"SEETHING WITH UNREST."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 79, 23 September 1911, Page 5

"SEETHING WITH UNREST."

THE POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. AN UNHAPPY OUTLOOK. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 22, 11 p.m. Sydney, September 22. At the annual meeting of the Employers' Federation the retiring president, in his address, said the present year, as regards strikes and unrest, stood alone in the industrial life of the Commonwealth. The State was seething wit» unrest. It was hardly possible to realise the unhappy position in which the employer and employee stood. The word freedom was almost' unknown as far as the employer was concerned. Until employers were more true to themselves and shook off the chain of selfishness the present unfortunate description would continue. There must be a firm protection of rights without being unduly aggressive. Something should be done to separate the political element from trades unionism. The prosperity and happiness of the country must be freed from the strangling grip of the caucus of irresponsibles who at the present time were framing laws and dictating to their representatives what they wished to be done, thus preventing good and equitable laws being enacted. The annual report referred to the need of organisation and order to meet the organising work of the labor agitator. The report adversely criticised certain provisions in the Industrial Arbitration Bill as likely to work most injuriously, not only against the employer, but against the interests of industrial peace.