SYNDICALS & RED FLAG.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1799, 11 July 1913, Page 9

SYNDICALS & RED FLAG.

EMPLOYEES' OPINION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) - , Auckland, July 10. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, held this afternoon, -reference was made to labour troubles. The annual report submitted by the executive dealt with the subject as follows: —"Your executive desires at the outset to> express legret at the continued discontent and unrtst which still exists amongst a certain class of workers throughout the Dominion, and which, under ill-advised leadership, is. gradually but surely retarding all industrial enterprise, and causing those who possess the necessary meaii9 for development of our splendid resources to scok investment of capital in other channels, and. is also to a large extent diverting available capital from other countries away from New Zealand. The propaganda of syndicalism, so-called Socialism, and defiance of all constitutional law and order, disseminated broadcast by the militant leaders of the organisation now known as the Eed Federation of Labour, if unchecked, will surely bring about industrial and commercial chaos, and will ultimately cause noedless distress to the whole of the workers themselves and their wives and families. There can be no question as to the fact that a very large majority of. bona-fido and rational workers of the Dominion are strongly opposed to tlie lawless and aggressive attitude adopted by tho leaders here referred to, and the time is fast approaching when they will realise their responsibility, and, firmly supported by the employers and general public, will flatly refuse to be further exploited, and wjll insist upon any grievances or disabilities which may exist being set right by lawful and constitutional methods."

The president of the association (Mr. D, Goldie), in presenting the annual report, said that the year just closed had oeen very eventful. Strikes had been very much in evidence, and had boon produced very largely at the instigation of the agitator, Common-sense would suppose that if a workman was not satisfied with the conditions under which he was working, ho would seek his employer and air his grievances, and if not satisfied with the result of the interview, would leave his employment, and seek something that would suit him better. What the worker should want was constant work at a fair wage, and that would always bo obtained from a reasonable employer, provided that he was. prepared to give a fair day's work for the wages paid, but, unfortunately for him in many cases, the agitator appeared upon the scene, and urged the worker to placo himself in his hands and he would get more for hira than ho was then receiving. Tho worker, believing l that thie promises of tho agitator would ba kept, strikes, with the result that, in all too many cases, tho exact opposite to that which ho was led to expect eventuates.