EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 62, 31 July 1912, Page 6

EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The annual report of the Taranaki Employers ' Association congratulated the Association on the increased membership, I the numbers now being 50, as against 44 ] last year, and 40 the year 'before, but j regrets that there were still a large i number of employers who remained out- | side. The committee goes on to recall that in their last report it had emphasised the necessity of being prepared to deal with any industrial disputes that might occur, notwithstanding the fact that none had occurred in the district lately. The report adds that the advisability of this was shown during the. current year as almost immediately after the Association was confronted with a general demand from the general laborers for increased wages, etc. After meeting them in conference the matter was referred to the Conciliation Council, but no agreement was come to, and it was now awaiting a settlement in the Arbitration Court. The carpenters and joiners were also asking the Court for better terms, and the matter was having the careful consideration of the executive. The committee then expresses '■ a desire to impress upon members that I their work was no less efficiently done j because it was done quietly and did not loom largely in the public eye. The main work was, and must of necessity be done by the headquarters staff in Wellington. In order that they might be able to more efficiently cope, with the growing and unreasonable demands of a

certain l section of the extreme Labor j party, it was proposed to increase the staff at headquarters. To further this object the committee had promised to give such financial support as might be necessary. The report concludes: "In its last report the committee referred to the matter of increased accommodation at Mount Egmont. This is now an accomplished fact, as the house is finished, and a few more weeks will see it thrown open to the public. Your committee would congratulate those ladies and gentlemen who have worked so hard in this matter on the fruition of their labors, and trusts that it may prove a source of 'benefit to the neighborhood." The financial statement showed that a eredit balance of £39 2s 3d had been carried forward from lart year. Members' subscriptions totalled £3B 6s 6d, the total receipts being thus £7B 2s 2d. The expenditure was £33 10s Cd, leaving a credit balance of £44 lis Bd. The 'balance of assets over liabilities was £24 17s 2d.

The annual meeting, which was to have been held last night, lapsed on account of the small attendance.