LABOR MATTERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2209, 12 October 1907, Page 2

LABOR MATTERS.

J THE MARCH OF SOCIALISM. ARBITRATION ACT A FAILURE. Press Association. L. DUNEDIN. Oct. 11. The annual meeting of the Otago Employers’ Association was held this afternoon. Mr. J. C. Thomson, president, was in the chair. The annual repont stated that practically the whole of the employers in Dunedin and suburbs were members, and in concluding it said:—“The one enemy which threatens the interests of the Dominion -generally, and employers in particular, is the growing Socialism of the Labor Party. It is manifest that before long an independent Socialistic Labor Pantv, whose aim will be to exploit Parliament in the interests of one class to the exclusion of all others, will-have to be contended with: - It therefore behoves employers to strengthen their organisation and maintain their finances, so that they may be ready to meet all emergencies.” The cliairman s address dealt mainly with the Arbitration Act, one speaker conU 1 at the Act could never fulfil the purposes for which it was created. It was an Act that was to be used for intervention when a | strike was imminent. Thev knew too well to their cost that it had never been used in that way. but in totallv uiiterent directions, to the demoralising of the working classes and the weakening of the friendly relations that should exist between emplovers He field that an Act which could not be forced absolutely should not long cumber our Statute Book. It had been a very expensive expeiament, ana should bo condemned as a faillire. ■ The position reached to-dav was that persistent efforts were made to prevent young people from learning trades and to prevent elderly men and those unable to claim firstclass rank from earning a livelihood, to seriously reduce the efficiency of tabor, to lower effort, to destroy ambition, to repel capital, and to widen the breach between capital and labor, instead of promoting their working in harmony! _ The widening of the breach was being steadily increased, and was being accentuated by the tactics of the Labor party and the Political Labor League, and employers must seo the necessity- for ever-increased vigilance. Mr. J. C. Thomson was re-elected president, and Messrs. 11. Chisholm and J. W. Hinton were reappointed vice-presi-dents. Messrs. R. Chisholm. J. W. Henton, C. AY. Rattray, and J. C. Thomson were elected to the Federation executive.