EMPLOYERS ATTITUDE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 9

EMPLOYERS ATTITUDE.

POSITION IN A NUTSHELL

EXPLANATORY MESSAGES SENT TO SYDNEY.

(TKKSS ASSOCIATION TELECBAM.) WELLINGTON, December 2. The Employers' Federation to-night sent the following cable message to 31r Holman, Premier of New South Wales, Sydney: — "Wellington employers, farmers, and Citizens' Defence Committee desires to give emphatio denial to the statement of Federation of Labour representatives that employers of the Dominion are opposed to organised Labour, and wish to assure you that on the contrary they are encouraging and supporting the registration of workers' unions under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and desire to impress upon your Government that as all cargo >« beinc handled by arbitration

unionists, there is absolutely no reason why Australian unionists should refuse to work New Zealand ships at Sydney or elsewhere, or should precipitate the crisis indicated in to-day's cables as being imminent. That, being tho case, it is hoped you will use every endeavour to have the embargo on New Zealand vessels removed without delay. Committee will gladly supply you with any information on request being made." Mr W. G. Foster, Chairman of the Citizens' Defence Committee, cabled to Mr W. M. Hughes, M.P., Sydney, as fellows:— "Employers'' Defence Committee desire emphatically contradict Federation Labour representative's ' statement that New Zealand em- . plovers opposed to organised Labour. The fact that all cargo is being handled by arbitration unionists should result in NewZealand vessels being worked by Australian unionists, and should convince Labour leaders that no reason exists for industrial crisis, which cables indicate as imminent in Australia."