Story: Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand

Wellington Conciliation Board, 1900

Wellington Conciliation Board, 1900

The Liberal government reform which most interested foreign observers at the start of the 20th century was the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1894. Under the act any labour dispute had first to be brought before a local conciliation board. If the board failed to negotiate agreement, the dispute went to a National Arbitration Court. Both sides were then obliged to accept the court's decision. This image shows the Wellington Conciliation Board and representatives of the meat trade in 1900. The board was chaired by the Reverend John Crewes, who is seated in the front row.

Using this item

Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: AWNS-19000720-3-4

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Visitors’ opinions about New Zealand - ‘Social laboratory of the world’, 1890–1920', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37106/wellington-conciliation-board-1900 (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 20 Jun 2012