DELEGATES AT LUNCH.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 667, 18 November 1909, Page 8

DELEGATES AT LUNCH.

; OP':THE FEDERATION/; \ ''• The delegates Were entertained at luncheon at: Godber's; \Cuba Street; by- the members of the .Wellington .Employers' Association. 'Mr. W., Hopkirk presided, and was supported; by the' Mayor" (Dr. Newman),; the Hon. C. ,'M. lulce,. MiL;&, and Mr.. : J. Allen,- MJP.. Apologies for absence .were received from-Sir Joseph >Ward,.the Hon..J. A. Millar, and.Mr. W. F. :Massey. -Mr. Millar in his telegram stated: "I sincerely,'trust that;the,results'of yonr conf Jerence this'year ,'will' ! prove; of advantage 'to. the country, and • aid in /promoting the industrial prosperity of the Dominion. /.,■■/ \- -,'.'■ •■ Responding '.to the'toast of Parliament "(pro-, 'posed by the chairman),.the Hon..C.,M. Luke, M.L.C, said he thought Parliament; nowadays set out to do. too much'in too short a time, and there was a tendency to put: r through very important measures without sufficient consideration. It would be better, to ; pass'fewer laws .making them more perfect so that they would'not need soinvucli' subsequent amending.•*.;•';'.-. .'; Mr.: J.Allen, M.V., endorsed Mr. Luke's protest- against hasty': legislation. ,- He asked .the fnoinbers of: the-federation' to: assist mom,-' bers or Parliament with advice *;bn'industrial!- 1 'legidafiSn". ! "-.'l <? '* , . J .'."""•■''.- '■■■ ' : ''.l'-.> ' :.■-■■''■.''■'.■"' ; Mr. T. Ballinger, in proposing ;the.toast of. '''-The Foderation/'itecalled that the first con : , ference was held in 1902 and ihefederation,.was, formed as a result -.with' Mr,."s•,■ '■'!!.. Booth, of C3iristchurch,.'us ; the first president. -Mr.' i:Henry ./Field'was:-the first secretary s -of; the Vigilance'.: Committee '(now ''the-. Pariiai mentary ". 'Committee),.';. of ''/.-which' 1 only. ' two I ', -members. ; now '. . remaining .'■ ' .were Mri.W.'.Cable and the speaker.'. Mri X. C.'Th'pm-' ' son, / of Dunediri, 'Mr. Broadhead;''"• of ' Christchuiohi aid the speaker.had attended,all the. conferences> of the - federation/ The -;federation ■ ; took no side in 'politics, and, was,, therefore, respected ,by both: ■ side* ■; in . the_,:■ House.' t ' It was hot' organised'to'do'any injury to 'the /workers. "• ■'' If employers and employees ■; diet not work in harmony, business must suffer and the ■'workerswould suffer;most.: I : Mr, W./-G-.-Foster, < presideni^of•the federation,'eaid'in his.response that,'.a -large:measure' of the .success of .the.-: organisation was due-to. the ability and .eaeTgy of.-., the; secretary, Mr.' Pryor—a sentiment. which was emphasised by 'several-subsequent speakers.; ' ':■:'• Mr. W.H. Bennett,;in' proposing "The Yi6i£ ing ' Delegates," said:the present:conference'was the raosV. representative yet .held. employers':.associations were ■ represented, be-, 'sides■several industrial 'associations','and the. organisations ef fho boot mannfaotnrers, coal •. and gold ;• mine owners, the dairy .;■ industry,: 'builders'- associations, ■ and ' Chambers of Commerce. - The conference represented. : 7000 employers.';. -:.-:'■': ;■'■■;:/.-•'■'':■'.■.;■?' ■■■''• ■••'"".-' : ' .;-.- Messrs. P. Hallenstein (Christch-urch), H. G. Warren (Hawke's Bay), A. E. Bennett (Manawfft'u), and J.. C. Thomson (Otago) responded.. "The Mayor" (Dr.. A. K. Newman) w.as also toasted;:; '."■;•,'.•' : v • ■'■