All over New Zealand the unions took the matter up, and resolutions of protest poured into the Minister, with the additional intimation that should the Government persist with the commission as constituted it would be boycotted by the miners.
These protests convinced the Minister that it was useless to proceed unless the personnel of the commission was changed, and it was changed accordingly. The commission travelled the Dominion, and much valuable evidence was heard, and as a result suggestions made that had a very important influence upon mining legislation.
During these years many disputes were handled. Strikes at the State Mine, Auckland General Labourers, mining disputes both north and south, threatened strike of Auckland Tramwaymen—all had a satisfactory ending. Wage agreements were being signed in many industries, all at an advance on the previous rates. These advances, which were being refused by the Arbitration Court, and the tendency of employers, under pressure, to grant wage increases and agree to conditions which the Court curtly refused, had the effect of directing public attention to the scurvy treatment accorded the workers who were members of unions registered under the I.C. and A. Act by that body, and as a result of the storms of protest raised, compelled the Court to display a little more consideration for those who approached it.
It was by no means an uncommon occurrence to find unions passing resolutions stating that unless the Court showed a greater consideration for the welfare of the members of the union that they would be compelled to join the Federation of Labour. The Federation was a club raised over the Court by
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