A FAILURE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1116, 2 May 1911, Page 6

A FAILURE.

LABOUR LEGISLATION IN NEW ZEALAND. SPEECH BY MR. PRYOR, INDICATIONS OF COMING TROUBLE. IBy Tckerapli-Pres3 Assoclotion.l Wanganui, May.l. Mr. Win. Pryor, secretary of the New . Zealand Employers' Federation, addressed a large meeting hero this evening. He reviewed the history of the Industrial Conciliation Act which has now been in operation for sixteen years. Contrary to the fond hopes of its sponsors, instead of the Act being the means of stopping all industrial troubles it had been tho means of manufacturing them almost without end. Trade unionism was in the hands of extreme Socialists. Despite increased wages, shorter hours, and restrictive conditions, the cry in every industry was for more. There had grown up an organisation called the New Zealand Federation of Labour, whose policy was a policy of strike. Its aim was to secure the cancellation of registration of all unions undeV its control, and then yrlien the time seemed opportune to declare a general strike. The gold and coalminers' unions, the .shearers' and dairy factories unions and others wero connected with the organisation, and thero was no .doubt that tho waterside workers' and seamen's unions were in sympathy with it. Mr. Pryor declared that tile New Zealand Labour party was a Socialistic organisation in disguise, and indications were not wanting to show that it would, take little indeed to promote industrial strife among the unions joined to that body. Many predicted that, ere long New Zealand would find itself ill the threes of - iho most serious industrial trouble ever known. Mr. Pryor said that the labour legislation had been a failure both from the employers' and from the employees' points of view. Notwithstanding New Zealand's long period of prosperity .and high prices, , manufactures were throttled. Business men wero prepared to sell their interests in many cares at considerable sacrifice. Worse than all, it seemed almost impossible to persuade those having money to put it into labouremploying concerns. Ho could quote authentic cases of this. Last session much heavier burdens were placed on those affected. A rest frc-m labour legislation was needed, or a period of depression would follow. The speaker also dealt: with the shortage of labour ail(l the restrictions imposed on apprentices, no advocated a safe and progressive immigration policv to meet the shortage and the insufficient birth-rate. Overtures by the federation to Mr. Millar had been made, but nothing was done, presumably becauso of opposition by the Trades and Labour Councils. The position was be- ' coming acute. Mr. Pryor then dealt with the political outlook. Ho said that party polities were unknown to tho federation, but ho pointed out that tho position to bo feared was that of returning a small radical Socialistic party, as it could and would do more harm than a Labour Government, by making tho Government and the Opposition bid against each other for its support. The Labour party was of opinion that, with twelve men in the House, it could s.ecure more for the workers than a Labour Government could. The wisest heads :u the Dominion should bo put together to prevent such a catastrophe, and the interests of the country should bo put before party interests.