FINES FOR EMPLOYERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3114, 13 February 1909, Page 7

FINES FOR EMPLOYERS.

TRADES COUNCIL ACTION

Mr Keyling, of the Painters' Union, speaking at the Trades Council meeting in Wellington on Thursday evening, moved that a letter be •drafted in reply to a statement appearing in the "Evening Post," expressing the views of employers on the fines inflicted on employers for breaches of awards. The statements in the letter were incorrect. Mr Carey questioned the action taken by the Labour Department in limiting their request for a fine to -£lO. It was not within the province of the department to say what the limit of the fine should be. Let the maximum remain, and then the Magistrate could act as he thought proper. Mr Reyling added that the only >way to stop breaches of award was to impose heavy punishment. This principle had been recognised by the judge of the Arbitraton Court. Mr Parlane said while employers on the West Coast were fined 75 per .cent, of the maximum penalty, workers were fined the full amount. If •heavy fines reduced the number of then so much the better. 'They would justify themselves. Mr Cooper maintained that a reply should certainly be sent. It was idle to obtain awards unlefs they were fully enforced. There were employers in Wellington who had been fined at every sitting of the court for breach- . e , and yet their hnes had been decreased with every succeeding repeated offence. Fines should be increased for every succeeding offence up tu £5, £lO, or even £IOO. A voice: Put 'em in gaol. Mr Cooper: Whatever excuse employers might have with regard totechnical breaches they could not plead any defence to paying less than -award wages. And yet in Napie r , a man who had persistently underpaid •was fined Is and costs. Voices: Shame. Mr Cooper: Employers are no more abiding to-day than they were two or three years ago. If the Arbitration Court had had the courage of Dr. M'Arthur these breaches would be greatly reduced if not abandoned altogether. It paid to break the awards to-day. Mr Cooper maintained that deterrent fines should be imposed. A voice: Indeterminate sentences. Mr Cooper: No, I don't say that. If a reply was made to the statement in "The Post," the Council would I not leave the employers a leg to stand or.. Mr Dowdall said whenever a worker committed a breach of award he was fined the maximum, and the employer the minimum. Mr Carey denied this. Mr Dowdall then charged the •capitalistic press with supporting the . employers who were "out for profit all the time, to make what they can out of the worker." Mr M'Conchie remarked that with all the abuse that was hurled against the workers, they took their gruel like men, and did not go wailing through the press. If the law was good enough for the unfortunate drunkard, reeling through the streets, it shouid be good enough for employers. They shoul) be sent to gaol for repeated offences just as habitual drunkards. Mr Shannon observed that if nard and fast lines were laid down they would only get retaliation. Employers could make it very hot for the workers. Mr White held that the worker who agreed with employers to comnjit breaches of award should be punished more severely than they are at present. He hoped the fines would be over £lO, and that Dr. M'Arthur wouldb be strongly supported in his attitude.