CO-OPERATION

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1928, Page 5

CO-OPERATION

THE KM IM.i >YER.S .MOV I 1

(Times Service)

('Received this day at !). a.in.) LONDON. Dee. 17

The “Times’’ in a hauler, on cooper,a I ion .• emphasising that within a (j;- v ~r two employers will ne n.•eel ing 10 examine in'iiM i iul eo-operai ion. recalls I h.ai iusl a year has elapsed since Lord .\leleh"H launched the proposal, bat whereas , the Tiades Union Emigres'- publicly debated and approved the scheme in September, employer-; are meeting, in private leaving the public uiiiulnnncd concerning the nature and force of the ariigmenls inlllleueillg I heir action, regarding « paramount industrial question. Hitherto two employers associations, although reciprocating a desire* tor hotter understanding are not permitted hv Ihe constitution to undertake such nogol iat ions, hut a method o( linking 11 will he found, if the purpose of negotiations i- approved. Perhaps ihe Employers Association have a lingering suspicion of Trades Unionist intentions Iml the only proof of a change of hear! is the practice hand, which Trades Unions have done hv ilm adoption of a policy ol coop.'ration. Meanwhile the interim report published in .Inly as a iesii.lt of the em-pl-ivci's and trades unionists unodieial discussions, indicates a joint desire for co-operation, hut if is iiieomplele, and if tlm movement is whittled down lo an improvement ol flu; nt;iehinei\ for dealing with disputes, the incentive will largely evaporate. M liolehearted co-operation is needed to-day. hut the word making co-operation an earlv. hopeful experiment, has at this stage to he spoken by the employers.