CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 225, 17 June 1919, Page 6

CAPITAL AND LABOUR

SIR JAMES ALLEN'S VIEWS,

A conference of representatives of Capital and Labour, to consider a scries of proposals for industrial reform, was proposed some time ago by the New Zealand Federation of Labour. Speaking soon afterwards at Dunedin, Sir James Allen made some references to the industrial unrest, with special relation to the federation's proposals. He' spoke of what had been achieved in Britain, as evidenced by the Whitley Reports, in giving workers a share in the management of industry, and suggested that there was a good deal in common between the New"-Zealand Federation of Labour scheme and the reports of the Whitley committees, and of the Garton foundation.

Sir James Allen was asked by a .reporter whether the Government proposed to tnke anv action in regard to the proposed conference, in the way of taking some part in the calling of' the conference. The Minister sai'd that the Government had not then decided to do this, but the general desire of the Government was to bring about, if possible, an. understanding between Capital and Labour. The f|uestinn at Hie moment was whether any good would eorao .;f a conference at present. It seemed the.t (ho parties wore still mutually suspicious. This suspicion would have to be removed and a better atmosphere created before a conference could do' much Rood. Personally, he hold the opinion that employees" should be given some part in the management of industry, in order that they might appreciate the problems and difficulties of employers. He believed that the indications were favourable, but any attempt to hasten union by a conference before the parties were prepared for a rapprochement would, he thought, lessen tho possibilities of good results, and might undo some of the good already dono.'