"Strictly Private and Confidential."

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 66, 14 June 1912, Page 3

"Strictly Private and Confidential."

The Employers and the Workers.

Copy of Circular Issued by the Employers' Association.

(Strictly Private and Confidential.) NEW ZEALAND EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Circular No. 48. Organising and Defence Fund Schemes. A plan for tiio complete industrial organisation of all employers ot labor in Now Zealand. Tlie serious consideration of Now Zealand, industrially and politically, at the present timo calls for earnest consideration by all classes, and particularly by employers of labor, and those having any stake or interest in the country. Tbe aggressiveness and combination of large sections of workers enrolled under tho Revolutionary Socialistic banner of the Now Zealand Federation of Labor havo given the Advisory Board anxious thought, with the result that it has been decided to place, tin* issue fairly before afliliated bodies in the hope that prompt, and effective steps will bo taken to place our organisation in a position to be strong enough to deal with any attacks which may bo made upon our members. Tho position industrially is that, as (he Arbitration Court has gone as far as it is possible to go in the way of increasing wages and imposing further restrictions on our trades and industries, organised Labor is looking for other means by which other concessions can be secured. Workers are organised in two sections :— (1) Under the United Labor Party : (2) Under the New Zealand Iteration of Labor. Tlie United Lahor Part v. which includes the Trades „ndJ>.bor Councils, while being a Sooi>rfsl ie body, as its claim for the "gradual securing cf the public ownership of all (lie means rf production, distribution and exchange" proves, remains amenable to the law, and retains the registration of the various unions under (lie Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but is ma':ing strong efforts to secure acme amendments of the law whereby the personnel of tlie Presidency of the Arbitration Court will be changed, and so that, if possible, someone with strong Labor leanings will be appointed. It is evident, if the President of (he Court is to Ik! any nerson other than one independent of political control or free from the domination of Labor, the position created will he an intolerable one for employers of labor and a menace to the trades and industries of the Dominion. Tlie New Zealand Federation of Labor is admittedly a Revolutionary Socialistic body, having for its main purposes "tbe overthrowing of private ownership and the substitution of collective ownership.'' This organisation flouls Ihe law of the country, demands tin- recking of agreements which it holds I lie right to break at any time, and attempts the tarrnrisation of those engaged in industry and enuiii'erce by the threat of the general strike and the paralysing of trade. Tho position is such that at any time a great industrial disturbance may break forth, and the time has come to put our forces in order for self-protect ion and to adequately meet the forces arraigned against us. Owing to the fact ih:tS preference to unionists is universally granted, and that all workers are compelled to pay weekly contributions to the union funds, these funds are mounting up by leaps and bounds and enabling trade organisations to spend more money in n month in furthering (heir propaganda than the employers are doing in a year. If employers are to combat the trade unions' aggressiveness, more money must be spent; and more organisers engaged. "Without a substantial increase in the staff of the 'Sniployers' Federation tlie position cannot be met, and tho cause of the employing class will become hopeless. It is worthy of note in this connection that beyond the secretaries of local Employers' Associations and afliliated bodies, the Now Zealand Employers' Federation has but one man, who acts as secretary. organiser. Arbitration Court advocate, and Parliamentary representative --- surely sufficient work to engage tjie energies and attention of another three or four capable officers. Opposed to him there are. in (hi- service of the workers' organisations, four highly-paid lecturers, some of them university men, employed continuously at platform work: at least '20 organisers continuously moving up and down the country, and four newspapers

disseminating information and inculcating the tonus, beliefs and aims of militant Labor. The position is exceedingly serious, and causing those who are closely following tho trend of events the gravest anxiety. It demands the immediate-attention of ail concerned, and calls for closer combination, more complete organisation and the. means whereby the effective work of our organisation can be extended, and the assistance of the professional, commercial, manufacturing, mining and farming classes of the community secured in tho active work of tho Federation. In fact, the situation calls for the complete consolidation of all the forces of the Dominion whoso interests aro threatened by tho dominion of Labor. The political situation also demands consideration. Tho persistent call for legislation of a more restrictive and still more radical and Socialistic character is being heard on every hand and listened to by certain of our politicians with sympathetic ears. The fact that our industries are, in many cases, not oven holding their own, and in others are just able to carry the burdens imposed upon them, appears to have no effect upon some of our legislators. It is necessary, therefore, (hat such inllnoncp should be brought, (o bear upon Parliament that sal isfaelory assurances may bo gained that relief, where needed, will be secured and that no further induslrl:! restrictions will he imposed. The Advison Board, having had the question of extending the operations and strengthening the position of the Federation under consideration for some time past., and a number of the affiliated bodies Inning notified their approval of the inauguration of a scheme for these purposes. it. is thought advisable to place tho following proposals before the different bodies connected with the Federation for consideration, object of having the matter fully discussed and <Va!t with at the next annual general n-i eting of the Federation, ft is quite evident to your board that the activities and tho extent of effective work of the Federation have reached tlie utmost limit under existing conditions, and that if tlie Federation is to keep pace with the times and perform the functions the present industrial situation demands, an increase in the head < (bYe stall', the appointment of permanent organisers, tho establishment of an < ffoetivo defence fund, and moans adopted for scouring the publication r-f '.lie views of the Federation are nhsilutn necessities. Head Office Staff.-U is recommended that an assistant secretary be appointed to act as understudy <o 'Mr. Prvor and assist generally in the i.f----fk-e. 11 has been apparent to the Advi«o!y Hoard for some time thai such an appointment is necessary, as should anything happen to the secretary at any time, there is not anyone immediately availabl-- to lake his piaee. Also, such an official would be available and fitted in comparatively short time to fill any vacancy which may occur in the secretaryships of cither of (he principal Associations. Permanent Organisers.- i. least one organiser should be immediately appointed, and if found successful, another—one to worlc the North Island, the other tho South Island. The duties of these officers would lie to meet employers in groups, organise (hem in trade associations where practicable, assist local secretaries to secure increased membership, and engage in general phi I form work', and thus strengthen the Federation and provide (he funds for i he increased expenditure incurred if the above recnniiuondalintis are adopted. Defence Fund.- The board, while acknowledging that thanks are due to the Wellington Association for again '♦ringing this mailer forward, is of opinion that the proposal of that body is not of such it character to .secure suf-

fieient money to provido an effective fund within reasonable time. It is, however, both desirable and ii:.ees.saiy that such a fund should be e.-.tablijh-ed, and the suggestion is therefore mado that the organisers, in addition to increasing tlie membership «.f Iccal associations, should secure !' nm the traders and manufacturers of the Dominion annual subscriptions to a fund to carry on tho work of the Federation, and to be used in defence of employers' interests as may bo found necessary and advisable. Utiloss employers aro prepared to subscribe a yearly contribution, which must be liberal enough to allow for the extension of the work and scop*> of the Federation and build up in time .a. defence fund, in addition to their subscriptions to their local associations, it will be impossible for them to hold tiieir own against tho forces that are opposed to them Official Organ.—Another matter worthy of consideration is the question of adopting means for securing tho periodical publication of the views of the Federation. It is understood that the Associated Chambers of Commerce are contemplating a move in a similar direction, and perhaps it might be found practicable to join hands with them. WM. HOPKIRK, President. T. SIIAILFR W.FSTON, Yicc-prea. Wellington, April 2, HM-.