DOMINION EMPLOYERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 5

DOMINION EMPLOYERS

THE FEDERATION MEETS

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of tho New Zealand Employers' Federation, presented at the conference, held yesterday, elates that tho year just ended has been one of considerable anxiety to all employers of labour in New Zealand.

"Despite the fact that the workers in this country are probably belter treated both a.s regards wages, hours of work and conditions of labour than thosD in anv other part ot' the world," says the report, "there have been influences at work which have cnusrd indications of industrial unrest which nt almost any moment might iiiive developed into serious industrial warfare.

"At the commencement of the year it was the intention of.the advisory board that tho secretary should make a complete organising; tour of tho Dominion for the purpose of awakening a, greater interest m the work of the district asso : ciations. and in this way strengthen the federation generally. Unfortunately, however, in addition to'tho industrial disputes refenvd to al>ov« occupying his attention so largely whilo they were being dealt with, the influenza epidemic in November, December, and January, and the railway 'cut' in July and August, prevented the intended programme being carried out. Notwithstanding this, visits wore paid to Auckland, Hawke's Bav. New Plymouth, Wanga nui. Palmerston Norih, Clirisfchureh, and Timaru. At each place meetings were held and , interesting discussions took place regarding the work of the federation. . "The attention of affiliated bodies is directed to the necessity of sfrensjtheninz the financial position of the federation. Only the utmost economy nn,s enabled the Advisory Board to keep expenditure within income for the period under renew. If the federation is to bo enabled , to carry o;i its work effectively it is essential that its income should bo considerably increased The treasstatement to be presented to the meetine will give more detailed information with resard to. this matter.

Wave of Industrial Unrest. "Tho wave of industrial unrest which has soread over practically the whole of the civilised world is a matter which Kives occasion for serious consideration bv all classes of the community. While there is no doubt that to a certain extent it is duo to after-war conditions, and in particular, to reaction after tho nervous strain imposed upon tho people of the belligerent nations by the war, it is evident there is some organisation at work fomenting such disputes as may be exuected to occur in tho ordinary course of events, and using them to further the interests of that organisation. In Great Britain, for instance, there is abundant oroaf that the Government is apparently satisfied that Russian and German agents have been at work to a"2ravate the sense of grievance amongst the workers in that country, and m this v-av both embarrass the Government and urevent that increase in production which is so essential to the Empires interests. In Great Britain there may be »{id to be some reason, for some ot tne labour troubles which exist, in that millions of workers uuring the war earned verv high rales of pay, who previously earned comparatively low wages, and feel now they must fight to maintain their present standard, but even there the trouble has been accentuated by some of those whose interests lie in the direction of industrial turmoil and not in promoting' harmony between employers and workers. , ~ "In New Zealand, however, the conditions aro altogether different. Here the workers, in cases where the parties cannot settle their own differences, have access not onlv to the conciliation councilsand the Arbitration Court, but to Minis-, ters of the Crown to whom to reter then , Grievances and have them oealt wit.li. ' -Not only that,-but the temper of the public of this Dominion is such, that no ■: section of employers of labour dare, even ■ if it so desired, mete out anything but v the fairest treatment lo its. employees. 'Notwithstanding this, the period um.er " notice has been one of considerable ■ anxiety to your Advisory Board, ami i those who, by reason of the circumstances existing, have, to accept the re- ••. eponsibility of any action which may be taken. There is no question that there exists in this Dominion a small minority of persons, supporters of and agitators for Bolshevik and I.W.W. principles and propaganda. . , , , "The 'direct aclionist' who has adopted some of the methods of either or botn oi the above principles is now claiming support because of the concessions he has obtained from employers as the result of his methods of attack, and his limiting of all constitutional methods of dealing , with industrial matters. Wmit the 'direct actionist' fails to realise is that met))-, ods which, were successful. during the war, when 'win the war' was.the first and ouly consideration, cannot and j ' should, not be submitted to under normal ' conditions. If, therefore, this policy continues to be adopted, whatever Government may bo in power must deal with I ■ the situation and take such stepj as will . secure that the law <,i the land* shall be observed in industrial as well as all gthor 1 matters, and that law and order shall prevail over tin advocates of the strike, ■ 'go-slow,' and other means adopted by , some labour Iwidcr.i who desire nothing. ' else than that they should-control the industrial situation in this country." Three Outstanding Disputes. "During the year, three outstanding disputes were controlled by the organisit- ■ lion which, has adapted 'direct action' tactics, and only by the exercise of the greatest care and by the'employers conceding the limit of •.■oneessions was teri- , ous industrial trouble averted—indeed, in ," one case, there Ls reason lo icar that even yet the industries of the Dominion may be affected. The disputes referred to aro the drivers (horse and motor vehicles), waterside workers, and coal miners.

