The Centenary of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894: Some Reflections

Abstract

On 31 August 1994, the Industrial Relations Centre at Victoria University of Wellington hosted "a function to mark'' the 100th anniversary of the passing through Parliament of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Guests included present and retired employers, union officials, members of the judiciary and academics. Three speakers were invited to
comment on the significance of the Act and their comments are reproduced below. Noel Woods is a former Secretary of Labour who, on his retirement from the Department of Labour, was appointed Visiting Fellow at the Industrial Relations Centre where he played a very important role in the Centre's early work. Ken Douglas is President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions. Anne Knowles is Deputy Chief Executive of the New
Zealand Employers Federation. Both serve on the Industrial Relations Centre's Advisory Committee.

These introductory notes were prepared for the Journal by Associate Professor Raymond Harbridge.