ARBITRATION BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1927, Page 3

ARBITRATION BILL

(Ry Telegraph—Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. Before the Labour Bills Committee, on the Arbitration Amendment, Air ||. A. Seilcrt, representing the Flaxmillcr.s Association, said they were opposed to the Employers’ Federation’s view, hut should it he decided that am* industry must he exempted, then they also claimed exemption for theirs. Bci c the industry taken out of the Act, they would probably negotiate with the employees lor a reduction of the wages. •• AI y Association does not see how the country can continue to carry on, on a basis of increased wages ol 70 per cent as against an increase in the price of the produce of 30 per cent,” sail! witness.

Air W . Nash, Secretary of New Zealand Labour Party, will give evidence on Tuesday.

Doctor lielshaw. Professor of Economics at Auckland Fnivcrsitv College, advocated the appointment of two economists and judge in place of assessors and a judge for the Arbitration Court. lie had no objection to piecework as the result of collective bargaining, hut pointed out that while piecework increased effort, it might also lower quality. He saw no need for absolute uniformity. and if the majority of employers and employees in an industry preferred Trade Boards or private agreements, they should he allowed. lie did not consider the existing award damaging to dairy industries.

.Mr T. (). Bishop, Secretary of the Employers’ Federation, appeared to-day to refute the suggestion that the Federation was antagonistic to the primary producers.

In the course of his statement, Mr Bishop said: "There has been a suggestion made by certain witnesses before this Committee that the Employers’ Federation is antagonistic to the primary producers. I desire to place on record that the Employers’ Federation deplores any suggestion of their antagonism to the farming interests. Extracts from public pronouncements of the Federation clearly show that at all times the Federation has fully recognised not only the importance to the Dominion of the primary productions, hut also the difficulties which confront the primary producers. These statements, which have all been published at various times, should clearly establish the fact that the Employers’ Federation fully recognises the farmers’ position. and is only desirous of placing the whole of its knowledge and experience at the service of the farming enmmuu-