EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2209, 5 June 1908, Page 2

EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

GENERAL AIEETING. A general meeting of the Poverty Bay employers’ Association was held •in tho Farmers’ Club Rooms last evening, Air. A. F- Kennedy in the chair. There were about 30 members present. Air. AAC F. Cederwall read the report of the provisional committee, which contained the rules and' the constitution of the association.

The report was adopted, and the following officers elected: President, Air. C. A. DoLautour; vice-presi-dents, Afessrs A. F. Kennedy and G. Smith; general committee, Alessrs F. Gray, Brown, Friar, Rrocklebank, Zacnariah, Tustin, Cederwall, Evans, Preston, Dewing, Aluir, Black, Leydon, AlcKee, Oxenliam, Nicol, Alayuard, R. Robb, Grundy, Shierlaw, Redstone, AV. D. Lysnar, Dustin, Pasley, and Johnson; treasurer, Air. AV. F. Cederwall. The general committee will appoint an executive committee of Beven members, the executive committee to appoint a, paid secretary. Tlie following scale of subscriptions was adopted: For employers employing 4 hands and under 10s 6d per annum, 4 to 20 hands £1 Is, 21 to 30 hands £1 11s 6d, 31 to 40 hands £2 2s, 41 to 50 hands £2 12s 6d, 51 and over £3 3s; members of industrial unions of employers affiliated with the association aro admitted at onehalf tlie above rates with a minimum of 10s 6d.

The secretary read a circular,issued by the Hawke’s Bay Association, and drew attention to the following clauses: —Employers’ .associations aro not organisations for lowering the wages of the working man, as many ]>eople seem to think; we work on a much broader basis. AA T c aim to safeguard tlie industries of the. Dominion from the effects of-such hasty and illconsidered legislation as lias been made law in the past and from the exorbitant conditions sought to be placed oil them by. the socialistic, tendencies of tlie labor ’unions. AVo look on every man wlio is engaged in air industry which manufactures, produces or distributes anything as ono who is adding to the wealth of tho Dominion generally, and as such wo study to conserve and protect Ills interests. The labor unions have only attained their present power by combination and assertion. Let, therefore -the employers, who should be the controlling power of the industries, also combine and assert themselves, with no uncertain voice. The subscription we ask for is only a fraction of that paid to the labor unions by tlieir members, so why hesitate to join -with your fellow employers in attempting to secure fair and just laws. To carry out our aims effectively wc must have, and wo ask for your .support, morally and financially. Your industry may be the one affected at any time. Don’t delay, but fill in the accompanying application form at once, and thus becomo a. member of an association whoso solo aims arc the advancement and protection of all industries and trades throughout the Dominion. A vote of thanks was accorded the chairman, and the meeting closed.