THE EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 72, 19 December 1918, Page 6

THE EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION

ANNUAL MEETING THE ARBITRATION LAW Jj ■ El O The annual meeting of the New Zca- c land Employers' Federation was held n yesterday. The following delegates were ° present:—Messrs. T. Shailer Woston " (president), T. Ballinger (vict-prssiilent), li ; 11. Coull (treasurer), A. Spencer (Auckland), W. J. Thompson. A. Ci Mitchell, 11. Mainland, \V. A. W. Grenfell, sec- . rotary (Wellington), N. Meuli, A. Wcekes, , (secretary, Wanganui), C. F. Johnston °' (Manawatu), J H. Edmundson, W. P.' l Mitchell (secretary, Hawko's Bay), W. !' Goss, E. C. Brown, H. Broadhead (sec- r| retary, Canterbury), F- W. Mitchell, G. I' Clark, C.-A. Sliiei. A. S. Cookson (secrc- Ic lary. OtagoV W. Riddell (Southland). W. E. Fuller (Nf.}'. Shipowners' Federation), A. Spiforl. (N'.Z. Flnxmiliers' Association), ~ W. L. Thompson (N. 7.. Builders' Federa- l : tion), W. Judd t'N.7.. Master Plumbers' ,- Federation), and Dr. C. P. Knight (N.Z. , Gas Companies' Association). Apologies , for absence were received from Messrs. b ' T. Munt, W. Hopkirk. C. M. Luke, W. c R. F. A. Wpbb, J. R. Hay ward, A. AV. Beaven, and Captain Hammond. P The Arbitration Law, v The annual report referred to the pre- |j Gent position of the conciliation and ar- K bitralion law. "AVhile there have not been anv outstanding labour troubles," g it stated, "there has been evidence nf a movement to break down_ the system of „ conciliation and arbitration at present 0 in oppration in New Zealand. This ( movement was -promoted bv the more militant sections of organised labour, and has been supported latterly by a nnmberAof what nrc termed arbitration union's.™ Tho Arbitration Court was established co>itrarv to the. wishes of emnlovers, and in their opinion has consistently strained its powers' to enable it tn 21-ant. every concession to workers it legitimately could. It is nocessarv, j however, for both cmpiovers and work- -j pvs to givo some consideration to what it,is nropnppfl should take its place before | depi'ling to abandon it altoseffier. j "The position employes nt nrespnl find themselves in. i« that thev are , bound by the provisiops of industrial , acreoment": and awards while thp work- . prs—or thpir representn fives—observe j them and are only bound by ,tl>ppi fo long as it suits fneir purpose- This is amply demonstrated in tlip casps of the 80-ainen, coalniners, nnd Wellington tramway men, all of whom were parties to | rpcently-mado nf'eements or awnrds , whic'i 'they renudinted as soon as tl">y fo"id it convenient to do so. The , authorities took action asainst the , officinls of thp Seamen's Union, but did , not do so in the rnsp of the miners, nor j is there any indication of ir-nrnpflinip i l-oine taken against fi'e Wp"ii"rfo<i i tramway men for their undoubted , brea«liP3 of both H'p inHnstHal agree- ! nient and th» Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act/ ' "Employers are of the opinion that in ] I such cases prompt Hion should b» taken to eniurn a due oV-Tvanee of the industrial laws of the Dominion, nnd that \ arrrppniPllls or awards sho'i'dilip ennnlW binding on both sides. Tt is concded that so lnnff as there are industrial laws of f'"< nature nf tho=e n.t,pres"nf in force in New /.palaml. thnrp" must bp independent ji'dicinl tribunal who?e depisi'nns p'>aH' I>p final aiul bindiiiß on Iv)th narties. The onlv definit-o rpconpf,.,,p|ivc proposals yet sueecstpd. arp of such a nature fiat (hey cannot for a moment be considered. At tb" Labour Ooufpi-picp in Wellin»tou in July last, proposals were adontpd Vavincr for th"ir mnin obinr-ls jl'p formation nf opp l>ig upiop and (!"• rieht. not only to strike, but to call all wnrVers out on strike ( "v pvpp Hip most trivial reasons. Tho resolutions of that were luostlv of tim ndvancd I.W.W. type, which, if adopted, would renlare a ce>-tain moasurn of law and order bv industrial disruption and ai'.-i>-<?hv. Tli"l bciV flip case, if is essential that employers and tho more reasorfabV section of Labour, at any mle. shouM earpfuHv considpr. wliat is li'"<lv M take the 'Place "f our pres»nl iutlustrinl laws op the Statute Book befor-> .Ipfinilely deciding that a change is advisable. Capital and Labour. "Movements' in Great Britain wilh the end in view of bringing about better relations between Capital and Labour are many <md varied," continues the report. "Committees of various kinds have been set up, much literature has been produced, and tljero is evidence that tho more responsible -people on both fiides are endeavouring to bring about a better state of affairs than has been obtained in the past. Following last year's annual meeting, several of tho affiliated employers' associations have given considerable- attention to the matter so far as New Zealand is concerned. In New Zealand there is not the wide difference between the idle rich and the very poor that obtains, in the older countries of the world. Indeed, it may quite safely be said that there are neither the very rich nor the extremely poor in this country. '"In addition to that, both Parliament and people have decreed that tho unfortunate industrial and social conditions viiich obtain in some other countries will not get a fooling in New Zealand. Tho result is that with advanced Labour laws, the minimum wage clause operating in practically every trade and calling, and with conditions of work unsurpassed in any other country in the world, the workers' lot in this country compares more than favourably with other lands. That being the wise, there is not the opportunity to grant many further concessions, and so long as Labour leaders deem their first duty nnd last to be to secure still higher wages, shorter hours, and more restrictive conditions of work, without a corresponding improvement in tho quality and quantity of output, there is not much encouragement for employers to meet them in conference. On the other hand, it is believed , that if employers would make it their business to get into closer personal touch with their individual employees, nnd by some, means offer greater incentives for increased energy and opplication to work, it should result in benefit to all concerned. The solution of the matter is an entire change in; the mental and moral attitude of both employers and workers to each other. In this connection both sides would do well to study carefully the address recently delivered by the Anglican Bishop of Wellington on' this point. This question will be further discussed at the forthcoming anniiii! meeting, and it is hopei that delegates will be prepared to deal with it comprehensively and in a practical manner. , ' "'he "eport and lalancc-shect were . adopted on the motion of the president, whose, address is reported in another 1 column. . Election of Officers. 1 The following officers were elected:— I President, Mr. T. Sh.iiler Weston (elect- ■ ed for fifth term): vice-president, Mr. A. C. Mitchell; treasurer, Mr. IT. Coull . (re-elected) i trii<tces, Messrs. AV. IT. Bennett, C. M. Luke, nnd Dr. C. P. Knight (re-elected); auditor, Mr. W. C. Stephens, F.P.A.; Parliamentary Committee. Messrs. 11. I , '. Allen, S. C. Brown, J. Beveridge, C. N. Onthie, S. Kirkcaldie, and members of tho Advisory Board; finance- committee, president, vice-president,, and treasurer of feder--1 ation, I he presidents of Auckland. Cnn--2 terbury, Otngo, Tlnwke's Boy, and Southland Associations, and Messrs. A. C. Mitchell (Wellington) ami Weekes (Wanganui). RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED 1 The following resolutions were adopted: i Apprentice.-, and Technical Education. ' "Thai t'-is meeting is opposed to the " prim-:; ,, . , u- , allowing an apprentice time ' off diiri" , .' ordinary working hours to ' iittcnd rei-iiiiiral schools at the expensb - of tin' I'i'iplover, but strongly approves v ' (lie priiii'iple' of iMirauniging technical '■ stiiily liy gj'ii'i'-ing increased payment to 'i any"itpi'i-iMiticc qualifying at ihc picr scribed rxiruinalion-i."—Proposed by Mr. p A. C. lliichell. .seconded by Mr. Ucorgo 1 Clark.—Carried. p Union Secretaries and Strikes. ,f "That a clause be inserted in the s I.C. and A. Act providing that any secit retiu-y or officer of a union wlio h'kes action that leade lo a strike of tho n.em-

