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Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1928, Page 2

Tun Tndustial Conference to take place at Wellington next week is viewed from different standpoints. AelnnPv it should he pregnant with possibilities, but there are those who decried the outcome. The conference is the outcome of the dropping last session o-f the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which hud such a hostile reception when introduced as a Government measure. The bill dealt with various aspects of trade unionism which aroused the ire of organised labour, and there was the prospect of a hitter fight, till Government withdrew the measure, and decided on the forthcoming conference to gain a further insight as to the views of employer ami employed. The Atelliogloa Trades Council in commenting on the forthcoming meeting says: ‘A our committee does not propose to make any forecast as to the result ol the conference from the point of view of the welfare of our members. We do suggest, however, that it is the most important coulerenee we have been failed upon to participate in. and mendieis can rest assured tbat tbe council’s representatives thereon will be fully seized with their responsibility." The possibility of a satisfactory outcome from the Conference does not appear very promising, hot the Lyttelton Times puts the matter very fairly when it says that conferences as a rule are futile things unless some bold spirit who knows his own mind is prepared to give a lead, and the whole object of this Industrial Conference would he defeated if an attempt were made to commit it to any particular proposal at the outset. Ihe visei course would be to ascertain at once the points on which a majority of the delegates or of their organisations can agree and to make those points the basis of discussion. The prospects of unanimity would thus be discovered without delay, and the inevitable arguments would he given definite direction and some measure of relevance. This Conference will need certainly wise leadership.