NEW SOUTH WALES INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 910, 27 October 1910, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION.

CONDEMNED BY EMPLOYERS. Sydney, Oct. 26. The Syduey Chamber of Manufacturers has decided to convene a conference to consider the trend of industrial legislation and other matters affecting industries in the State. Some strong speeches were made against some of the laws now being placed on the Statute Book. The mover of the motion claimed that the manufacturers were surrounded by a net-work of laws enacted for the benefit ot the employees without due consideration of their fairness or possible results. Mr Wunderlich, president of the Chamber, claimed that no one could shut his eyes to the gravity of the situation. The ultimate object of all this legislation was that the men should rule the masters. Already they dictated hours, wages, and the class of labour employed. The next step would be the governing of profits. Once that point was reached the final step would be in the direction of laying hands on the profits on the plea that individual welfare should yield to national interests. In the near future they would have to face the danger of an attempt at the wholesale nationalisation of all sources of industrial wealth. Who of those having capital and life interests in industry were going calmly and weakly to submit to such revolutionary methods ? One speaker warned the Chamber that the proposed Conference was a great mistake. It would be like holding a red rag to a bull. “ Better leave well alone,” he said.