INDUSTRIAL PEACE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 6

INDUSTRIAL PEACE

Removal Of Causes Of Disputes REAL CO-OPERATION Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. I When urging the need to strive toward real co-operation between employer and employee, Mr. 11. C. Hassall, in his .presidential address at the meeting ot .the Canterbury Employers Association, inferred to the possioility of the association being able to assist in removing the causes of disputes between employer and eD Disput’es were inevitable, he declared, but much could be done if, when disputes were before conciliation councils, there were as representatives ot the employees men and women actually engaged and working in the industry, and not panels of paid union secretaries, and on the other hand, reasonable, humane employers. If that could happen they could at least try to banish the spirit which had existed for so long—both sides making up their minds not to see the other fellow's point of view. “Most of us have had to make our own way in the world.” said Mr. Hassall It we allow our memories to work we should be able to understand sympathetically some of the workers' difficulties or ambitions, and, without, surrendering our own claims for justice, we may succeed at least sometimes in creating an atmosphere in which there can be real conciliation, leading to peaceful and workable settlements.” Speaking of the desirability or employers seeking the point of view of workers, Mr. Hassall said that if employers had looked ahead years ago he was sure they would not be now, beset with some ot their present difficulties. Mr. Hassall said that now large employers had to pay large sums, as social security charge—some as much as xtiOOO a year, and others much more. If those firms had decided, say, 25 years ago. when taxation was relatively lignt, to set aside half the sums now paid under compulsion. to establish sick benefit and superannuation or pension funds, the schemes might have been self-supporting today. ‘ . With large groups of contented workers, sure of economic safety -in their declining vears. no Government would have met with much support for such a costiy scheme as New Zealand now had, and they might even have escaped the curse of trade union rule.