Capital and Labor.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1922, Page 4

Capital and Labor.

<Me>CONFERENCE SUGUESTED

WELLINGTON, Feb. 22. A proposal tor the creation ot a better feeling and a Getter understanding between Capital and Labour, introduced by Auckland delegates at the sitting oi tiie New Zealand Industrial Corporation Conference to-day, gave rise to an interesting discussion. Mr D. Dearsley. (Auckland) said that the problems and dilficulies that nowadays presented themselves were principally the result ot misunderstandings in the past and the application of wrong principles. He was convinced that the present means of adjusting industn disputes sadly needed overhauling. He moved: “That this conference recommends tho Industrial Associations of the Dominion to endeavour to arrange in their respective centres a conference with the manufacturing section of Labour Unions, with a view to creating a better understanding of our mutual interests jju the development of our secondary industries.” Mr J. Finlay (Auckland) deprecated a, policy of strikes and other methods of direct action. The only means of settling disputes was to fight or meet the other side in a spirit! of concilia-

tion. ; Mr A. C. Mitchell (Wellington) < 1 posed the motion. The ironmasters ol - Wellington had last year called such a Dominion conference with employees but the proceedings had hardly opened when it became apparent that the union secretaries had not come together in the best spirit. There was no intention on their part to conic to an amicable agreement. There was not a single point on which agreement was reached, and the disputes were referred back to the Provincial Conciliation Councils. At those sittings complete agreements were reached, which were later converted into awards by the

Arbitration Court. That. lie said, was convincing testimony of the hopelessness of a combined conference, and of the efficiency of provincial confcrencles, in which individual interests had more direct representation. The Employers’ Federation Conference, held in Wellington last year with the* same object, was also a complete fiasco. No good purpose could be achieved by such conferences, and ho questioned whether the Industrial Corporation was the right body to take the matter up. It would bo distinctly futile to call such a conference as was proposed. It would be fraught with danger to the manufacturers and unions represented. Mr F. W. Hills (Auckland) said he could not agree with the views of the previous speaker. His remarks were not borne out hv the indications in Auckland. He thought if such a conference was held, an agreement could be reached on quite a number of points. He heartily suppored the motion. Mr .T. A. Frostick (Christchurch) sup

ported the underlying principle of the remit. Ho thought the fnilure to reach an agreement referred to hv Mr Mitchell was due to {lie fact that the Employers’ Federation was a belligerent organi nation, which had been forced, into the militant action adopted by organised Labour. The Employers’ Federation had got into the habit when certain principles were under discussion of claiming to represent the whole of the employers of New Zealand. No really satisfactory result could be expected when strength was pitted against strength. They must be con-

tent to earn the oontictenro or trie workers by slow degrees. He suggested to the Auckland delegates that the remit should b<* referred to tlie incoming executive of the Association for consideration, and for thei drafting of subjects for discussion. Mr Mitchell said that, in his experience, Dominion or provincial conferences were unwieldy. He therefore favoured a settlement of disputes at the centre at which they were created. The president (Mr Ward) said that if the subject of settlement of disputes by conciliation and arbitration was discussed at the conference, the parties would get further and further from finality. Ho maintained that the principle of arbitration had not broken down to the extent which Mr Dearsley bad made out. It was an unfortunate fact that the militant section of Labour frequently dominated the saner section, and unless the sane section could be brought together, exclusive of the extreme section, lie had grave doubts! as to whether anything could be achieved.

Mr Dearsley said that they could make no progress until they got in contact with the great mass of the workers, apart from the secretaries who spoke for them. After further discussion, the motion was amended to stipulate that conferences be arranged “with employees engaged in manufacturing trades,” and in that form it was carried.

cause tlie emoluments of the world were greater. 11c feared that short;'<£•:* was due in no small measure to lack of iniWmalion and anneal. The Rfev It. F. Rotlivell was ' elected president for 1923, and the Rev A. Ashcroft secretary for 1923. Mr L. A!. Isitt, M.P., was elected vice-presi-dent for 1922.