THE LEVELLING LABOUR LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 903, 24 August 1910, Page 4

THE LEVELLING LABOUR LAWS.

PIT'AND UNFIT WORKERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, August 23, "Outside the difficulties that the employer has' to contend against by .the harassing labour laws forced upon, him by a paternal Government," said Mr. D. Goldie in the course of his presidential speech at the annual meeting of tho Auckland Employers' Federation this afternoon, "there is the .further difficulty created by his employers, who,, in many instances,' are showing a; growing ten- : dc-ncy to restrict (he output. It is a wellknown fact that many employees rnrely give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay. i Whenever men possessed of grit and determination make an 'effort to push their work ahead, they are immediately told by certain of their co-workers to 'go. easy,' othe'nviso it would be unpleasant, for" them. ■'.■•'. , "Outside of those who can, but willnot, give a fair day's work for a fair,, day's pay, is another class of those who cannot eurn the minimum wago from want of • ability, lack of energy, or because of old age and decrepitude. The labour laws, press very-cruelly upon such. Hundreds of them are forced out of employment, and linto poverty because oho main plunk in tho labour plalforni is preference to unionists. The awards carrying this-clause,-it is said--and justly so, toc—becomo labour trusts. "A first-class artisan can, on. account, of his ability, command employment anywhere, and yet'he is eomrelled to join a union. He would be debarred from working otherwise, aud so often finds himself working side by sid>> .with an in-, competent worker who ; draws the same wages as himself. ■ ■ . ■. "It has been suggested that a clause might very w»U be added to our Arbitration A6t 'that- would provide for the compulsory grading of workers, who might be divided into Hire* classes, viz., first class (thoroughly competent); second class (not fully competent); third class (decrepit workers)."