EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1919, Page 8

EMPLOYERS' FEDERATION.

' ' .THE ANNUAL MEETING;. - I ) INDUSTRIAL UNREST. j By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 29. The annual meeting of the Employers' Federation of New Zealand opened this morning. The report presented shows that the past year has been one of considerable anxiety for all employers. It states that, despite the fact that the workers of this country are probably better treated, both as regards the rate of bonus and the conditions of labor, than those of any other part of the world, there have been .influences at work which caused indications of industrial unrest that at almost any moment might have developed into serious industrial warfare. The wave of Industrial unrest which has spread over practically the whole of the civilised world is a matter which has given occasion for serious consideration by all classes of the community. While there is no doubt it is due to after-war conditions, and in particular to the reaction after the nervous strain imposed upon the people of the belligerent nations by the war, it ,is evident there is some organisation at work fomenting such disputes as may be expected to occur in. the ordinary course of events, and using them to further the interests of that organisation. Conditions in New Zealand are different from those at Home. Here the workers, in a case where the parties cannot settle their own differences, have access pot only to the Conciliation Councils and Arbitration Court, but also to Ministers of the Crown, to whom to refer their grievances and have them dealt with. Not only that, but the temper of the public of the Dominion is such that no section of employers of labor dare, even if it was so desired, mete out anything but the fairest treatment to its employees. There is no question that there exists in the Dominion a small minority q£ persons who are supporters of and agitators for Bolshevik and I.W.W. principles and propaganda, "DIRECT ACTION." A "Direct Actionist," who has adoptedsome of the methods of either or both of the above principles, is now claiming support because of concessions he has obtained from the employers as the result of his methods of attack and his flouting of all constitutional methods of dealing with industrial matters. What the "Direct Actionist" fails- to realise is that methods successful during the war, when to win the war was the first and onlv consideration, cannot, and should not, be submitted to under normal conditions. If, therefore, this policy continues to be adopted whatever Government is in power must deal with the situation and take such steps as will secure that the. law of the land -shall he observed in industrial as well as all other matters, and that law and order shall prevail over the advocates of the strike, "go slow,"' and other means adopted by some labor leaders, who desire nothing else than that they should control the industrial situation in this country. THE DOMINION CONFERENCE. \ The report referring to the proposed Dominion Conference between representatives of employers and Labor states that until Labor is prepared to send to tie National Conference men of moderate and broad-minded views, whose main object is not destruction by every possible means of the present industrial machine and the prevention of the individual' workman from using his natural abilities to the utmost for his own advancement, little real good would result from a national conference. The advisory board strongly recommends, however, that each' individual employer of labor should take advantage of every opportunity to meet his own employees and discuss matters of mutual interest with them, and that all emI ployers in each industry should consult together to improve as far as possible the conditions of the workers in that .industry. If, resulting therefrom, district conferences between employers and actual workers can be arranged, it is probable a Dominion conference would follow. THE COAL CRISIS. Referring to the coal crisis, the report states that the parties to the "go slow" policy have already committed a breach of "the Arbitration Act, as the "go slow" policy is the most dangerous form of strike. Everything possible has been done by the employers to secure a satisfactory settlement of this dispute. The Government itself had said that the employers' offer was a fair one. Not one of those responsible for the trouble and the deliberate attempt still further to reduce the already insufficient supply of coal has in anyway been called to account. Surely the" time must come, however anxious the Government may be to act impartially, when the law must intervene in the interests of the general public to prevent the industries of the Dominion being held up in such a way as is being attempted in this dispute. The.report opposes the nationalisation cry, saying, that, altogether, in view of the few advantages and the certainty of the evils which follow the nationalisation of industries, it is inadvisable that the faderatiori should declare definitely against its adoption. The report, referring to the cost of living, says that if only both employers and employees would meet each other With one desire for the general good, and if they would postpone demands for radical and extreme alterations in the methods of* industry until the wheels of industry commence to revolve again at their usual pace, then the increased prosperity that would ensue would enable concessions which, at the present time are quite impossible, to be willingly agreed to , ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, T. S. Weston; vice-president, A. C. Mitchell; treasurer, H. Coull; trustees, W. H. Bonnet, C. M. Luke, A. E. Pearce, C. P. Knight; Parliamentary committee. W. 0. Foster, W. E. Fuller. .T. G. Harkness, W. Hopkirk, AV. .Tudd, ('. M. Luke. T. Hunt. W. .1. Thompson,' W. L. Thompson, H. F. Allen, S. Kirkcaldie, .1. Beveridgc, C. N. Cathie, H. Mainland, S. C. Baron, C. W Throsbv B. Doherty.