A Deputation.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 66, 14 June 1912, Page 6

A Deputation.

Minorities and Arbitration;

The Waihi Strike.

About 20 of the delegates Avho have been attending the Federation of Labor Conference at Wellington waited yesterday (Juno G) upon the Hon. G. Laureuson (Minister of Labor), to suggest an amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act< The Hon. J. Colvin (Minister of Mines) attended later, and received representations in regard to working conditions in mines. Mr. P. C. W 7 obb (President of the Federation) said that tho deputation represented some seventeen or eighteen thousand discontented people in this country, and they had come to lay their, grievances before the Parliament of the country. The deputation submitted that originally it had not been intended to make the arbitration law compulsory, but recent- eases like that at Wailii seemed to indicate that the law was absolutely compulsory, and that it could be so applied that a minority could compel a majority to conform to tho arbitration law. They held that this was wrong, and hoped that the outcome of this deputation would be, if not the repeal, at least the amending of the. Act so tliat a minority could no longer coerce a majority. The Federation Organiser. Mr. R. Scinplo (Federation Organiser) said that the law provided that a union could cancel its registration. They now found that a minority, after cancellation had been agreed to, could form a union and apply for an award covering the whole of the industry concerned. 'This had been demonstrated at Kaita.ngata. The Federation held that it was absolutely ridiculous that a minority should be able to sot aside the decision of a majority of the industrial democracy which had decided to cut away from the court. The men who had formed a union at Waihi were, not oven a majority of the enginodriveri?. A small handful of men, under cover of the Act, had attempted to coerce a much greater number. Unions, alter being rebuffed in the Court, had decided (in accordance with the law) to sever their connection with the court. It would not tend to promote industrial peace if small minorities wero to be allowed to drag the majorities back again. The result would he industrial upheavals all over the country. It had been said that wherever the Federation of Labor intervened in industries strife followed, but this was not tho case. Ia the coal-iiiining industry there had beer: industrial peace for four years. The employing class was behind the union recently formed at Waihi. An attempt had been made by the employers to create such a union when the last industrial dispute arose at Waihi. It wag done with a view to creating dissension? amongst the workers. Now that one union at Waihi had been registered it was quite possible that attempts would bo made to form other unions. If the Arbitration Court could not be better administered, it had better bo wip«"d out altogether. Tlie Federation was not out to break the law. All that its members wanted was better conditions for tho working-people. The Federation of Labor defied anyone to say that it had ever tried to smash up the Jaw machine or to injure the progress of this country in any way. But it believed that more could be done for the workers in conferences with employe?, than in the Arbitration Court. The day had come when industrial democracy was going tn be ruled by tlie majority and not by a minority. "Glaring Intimidation." Mi\ W. Parry (Waihi) said that the Waihi workers bad had twelve years" experience under the Arbitration Act. During that period conditions were abominable. Latterly, by their own power, they had scoured great improvements, and ii was not likely that they wore going to be forced back under the jurisdiction of the court. The Government had never been forced into a corner until to-day. The authorities had strained the Act- in order to meet the wishes of the employing class and a minority of workers. There had been glaring intimidation by the employers. While such conditions were legalised by tho laws of the country, so far as he was concerned there would be no industrial peace. As to the position at Waihi, the Government wall not bound to register the Enginedrivers' Union. The miners would never go back to work with the men if the registration were upheld. Several attempts had been made by the employers at Waihi to form the Euginedriv(Continued on next page.)

