FELLOWSHIP OF INDUSTRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 358, 19 May 1928, Page 11

FELLOWSHIP OF INDUSTRY

Handshakes and Clinking Glass Close Industrial Conference

PRIME MINISTER’S NOTE OF FELICITY

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Friday. THE lion and the lamb frolicked together at the National Industrial Conference to-day, following- the presentation of the separate reports on the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to the Prime Minister. Both sides represented at the conference exchanged stories, partook of liquid refreshment and wound up with singing “Auld Lang Syne,” the employers’ delegates locking hands with those of the delegates on the other side of the table.

The report which the employers’ representatives submitted to the Prime Minister stated: “It is a matter of very great regret to all the delegates representing the employers that, at the end of long and most earnest deliberations, in which we have given the utmost consideration to the views expressed by the workers’ representatives, it has been found impossible to present a joint recommendation. We are all agreed as to the necessity of amending the Arbitration Act in the interest of New Zealand industries as a whole. We have no desire to amend the Act in such a way as adversely to affect the interests of workers. Our sole desire is to improve the system of arbitration so that industries may develop on sound economic lines, thus improving the position of w orkers as well as of employers.” EXTENSION OF ARBITRATION After detailing the nature of the proposals the report proceeds: “We desire to express, as strongly as possible, our opinion that any further extension in the practice of the arbitration system to primary industries is impracticable and unwise. The diversity of conditions, climatic, seasonal and otherwise, between different districts and even different farms in the same’locality, is so great that collective agreements cannot operate with advantage either to employers or workers. The difficulty of making industrial awards governing primary industries has been recognised by successive Arbitration Court judges since the inception of the system and in their judgments has been exhaustively analysed. Finally we desire to give expression to our sincere desire to co-operate with workers’ organisations in improving New Zealand industries, and our hope that, although during the present conference the workers’ representatives have not been able to endorse our recommendations. they will, by their good-will

and co-operation, assist to carry them into effect in such a manner as will ensure industrial peac© and promote industrial welfare.” VALUE OF PEACE The value to a country of industrial peace and contentment was stressed by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, when expressing the thanks of the Government to the conference for the work it had done. He believed that the main benefits of the conference would be represented, not by the practical results, but by the better understanding that had been brought about between employer and employee. The members of the Parliamentary Committee felt that their efforts had been repaid in that an atmosphere had been created that would indicate generally to the people of New Zealand that there was a strong desire that employer and employee should understand the difficulties and points of view of each other. “It is a matter of distinct satisfaction that in New Zealand we have been able to get the various organisations representing the different interests together,” said Mr. Coates. “I think it is an accomplishment, and I believe it augurs well for the future. I congratulate those present on their work, and sincerely convey to them the feeling that it is an inspiration to those concerned with the welfare of this country. “It may be necessary and desirable,” added Mr. Coates, “to keep in front of us the necessity, on future occasions, of calling together the representatives of employers and the representatives of employees. If we can keep industrial peace in this country then there is nothing to fear. It means everything to everybody to have a large section of our community satisfied that they are getting a fair hearing and a fair deal. (Hear, hear.) If we can do that we are going to progress because it means prosperity to every individual in our country.” (Applause.)