THE EMPLOYERS' YEAR

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1502, 26 July 1912, Page 9

THE EMPLOYERS' YEAR

A SEASON OF UNREST.

ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of tho Wellington Employers' Association states that numerically and financially tlio strength of tho association is increasing, -while its value as a medium of advico and assistance on all industrial matters is becoming more ami more recognised by all classes of employers. It is believed consultation with tho association has in very tunny instances proved a saving of much time, trouble, and expense to members. Sixty new members have joined the association during the last twelve, months, while 1G members have withdrawn. '

The formation of several trade Eeotions into independent associations has, and will, continue to affect the number of individual employers comprising tho association,. but the affiliation of tho various trade sections is, on the other hand, adding to the strength of tho association, and assisting towards the combination of employers into one solid body. "The period under review," the report states, "has proved tv very stressful one. owin§ to the unsettling of workers ana working conditions by irresponsible agitators, who, being dependent upon their uuions and the contributions of the workers for their livelihood, apparently consider tho only moans they have of showing justification for their continued employment (in comparative idleness) is to keep alive a ferment and maintnin a continuance of industrial unrest.

A Stressful Period. "•In tho ordinary courso of dvents some trade disputes may be expected, but the great majority of those which-have called for attention during the past few years have not been due to tho existence of real grievances, but rather to a practice which has arisen under tho Arbitration laws for fresh claims to bo made by each union as soon as tire term of its award has expired. One result of this line'of action on the part of the unions has been to demonstrate to investors the uncertainty of working conditions in our industries, and it is certain that the absence of settled industrial lnws and fixed rates of wages has seriously retarded the investment of capital in various industries. Tho last annual report of the Department of Labour shows that the number of our factories is not increasing, although tho population is. "The existing unrest and the methods adopted by some unions and their leaders of perpetually keeping up disputes, real or manufactured, between workers and employera, in addition to hindering the investment of capital, are no doubt having a baneful effect upon the daily life of many, workers, ■ and influencing their mental and , moral attitude towards their work and tlieir employers. .

Conciliation Council Defects. ; "Your committee in its Inst annual report stated that the conciliation provisions of the Arbitration Act were operating more satisfactorily than formerly, but the continuance of this satisfactory state of things is threatened by the nomination and appointment of union secretaries or other union officials as council assessors. Employers' assessors, who are not able in the stress of business, to make a close study of industrial matters, thus find themselves on the opposite side of the council table, to those, who, by .reason of their calling as union secretaries, have special knowledge of the various provisions of their pristine awards and their effect in operation. The extent to which the employers' assessors are handicapped will bo easily realised. There is no doubt the intention of the Legislature was that three actual workers and three employers should form tho Conciliation Councils in order that matters in dispute might be discussed, and if possible adjusted by those who would be directly affected by any settlement, and who, failing agreement between tho parties to this dispute, would; be able to make a practical and reasonable recommendation to the parties. In tho opinion of your committee the-im-portation of :outside persons as assessorsin local disputes is unnecessary, and is In violation of the real spirit of the concuiafuon provisions of the! Act. - It is well, tho people of the Dominion should, know that the law'provides for the payment of travelling expenses and fees to assessors, and it'is probable that a considerable sum of money has been paid'out of ithe Consolidated Fund to cover the expenses of those assessors who have bpen brought from long> distance's to act on Conciliation Councils.

"The'extent'to which outsiders have been imported into disputes in the various Dotainion centres and union'secretaries have.been nominated as. assessors stives the impression that the Consolidated jund is being exploited in the interests of trade unionism. Tour committee suggests that the operation of the • conciliation clauses of the Act would be greatly improved if Ijhe law' were amended to provide that every, person nominated as an assessor must at the time of tio hearin*of the dispute be actually and bona fide engaged or employed in the industrial district within which the dispute has arisen either as an employer or as a worker in the industry in respect of which the dispute has arisen*:

Shopkeepers and the Law. "The operation of restrictive clauses in the ill-conceived Shops 'and Offices Act is proving unnecessarily harassing to a number of shopkeepers. As the law now reads, employers who, owing to rush of business or , other unforeseen circumstances, aro sometimes compelled to rcqttiro assistants to work overtime, must first secure a permit from the Labour Department, and as it is. obviously very often impossible for an employer to know until late in. the day that his men must work overtime it will bo readily seen that a breaoh of the Set is inevitable and unavoidable. This is especially so in the caso of drivers whose duties are to go certain rounds in the suburbs. '. '■ ■ "In fact this Act calls for immediate revision by our Legislature. Eeasonablo restrictive conditions aro not complained of provided they operate against all competitors alike, but many business people justly complain that they are tied down to cortam working hours and conditions while others in the same lino of business are free to arranse' their hours, day or night, as best suits them." ■ ,