THE INDUSTRIAL POSITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10228, 3 May 1911, Page 5

THE INDUSTRIAL POSITION.

SERIOUS TROUBLE PREDICTED,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WANGANUI, May 1

Mr William Pryor, secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, addressed a large meeting here this evening. In his speech, Mr Pryor reviewed the history of the Industrial and; Conciliation Act, which has now been in operation for sixteen years. Contrary to > the fond hopes of its sponsors, he said, Jnstead of the Act being tl?e. means.of stopping all industrial troubles, it had been the meansof manufacturing ..them, almost without end. Trade unions were in the hands of extreme Socialists. Despite increased wages, shorter hours,' and restrictive conditions, the cry in every industry was for more. There had grown up an organisation called the New Zealand Federation of Labour, whose policy was a policy of strike. Its aim was to secure cancellation of registration of all unions under j its control, and then, when the time seemed opportune, to declare a general strike. The gold and coal-miners' unions, and others were connected with the organisation, and there was no doubt that the waterside workers' and seamen's unions were in sympathy with it. The New Zealand Labour Party was a Socialistic organisation in .disguise, and indications were not ! wanting to show that it would take little indeed to promote industrial strife among unions joined to that [body. Many predicted that ere long New Zealand would find itself in the throes of the most serious industrial trouble ever known. Labour legislation had been a failure, both from the employers' and from the employees' point of Ajaew. Notwithstanding New Zealand's long period .of prosperity and high prices, manufactures were throttled, and business men were prepared to sell their interests in many oases at considerable sacrifice. Worse than all, it seemed almost impossible to persuade'those havine money to put it into labour employing concerns. Ho could quote authentic cases of this. Last session much heavier burdens were nlaced on those affected. A rest from labour legislation was needed, or a period of depression would follow.

'The speaker also dealt with the shortage of labour and restrictions imposed on apprentices. He advocated a safe and progressive immigration policy to meet the shortage, and the insufficient birthrate. Overtures by the federation to the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister of Labour, had been made, but not bin k war. dor>e. presumably because of opposition bv the Trades and Labour Councils. The position was becomine: acute.

Mr Prvovthe." d«alt v ith 'he political outlook. He said, that party politics were unknown'to the Federation. The position to be feared was that of .returning a: small radical socialistic i 'tiarty?fißit could and would do more : barm than a Labour Government, bv ;'-making Government and Opposition bid arrnlnst each other for its support. party was of opinion that with twol/o men in x he TCmso it could secure move for the workers than a Inborn- Government could. The wisest beads in The Dominion f-bould be put tojxether-to r>revA!ir. snob :r catastrophe, and the interests of the ;country should be put before party interests.