Ms Union. Two attempts had failed. The third meeting was called by unsigned circulars. The whole thing represented an attempt by tho employers to defeat tho objects of a majority of the workers at Waihi. What was going to be the outcome he did not know, but the majority would never go back ■until the newly-registered union had been disbanded. Mr. E. Canham (Auckland Watersiders) outlined the recent activities of his organisation, contending that the events of tho immediate past exposed an intention on the part of the employers to compel workers to remain under tho jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court, "A Ridiculous Position." Mr. J. Dowgray (Westport) contended that tho clause which permitted 15 men to form a union gave rise to a ridiculous position. At Waihi onetliird of the enginedrivers had formed a union. Tf necessary, the Federation could advise the majority, who were Standing out, to join the union, and carry a. ballot in favor of cancellation. But if this were done it would be open to the minority to again form a union, get an award, and coerce the majority. Thero was no finality in the matter. At present arbitration was palatable to a section of the workers, but if they found that it was compulsory their attitude might change. Mr. D. Stephensoti HVestport. General Laborers') said that in Westport a small minority of harbor board employees were trying to form a union in order to get away from the Federation of Labor. H''s union was a registered body, but it would come into con flict with the new union if it were formed. Mr. Webb said that at the present time, under the Act, it was mfchci one thing nor the other. Tf it was tb< intention of the Government to hav< compulsory arbitration. then the> would know where they were. An Ultimatum. Mr. Scmnle said that if the right of minorities to form unions were recognised a number of people would make a business of this sort of thing foi money-making purposes. If the Government allowed the business of forming small unions lo go on, there would be nothing else left than industrial upheaval from one end of this MBntry to the other. He did not make ;his statement as a threat, but th'e »al-miners. who had improved their sonditions by leaving the court-, were lot going back to the court again. If ittompts were made to coerce them ndustrial upheaval was inevitable-. The Minister in Reply. The Minister, in replying, said that. I'hcn tho matter was previously rought under his- notice he. had been f opinion that the existence of an eninedrivors' union at Auckland would revent the formation of a union in ho same- trade at Waihi. An opinion btained from the Crown Law Ollicers, owever, stated that there was no ast-iJication for refusing to register bis union, as it had abundantly proved is right to registration. As to the oint that a union could b° formed 'ithin. a union, ir- seemed to him thatho deputation had made out a a> ry trong case. It was against all idi as f a democracy that n minority should 9 enabled to command a majority. He mild have the matter laid before tlie 'epartment with a view to seeing what miedy could he a,pplicd. Meantime 3 was powerless to act otherwise lan as he had acted. Mr. Webb id Baid that tho deputation repreinted seventeen or eighteen thousand orkers. Multiplying this number by iro, to allow for women and children, ie deputation represented some ninety lousand people. He asked its meni>rs to bear in mind that tho Govcrnent represented eleven hundred ihou_nd people, and must bo guided by the ishes of a majority and not accede to to demands of a minority. There as industrial unrest all over the arid at the present timo "from China Peru." Mankind was rising up jainst economic injustices under which had labored for ages. Ho believed that stupendous changes ere in prospect. It was all tiio more scessary to he moderate and rcason- >!<?. He asked the Federation to do 1 that it could to direct the movement lat must take place along safe lines. thenvi.se the movement from which ey all hoped so much would produce lat which lliev fear.'d to s-e producI. Great improvements had been cfoted during the last L'M y.-ars, and bat had be-.n done, In ord. r and modatieu, was nothing io what could be mc in the next ■_'!) years. Filially, Mr. Laiirensen said that ! hoped that Parliament would take c view to which he himself subribod, that a, union should conin a majority of the workers in mi clustry. CONDITIONS IN MINES. NEW REGCLATiOXS DESIRED. Representatives of tho mining in.sti'.v who were present now addressed o Hon. J. Colvin en the subject of irking conditions in mines.

Mr. Dowgray said that miners as a whole were grateful to .Mr. Colvin i for what ho had done in seeming good features in the existing Act, such as the "bank to bank" clause. Sn.r-o-thing, hoAvever, still remained to he done. A provision similar in that obtaining in England. that no miner should Avork more than op-hi. bouts out of the. twenty-four, should be passed in New Zealand. The deputation also j desired that the Government should adopt the majority report of the .Mines Commission in reference, to the ventilation of mines. Mr. Dowgray advocated a reduction in the speed of Avinder engines and the provision of safety gates on cages and shafts. 'The Federation delegates to the conference Aye re unanimously of opinion, he said, that tho minority report of tho commission should he adopted in its entirety. Mr. J. Duncan (Huntly miners) said that the present "bank to bank" clauae Avas not a Teal "bank to hank" clause at all, because a man could Avork for 14 hours if he so desired. To adopt the recommendation in the majority report of the Minos Commission that only one hour should elcpso before visiting a missfirc, would he equivalent to manslaughter. Mr. Webb said that the Federation dcsiicd to impress upon the Government tho necessity of ha\'ing the "bank to bank" clause enforced at tho Otita tunnel works. The Minister said that it was Sir Arthur Guinness and not. himself who had originated tho "bank to bank" clause in New Zealand, lie would go into the point raised with the law officers. A bill was at present in preparation, and it Avould he submitted to Cabinet. He Avould do his best to meet the wishes of the miners. As to gales, etc., he certainly considered that the miners should be protected. CO-OPERATIVE WORKS. ROMK GRIEVANCES VENTILATED. Mr. D. Stephenson (Westport) said that there Avore certain clauses of the Co-operative Act which men could not comply Avith and earn a decent wage. Tho Act provided that no member of a party should be dismissed save with the consent of : tho oHirer in charge. Tins should bo albMcd. Aunt.V r amendment desired av:>.s that a man disabled by sickness should bo entitled to resume his job upon rcoovorin-.;. _.t t present he A\as only entitled to do so up

to the time- of the first progress payment. It, Avas further desired that I parties should only be increased in j number with the- consent of their | members. y!r. Stephenson contended that no further contracts should bo let. en tho Wostport-lnangahua line J under the competitive tendering sys- { lorn. The works could be equally Avell j carried out, he said, by the co-opera- ; tire, parties. Mr. I). Ami: 'rong ("West Coast workers) mentioned that whereas outside employers ivcro content with a week's Avork of 44 or 4f> hours, the Public, Works Department exacted 48 hours. They asked that the working Meek should bo reduced to 44 hours. Mr. Latirenson prrynisod that tho representations made would ho sent- on to tho Minister for Public AYoiks. —"Dominion."