NEW ZELALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3424, 2 March 1920, Page 6

NEW ZELALAND WELFARE LEAGUE.

After exhaustive inquiry into the present unsettled state of industrial affairs in New Zealand, the League has -arrived. at certain conclusions

‘ which it respectfully submits for the ’ consideration of the Government and of all interested parties. It appears to "us that much of the uncertainty and mistrust that exists is due to there being no general regulzitive system of control which is mutually acceptable to both employers and wqrkers. The settlement. of disputes and the estabi lishment of common rules upon which‘

lthe industries shall be operated are being dealt with by various methods that proper co-ordination is impossible. The Conciliation Councils and the Arbitration Court each in their own way create stand-‘:11-ds of industrial rule. 011 the other hand many employers and unions of workers ignore the legally established methods of the Inclnstriall Conciliation and Al'biil'ation Act, and‘

make settlenlems by direct and pri—U vate conferences on lines that regard. only the interests of those taking part! in the dispute. In respect to the im-|

portant industries of coal supply, ship-;-:'n,g. and general transport, the p.u:t‘l~'-s seem to have quite settled upon acting entirely apart from the system of compulsory arbitration, and have reverted to the old ‘style of mutual agreements or the stoppage of work by strikes or lock-outs. As these key industries greatly affect the general trade and cornmerce of the Dominion, the fact of the changed attitude‘ of employers and workers in such industries towards the Domi:nion’s indus- I trial laws is 2L matter for the fullest

and promptest cons"lde‘ration. As an outcome of "the want of agreement upon at. common Jneghod for the settlement. of disputes and, also, owing to the conflictitng standards of in~ dustrial conditions from time to time being established, we find a very widespread feeling of uncertainty and insecurity obtaining throughout the whole Dominion. This state of affairs is very undesirable, as it is hampering the proper development of our indu..<tries at a time" of needful reconstruction in matters of economic and social;

importance. The interdependence of our trades and industries is a vital fact which is practically igvnoreid. and should receive a great deal more consideration ’ than it. does. So long as each industry, trade, and calling follows its own course without any regard as to how it affects others, the general welfare is sure to suffer. There is :1 proposal from t.he Labour Federation that the Government Should call 3. core-ference of employers and ;workers. This proposal was, not fol'lowed up, nor did it apparently receive the' consideration to wliich it was entitled. The l,(*:l<,_;'ile believes that this siiggestioii of the l)ubour Federation was 2. most valuable one, and would strongly urge upon. the Government that it take the very earliest steps to call together‘ :i. National Industrial Conference, to be composed of representatives of the Government, of the employers and’Wol*kers in the primary and key 'rndustl'ies, of the same in the secondary and minor industries, and of representatives chosen towatch matters from the standpoint of the consumers. This confer-enep should be dir d to endeavour to arrive at ‘ ual understanding between s interests whereby common ,5 might. be established to :he. sic-.“.;t3»:-in~‘ent of industrial and effect the establishment .lon rules upon which our inwould be operated. The o.rreferenee for such a conference ifthe Government thought pro-

per, ‘lnclude other questions of general importance affecting the relations of employers and employees, but. our main purpose in isuing this memorandum is to urge with all our power the great need that. exists for calling :1. National Conference speedily on the very importaiitissue of the methods and policies of industrial -relations, as these are expressed in -the now everyday industrial disputes which we have as :1 people to deal with , especially from -the point of View of increusiang‘ our production and continuity of work. } Without bias for any particular system we counsel the need. at this "time of reconstruction for a national review.’ of the system in vogue in other countries for the better co-ope‘rat.ion of Labour and Capital. From such an examination it. is possible that some common factors of agreement. may be ‘decided upon, and that, We submit, would be of advantage to the general welfare of the Dominion.