CONTROL BY UNIONS?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 8, 25 January 1937, Page 8

CONTROL BY UNIONS?

Danger Pointed Out To Master Grocers The danger of employers being controlled by industrial unions of employees was discussed by Mr. R. M. Baiw ker, secretary of the New Zealand Master Grocers' Federation, when he read a paper to the federation conference at Christchurch on the future of the body. He contended that there was • distinct danger which should be met before it developed to serious proportions. He also urged manufacturere to fix the retail prices of their commodities. "I believe that every employer of labour to-day, irrespective of trade, ia iaced with the problem of meeting the requirements of the present-day legislation," Mr Harker said. It was therefore necessary for the employer to fend for himself, and he could do that only collectively, he said. In some instances the appeal of grocers to manufacturers to fix retail prices had been answered, but many articleB still had fiuctuating prices. "I do not believe that there is sUch a disparity between the percentage of grocers' overhead charges to warrant the ridiculous disparity in prices," Mr. Barker said. "We need have no trepidation in asking ae manufacturer to fix the prices for his commodities. If the manufacturer wants the retaiier to act as a distributing agent he should pay a fair gross profit. "At the present time there is an idea abroad that the assistant engages his employer and the controlling force of his employment is the clock," said Mr. Barker in attacking the compulsory unionism legislation. "This is the direct result of compulsory unionism and I would say that one of the biggest dangers which will confront the whole ot the,. country before long will be that employers will be the slaves of the industrial unions. The employees' unions must not get the impression that they are controlling the employers. This sort of thing must be stopped in its early stages so that between employer p.nd employee there may exist that desirable relationship. I am not agitating for sweated labour, but unless the employer gets 20/- worth of work for every £1 paid in wages hte business cannot be successful "