GOOD MINISTERIAL ADVICE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9397, 18 March 1909, Page 4

GOOD MINISTERIAL ADVICE.

BUT A "WEAK PROMISE.

Yesterday a deputation from th& Furniture Workers’ Union in Wellington, waited on the Minister of Labour, complaining that- the Labour Department’s views in regard to the trade award were in conflict with the Factories Act.

Complaint was made that tjie D. 1.0; discharged a non Unionist during slackness of work, and afte»c wards put the same man on again while Unionists were oat of work, and that the Department had declined to ask the Court for an interpretation of the award as to whether the man had been discharged. Another complaint was that some country employers had been paying fortnightly, instead of weekly, and the Union thought a conviction for breach of award should be obtained. Chief Inspector Lomas, however, had stated that his instructions were not to ask for less than a £lO fine, and as that would be too severe, he could do nothing beyond cautioning employers. The Minister, in reply, said he did not think there was much in the oomjplaints. He did not want to see small manufacturers and others unduly hampered in their efforts. In regard to the case of the non Unionist who was sent away for a few days owing to slackness of work, and then re-employed, he fancied that any humane employer having a man working for him would bo doing a great wrong if he did «ob take him back when able to do so.

The deputation told the Minister that, if his ruling was right, there would soon be no more Unionists. The Minister said it was dangerous to rush to extremes. He deprecated attacks on the factory inspectors, who were doing their duty. He strongly urged the men to work in harmony with their employers. The Department was doing its best to help tne Unions, and he did not think they should seize every opportunity to drive employers before the Court. Capital and Labour should work side by side. The object of the Department was to protect both sides.

As the outcome of the interview, the Minister promised to obtain the opinion of the Solicitor-General on the following questions: (1) How long does a non-tJnionist have to be out of employment before he is deemed to be dismissed? (2) If a non-Unionist is dismissed, can his employer reinstate him instead of a Unionist when there is a preference clause?