LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 19, 17 October 1907, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

EMPLOYEES-AND THE ARBITRATION ( ACT. ; In the Upper Hoirso yesterday afternoon, l'.: The Hon. iJ. T. Paul drew the Government's attention to a recent newspaper artide which contained a _ Jettor received by-, a iFeilding business man in' reply to an order for goods from a neighbouring town. The letter "said "Re your order sent to us on Friday,- We had to decido a month back that we could not tako any ■ outside onlers. iWe 'find labour': so unsatisfactory nowadays; men and boys are possessed with such a dis- ' contented' spirit, -and, moreover, the Arbitration laws make us pay wages far her yond the value of labour,'.that, we find it impossible to'continue: manufacturing.- ..We have reduced , our staff, cut off orders gener- ' ally, and must, possess ourselves in patience . until'things'alter." , ■ ' _i. .. .. The ; Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay) . said the Labour Department had made enquiries, and could obtain no information on this matter. It seemed: to the- Government that the-goods, referred to , must havo been of a trifling value.; If it. would have paid to make them, they .would doubtless have been made, and if it. would riot, pay employer or employees to make these articles, it was better that they should not 'be made. (Laughter). ' • ,