LABOR AND CAPITAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9853, 5 November 1924, Page 3

LABOR AND CAPITAL

CLOSER RELATIONSHIP UNDER NEW ACT. IS PROPOSAL IDEALISTIC OR practical? WELLINGTON. Nov. 4. In the House to-night the Companies Ernpov.oi ing Bill was. on the motion of the Hon. <). J. Anderson, read a second time without debate. Tho Minister explained that before ar.y scheme m.Vier the Bill could operate the Arbitration Court intv-c certify that the scheme is favorable to workers taking up Labor shares in the company concerned. The House then went into com mi tt e on the Coal Mines Amendment Bill and all other Bills which were read a severed time and were passed through the remaining stages. Ou the third rending of the Companies Empowering Bill. Mr. Young said tho present Companies Act admits only tho right of capital to profits. but the Bill admitted that labor under certain conditions should he entitled to share in the profits and the management of the company. He

Imped it would bring about a closer relationship between Capital and Labow Mr. Massey said be bad soon a similar scheme working satisfactorily in the Yorkshire woollen' mills. Ho was pleased when lie first saw the draft of tiic present Bill. The proposal would make for better relations between master and men, both in the primary and .secondary industries. Mr. Holland said lie did not think the Bill would materially alter things at all. The Labor party was not opposing it, but was not enthusiastic about it. The originator of the scheme was an idealist and. that was what was at the back of the proposal, but Mr. Holland was unable to take the saiiin view as the Premier had taken' regarding it. Ala. YYiteh said that for once ho found himself in complete agreement with the Premier. Mr. Mr-soy: Proof that you are Incoming wiser. (Laughter.) Air. Ycitoli said that only suspicion between employer and employee would prevent the development of the ideal. There were safeguards in the Bill providing for the payment of award rates to workers. How could the worker fail to gain something, or at any rate, how could he lose anything? Air. Isitt said lie would be sorry il the Bill prv-sed into law. He recognised the sincerity to the originator of the. scheme, and .ho agreed that the co-operative- system was better than the competitive system, but the Bill was, not workable. The Hon. G. J . Anderson, Minister of Labor, said he believed the selitwe was the outcome of idealism, and would be successful so long as tho manager was of an idealistic temperament aiul put his energies in the direction of making the effort a success. Mr. AYilford: What about casual labor? .M r. Anderson: The .Bill does not apply to casuals. Air. AYilford: That is the point. Air. Anderson: It is an advance on what wo have at present. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. —Press Assn.