AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 195, 16 August 1907, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

MEETING-

; Tie annual meeting of the Auckland Employers' Association was Md yesterday afternoon at the Assoeia--1 L's rooms, Queen->tieet, the president I D. Goldiej being in the chair

ANNUAL REPORT.

: The executive committee in the annual report stated that the usefulness of the was becoming year by year more apparent, and affiliated unions of employers and other members were nO W regularly submitting their grievances to the secretary and availing tnemselves of Ms assistance and advice in regard to alleged oreacnes of awards and other difficcQties in connection with labour legislation. The committee trusted that ihis attitude would be maintained, believing thit such action would tend to obviate 'many serious complications which might ' otherwise arise, prevent anomalies fiom treeping intc industrial agreements or airardsT and militate against possible injnstice being done to any particular trade or industry in other centres of the colODT* * Membership-—By the recent affiliation ol the Auckland Guild of Master Painters, together with the admission to memfojfship C of several private firms and individuals, the strength of the association had been considerably augmented during the past- year- The aggregate number of employers on the roll stood at 316. The association had now affiliated with it 1? unions of employers, which embraced most of the leading industries of the ' district.

- Tinance. —The balance-sheet showed teat the .association was in a very satis- . factory position financially, and disclosed the agreeable fact that notwithstanding ' the increased contribution paid last year to the $ew Zealand Employers Federation there yet remained an actual credit balance in cash of £ 130 18/7. This the committee.considered was matter for con- , papulation. Executive.—During the year the committee had had under consideration seve- . ral yeiy important matters, notably the qnestion of appointing a special committee to deal with industrial matters other .thanthose directly connected with labour legislation; the strike of the Auckland -Tranreay Company's employees and of fee slaughtermen in various parts of the .alony respectively: and the continued latagonism manifested by Mr. Tregear. Secretary for against employers. •In;reference fo the proposed industrial committee, the executive considered that tie subjects which would necessarily be dealt with by it properly belonged to the Industrial Association, and were not Bithin the scope of the Employers' Association, consequently the suggestion TOS -not entertained. With regard to rile other matters referred to suitable .representations were made to the advisor/board in Wellington, in order that eneelted action might be taken by all the associations affiliated with the' Employers' Federation. It was, however, that in connection with the tramway strike the result was not satis.fctory, and it had been decided that the jsoriation's delegates should reopen the sbject at the approaching annual meet--15. of the federation.

' •_-"* n P l °y ers ' Federation.—The report of -® annual meeting of the New Zealand iinployers' Federation, held ton in October last, showed conclusive?/ that the organisation had now become J potent power in safeguarding the interests of every employer of labour throughout the colony. It was decided a permanent organising secretary, w,th headquarters in Wellington BUCh appointee to also act as Parliamentary secretary and secretary to the ..iteration. Mr.. William. Pryor,* of Dun■Mta, was elected to the position, and ..neuntinng energy and capability which toW manifested for the work "he had ;S£e n r. had -^ justified the a p- - Arbitration Court.-The appointment G fUdge to act "President Cotrt h atlOn C ° Urt had resulte <* £ wear .f T g D ° W oT «t*k«> the arrear a of work, which was, prior to jarcs of the colony It wa- +», <

S« r special / e^rement s of ' it ™Z 1 a f ociati °n'= mem «■* of rt are been noticed as to need strenuous opposition of labour. These would : Khfel 1,3 3t the annual meeting the adoption of the report &•*'■ the chairman referred stn kes of B , aughtarmen and -■fitfaS? 1 Tt U Seemfd to him that 1 thp in prosecutIWs'kl WeM nOt all s ™ilarlv punS; n di the -; VOUW Dot do this 'or fear tfet H S c worke «, then he took it 'Of.«. v C^ Io - v?rs tfa rou?h the officials «oat W S r rerS l Federa tion or associaiS S t ve i, V ee t0 u -^ at punish - 2 Ust as rigidly enacted Sis c ° ffendin g cm P lo^e as Xt a S ain st the employers aW th *p c secreta ries of their unions "Wl^JT 111 - 11 * fas Pectors. The into Z « d mUSt not tind their ™J « eSnf 1 * S ° f either the emplovers--1 E °liSrr umons ' cut -"to the ConfetJ to enUe - The matter of preBW one that em--«F£S d 3JI UmeS °PP° Se ™ d " WthT 6 ? 3t their =on™and. He • bul* + , UniOmsts or non - one » nn t d 10106 unionists W o after em Pl°yment had SSst s r tO tEbse ».6o; w h™ «, would beof emS*? L^l ? Wn so weak as i°

|ftfflilii'¥t|ni discriminating between neither, but giving to either or both a chance, and retaining in their employ just those who proved themselves by their ability and industry worthy of being retained. Another' matter referred to in the report was the continued vagaries of some of the paid servants of the colony, one of whom was reported last year to have stated in a letter to a friend, which afterwards found its way into print, that the workers of thi* colony were being robbed, the inference being that they were being deprived of that which was their just due by the employers. He thought that employers would do weli to still further urge upon the Government the necessity of adopting drastic measures to prevent the servants of the people from becoming partisans, or. in fact, taking any part publicly in discussing political questions which might offend any section of the community who are called upon to contribute to their support. Another matter to which members' attention had been drawn in the report, and one that was worthy of their serious attention, was the placing of paid union officiaU upon conciliatory boards as members of such. It seemed to him a monstrous thing that such persons who to-day wera busy organising unions, doing all they covAd in preparing and then submitting extreme demands for the men by whom they are paid so to do, to conciliation boards for considera-tion. should sit in judgment upon the very demands they have tuemselves to a large extent put forth. The Government, he understood, intended this session to legislate in the direction of the establishment of wages boards. Whether this was to take the place of the Arbitration Act or not he could not tell, but if it was he would be very pleased to Teceive it, for as our Arbitration Act had so far failed to prevent strikes, it was to a large extent useless. But if the wag.es board was to supersede it, then it would be necessary to watch very carefully its provisions. Such boards have been in existence in some portions of the Commonwealth for some years, and were to-day very much preferred to an Arbitration Act similar to our own. He thought the time ought very speedily to come when the unrest in labour should come to an end, and master and servant agree to trust each other more implicitly The report and balance-sheet were adopted, than at present they were able to do. The appointment of an executive committee was relegated to the secretary to select fifteen members v. constitute the same.

On the motion of Mr. J. Miller, the heartiest thanks of the Association were tendered to the president for the able and painstaking manner in which he had conducted the business during the past y.?ar.