N.Z. EMPLOYERS’ FEDERA TION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 911, 29 October 1910, Page 3

N.Z. EMPLOYERS’ FEDERA TION.

The annual report of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation submitted at the meeting held in Wellington on Wednesday, deals at some length with labour laws. “There have not been,” says the report, “any large industrial upheavals during the year ; but there has been no cessation of continuous deraauds for higher wages and shorter hours. On the contrary, these demands are becoming more insistent and persistent than ever, and signs are not wanting, especially among stronger and better organised Trade Unions, to show that they realise the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitratiou Act has doue as much as is possible, and that they are now prepared to adopt the ‘ might is right” attitude, and to drift back to the old order of things.” After referring to some recent demands, the report proceeds : “It would appear that the day of reckoning is not far off, and that ere long the question whether the Arbitration law is to remain will have to be faced. There must either be a law governing labour conditions, or the workers must depend on the strength of their organisations to secure their rights. The present ‘ half and half ’ position is most unsatisfactory, and either the workers as a whole must be loyal to the Act, or the Act must. go. Whether the best interests of the country would be served by the application of the law of the survival of the fittest principle is a matter for serious consideration by all concerned, employers, workers and the public alike. But there can be no two opinions expressed about the necessity for all affected being loyal to the Act it it is to remain on the Statute Book.”

The conference passed the following resolutions : This Federation strongly protests against the rulings of Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., in several cases of breach ot the prelerence clause of awards wherein he gave decisions contrary to the rulings ot the Court of Arbitratiou. That the Federation consideis the advisability of recommending that in connection with all industrial disputes employers should ask the Court to insert in every Award clause 14 of the Wellington Cooks’ and Waiters’Award, dated July 15th, 1910, which provides against prospective legislation.

That the advisory board be requested to devise a scheme by which the farmers of the Dominion might become afliiliated with the F'eierattion, and that the various employers’ associations endeavour to meet representatives of district farmers unions to lurther the objects of the above.

That the law should be amended so as to enable provision to be made in each industrial district for all holidays except those at Christmas, New Year, and Easter being observed on some fixed day in the weekOTHER BUSINESS. The conference considered the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. upon which are published under seperate heading in another column. An honorarium of twenty-five guineas was voted to Mr W. A. Grenfell for assistance rendered the Federation secretary during the year. The levy of affiiliated societies was fixed at the same amount as last year. The next annual meeting will be held at Wellington at a date to be fixed by the advisory board. Votes of thanks were passed to the advisory board, Parliamentary committee, the Federation secretary (,Mr W. Pryor) and his assistants and to the Wellington Employers’ Association for its hospitality.