The elections resulted in the sweeping away of the Conservative Government. There was a general feeling among the workers that at long last a curb would be placed upon grasping employerdom.
In this they were not disappointed, for over a period of many years Acts were passed designed to assist the workers. Not the least of these being the famous Conciliation and Arbitration Act introduced by the Hon. W. P. Reeves in 1894. And under the shadow of that Act New Zealand labour lolled for years. Designed to “encourage the formation of industrial unions,” that measure, whilst making possible the scattering of small craft unions all over the land, had the additional effect of taking away from the individual unionist the recognition of his duty to himself, to his organisation, and to his class.
Unions existed, not as fighting battallions in a Workers” Army, but merely as revenue-paying propositions that made possible office equipment, salaries and the expenses entailed in securing awards.
Periodically the Arbitration Court was approached, heard evidence, delivered judgment, generally covering a period of from two to three years, and the recipients, without exception, unquestionably accepted the Court’s findings, no matter how foolish or unjust the decisions may have been.
For years this meek acceptance of the Court’s decisions was characteristic of our unionism, if unionism it could be called. Any indications of dissatisfaction with the Judge’s findings on the part of a union’s membership was effectively squashed by officials, who, with a pitying look upon their faces, lectured the incipient revolters about “the ’90 strike.”
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