LABOUR LEGISLATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 31, 31 October 1919, Page 3

LABOUR LEGISLATION

PROVISION FOR AMENDMENT OF AWARDS.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMENDED

Under the heading of "Labour Legislation," the annual report of the New Zealand Employers' Federation says: "During tho war period very few labour legislative proposals have- been dealt with by Parliament. During tho 1918 session, however, a clauso was inserted in tho War Legislation and Statuto Amendment Act, providing that tho Arbitration Court should havo power to amend the provisions of any award or industrial agreement so far as hours of employment or rates of pay were concerned. It is true this ciauso was rushed through in tho closing hours of the session without any opportunity being given for expressions of opinion by the federation on bohalf of the employers of labour of tho Dominion. It has led to alterations in tho rates of pay in practically all industrial agreements and awards, and thrown upon tho Arbitration Court and its Registrar an immense amount of arduous work. It has, however, served its purpose in tho exceptional circumstances which have existed, and has enabled tho rates of pay in even' trade and calling to l>e increased in accordance- with the cost if living, and tnkeu away from labour what otherwise might have bean a legitimate ground of complaint. Any sudden change in tho cost of living must give rise to individual oases of hardship, nnd it is- human nature for citizens to blame tho Government for the time being for these, rather than to assist in seeking out tho natural causes therefor, and endeavouring as far as possible to remedy them.. Those who have taken the trouble to do this must, wo feel sure, appreciate the good work done by the National Government in the regulation of prices through the Board of Trade, the rationing of tho scanty supplies of coal by the Munitions Board, and last, but not least, by tho passing of this clause The only ground for complaint is that tho good work done by the Government has not 'been nioro clearly nnd extensively advertised in oitlor that every ono of the general public should understand how well New Zealand has fared, and how little real grounds of complaint the worker and tho employer' in Now ZoaJland has compared with tho test of the world. If only both omployers and employees would moot each other with the one desire of tho general! good, and postpone demands for radical and extromo alterations in methods .of industry, until the wheels of industry commence to revolve again at their usual pace, the increased prosperity that would ensue would enable concessions to be wiMingly agreed to, which at present are quite impossible. "The Labour Bills introduced this session, some by private members, havo had the close attention of the Parliamentary Committee, and the necessary steps have been takon to bring all fair criticism of such measures before members of Parliament.

"Although there is at present no indication that proposals will be introduced this session dealing with day-time instruction for apprentices, it is evident from representations made and opinions expressed by Labour unions, technical school directors, a.ud others, that ore leng this matter will have to bo dealt with. Tho position in New Zealand is so very different in many respects from that obtaining in other countries by Kason of shorter hours, smaller plants, less numbers'employed in factories, and in other ways, that such a proposal must be opposed by employers. If adopted in New Zealand, it will inevitably lead to employers in many cases refusing" to employ young poople or teach them their trades.

"Ono of-the lessons of tho war is that given proper application, and a keen desire to learn quickly on tho part of the beginner, ho <—i bo trained to a Killing in a much shorter timo than was believed possiblo in pre-war days. The training of returned soldiers in new trades ia furnishing furthor useful information on this point. The need for more skilled tradesmen is very great in Now Zealand at tho present timo. For example, financo is tho lesser difficulty in tho solution of tho housing problem— however much money is available, there is not the requisite labour. Some genuine effort must bo made to shorten tho periods of apprenticeship in the skilled trades for clever and industrious youths. Good technical night schools, substantial increases in pay by way of bonus to youthstaking fns! advantage of those-, nnd careful attention to the training of their apprentices in all branches of their workby employers during the day, so as to shorten the period before fhey can become fully paid workmen, arc proposals which should.receive the hearty 6upport of members of this federation."