SEPARATE INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3556, 30 October 1926, Page 4

SEPARATE INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCES.

WHY NOT COME TOGETHER?

It is often said that capital and labour arc partners in industry, that neither can get on without the other and that the greatest efficiency of both is required to effect general progress and maintain the welfare of our people. AJI of these things are true but thus stated are mere generalities. The fact faces us that Industrial Capital and Labour are organised in two separate camps and these are more or less in conflict with each other.

During last week the N.Z. Employers’ Federation met in Wellington and made its annual pronouncement. This week the Alliance of Labour has called a national unity conference. What occurs at the gatherings of these two big unions — one representing industrial capital and the other industrial labour. It is the case, we believe, that both spend much time uselessly in lecturing the other. The Employers’ Federation, through its president, the Honorable T. S. Weston, M.L.C., tells the workers what they should do for their own good and the good of the country, as if they were unable to decide for themselves. On the other hand the Labour conference, through its secretary, Mr J. Roberts, tells the employers of their sinfulness and declares for changing the whole economic system.

We have watched such proceedings on the part of both sides for years and fail to see that any practical results are effected by the partners in industry when thus acting. A few years ago we suggested the holding of a joint national industrial conference. Instead of talking to each other at a distance, or adopting the attitude of the superior person, fully qualified to direct what the other should do, it is thought that more good would result if the parties would come together and talk over their relations within the industries.

To the credit of the officers of some of the workers’ unions and employers’ associations, we acknowledge that a good deal has been done in settling of differences, by the parties coming together in mutual conference. What is wanted is to widen the field of such common understandings. We are quite sure that there are men engaged in our industries (both employers and workers) who are possessed of such common-sense as enables them to see the others’ point.

* SOMETHING MORE DEFINITE. ' Mr Weston recently suggested an industrial truce nr peace and he now adds “that it will be a pity if Labour leaders fail to appreciate the suggestion.” The question here arises has the suggestion been put in any definite form on which there might he mutual agreement and has it been properly conveyed to the Labour leaders? Tn short, is it. a practical proposal or the mere expression of a pious hope? / The matter of industrial peace and the general advancement of our industries so intimately concerns our people ns a whole that we have no doubt if the representatives of the employers and those of the workers wijl intimate their readiness to take part in either a National or Provincial Industrial Conference the Government would readily assist by calling them together. Here are three questions which might be discussed at such a Conference :

1. Review of existing methods for the settlement of industrial disputes with a view to devising improved methods which would ho mutually acceptable to employers and workers.

2. Consideration of the principle of establishing industrial councils representative of employers and employed for the joint advancement of industry.

3. The best means of stabilising conditions, in order to ensure the progress of our industries and maintain a good standard of living, have a. special regard to the relation of wages and prices.

At present both sides are objecting to the fixed legal methods of establishing wage standards. Can the practical men find some better methods? It is surely worth trying.

The questions we suggest may be altered or others substituted. What is vital is to put forward a few definite principles for the Conference to meet upon and allow other matters to arise in a natural way bv argument of those who have met. There is undobutedly a need to stimulate the industries of our country and increase their efficiency. It can only be done effectively by sensible co-operation on the part of employers and employed. To get this co-operation in any large way both must he given a candid hearing. For such reason wo again urge the need for joint industrial conferences. Unity and peace are, high ideals. It is only by coming together as rational beings we can hope to approach them. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare ' League).