"Coal Minos Disputes.—The greatest amount of trouble, however, has been experienced in connection with the coal mines of the Dominion. Indeed, it miglit be said that labour londitjon;; in the mines havo been in a Mate of turmoil throughout the year. The lecord for the year is one of sirikss, go-slow, stop-work meetings, ami n general disregard by the Miners' Federation and tliu various unions of the agreements under wJiich they were working. For several years past tlio Miners' Federation lias striven for recognition by ':he coal mine owners, as the, medium through which agreements ehould be mads for the settlement of disputes throughout-the :onl mines of the Dominion. The coal mine owners declined to so recognise Iho federation until September last year, ivk'n a conference was held and u .'•eUleinent'agreed to which was to remain in force until fix months after (lie slate of war ceased. At tho samo time provisions wore tigreed upon for the setting up of Disputes (Joiniuittees to deal with disputes in the mines which might arisij during the currency of any agreement. The »jinin provisions v/erothat any dispute which could not be settled between the union concerned and the mamigeiynl; of tho particular, mine should lie rrferrsd first to/a district disputes committee, and failing settlement, then to the National Disputes Commit too. It was expressly agreed ,-vt the conference 'that no strike, lock-out, or unnecessary stoppage of work shall take place in any mine until tho matter or mailers in dispute have been dealt with as provided for above. n,nd that any decision of (lie National Disputes Committee shall be loyally accepted by all concerned.' It must at onco be admitted (lint tho principal members of the. executive of the Miner.-.' Federation which negotiated this agreement did their utmost lo have its provisions carried out. They were, however, not very long in office. Since their retirement there ho-- been constant friction r between the mine-owners, the fed- , oration, and the various miners' unions. "On June 25 lust, ii request for n ■further conference wn? received from the secretary of the Miners' Federation enclosing (leinniuTe for increased wages, tho ,n]>olitimi of tho and piecework iy3tems, and for conditions for a national a.gireiu?ul. The conference commenced on .August 1 and lasted more or .'less continuously until August 1.3. 'IV . employers offered to increase wages by 10 per cent, lo contract and piece workers, by 15 per cent, to shift men; but

retused to consider a national agreement as being impracticable on account of the 'different conditions operating in Hie various mines. The Miners' Federation refused the employers' olfer ami inaugurated a 'go-slow , policy in practically all the mines of the This policy of reducine the output has been in operation for four weeks at tho time of writing this report, with the result that in that time the output has been reduced by about 32,585 tons. The parties to this policy have already com-mitted-a breach of the 1.0. and A. Act, as the 'go-slow' policy is the most dangerous form of a strike. "Everything possible has been done by the employers to secure n satisfactory settlement of this dispute. Government, after hearing both sides, including full representations by the representatives of the Alliance of Labour, expressed the opinion that the employers' olfer was a fair one. Not one of those responsible for the trouble and the deliberate attempt to still further reduce an already insnfiieiont supply of coal have in any way !>een called to account. Surely a time must come, however anxious a Government , may be to act impartially, when the law must intervene in the 'interests of the general public to prevent the industries of the Dominion being held up in such a way as is being attempted in. this dispute.

The Labour-Capital Conference, "Early in tile year, representations were made to Government by the Federation of Labour that a conference between Dominion representatives of Capital and Labour was necessary in order to allay to some extent the industrial unrest which it was alleged ives rife throughout the Dominion. There is no doubt that meeting and discussion' is a .good method of removing misapprehensions and solving material difficulties, provide/1 both sides have a common interest in view, and a genuine desire to meet each other in a reasonable and tolerant spirit. Still no scheme for conferences, however'good in its conception, jvill lead to practical results if these requisites in its delegates are lacking. Unfortunately, at : present some of the most liromiuent Labour leaders are avowedly opposed to the capitalistic basis on which industries are established. Consequently, so long as they can wrest from the employer in any particular industry further concessions in wages and conditions, thus ensuring themselves followers, the ultimate effect of those concessions in the prosperity of that industry, and on those other industries dependent, upon it, is a matter of no concern to them. In fact, if the concessions gained are ruinous, so much the better, -as the destruction of those industries would, in their view pave the wny towards (heir replacement by others to be managed by themselves on behalf of the trade unions. Until labour is prepared to send to a national conference, men of moderate and broad-minded views, whose main object is not the.destruction. bv every possible means of tho .present industrial machine, and prevention of the individual workman utilising his nntiir.il abilities to the utmost for his own advancement, little real good will result. The great majority of employers in this Dominion are undoubtedly anxious to meet employees in a conciliatory spirit, mid, as far as possible, to pay high wages and improve conditions of work. Given the national prosperity which would inevitably ensue if there were a cessation of industrial disputes for the next two years, and labour • settled down to. really steady ar.d continuous productions, each mnn giving his best, much might be achieved/*

