever since its inception, its opponents have declared it could not last. Now it appears that the employers are almost, wholly dissatisfied, mainly became so many agreements are not kept to the letter, and the employees are dissatisfied because they declare that, in some instances, they can make Detter terms for themselves without resorting to the cumbersome legal' Machinery necessary to secure a higher wage.
'This matter of private agreements may act in the case of minority, for it is well-known that, before a certain trade received the award of 8 44-hour week, specific firms were' only asking their men to work 44 hours, though paying them the ruling rate of wages for 48. This naturally eased considerable unrest, Which only ceased at the commence: ment of this year, when an award was made operating over all the factories in that particular trade. In a case like the one quoted, the Arbitration Court had not had fair trial. The employer did not keep the letter of the court and neither did the employee. If arbitration is to fail, it will not be the system, but just plain human nature,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.