THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1909. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3106, 1 February 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1909. AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

The suggestion made by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Employers' Federation that a general fund I for the protection of the interests of ' employers throughout New Zealand

should be established, is certainly a valuable tn.\ It is rather surprising that some proposition of the kind has not been put into operation years ago. j Labour is well organised, and tireless in re-pert of pushing- its claims, or what it deems to be its claims, at the employers' expense, and the latter should meet organisation with organisaiion, unionism vvi.,h unionism. If employers have not learned, as a result of the severe experioncea during the past ten years, that they must ban.! together to protect themselves, then it may safely be assumed that they are quite incapable of grasping the most palpable fact that it is in their own interests to recognise, and act upon. It is suggested by the Auckland branch of the Federation that the fund should be one "from which payments should be made in order to make good partially losses arising out of decreased profit, damage to property, cost of defending or sustaining any action in Court, recognition df men's loyalty to employers, or any other kindred purposes." The success of the movement will depend upon the degree of enthusiasm with which employers take it up, and. also, on the byalty of employers among themselves. It should be made perfectly clear from the outset, that the organisation is in no way hostile to Labour; but is one that has for its sole ooject the due protection of employers' interest. By fairly protecting employers, such an organisation would be beneficial to Labour, for to Labour capital is essential, but private capital is, unfortunately, being largely withdrawn from industrial concerns, and unless, more stable conditions govern the industries of the Dominion in the future, it is beyond doubt that private persons will not invest money in any industry. Unionism has been absolutely forced upon the employers ot this country, and they would have been acting in the interests of the public generally had they banded together years ago. If the movement comes to anything, it will be interesting to note how it is regarded by Labour. Mr D. McLaren, Labour member for Wellington East, has expressed the opinion that the formation of the suggested fund would be regarded as an offensive, rather than a defensive, action by the workers. This view is certainly rather curious and inconsistent. The Labour Unions are not united for offensive purposes but merely to defend their interests. Why, then, should any exception be taken to a similar action on the part of employers?