lici'3 of tho union without the union having authorised such action shall be liable to a penalty, niul shall be disqualified from lioldiiiu office in such union for a stipulated period."—Proposed by Mr. Grcnfell, seconded by Mr. i. C. Mitchell. —Carried. Election Day Holiday;. Mr. GrcnfcU moved: "That amendment be sought of Section 123 of the Legislature Act, 11108, so as to provide that the closing of shops shall bo recessary only on the afternoon of a general election, and that on the day of any byelection the provisions of the abovenamed section providing for reasonable opportunity being given to employees in factories to Tccord their votes be made applicable to shop assistants."—Carried. Partially Disabled Soldiers.' Mr, C. A. Shiel proposed, seconded by Mr. Spencer: "That steps be taken' to secure adequate repreieiitatir-d by employers on tho board controlling arrangements for the industrial training of partially disabled soldiers lo ensure that such training may bo of a practical aud satisfactory nature."—Carried. Territorial Camps. It was decided to communicate with the Minister of Defence and the Ftt'cuco Department officials and suggest ll.nt the Territorial camps should be abandoned this year in consequence of the disorganisation of trade owing to the influenza epidemic aud other causes. At the conclusion of the conference appreciation was expressed of the valuable services which Mr. Thomas Ballin e 'er had rendered to the association as president, vice-president, and treasurer. He had been connected with the federation ever since its initiation, and in those positions had rendered signal service with unflagging zeal. Complimentary references were also made to the work of the Advisory Board of tho federation and to the < liairnian (Mr. T. S. Weston).