INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 317, 30 March 1928, Page 13

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

LATE CITY

SETTLING JTO WORK COMMITTEES SET UP Prcaa Association. WELLINGTON, To day. c a slight difference arose at the National Industrial Conference yesterday in regard to a question of procedure, and to-day the parliamentary committee suggested a method of settling differences. The business committee, through the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, reported that it was unanimously ot the opinion that decisions should be arrived at by mutual agreement and not by weight ot numbers. Where any difference arose in open conference, and could not be agreed to on the voices, the committee suggested that the matter should be referred to two members, one selected that committee to be accepted as final. The committee also suggested that any rule made or agreed to by the conference should not be varied or defrom either side, and the decision of parted from without the unanimous consent ot the conference. The committees’ recommendation was adopted. COMMITTEE’S PROCEDURE Other recommendations submitted by the business committee and adopted were: That the whole of the proceedings ,of the coni of the proceedings of the conclusion of the present sitting and copies made available for all delegates on resumption. If papers have all been deait with before the adjournment to-morrow evening the committees shall commence their work on April 18 without a further meeting of general conference. If the papers are not concluded consideration of those remaining to be taken in general conference on April 18. The personnel of two main committees, primary industries committee and secondary industries committee, should be announced from both sides before the adjournment this evening the commiti ommittees to be arranged by the two main committees when they first meet. It was not thought advisable definitely to fix a time by which committees must conclude their deliberations and present their reports. This can be done later while committee work is proceeding. The appointment of a committee to compile the final report of the conference it to be left over until the next sitting of the conference A suggestion that Government departmental officers be appointed as chairmen of committees does not commend Itself to the business committee. In all cases If is desirable that departmental officers shall give all information which committees may require upon various matters, but a majority of the members of the business committee consider that committees will have no difficulty in appointing one of their own members to act as chairmen of their meetings. On behalf of the economists. Professor Murphy said that they wished to waive any claims as to status. PROBLEMS DISCUSSED While admitting that conciliation and arbitration, with strict adherence to sound economic principles, could be made a success, Mr. C. H. Williams, of the Sheepowner3’ Federation, in a statement to day,* expressed the view that the Arbitration Court had had the effect of discouraging efficiency, increasing production costs and the cost of living, accentuating the difficulties of the primary producers. Increasing industrial friction, and leading to unemployment. A permanent bias against employers was inevitable. A paper read by Mr. H. H. Sterling, on behalf of the dairy industry, was confined to the presentation of the fact that the original idea of the arbitration and conciliation system had become lost sight of in the"mass of rigid regulations, placing conciliation out of the question. In a paper presented by Mr. T. Blood worth, unemployment, immigration and apprenticeship were dealt with. Speaking for the employees, Mr. Bloodworth suggested that a national councl of industry should be established to deal with the various aspects of the industrial problems of the Dominion. A preliminary to a sound immigration policy, he said, was a scientific land-settlement policy. In regard to apprenticeship, he suggested that provisions should be made for young people to receive more complete training in technical schools or agricultural colleges when they were unable to get positions as apprentices in desired industries in private employ. The duty of the national council of industry should be. inters alia, to arrange for the registration of those engaged in an industry, and provide for future admissions to an industry, and gather statistics with a view to preventing unemployment or wastage of capital or labour.