EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1919, Page 6

EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATION.

MEETING.. . j The annual meeting of the Taranaki Employers' Association was held last night in the Kia Ora tea rooms, when Mr. W. F. Brooking (president) presided over an attendance of about thirty memberg. The report, after expressing regret at the delay in holding the animal meeting, referred* to the scant support received from the employers of the town, and stated that the services of the nightwatchman were appreciated by many members. His report showed that 41 doors and one safe were foulid open on his beat, as against 107 the previous year. The only two trade disputes during the year were the drivers and grocers; the former had since assumed Dominion proportions, and the latter had been settled. The question of holidays was mentioned as being one for earnest consideration, owing to the loss of business and to the employees. Seven meetings of the executive had been held, and consequent on the departure of Mr. Falconer the secretaryship had been filled by the appointment of Mr. Wynyard, who was recommended to the incoming executive as an enthusiastic and reliable officer. In closing we would desire to rciter* ate and emjphasise >tl«o need, indeed necessity for closer co-operation and further organisation amongst the employers and tradesmen of the district. The refusal of the Registrar to register branches was rather a set back. We had worked up what bid to be two good branches in Stratford and Hawera, and had been trying to t-nthuse our Eltham fellow tradesmen. Our idea was to get one organisation throughout the district, which could speak with some power and make its presence felt, but the refusal of the Registrar to allow branches of the association threw us back on our own again. We can only trust that our Hawera and Stratford friends are continuing the good work, but we have not heard from them for somfe time. There can be no question that the need for combination is urgent, if we would hold our own, indeed, not only our own, but exist. The balance-sheet showed receipts to have been £292 !fs 2d, the principal items being night watchmen's fees ( £231 12s 6d) and members' subscriptions ( £B4 lis Od). The expenditure totalled £302 14s Did —salaries, £257 10s. There was a debit balance of £lO 5s 7d.

Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. J. W. Hayden (Mr. W. F. Brooking declining nomination); vicepresident, Mr. A. S. Brooker; executive, Messrs P. E. Stainton, C. Carter, F. Clav, C. E. Baker, P. J. H. White, YV. C. Weston, W. Ambury,/H. J. M. Wells, F. W. Okey, W. E Bendall, W. Sole, R. J. Deare, F. S. Johns, and J. W. Boon; auditor, Mr. E. P. Webster. Considerable discussion took place on the question of holding a holiday on Anniversary Day. Mr. F. S. Johns spoke at length in support, as also did Messrs. C. E. Bellringer and W. A. Nicoll and others, who considered that they were slighting the memory of the old settlers in . not observing the holiday. Messrs W: Ambury, C. Carter, P. J. 'H. White and C. E. Baker opposed the holiday being observed this year, considering it would be better to defer the matter until next year. Eventually it was decided that it be a recommendation that Anniversary Day be celebrated as a holiday this year. A further motion, that this resolution be forwarded to the presidents of the chambers of commerce in the various towns in Taranaki, was lost. On the motion of Mr. Carter, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the president for his services to the association during the past year. He paid a tribute to the work of the president, as well as that of the vice-president and executive. Mr. W. F. Brooking, in acknowledging, stated that he would have continued in office, but that he had retired from business, and he felt that some younger man should be appointed who could infuse fresh life into the association. Mr. Hayden, the new president, did not think the association would do much good unless it comprised niue-tentlis of the business people of the town, and he appealed to each member to endeavor to induce another to join. The question of holidays, a debatable point for years, should be settled once for all. Votes of thanks were also accorded the vice-president and executive. Mr. C. E. Bellringer thought that the association must aim at establishing a spirit of comradeship between employer and employee. If they could show Labor that they were inclined to meet it in a fair spirit, Labor would be equally fair to them, and this would tend to solve a difficult problem, Mr. C. E. Baker favored holding quarterly meetings of the association. Mr. T. C, List expressed regret that the meeting had clashed with the townplanning meeting, as had they been at that meeting they Would have seen the necessity for securing better housing conditions for employees. In the past the employer had not always done his duty by his employees; he should have associated himself more in helping to guide them. There was at present a state of seething discontent, especially among the working men, and co-opera-tion, leadership and safe guidance were now more necessary than ever. If they could get the working man satisfied with his domestic surroundings they would have fought the biggest part of the battle. >j, . After further discussion, in' which Messrs. P. J. White, W. Ambury and J. W. Hayden took part, it was resolved to call a special general meeting on Tuesday, April Ist. •,v ; » Supper wa-sf partaken -of during a break in thejjiyceedings, arid jtistjce was done to the fare provided by Mrs^Kirkbv.