President's Address. The president, in moving the adoption of the annual report, apologised for his inability, through press-tiro of work, to deliver a written address. He referred, however, to certain practical matters thrvt cropped lip (lining tlie past year. There was first Hie frequent use by Labour leaders of tre tevni "wivre slaves." Every employer. nowptlnys realised that any fair and reasonable demand by 'his men niusl-.be granted, and to do the average employer "justice lie desired to <lo .?n. The. public was to-day the arbitrator in most industrial, disputes, and it was to be hoped Ivul learned to appreciate the absolute liollowness of fins mid similar expressions, which only tended to excito ill-will, and should be>.discouraged. Another matter was tlv npprlreni widespread belief that the adoption of tho Whitlpv svstem in the different industries would ip?o facto curs all industrial troubles. Xo such , .sehenio, however perfect on its face, would prevent these unless properly administered—without delegates on such councils from both employers and employees, tolerant, broadminded, and jointly anxious {o r'crense the prosperity of t'le industries they renrespiitpd. little good would be effected. Both on tho waterfront in New Zealand and also in the cot , ! miiv* somewhat similar schemes had been put into effect, but fo far Iwul not met with the success (hey should have. The Advisory Boiii'd in iN annual rermrt had referred to' the importance of action o<l the part of each individual employer in improvin? industrial harmony. During the Inst year many firms ami companies throughout Sew Zealand lmd recognised tjiis; and had taken steps, by the formation of shop committees, (superannuation and sick benefit funds, mid the encoura.wniMit of lucrative hobbies by their emplnvcps in spire lime to improve their well-l:."in,q, TiOgislntion could effect seme imurovement. but Wie most decided and lasting improvement came from the recognition by employers of a duty on th-?ir part to consider the welfare of their employees equally with tlv.'ii; own i«T.'onal interests. Wherever possible, having resard hi the conditions of each particular business, profit-sharing;, ami pensions schemes should be introduced. If only the present industrial uncertainty could be ended' much progress could be made. Writing from Washington the other day a prominent American newspaper man lamented that if onh- labour would be content to stand "put" for twelve mouths employers would have tho chanco to recoiiftruet. matters would come back to normal,, and then it would be easier to sec \\ihat real and lasting improvements in the condition.; of the. men could be made. The same applied to New Zealand. The present uncertain attitude of labour Jnrjroiy pi-ovented any decrease in the cos):, of living. Contractors would not accept contracts except with a largo margin for contingencies, and jobs taken upon a percentage basis were likely to civo rise to .abuses and grave trouble. The question'of Soviet management of industries had been brought into prominence oi' late. Apparently, however, from the reports of observers of, its working in .Russia, I'he freedom of action of the worker was not thereby increased. Ho was obliged to follow the caTiing to which he wax allotted and unable lo change it or to take n. holiday except with the consent of those in cfo-argp. The tyranny exercised by the Russian Labour toses was greater than that existing bofore the Revolution. Even in English'speaking countries the treatment meted to minorities in Labour unions is freqiipntiy opiii-i'siive and autocratic. With regard to nationalisation, no industry ought to be nationalised unless it was very clear t.hnt the cost of production in such industry would ha thereby largely reduced, or it had become a dangerous ■monopoly. In every sphere of option or thought the great tsseulial toward.? success was to have a definite objective. With tins, steady and continuous pr«eri'Ks could be madt , towards the devired result. Labour k'.'ced towards employers lo do Romrt.liing, employers were anxious to do that something—now what, should l:o their objective? He suggested that employee should decide that increases in grantc-d in war days RnOiilii not be withdrawn, however much the cost of living might be reduced. let employers by more efficient methods of working and tho introduction of improved machinery concentrate o<l Ihe reducing of cost of production mid thereby_ the cost nf living, wil'hout reducing the wasps paid. In this wav a permapjiilly improved standard' of livine would bo hrousht nbnnt. Next year it was to bo hopcil the flnvprnmeiit would introduce a measure enabling wm-fcers, with the ns-sif-laiicp of Ilieir pmplovors. to make provision'fiir nld au'P and sirkiipss. llnlh in stud in any housing sebenie ciii-pld.voi-d slidiilil cni'dially ussist.